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Birmingham Phoenix has suffered a massive setback as the star Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been ruled out of The Hundred 2026 because of a serious knee and hamstring injury.
It is a huge blow for the Birmingham Phoenix, who had signed the left-arm fast bowler for £100,000 in the player auction, and he was set to become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to play in The Hundred.
Mustafizur Rahman ruled out of The Hundred 2026
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had already given Mustafizur Rahman the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play the entire The Hundred 2026 from July 20 to August 20; a double injury blow ended his hopes of making history on English soil.
Rahman has suffered the hamstring injury during Bangladesh's first ODI against Zimbabwe. Later, medical scans confirmed a Grade 1 tear in his right hamstring. Adding to the woes, this injury worsened his existing meniscus problem in his right knee.
Because of these fitness issues, Rahman will now miss the entire 2026 season of The Hundred as he will focus on recovery and rehabilitation before Bangladesh’s crucial Test tour of Australia in August.
The injury happened during the first ODI against Zimbabwe. Mustafizur bowled six overs and gave away only 19 runs before feeling pain in his right leg, and he had to leave the field immediately. Amid this, Taskin Ahmed skips LPL 2026 to focus on Bangladesh's Australia Test series.
Mustafizur Rahman's recovery to take at least four weeks time
After medical scans, Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed that Mustafizur has suffered a Grade 1 tear in his right hamstring. The scans also showed a minor degenerative problem in the same knee, ruling him out of the actions for a few weeks.
The medical team believes that the left-arm pacer will need at least four weeks to recover. He will now return to Bangladesh and begin his rehabilitation before any decision is taken on his comeback.
Bayjedul Islam Khan said in an official statement, “Mustafizur Rahman complained of pain in his right hamstring while bowling during the opening ODI and left the field. We conducted a scan on July 7, and according to the report, he sustained a Grade 1 muscle tear in his right hamstring. He also has a minor degenerative issue in the same knee, and we expect his recovery to take at least four weeks. Mustafizur will return home and begin his rehabilitation.”
Birmingham Phoenix refuses to give up on Mustafizur Rahman despite injury setback
However, Birmingham Phoenix has not given up hope, as the franchise has confirmed that Mustafizur will still travel to Birmingham amid The Hundred 2026 actions.
Birmingham Phoenix's Performance Director James Thomas stated: “Having discussed Mustafizur's injuries with him and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, it has been agreed that he will travel to Birmingham as planned next week to be assessed by our medical department, after which we can determine whether he will be able to play any part in The Hundred this year.”
Now, all eyes are on Mustafizur's rehabilitation, as the next few weeks will decide whether the experienced fast bowler can regain his fitness in time for Bangladesh's busy schedule.
