AUS vs BAN 2026: Pacer Nahid Rana Out of Bangladesh vs Australia Test Series
Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana is ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Australia due to a Grade 2 side strain. Key players Shoriful Islam and Litton Das are also sidelined with injuries, making them doubtful for the first Test in Darwin (August 13-17) but potentially available for the second Test in Mackay (August 22-26).
Bangladesh's historic Test tour of Australia has been dealt a significant blow with pace sensation Nahid Rana officially ruled out of the two-match series. The 23-year-old sustained a Grade 2 left side strain during the second T20 International against Zimbabwe on July 17, and subsequent medical assessments have confirmed he will miss the entire series. The news comes as a major setback for the Tigers, who are preparing for their first Test series on Australian soil in 22 years, a tour that forms part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. 4, 6, 4, 4! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Hits Richard Ngarava for 18 Runs Before Giving Wicket Away During IND vs ZIM 2nd T20I (Watch Video).
Nahid Rana Ruled Of BAN vs AUS 2026
Bangladesh fast man Nahid Rana has been formally ruled out of the Tests in Australia with a grade two side strain that will take about 8 weeks to recover from. That's a big blow to Bangladesh, and to the series https://t.co/WhaJV9aqsl pic.twitter.com/3XVJivjTjQ
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) July 25, 2026
Injury Woes Mount for Bangladesh
Nahid Rana's injury requires an estimated recovery period of six to eight weeks, comprising approximately four weeks for tissue healing followed by another two to four weeks of gradual bowling workload progression.
Adding to Bangladesh's concerns, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das are also struggling with injuries. Shoriful, who suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring injury on July 14, is expected to resume bowling on July 29 and undergo a fitness assessment around August 12. While he is unlikely to be available for the opening Test, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is hopeful he can return for the second match.
Litton Das is rehabilitating a left calf muscle injury, having recently undergone platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment in Singapore. He is slated to begin a progressive running and conditioning program on July 28, with a fitness assessment scheduled for around August 13. Like Shoriful, Das is targeting a return for the second Test.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar indicated that Ebadot Hossain, who initially opted out for family reasons, could be included if he returns by July 30 to complete visa formalities. Hasan Mahmud is another fast-bowling option being considered.
Series Schedule
The two-match Test series is a highly anticipated event, marking Bangladesh's return to Test cricket in Australia after a long hiatus.
| Match | Dates | Venue | Local Start Time (Time Zone) | UTC Start Time | IST Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 13-17, 2026 | Marrara Stadium, Darwin | 10:00 AM (ACST, UTC+9:30) | 00:30 AM (Aug 13) | 06:00 AM (Aug 13) |
| 2nd Test | August 22-26, 2026 | Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay | 10:00 AM (AEST, UTC+10) | 00:00 AM (Aug 22) | 05:30 AM (Aug 22) |
Head-to-Head and Recent Form
In Test cricket, Australia holds a dominant record against Bangladesh, having won 5 of their 6 encounters. Bangladesh's sole Test victory against Australia came at home in 2017. 'Next Decade is India’s’, Dinesh Karthik Reacts To Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation as Education Minister.
Australia, currently ranked 1st in ICC Test rankings, were the ICC World Test Championship champions for the 2021-2023 cycle and recently concluded a strong Ashes series against England in 2025-26, defeating them 4-1 to retain the urn. South Africa are the reigning ICC World Test Championship winners for the 2025-2027 cycle. Bangladesh, ranked 7th in Tests as of May 2026, have shown promising form recently.
The absence of key pacers like Rana will undoubtedly test Bangladesh's depth and resilience as they face a formidable Australian side in conditions that traditionally favour fast bowling. The performance of the Tigers in this challenging series will be crucial for their standing in the World Test Championship cycle.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2026 07:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
