Injured Hales to leave Rangpur Riders

Rangpur Riders opener Alex Hales will be leaving for London due to a shoulder injury that he picked up while batting during his last game against Rajshahi Kings in their Bangladesh Premier League match, according to the team’s head coach Tom Moody.    

"We got the news last night that he is required to get back to London to get some specialist opinion on his left shoulder. He hurt his left shoulder last game while batting, it wasn't fielding, it was batting. And the English cricket board (ECB) requested that he returns to get some further advice from the specialist in London and also get an MRI scan. Unfortunately that's the end of his tournament with us. He had a significant impact and a great value to us but we have got the resources within our squad to make the necessary adjustment at the top of the order," Moody informed the media after training at the academy ground in Mirpur Thursday.

The right-handed opener has been in explosive form this season with one hundred and two fifties from eight matches, and is fifth in the highest run-scorers’ list with 304 runs at an average of 43.42 and a strikerate of 167.03. 

Special feeling getting the job done for the boys with @AlexHales1 tonight! Top win to keep the momentum going. All round solid performance @RangpurRiders_

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 28, 2019

The 30-year old started the sixth season of the tournament slow, but got in the groove over the last four games. 

His scores have been nought, 15, nought, 33, 55, 100, 85 and 16.

South African batting great AB de Villiers would also be leaving Rangpur after their next BPL match, and that would be two big, in-form players leaving in quick succession, but the coach is confident in his squad and their ability to get the job done.

"As I said we have got the resources within our squad to make the necessary adjustment and we are confident as much as we miss Hales, the other overseas player will be able to step up and have an impact," Moody concluded.