Dhaka: Bangladesh paceman Taskin Ahmed will be out for at least three weeks following a rib injury, a team official said Friday.

Taskin suffered the injury on his left side during a training session on 23 June and missed the third one-day international against India on the following day.

‘Usually it takes three weeks to recover. Only in a few exceptional cases can the players return to full fitness early,’ team physiotherapist Baizidul Islam told AFP.

The injury made Taskin uncertain for the limited-over leg of next month’s home series against South Africa.

The Proteas will arrive in Bangladesh next week to play two Twenty20 internationals, three ODIs and two Tests.

The two T20Is will be held on 5 and 7 July while the three ODIs will be played on 10, 12 and 15 July.

‘He is very unlikely to play the Twenty20 internationals. We are now trying our best to make him fit before the ODI series,’ said Baizidul.

The two-match Test series will start in Chittagong on 21 July.   

Taskin has been an integral part of the Bangladesh team for limited-overs versions since starring for the side in the World Cup in Australia-New Zealand, where he claimed nine wickets for the quarterfinalists.

He took two wickets in the first ODI against India in the just-completed series but went wicketless in the second match.

Bangladesh beat India 2-1 to claim their maiden series over the former world champions.