Watching on television at the Standton Sun hotel as his teammates enjoy their best day under the sun against West Indies yesterday brought tears down Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza's face.

After the teenage speedster burst on to the scene with a fiery spell of bowling against Zimbabwe in November 2001 and was praised by none other than great West Indian Andy Roberts, it was only natural for him to be playing in the World Cup.

Unfortunately a freak training accident 24 hours before the Tigers' third Pool B match made sure he would no longer be part of his team's

World Cup battles this time.

"I don't know why it is happening with me all over again. It was my fault when I first got injured while skipping back home at Narail. But after working so hard for the past year this has to be unfair," wailed the 19-year-old bowler.

"I talked to my mother last night. She was crying and I could not console her," he said.

"Nobody knows the amount of effort I had to put to recover from the initial back injury followed by a broken leg. I have to learn how to use the computer to maintain an online recovery schedule in India. Since there was no local qualified physiotherapist it took me longer then expected to recover."

With his eyes transfixed on the set, Mashrafee saw Talha Jubair trying to fill his shoes 50 kilometres away from the posh hotel and wondered how he would have ulitised the overcast conditions at Willomoore Park.

In a dismal campaign he captured two wickets against Canada and used the long handle against Sri Lanka very well to score 28.

Mashrafee may consider himself jinxed as his earlier mishap put him out of action for over a year leading to speculation he was surely going to miss the showcase event.

But so soon after making a miraculous comeback he is worried to know the extent of damage on right ankle.

"The doctor told me it might take me another three months to recover. I don't mind even it requires more time. I will definitely be back."

A three-man medical panel is observing Mashrafee's condition. They will wait four or five days before making a decision whether he needs surgery.

The BCB is keen to have the operation performed in South Africa. Whatever happens it is yet another sad chapter in the promising career of the young paceman.