Nahid Rana ruled out of Bangladesh's away Test series against Australia

KARACHI: Bangladesh's right-arm speedster Nahid Rana has been ruled out of their upcoming two-match away Test series against Australia, international media reported on Saturday.

According to a report by an international cricket news website, a statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that the 23-year-old pacer will require around four weeks for tissue healing, followed by another layoff of almost a month, required for bowling workload progression.

As a result, Rana will miss their away series against Australia, scheduled to be played in Darwin and Mackay from August 13 to 26.

"He is expected to require approximately four weeks for tissue healing, followed by a further two to four weeks of bowling workload progression," the report quoted BCB as saying.

Notably, Nahid Rana's unavailability serves as a major blow to Bangladesh as the right-arm pacer has taken 44 wickets in international cricket this year - the most by any bowler - at an average of 18.31, including four five-wicket hauls.

Meanwhile, it adds to Bangladesh's injury woes as another pacer, Ebadot Hossain, has already opted out of the Australia tour for the birth of his first child.

Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam and experienced wicketkeeper batter Litton Das will also miss the series opener against Australia due to hamstring and left-calf muscle injuries, while Mustafizur Rahman, who was earlier ruled out of The Hundred, is expected to be available from mid-August.

It is pertinent to mention that the upcoming two-match Test series will be the first between Bangladesh and Australia since 2017, when the Baggy Greens toured the South Asian country for as many red-ball fixtures.

The home series will also mark Australia men's cricket team's return to the longest format since their 4-1 triumph in the home Ashes against traditional rivals, while Bangladesh are coming off a defeat in their one-off away Test against Zimbabwe, played last month.