Bangladesh received a major blow ahead of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan as pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out of the series with a toe injury in the just concluded Indian Premier League.

Mustafizur picked up the injury when playing for Mumbai Indians in an IPL encounter against Delhi Daredevils on May 20, as he attempted to stop a ball off his own bowling with his foot.

BCB's media manager Rabib Imam informed the media that Mustafizur has been administered two full week's rest before he can start his rehabilitation.

"A fracture has been found on the big toe of his left foot. Upon inspection by our medical team, they let us know that he will have to stay away from action for 3 to 4 weeks. He will have to undergo two weeks of complete rest and then after two weeks he can start rehabilitation, " BCB's media manager Rabib Imam informed media in order to update the status of Mustafizur.

As a result, he was ruled out from the upcoming series against Afghanistan. Tigers left Dhaka on Tuesday for the three match T20 campaign against Afghanistan without one of their major strike bowler. Mustafizur, who was part of Mumbai Indians for this edition of IPL, sustained the toe injury while playing against Delhi Daredevil that happened to be the last game for the former champions at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on May 20.

Mustafizur was looking to stop it on his follow through but the powerful shot looked to have smashed his boot before being deflected away towards mid-on after he was brought back into the attack after his two over opening spell. During the pre-series official press conference on Sunday, interim head coach Courtney Walsh first revealed Mustafizur's injury.

It was hoped that a few days of rest would allow him to play some part in the series. Bangladesh T20 skipper Shakib al Hasan also did not travel with the team as he is expected to take two days rest to recuperate from the work load that he endured in the tournament.

Bangladesh Test and Twenty20 skipper Shakib al Hasan believes that his experience in the Indian Premier League will help him in the upcoming series against Afghanistan because of his familiarity with the condition. Shakib returned to Dhaka on Monday (May 28) after completing his stint with runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad who picked him in the auction after not being retained by Kolkata Knight Riders.

Shakib decided not participate in the exhibition match for the ICC World XI against the Windies at Lord's on May 31 this year as he wanted to take rest before the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Dehradun. He will join the Bangladesh squad on May 31.

"I think IPL experience will certainly help me ahead of the series against Afghanistan. The series will be played in India and so it will be more or less like playing at the same place and in familiar condition. "Although we did not play there [Dehradun] but my experience suggests that the wicket will be quite similar to what is laid in other parts of the country and so my experience will come handy."

Shakib added that he was satisfied with his performance but acknowledged he was disappointed he couldn't convert his starts. "Perhaps it could have been better but I am overall satisfied with my own performance as well as the way we played as a team in the tournament, " he said.

"My only disappointment remains with my batting as in every match despite getting the start somehow could not translate them into big knocks." Shakib didn't look to bothered by the Rashid Khan threat but had no hesitation in accepting that Bangladesh the start the series as underdogs. "Certainly there will be some kind of talk about him [Rashid] but as I am not willing to make any comment there is no further chance of elaborating the discussion, " he said cryptically. "Actually there are no favorites in T20 cricket.

Any team can beat any other team in this format. "[But] As Afghanistan are two steps ahead of us so I will say that they are the favorites." Afghanistan are ranked eighth in the ICC T20 rankings while Bangladesh are placed two places behind them.

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