Mashrafe Mortaza suffers minor injuries in road mishap

Mashrafe Mortaza during a training session.

Bangladesh’s ODI captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, was involved in a road accident and incurred minor injuries on Thursday. He sustained skin lacerations on both his hands and knee after a bus clipped a cycle-rickshaw on which Mashrafe was travelling, on his way to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

"When I saw the bus approaching towards my rickshaw, I jumped out in anticipation," Mashrafe said. "The tyre was broken and I tried to save my legs by diving out of the rickshaw. I am very lucky to have escaped with only some skin damage.

“My own car was taking my child to the doctor for vaccination so I took the rickshaw to the ground. It is a 10-minute ride from my house."

The police immediately took the offending driver into custody. The cycle-rickshaw puller was unhurt. The on-duty traffic police wanted to take Mortaza to the hospital for treatment. Mortaza opted to come to the ground and receive first-aid treatment instead.

Concerned about Mortaza’s palm injury: Hathurasinghe

Bangladesh physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said, "Mashrafe was injured in a road accident while coming to the ground this morning. These are minor injuries. He has suffered lacerations on his hands and his right knee has swollen slightly. I think he will recover quickly."

The coach, Chandika Hathurasingha, said that the team skipper will be monitored closely until the start of the upcoming series against India on June 10th.

"This is unfortunate. We are concerned about his palm," Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurasingha told ESPNcricinfo. "But we will give him maximum chance to recover in time for the ODI series."