Mushfiq works hard to get in shape

Bangladesh in-form paceman Rubel Hossain ruled out of the second and final Test of the Dan Cake Bangladesh and Pakistan series due to a side strain.
Rubel Hossain was replaced by another pace bowler Abul Hasan Raju. During the fourth day of the first Test of the series at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium (SANS) in Khulna Rubel sustained side strain injury and subsequently underwent a scan on Monday in Dhaka, which confirmed the injury. The in-form seamer bowled 24 overs and went wicketless. “The results confirmed a Grade 1 left side strain. It takes about three to four weeks to recover from such injuries. He (Hossain) will begin his rehab in the next couple of days,” said Bayjedul Islam, Bangladesh national team physio.
Raju played just three Tests for Bangladesh. The pace all-rounder set a world record in his debut Test against West Indies in 2012 in Khulna, where he hit a 184-run with Mahmudullah Ryad for the tenth wicket stand on way his individual 113 off 123, clattering 14 boundaries and three sixes.
Abul has not played any Test more than two years. He played his last Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2013. The pacer , of course, had played the first ODI against Pakistan in place of the suspended Mashrafe Mortaza. And in the last Bangladesh Cricket League he took a four-wicket haul in a first-class match for East Zone.
On the other hand, Pakistan also took a replacement player-Bilawal Bhatti. He will play in place of Rahat Ali, who left Dhaka for Islamabad on Monday.
Both Bangladesh and Pakistan had no formal practice schedule yesterday. But the full squad of Pakistan held a practice session, where they batted by rotation under the guideline of spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed and head coach Waqar Younis.
Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, on the other hand, came here in Mirpur in an optional practice in the afternoon, when he was accompanied by head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, curator Gamini De Silva and unorthodox leg-spinner Jubair Hossain Likhon.
They all spent sometimes at mid-wicket and looked into the wickets, where the second and final Test will be staged on May 6.
Thereafter, Mushfiq and Jubair did net practice for a long and head coach observed their practice. Mushfiq, who sustained injury in his ring-finger in Khulna Test, didn’t have keeping but he spent the bulk of his time by batting practice.
He took a long run-up at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where Jubair Likhon was flanked by him.