Injury-beset Tigers back in Christchurch

The Bangladesh cricket team returned to Christchurch yesterday, a city from where they started their demanding New Zealand tour nearly a month ago. They are however residing in a different hotel this time named Rendezvous. But interestingly they are feeling a sense of déjà vu going into the second and final Test at the Hagley Oval, where they started a rough journey with a 77-run defeat in the Boxing Day ODI.

Before going into the second Test that starts from January 20, the biggest concern for a battered and bruised Tigers are injuries to key players. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim is still in agony with his left thumb, although he was getting over a mild concussion he sustained when being struck by a bouncer on his neck on the final day of the first Test in Wellington on Monday. Bangladesh team physio Dean Conway, who on Tuesday said that the captain was extremely doubtful for the second Test, was busy providing injury updates of at least three players. According to Bangladesh's media manager Rabeed Imam, who spoke on behalf of the physio, Mushfiqur was under observation after that concussion. He also said that the captain's left thumb was still swelling.

Regarding Imrul Kayes he said the opener had an ultrasound scan on his left thigh yesterday and the report says that there was a tear on his left thigh muscle and his condition will be monitored for 48 hours.  Key batsman Mominul Haque also had an X-ray on his chest, the left-hander got a few blows on the body during the first innings of the opening Test in Wellington and had to play with pain in the second innings. His report however was not available yesterday.

The injuries put the team management in serious crisis, although they have got Nurul Hasan as a back-up wicketkeeper in the team.