Cut Nafees to miss Sri Lanka Tests

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A freak hand injury has ruled Bangladesh batsman Shahriar Nafees out of the Test series with Sri Lanka.

The 27-year-old left-hander hurt his left palm while trying to clean a bat with a sharp object on Monday and required stitches.

Shahriar Nafees will miss Bangladesh's Tests in Sri Lanka next month after accidentally cutting his hand while cleaning a bat

Fellow batsman Mohammad Ashraful, 28, who has not played a Test since December 2011, has replaced Nafees for next month’s two Tests at Galle and Colombo.

"Shahriar Nafees had a freak accident at home couple of days ago, so he has withdrawn from the tour," coach Shane Jurgensen said. "He will be border-line for the first Test, so we want to ensure that we go into the Test series with a settled group, so Mohammad Ashraful will replace him."

The tourists were already without star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who has calf trouble. Left-arm spinner Enamul Haque jnr and batsman Mominul Haque have replaced Shakib in Bangladesh’s squad.