Bangladesh fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed are scheduled to travel to Australia on Tuesday night, July 28, to receive specialized medical assessments. The pair will be accompanied by national team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam during their visit.
A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official confirmed the trip, detailing the specific medical needs for each player. Nahid Rana has been struggling with chronic shinbone pain in both legs since his early days in the sport, often managing the condition to continue playing. The board previously established a plan to consult with a lower-limb specialist in either Australia or England to address the persistent issue. The official emphasized that Nahid is not traveling for side-strain concerns, but specifically to seek expert guidance on his chronic shinbone condition.
Taskin Ahmed, who was included in the squad for the opening Test of the upcoming two-match series, is also seeking a professional opinion during the trip. His visit is focused on a recurring ankle injury sustained at various points throughout his career. The board is looking to secure a third opinion regarding the status of his ankle to determine the best path forward.
The medical travel comes amid a challenging period for the BCB, as the team prepares for a historic tour of Australia. Chief selector Habibul Bashar noted that finalizing the 15-member squad proved difficult due to a growing list of injuries. While Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the tour, other key players are also sidelined; Shoriful Islam will miss the first Test due to a hamstring injury, and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das is unavailable for the opener due to a calf injury. The board maintains separate squads for the three formats—T20Is, ODIs, and Tests—and has been managing a pool of 20 players to ensure depth during this period.
Habibul expressed frustration regarding the timing and necessity of these changes, noting that the board had hoped to announce the squad weeks earlier. Despite the setbacks, the selector highlighted that the Test side remains a settled unit and the team had been looking forward to competing against a strong Australian side in their home conditions. He acknowledged that while the board waited until the final moments in hopes of player availability, sport often presents unforeseen challenges that disrupt pre-tour planning.
"We actually wanted to announce the squad almost weeks ago," Habibul said on Monday after the historic Australia tour squad was announced on Sunday.
