Mushfiqur Rahim ruled out of West Indies Tests

Bangladesh's veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies, scheduled from November 22.

A member of the national selection panel confirmed the development to Cricbuzz on Friday while also adding that the 37-year-old is expected to be available for the ODI leg of the series.

Mushfiqur suffered a fracture in the tip of his left index finger while keeping wickets during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah and was later ruled out of the ongoing three-match ODI series.

It was learnt Mushfiqur's recovery would take at least four to six weeks and this forced him to miss the two Tests against West Indies.

"He (Mushfiqur) is not playing the Test series against West Indies as it will take at least a month or more to recover," said the selector.

"As for the ODIs (against West Indies) we will have time in our hand to make a call on that after seeing his progress," he said.

Following two Tests, Bangladesh will also play three ODIs and as many T20Is against the West Indies and it is understood that Mushfiqur will join the team, subject to his recovery, to be part of the ODIs as he had already retired from T20Is.

Mushfiqur, who usually bats at four or five, came to bat at seven against Afghanistan in the opening ODI of the three-match series following the injury. Later, he was ruled out of the ODI series. It is understood Mushfiqur will return home soon.

Meanwhile, the team management hasn't taken any initiative so far to find a replacement for Mushfiqur in the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan. With Litton Das expected to travel to Dubai this week, there were rumors of him taking Mushfiqur's spot in the ODI squad but the selector quashed this theory.

"He (Liton) is going there for a personal reason and will be travelling with the squad when they depart for West Indies," said the official adding that he is yet to recover fully from the fever.