All-rounder Sakib al Hasan’s availability for the remaining two One-Day Internationals and the lone Twenty20 International of Bangladesh’s series against New Zealand were thrown in serious doubt after he was diagnosed with dengue fever on Monday.
Sakib was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on Monday night due to a high temperature, and a subsequent blood test confirmed that he had contracted dengue fever, which made it unlikely that he would take any part in the series’ limited-overs leg.
Sakib missed the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday and was replaced by Naeem Islam in the starting line-up.
‘The blood test report has confirmed that it is a case of dengue fever and Sakib will remain at the hospital for further observation,’ national team physio Vibhav Singh was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday.
The news will come as a blow to Bangladesh’s chances in the one-day series, as the Tigers rely heavily on the all-rounder’s exploits in all formats of the game.
Sakib was expected to be a major threat against the Kiwis in the three-match ODI series, having played a vital role in the 4-0 home series win over the same visitors in 2010.
Sakib, who was then the stand-in captain in place of the injured Mashrafee bin Murtaza, led from the front with a number of virtuoso displays, scoring 213 runs and scalping 11 wickets to earn the man-of-the-series award.
The all-rounder’s absence is the latest in a season marred by injuries. He missed the one-day series against the West Indies at home in December and both the Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka in March.
He returned for the Zimbabwe tour in April but struggled to repeat the performances that had elevated him into one of the world’s premier all-rounders.
Sakib was not fully-fit in the recently-concluded Test series against New Zealand, though his still bowled 33 overs in the first Test in Chittagong.
He did, however, edge closer to his best form in the second Test – in which he claimed five wickets in New Zealand’s only innings – only to find himself sidelined again.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday added left-arm spinner Elias Sunny in the squad for the second ODI to make up for his absence, the Sakib was not officially ruled out of series yet.
-With New Age input
