|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh received a huge blow ahead of the upcoming tour of New Zealand as ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan is ruled out of the ODI’s series while there is very slim chance of him taking part in the following three-match Test series.

BCB announced that Shakib sustained an injury to his left ring finger while batting in the final of the 6th edition of Bangladesh Premier League T20 on Friday evening and has been ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand later this month.

“An X-ray was done after the match and the results have confirmed a fracture on the left ring finger. The affected area will now have to be immobilised for around three weeks,’’ BCB senior physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury was quoted in the official statement.

This isn't the same finger that was operated upon in September last year. Shakib, having recovered from the accumulated pus in his finger, made a comeback to cricket in the Test series against the Windies at home, and went on to make his ODI return against the same opposition in the limited-overs series that followed soon after.

‘’It is certainly a huge blow,’’ selector Habibul Bashar told Cricfrenzy on Saturday.

 ‘’We are yet to make a replacement as we are waiting to talk with the management and try to know their requirements,’’ he added.

Shakib was ruled out of the series against Zimbabwe after his long-standing finger injury flared up. He returned home midway through the Asia Cup, missing the Super Four game against Pakistan and the final vs India. There were, in fact, doubts regarding his participation in the Asia Cup in UAE in September, but he opted to postpone his surgery, which eventually leg to an aggravation of his injury.