Mash out for up to eight weeks

Bangladesh's most successful limited-overs captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been ruled out for six to eight weeks after sustaining a right thumb fracture during the third and final T20I against New Zealand at the Bay Oval yesterday.

He suffered that painful blow in the 18th over when he was trying to stop a cracking straight drive from Corey Anderson, the left-handed batsman who smashed 10 sixes in the game.

“It felt like my hand was broken,” the Bangladesh captain said while talking to reporters at the Trinity Wharf Hotel last night. Wearing a sling, he also showed the X-ray image that he has kept in his cell phone, where a big crack was prominently on display.

Injury is something not new for Mashrafe. The pace bowler, who has underwent so many surgeries on both knees in a stop-start career, however picked up a thumb injury for the first time. He was however confident that he would recover in time before Bangladesh's next limited-overs assignment in Sri Lanka in March-April.

He will now travel to Auckland for another medical check-up in four days before heading to Sydney to enjoy a planned vacation with his family -- his wife, son Sahel and daughter Humayra. But the freak injury has certainly upset his vacation plans.

“After consulting the doctor here I will travel to Sydney where I might consult with another doctor. But most likely I will head back home as soon as possible and want to take rest over there,” said Mashrafe while keeping an eye on his two beautiful children roaming around in the hotel lobby at that time.

Better known as a man of steel, Mashrafe showed little signs of discomfort with his broken thumb. He was still lamenting what he termed another missed opportunity.

“We were in a great position when we took three early wickets. But we could not break that partnership,” he said, adding that his team still had a chance despite that Anderson hammering when Bangladesh cruised to 80 for one in eight overs.

Asked how disappointing to lose both limited-overs series 3-0 Mashrafe again said it could have been different had they seized their chances.

“We should have won the second ODI in Nelson. We also created chances in all the three T20Is. It's disappointing to lose all six games. Still, I think we didn't play that badly,” Mashrafe observed.

While talking to reporters Bangladesh's bowling coach and West Indies great Courtney Walsh came onto the scene. He hugged Mashrafe and said: “Enjoy your time with your family. It will be okay man!”