The ugly side to the beautiful game

Injuries to two of Bangladesh's leading cricketers has led their chief selector to call for restrictions on players using football as a pre-game warm-up.

In the past week, former Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim suffered a minor ankle injury during a football match ahead of a domestic game, while allrounder Nasir Hossain tore ligaments in his knee during a game of football, reportedly after a friend's wedding. Mushfiqur has been ruled out for up to three weeks while Nasir is facing six months on the sidelines.

Selector Minhajul Abedin said a more low-risk warm-up routine must be considered to avoid further injuries.

"There will have to be a restriction on this, because ... players are injured while playing soccer," Abedin said.

"It's something the team management will have to look into."

The Daily Star also reported that Bangladesh's chief medico, Dr Debashish Chowdhury, has urged players to consider a warm-up of lower intensity.

Cricket teams often carry a football with them when on tour as a way of adding variety to training sessions, while the Australian men's team prefers an Australian Football Sherrin to incorporate into their warm-ups.

The round-ball game has an infamous history with cricketers, with many players suffering injuries after friendly warm-up games became a little too willing.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Shaminda Eranga was ruled out of a Test against Australia in 2013 after twisting his ankle playing football on the eve of the match.

India's Rohit Sharma suffered the same fate in 2010, the day before he was set to make his Test debut, which didn't eventually come until three years later.

And in 2009, England wicketkeeper Matt Prior suffered back spasms during a football game on the morning of an Ashes Test against Australia, which the Aussies won comfortably.

Prior's injury came just a month after one-day batsman Joe Denly twisted his knee in a pre-game football match due to what was labelled "a bit of a clumsy challenge" from teammate Owais Shah.

While those injuries were relatively minor, Hampshire fast bowler Fidel Edwards missed almost the entire 2016 county season due to an ankle injury suffered in a football match.