Shadman Islam Likely to Miss South Africa Tour as Ankle Injury Worsens Bangladesh's Woes

Some injuries announce themselves with a scream. Shadman Islam's announced itself with silence — the sight of Bangladesh's in-form opener being carried from the field on a stretcher, his left ankle twisted, his Test in ruins, and now, it seems, his next tour as well. The incident happened on the second morning of the Sylhet Test against West Indies, in the 78th over of the visitors' first innings. Amir Jangoo nudged a Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivery towards fine leg, Shadman gave chase, and his ankle turned as he went for the ball. He could not continue. He was taken to hospital for an MRI scan, and Bangladesh have effectively been playing with ten men ever since. What started as a worry for one match is now threatening to become a problem for a whole tour. The Daily Star reported on Saturday that Shadman's condition "does not look good", and that he may miss not only the rest of the Sylhet Test but also the two-match Test series in South Africa, which starts on 15 November. A member of the team management told the paper: "We haven't got the full assessment yet, but he is probably out of South Africa as well. The assessment report has not come in writing yet, but they have told us that, since we don't have much time before the South Africa Tests." It is important to be clear about what is confirmed and what is not. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has not yet released a written medical bulletin, and the scan report was only expected on Saturday. The BCB physio, Bayjedul Islam Khan, confirmed the basics — "He twisted his left ankle and was taken to hospital for an MRI scan" — and said Shadman was under observation and in no condition to bat in the first innings. Team management have since told Cricbuzz they are "not very confident about his availability" for the rest of the match. The tour, for now, rests on reports rather than an official ruling. But the direction of travel is plain, and the timing could hardly be worse. Shadman scored a century in the first Test of this series in Mirpur, his third in Test cricket, and he has looked like the one batter in Bangladesh's top order playing with real assurance. Losing him for South Africa would mean going into a two-Test series away from home without the opener who has just made runs against the same West Indies attack that leads this series 1-0. The Sylhet Test has already shown what his absence costs. With Shadman unable to bat, off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was pushed up the order to open, and Bangladesh were a batter short from the start. Only Towhid Hridoy's extraordinary unbeaten 242 — a Bangladesh Test record — dragged them from 184 for seven to 386 and a 30-run first-innings lead. And because the injury is to an ankle rather than the head, Bangladesh cannot even call on a concussion substitute. They simply have to cope with ten players. There is still a chance the scan brings better news than the early reports suggest. Ankles can surprise. But with the South Africa Tests less than a fortnight away and no written assessment yet in hand, Bangladesh are planning for the worst. For Shadman, who has waited and worked for a settled place at the top of the order, it is a cruel interruption at the worst possible moment.