That is the reason the Sri Lankan tour has become unbearable for someone like Mashrafee bin Mortuza who loves to be in the thick of things.

A back pain has already sidelined the premier Bangladesh fast bowler and it looks certain that he will not be available for the remaining two one-dayers against Sri Lanka.

While his teammates went through hard training at the Nondescript Cricket Club ground on Thursday, he was sitting quietly on a bench with his chin resting on his palm, wondering why wasn't he out there with his mates.

"I don't know whether I can play in the one-day series. I'm even doubtful for the Test series as well because the pain has not eased," said Mashrafee, who got the nickname 'speedster' for his wild motorbike rides in his hometown Narail even before making it to the international scene as the quickest Bangladeshi bowler.

Mashrafee, who has been doing personal workouts to relieve the pain, certainly misses the action and rued his luck. While walking restlessly in the team hotel, he informed that a scan in the afternoon would determine the extent of his injury.

He was expected to bowl at the nets in the morning but after just four shadow deliveries under the guidance of physio Paul

Close, he had to pull up.

"I am not a person who likes to sit out. I want to be in the middle but I have been not able to that after bowling just one over in the practice match," said Mashrafee.

When asked about his chances, Paul Close thought Mashrafee was improving.

"He is moving well, he is running, he is doing all the rehabilitation work. Just when it comes to bowling, he feels a little bit of pain.

"As a precautionary measure, we are going to take him and have a scan performed so that we can get any extra information. It's only been four days since the injury and I'm not concerned. I said initially it would take anywhere between three to ten days to recover," the physio told.

"He is certainly not playing tomorrow. We have to wait and see. We will get the reports by tomorrow. He is a very important player to us and we are not going to take any risk," he added.

SQUADS
SRI LANKA (from): Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana.
BANGLADESH (from): Habibul Bashar (captain), Javed Omar, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Khaled Mashud, Tushar Imran, Syed Rasel, Tapash Baisya, Manjarul Islam, Nazmul Hossain.