Mash not up for Zim Tests
The Bangladesh cricket team is set to tour in Zimbabwe with a vulnerable pace attack. The experienced Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has no chance of making the squad for the two-match Test series, which the national selectors will announce today.
There has been a lot of talk over the past few days surrounding the possible return to the Test fold for the country's leading paceman, but sources close to the team informed that the Akram Khan-led panel picked the team for the demanding tour without the 'Narail Express'.
It was learnt that Mashrafe was yet to fully recover from his injury and he was not ready -- physically and mentally -- for the rigours of Test cricket; he wanted instead to work towards becoming fit and available for the three-match ODI and two-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. Mashrafe hurt his left ankle recently during practice while he was in the process of recovering from a heel injury.
“I still believe Mash (Mashrafe Bin Mortaza) will be able to play Test cricket, so does Shane (Jurgensen). But the problem with that is his (heel) injury has not resolved as we wanted it to. We thought he would have improved further by now. He hasn't bowled a ball since the 18th of February. It's a long shot. Give me three days and let me see how he responds to my management. If we don't see him in a Test match in Zimbabwe our goal is for him to play in the New Zealand Tests (at home in October),” national team physio Vibhav Singh explained about the current state of Mashrafe's injury.
The selectors were desperately hoping for Mashrafe's participation as they have been at pains to settle on a competent pace attack for the two-match Test series, which will be played in the seam-friendly Harare Sports Club ground. Rubel Hossain and Robiul Islam, who toured with the team in Sri Lanka, are likely to keep their places in the team. The selectors however were in a dilemma about the erratic Shahadat Hossain and that may pave the way for left-arm pacer Sajedul Islam, who played two Tests in 2008 in New Zealand, to be recalled as Nazmul Hasan, Shafiul Islam and Abul Hasan are injured.
There was however good news for the selectors in the return of stalwarts Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Shakib will have recovered from surgery on his shin by injured his thumb during fielding in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Hambantota, is most likely to be the time the tour starts and left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal, who had available from the first Test which will start from April 17.
“Tamim is a bit of a push, he got injured a week ago and with hand injuries it takes 4 to 6 weeks to heal. We have stopped his cricket skills and are pushing his fitness. I feel that full recovery is still two weeks away. I want to do another investigation. We could bring him back a little sooner; that is my feeling right now. If not for the first Test then certainly the second one,” informed Singh.
Shakib's injury had paved the way for left-hander Mominul to tour Sri Lanka and despite the inspirational all-rounder's return to the squad, the young middle-order batsman is set to retain his place as opener Anamul Haque has made himself unavailable for the trip due to his HSC examinations. The selectors however are more concerned with the form of vice-captain Mahmudullah Riyad, whose position in the team was the subject of considerable discussion.
There was however no scope for the selectors to make any major changes in the team after an impressive show in the just-concluded Sri Lanka tour where Mushfiqur Rahim's men drew their first test against the hosts and shared the ODI series. The tour will be remembered for the captain's double hundred and Mohammad Ashraful's brilliant comeback after he had gotten the a spot in the team following Shahriar Nafees's last-moment freak injury.
Bangladesh will play the second Test from April 25 before travelling to Bulawayo to play three ODIs – on May 3, 5 and 8 -- and two T20Is on May 11 and 12.
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