Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to miss not only the final ODI against Afghanistan but also potentially the entire West Indies series. The seriousness of Shanto’s groin injury, sustained in the recent match against Afghanistan, has raised concerns about his immediate playing future.

Shanto’s injury troubles began during his innings in the second ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah, where he was forced to leave the field due to a groin strain. Despite a promising knock of 76 runs, the pain escalated during fielding, requiring him to exit the game early. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took over captaincy duties for the rest of the match.

With Shanto undergoing an MRI scan that revealed a significant groin strain, his participation in both the Afghanistan series finale and the upcoming West Indies series is uncertain. His recovery timeline could stretch up to six weeks, putting his availability for not only the Test series but also the ODI and T20 series against the West Indies in jeopardy. As Shanto continues his rehabilitation, Bangladesh will likely have to make key leadership adjustments for their Caribbean tour.

For the last ODI against Afghanistan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz will serve as stand-in captain. However, Bangladesh's leadership for the West Indies tour remains unsettled should Shanto be sidelined for the entire series. While Miraz is the current Test vice-captain, his role in the T20 lineup is less assured, leaving the team to consider alternatives if Shanto cannot return in time.