Tigers' lone practice match. Another paceman Nazmul Hossain was carried off the ground during the second one-dayer after suffering cramp.

The latest and surely not the least in the long list of injury is top-order batsman Rajin Saleh.

While there was good news for Mashrafee, Rajin's tour was actually over before it began after a fracture was detected in his lower back.

A CT scan done on Thursday confirmed that the former Bangladesh vice-captain has a fracture in his first lumber vertebrae.

Rajin, who scored 53 in the practice game, was feeling bad.

"It's disappointing. I picked up an injury during our victory against India (in December, 2004). It seemed nothing serious as I continued to play. I felt pain during fielding but a massage from the physio was enough to keep me going. I never thought it would be so serious," Rajin said.

He is expected to leave the Sri Lankan capital in the early hours of Monday at the end of the one-day series along with Khaled Mahmud, Abdur Razzak and Nazmul Hossain.

Bangladesh cricket team's physio Paul Close informed on Saturday that the Sylhet batsman, who is an excellent fielder as well, might have been carrying an old injury that only got worse last week.

"He complained about that after arriving in Sri Lanka. The scan can not determine how old it is but my guess is he will need six to 12 weeks' rest," said Close, who has been very busy here.

He also added Nazmul was okay and his problem during the second one-dayer at Premadasa Stadium was nothing more than a rare attack of cramps on the upper and lower parts of his both legs.

"Mashrafee's scan report has shown he has no fracture or even any muscle injury. All he needs is rest. I hope he gets fit to play very soon and we are working on his rehabilitation," the Australian added.

Mashrafee, ruled out of the entire one-day series, was also pleased to know that he has no major problem. The Narail quick, who has had both knees operated, was relieved to know that his tour was not over as suspected earlier. "Whenever I prepare to hear a report about me, I feel nervous. The way Paul (Close) was reading my report today, I thought I would have to take the next flight home. But I am happy to stay," said Mashrafee, for whom injury is middle name.

"The pain has eased a bit in the last two days but I can't tell when I will be able to bowl at the nets," he added.

The Tigers' attack has already been weakened in his absence in the limited-overs series but the team's think-tank is pinning hopes that he recovers in nine days before the Test series starts.

If he fails to recover before the first Test, Bangladesh will be left with only one frontline pacer in Tapash Baisya. With Mahmud and Nazmul leaving, Tapash will only have support from rookies Syed Rasel yet to make his Test debut -- and Shahadat Hossain, who will join the squad after the one-dayers.

The others to join the squad are Enamul Haque Jr and opening batsman Nafees Iqbal.

Bangladesh will have a third left-arm spinner in the Test squad beside Mohammad Rafique and Enamul as all-rounder Manjarul Islam, originally not in the plan for the two Tests, has been retained as Rajin's replacement.