DHAKA, – If the state is taken into the consideration, fast bowler Rubel Hossain has been the most successful bowler for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in ODI format. But Rubel who has taken 18 wickets in 11 matches against the Lankans is going to miss the Bangladesh’s upcoming three-match ODI series against his favourite opposition.
Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Murtaza is at the second of the list with 12 wickets, playing one match less than Rubel while Shakib Al Hasan took 10 wickets in the same number of matches. Rubel rued for missing the series, considering his success, but he is more concerned with the future of his career than trying to get better at the moment.
During a tour of New Zealand in February-March, Rubel Hossain suffered a back injury and missed all of the matches in the limited over series there. He then came back to the country and began his rehabilitation. But even today there is no significant improvement. “Even if I don’t feel pain during normal movement, if I stand or sit with the slightest inclination, the pain will increase,” Rubel said here today as he made it clear he is not going to play this series. He is not bowling for a long time as he is in the process of rehabilitation. It will take at least two more weeks to get started. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series will start on May 23.
Even though he has some regrets for a good reason, the fast bowler is comforting himself thinking about the future again. “I feel a little bad thinking that I will not be able to play an international series on home soil,” he said. “You know my record against them (Sri Lanka) at home is good. But I don’t have much to feel bad because if I think about the future, there is not much of a problem even if I don’t play a series. If you play cricket without fully recovering, there will be no chance of playing in the future.
So I have to get well first.” Not only Rubel Hossain, but also young pacer Tasan Mahmud is suffering from a back injury from the New Zealand tour. And he will also not be considered for the series. Despite losing two of the most talented fast bowler, Habibul Bashar Sumon, a member of the Bangladesh selection panel team, is not too upset.
He is plotting to conquer the series against Lankans with Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Saifuddin who all are in good form. “I will definitely miss Rubel,” said former captain Bashar. “But since he is injured there is nothing to do. We may not get Hasan Mahmud either. He is injured like Rubel. But the good thing is that we are getting Mustafiz, if Saifuddin is fit, we will get him and Taskin has been in good form.”
The Sri Lankan cricket team is currently in Bangladesh to play a three-match ODI series against the Tigers. The first ODI of the three-match series will be played on May 23 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The second and third ODI of the series will be held on May 25 and 28 at the same venue.
