Bangladesh will miss the services of skipper Shakib Al Hasan for the opening T20 International of two-match series against Sri Lanka. He is still fully recovered from his hand injury, which he sustained during the final of tri-series against Sri Lanka. Later, he got stitches in his hand and was ruled out from the Test series.

Minhajul Abedin, chief selector of Bangladesh, is confident of his return in the second game but Shakib himself is aware that this injury can prevent him from playing in the whole series.

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Minhajul revealed that doctor has removed the stitches from his hand but it will take at least a week to get healed. “We knew that he might not be available for the opening T20 but we are hopeful that he will be in back in action when we will play the series concluding game in Sylhet,” he said.

However, Shakib himself feels he will be unavailable for both matches and can make a comeback in the T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka.

“I don’t think I will be available in the T20 series. The doctor told me that it will take two weeks to heal fully. I am looking forward to playing in the Nidahas Cup by completing my rehab fully during the upcoming two weeks,” he revealed to reporters.

This tri-series will begin from March 6 in Sri Lanka, where India will be the third participant in Nidahas Cup. This series has been scheduled to celebrate Sri Lanka’s 70 years of Independence.

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The first T20I match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be played on February 15 in Dhaka while the last game is scheduled to be take place in Sylhet on 18 February.