Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 21 (ANI): Former Indian spinner Murali Karthik disclosed on Saturday that Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder is currently grappling with discomfort in both his spinning finger and shoulder, which is affecting his performance significantly.

This season has been particularly challenging for the experienced player, as he managed to bowl only seven overs on the third day of the match after being introduced by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. Unfortunately, his spell was quite ineffective, with Rishabh Pant hitting him for six fours and two sixes. Statistically, this year has been underwhelming for the seasoned all-rounder, who has accumulated just 295 runs across 18 innings in all formats, averaging 19.66 with only one fifty. His bowling figures have also been disappointing, with a mere 18 wickets at an average of 39.88 and best figures of 4/35.

Karthik, who was part of the broadcasting team for the match, told ESPNCricinfo that the all-rounder had undergone surgery on his bowling finger. “Having known him for a long time, I approached him to understand why he hasn’t been bowling much. He explained that he had surgery on his bowling finger, which has left it swollen and rigid with no movement or suppleness. As a spinner, feeling and control are crucial, and he’s unable to achieve that due to this condition. Additionally, he’s facing shoulder issues, making it even tougher to bowl in Test cricket,” Karthik elaborated.

The all-rounder’s troubles began with a left index finger injury during a match against Sri Lanka in the 50-over World Cup last year. This injury sidelined him for several months. Compounding his challenges, he also dealt with an eye problem that delayed his return to the Bangladesh squad until March this year.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal highlighted that picking an injured player like Shakib effectively reduces the team to four frontline bowlers. “Murali Kartik mentioned Shakib’s difficulty in gripping the ball due to his finger injury. If true, Bangladesh is essentially fielding one bowler short. The team management must clarify whether they were aware of this injury before selecting him,” said Tamim.

However, Dr. Debashish, chief physician of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), stated that they were not informed of any current discomfort or injury issues regarding Shakib’s finger or shoulder. “Shakib had a fracture from the World Cup in India and had previously suffered from another finger infection a few years ago. Despite these past injuries, he hasn’t recently reported any issues with his finger or shoulder. Although a broken finger can cause discomfort, we haven’t received any recent complaints from Shakib,” Dr. Debashish concluded.

This situation highlights the importance of clear communication and thorough medical evaluations within cricket teams to ensure players’ fitness and optimal performance on the field.