Bangladesh lose leading paceman Nahid Rana for Test series in Australia

The 23-year-old sustained the injury during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo this month and has been ruled out for at least six weeks.

Rana has been a leading light for Bangladesh, having taken 44 wickets in international cricket this year across formats - the most by any bowler - at an average of 18.31.

It is a massive blow to lose the paceman ahead of what will be Bangladesh first tour to Australia in 23 years with the first of two Test matches set to get underway in Darwin on 13 August.

A BCB statement said on Rana said: "He is expected to require approximately four weeks for tissue healing, followed by a further two to four weeks of bowling workload progression."

It has also been confirmed that left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will also miss the first Test against Australia due to injury, with both players hopeful of being fit for the second game of series in Mackay from 22 August.

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