Bangladesh didn’t have an ideal outing in the three-match One Day series against New Zealand as they succumbed to a humiliating defeat in all three matches. Playing the first One Day International in Dunedin, the visitors lost the game by 8 wickets followed by a 5-wicket and 164-run loss in the second and third ODI respectively.

Meanwhile, ahead of the three-match T20I series against the same opponent, starting from March 28 at Seddon Park in Hamilton, Bangladesh has been dealt with a massive blow as it is learned that the 21-year-old right-arm quick Hasan Mahmud had been ruled out of the series due to a back injury. Notably, Mahmud had sustained the injury during the first One Day and will now be flying back home as he has failed to regain his fitness.

Mahmud, who has represented Bangladesh in 1 T20 International and three ODIs, had a disastrous outing in the only ODI he played against New Zealand. Hasan had bowled just 4.2 overs when he was ruled out of the game due to a stiff back but in his 26 deliveries he gave away a whopping 49 runs at an economy of 11.3 while picking Devon Conway’s wicket.

BCB releases an official statement

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released an official statement to inform about the unavailability of the right-arm pacer for the entire T20I series. “The 21-year old has not trained or played due to a stiff back following the first ODI in Dunedin. Mahmud left for Dhaka today along with ODI captain Tamim Iqbal. He will continue his recovery under the supervision of the BCB medical team.” BCB said in a statement.

With the 21-year-old seamer ruled out from the T20I series, Bangladesh will have only six pacers available with them for the selection including the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rubel Hossain, and the uncapped Shoriful Islam.

Bangladesh T20I squad:

Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed.