Politics takes centre stage

The Tigers left home for India yesterday to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Dehradun. Captain Shakib Al Hasan did not accompany the team as he will rest for two more days at home to recover from a busy Indian Premier League (IPL) stint before joining the team on May 31.

It was however not Shakib's rest but the news that the all-rounder and Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza were going to contest the general elections that has hogged the spotlight, apart from pacer Mustafizur Rahman being suddenly ruled out of the tour due to a toe injury sustained during his last IPL match on May 20.

It came as a surprise to the country's sports fraternity when Planning Minister and former president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) AHM Mustafa Kamal revealed the news in a press briefing after an ECNEC meeting that the two cricketing heroes were going to contest the general elections.

Neither Mashrafe nor Shakib, however, came out with a public reaction to the development even though everyone was curious to know whether they actually were going to enter politics, especially considering that they have a big assignment on their hands in the form of the next year's ICC World Cup in England. 

Additionally, Shakib is the Test and T20I captain and Mashrafe the ODI captain and it is no secret that a lot will depend on these two stalwarts in the lead-up to a World Cup campaign that has engendered a lot of fond hopes.

Such is the importance of these two cricketers that in the short time after Kamal's statement, many have already started wondering whether they will be able to deal with the dual rules in the two demanding sectors. Would it not disturb their cricketing careers if they are involved in politics while they are active sportsmen?

While there was much buzz surrounding the Mashrafe-Shakib news, Mustafizur's injury update was a cause for widespread consternation.

Questions were raised about whether Mustafizur had failed to understand the severity of his injury or if he tried to hide it before a CT-scan report on Monday night confirmed a crack on his left big toe.

BCB's senior physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury said yesterday: "An X-ray followed by a CT scan has confirmed a hairline fracture on the big toe. It takes around three to four weeks to recover from such injuries and therefore he [Mustafizur] can't play against Afghanistan. We expect him to start rehab in two weeks, after which we will continue to monitor and assess him. Hopefully he will not miss the West Indies tour."

It is believed that his injury may not have been as severe if he had sat out last Saturday's match scenario practice in Mirpur.

Two selectors -- Minhajul Abedin and Habibul Bashar -- met yesterday to decide on Mustafizur's but later cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan informed that, while a shortlist had been created, they were yet to take a decision, which will be finalised after learning whether the team in Dehradun want a pacer or a spinner.

Akram however said that there is reason to be concerned with the important player's participation in IPL. "We will think on it seriously. Previously [after the 2017 edition] the team had suffered after he returned home with an injury and we are facing the same problem. I will take the matter to the board meeting."