(UTV | BANGLADESH) – Tamim Iqbal set to return to competitive cricket after injury layoff
Bangladesh’s ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal is set to return to competitive cricket following his long lay-off due to injury. The left-handed batter, batted in the nets for half an hour against the spinners and had throwdowns at the BCB indoor facility on Monday (December 20). Tamim, who made himself unavailable from the ICC T20 World Cup, attempted a comeback in the Everest Premier League but suffered a fresh injury blow with a fracture to his left thumb that sidelined him further. He then attempted a comeback in the National Cricket League, the country’s lone first-class tournament, to prepare for the home series against Pakistan, but that was pushed back after a scan revealed a new fracture on his injured thumb when he went for a scan after feeling uncomfortable at a nets session.
Tamim went abroad for a check-up and was advised to take a complete rest for six to eight weeks to recover and subsequently missed the New Zealand tour too. He was apparently uncomfortable on his first day in the nets even though he was batting against relatively slower deliveries and was seen checking on his injured thumb regularly during the session. The opener, who hasn’t take part in a competitive game since October 6, started his preparation at the BCB academy on Monday by keeping his eyes on the BCL white-ball format scheduled from January 9.
“I am batting after a while and there is some pain but with time it will heal totally and I have to go through it,” Tamim told on Monday. “Later I will increase the intensity of my training like batting against pace bowlers and all that, and at that point I can understand where I stand. Let’s see if I can take part in the BCL one-day tournament,” he added.
BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury said that it was part of his rehabilitation program, adding that they are planning to make him play in the BCL one-day format if everything goes well. “This is part of his rehabilitation program. He was expected to bat from November 20 and he did that. He is playing against slow bowlers and later his intensity will increase. We are expecting him to take part in the BCL one-day format,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mustafizur Rahman is also eyeing a return back after recovering from the side strain that ruled him out after the second T20I against Pakistan. The left-arm pace bowler returned to training on Sunday, December 19 after a long lay-off following the side strain injury that he sustained during the three-match against Pakistan at home. Mustafizur picked up an injury during the second T20I against Pakistan that forced him to leave the field after bowling the first ball of his third over at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on November 20.
The side strain injury eventually ruled him out from the third game of the series while he did not take part in the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League despite not being part of the Test squad that is currently in New Zealand to play a two-match Test series. “Mustafizur is bowling with 50 percent intensity. He is bowling with a short run-up and lesser pace. He will do gym sessions and increase his intensity in bowling gradually. At the moment he is not feeling any pain while bowling,” said Debashish.