Mushfiqur Rahim, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, has been ruled out from the series opener against West Indies as he failed to recover sufficiently from his finger injury. Mushfiqur sustained the injury while batting in the nets at the BCB Academy premises on Tuesday when a bouncer hit him, and forced him to come out of the nets, struggling with pain.

On Wednesday morning, Mushfiqur was in pain while trying to wear the gloves. Fortunately for him, after an X-ray was taken of his finger, no tear was found.

He is expected to be available for the second Test match in Sylhet, starting on November 5.

“He sustained an injury to his right index finger during practice yesterday. He remained under observation, but there had not been sufficient improvement by this morning. It is a contusion injury, and we hope he will recover within the next three days. He will be available for the next Test,” Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan said on Wednesday.

Mushfiqur’s absence has opened the door for Towhid Hridoy, who was included in Bangladesh’s XI for the first Test. Mushfiqur had scored 81 in his previous Test appearance against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The series is part of Bangladesh’s remaining six Tests in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. To reach the final for the first time, they need four wins and at least one draw from their remaining matches.