BCB may decide on Mustafizur's surgery in England

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has contacted two surgeons in England and another in Australia for pacer Mustafizur Rahman's shoulder surgery.

The BCB said it may take a decision by Monday and the surgery is likely to be performed in England.

Professor Tony Kochhar -- the doctor watching over the Bangladeshi seamer in England -- suggested Mustafizur should go under the knife following two Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) on Mustafizur's injury.

Besides Kochhar, a professor at the University of Greenwich, two other surgeons are on BCB shortlist for the surgery.

"We've sent the reports to several places. We'll choose the best possible option," BCB media committee head Jalal Yunus was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com on Sunday.

"Two (of the surgeons) are in England. Tony Kochhar has already seen Mustafizur. The other is shoulder surgeon Lennard Funk."

"Lennard Funk is one of the best surgeons in the world. He has been working on shoulder injuries for a long time. He has also worked with many top athletes," Yunus said.

"We've also contacted (a surgeon in) Australia. We have three options now. A decision would be taken by Monday, as it was difficult to contact them on Saturday and Sunday," the BCB official added.

He said Mustafizur, now in England, would have to return to Bangladesh for visa if the BCB opted to send him to Australia for treatment.

"So the England option is more likely. We've written to the ECB to find out who between Kochhar and Funk will be better. We may go by their suggestion," Yunus remarked.

He also said Mustafizur was mentally prepared for the surgery.

The 20-year-old pacer will have to get another MRI done of his shoulder to identify the type of injury.

The shoulder injury has ended his county stint with Sussex Sharks in the NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London One-Day Cup.

The left-arm seamer suffered the injury during Bangladesh's home series against Zimbabwe in November last year.

The damage to the shoulder has resurfaced following Mustafizur's debut with Sussex, where he grabbed four wickets for 23 to mark his introduction to the NatWest T20 Blast.

Surgeries are usually the best remedy for such injuries but can put Mustafizur out of action for around six months.

He is looking at a packed schedule at home and away with national fixtures coming up after the English county. So the pros and cons of a surgical option have to be weighed well.

--IANS

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