Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has resumed bowling after spending nearly six weeks on the sidelines with an injury. The 23-year-old bowled with a shortened run-up at the Mirpur Academy ground on Monday under the supervision of pace bowling coach Talha Jubair and team physiotherapist Bayezidul Islam.

However, Rana will not be considered for Bangladesh’s cricket campaign at the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

Rana picked up the injury during Bangladesh’s series against hosts Zimbabwe in July, which ruled him out of the subsequent two-match Test series against Australia. He has now returned to bowling as he works his way back to full fitness.

Although he has resumed on-field training, the selectors do not want to rush him into competitive action at the Asian Games this month. They are hopeful that Rana will be fully fit before Bangladesh’s series against Afghanistan in October.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play one Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan. If Zimbabwe agree to participate, the ODI series could instead be turned into a tri-nation tournament.

Depending on his fitness and the team’s requirements, Rana could be considered for any format during the Afghanistan series.

Bangladesh chief selector Habibul Bashar Suman said the team management is unwilling to take any risk with Rana’s recovery and has therefore decided against selecting him for the Asian Games in September.