Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh opener, has been ruled out of their two-Test series in New Zealand in January because of a thumb injury, as per a report on Tuesday. It’s been more than four months since the Tigers’ left-hander last played international cricket.
The report quoted Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Debashish Chowdhury as saying Tamim Iqbal would need a month’s rest to recover from the injury he picked up last month. Debashish Chowdhury said that the 32-year-old will need the rest of one more month to get back to shape.
Tamim Iqbal Ruled Out Of Bangladesh’s Both 2 Test Series Against Pakistan And New Zealand
Last week, Tamim Iqbal, who opted out of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, citing a lack of game time as he recovered from a knee injury, was ruled out of Bangladesh’s two-Test home series against Pakistan, which starts on Friday, due to the injury.
“He met the physician and they have advised him to take a one-month rest though he won’t require any surgery,” Chowdhury told Cricbuzz.
“In that case, he’s missing the New Zealand tour.”
Bangladesh is due to play the first Test against New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui from Jan. 1, followed by the second match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from Jan. 9. Both Tests will be part of the teams’ World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle.
Tamim Iqbal Opted Out Of T20I World Cup 2021
Tamim Iqbal, who last played for Bangladesh in an ODI match against Zimbabwe in July, had missed the entire T20 World Cup for the Tigers after he sustained a knee injury. The left-handed batsman opted out of the tournament in order to give a chance to the young openers like Mohammad Naim and Liton Das. Tamim Iqbal, who is also Bangladesh’s ODI skipper, said he learned he had a thumb fracture through X-ray reports.
With 4788 runs from 123 innings, Tamim Iqbal is currently the leading run-scorer for Bangladesh in the Test format. The southpaw also has 31 fifties and nine hundred to his name. Bangladesh played three T20I matches against Pakistan, all of which they lost before the two-Test matches are scheduled. The first Test match will be played between November 26-30 in Chattogram, followed by the second Test in Dhaka starting on December 4.
After finishing second in Group B, Bangladesh qualified in the 2021 T20 World Cup but lost all their Group 1 fixtures in the Super 12 stage. Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out in the middle of the tournament owing to a hamstring injury, and his participation in the Pakistan series also remains doubtful.
The veteran all-rounder, though, has been picked in the Tigers’ squad for the opening Test against Pakistan, but his fitness will be assessed before the contest. Uncapped Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Rahman Raja have been called up for the game.