Bangladesh’s struggling cricket team in South Africa suffered a further blow on Friday when opener Tamim Iqbal was ruled out third and final one-day international, scheduled in East London on October 22. Team manager Minhajul Abedin said Tamim is also unlikely to play two Twenty20 internationals against the home side that will follow the three ODIs.‘Tamim and Mustafiz [are] going back due to injury,’ Minhajul said in a message. Tamim and Mustafiz will return home respectively on October 22 and 23, he said.
Tamim went for the scan after he aggravated his muscle injury that already sidelined him from the second Test in Bloemfontein and first ODI in Kimberly.
The left-hander passed the fitness test to play the second ODI in Paarl, but he was not in his best physical condition during the game where he made 23 runs.
Out-of-form Soumya Sarkar is likely to replace Tamim in the third ODI though the team also has to option to play Mominul Haque, who is travelling as his injury cover.
The injury of Tamim also has delayed the announcement of Bangladesh Twenty20 squad, where few changes from ODI side are now expected.
After the retirement of Mashrafee bin Muratza from Twenty20 internationals, Sakib al Hasan is expected to resume his role as captain in this format, having already led the in four matches during his first stint in 2009-10.
The first T20I– a day-night- game is scheduled in Bloemfontein on October 26 before Bangladesh wrap-up their tour with the second match at Potchefstroom on October 29.
-With New Age input
