Bangladesh fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin has been ruled out of the ongoing T20 World Cup with a back pain. The 24-year-old has been replaced in the 15-man-squad by senior fast bowler Rubel Hossain.
According to a team official, Saifuddin complained of pain on the left side of his back after the last game against Sri Lanka. "We will understand the gravity of his injury after he returns back to Bangladesh but since he cannot make a comeback in the tournament we opted for a replacement," Rabeed Imam, senior manager media & communications of BCB, told Cricbuzz on Wednesday (October 27).
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Saifuddin had issues with his back at the 2019 World Cup as well and he took cortisone injections to play on but when he missed a few matches along the way, the youngster invited criticism.
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 has approved Rubel as a replacement player for Saifuddin in the Bangladesh squad.
Fast bowler Rubel, who has played 159 international matches including 28 T20Is was a reserve as per the allowance for teams to travel with extra players in view of COVID-19 quarantine requirements.
Saifuddin picked four wickets in the three matches that he played in the qualifying round while he finished with figures of 1/38 in the loss to Sri Lanka.
