Bangladesh pace bowler Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the two-match home Test series against West Indies after a labrum tear was confirmed during a specialist assessment in Australia. The diagnosis also places his participation in the two-Test tour of South Africa, scheduled to begin on November 15, under serious doubt.

A BCB official confirmed the injury after Rana was sent abroad for a second opinion. Before that overseas evaluation, team management had understood the pacer to be experiencing weakness around the back and pelvic region, and the board decided to seek specialist input in Australia, which led to the labrum tear being identified.

“Yes, a labrum tear has been detected. He has already been given an injection in Australia and he has started his rehabilitation program. He is likely to bowl on Friday (October 30). If he fails to recover in time before the second Test (against South Africa) in that case he is likely to make a comeback to competitive cricket with the white-ball series against South Africa,” the official said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

This latest injury is another major blow for the pacer, who was making steady efforts to return to action after suffering a grade-two side strain during Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe in July. The setback had already ruled him out of the Australia tour, the Asian Games and the one-off Test against Afghanistan. His comeback plans were further disrupted when he picked up a glute injury during rehabilitation, forcing him to miss the UAE tri-series featuring Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

Rana was not included in the 15-member squad that Bangladesh named for the opening Test in Mirpur, announced on Friday, and he will now sit out the entire home series. The two Tests against West Indies are scheduled to begin on October 28.

After Bangladesh host West Indies for two Tests starting October 28, they are set to tour South Africa for two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is with the tour scheduled to commence on November 15.

Bangladesh squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Tawhid Hridoy, Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim