‘Tamim likely to play practice match’

There seems to be some good news on the horizon for Bangladesh as star opener and highest ODI run-scorer Tamim Iqbal is well on the way to recovery from a thigh muscle injury, with chief selector and acting team manager Minhajul Abedin saying that there is a good chance of the left-hander playing Tigers' one-day practice game against a South Africa Invitation XI in Bloemfontein on Thursday. 

"He is okay. He will bat in the nets tomorrow [Wednesday]," Minhajul told The Daily Star yesterday. "He stretched and did weight training in the gym today. There is more than an even chance that he will play in the practice game on Thursday. We will know more after practice tomorrow [Wednesday]."

Tamim suffered a Grade 1 tear of his left thigh muscle during the three-day tour match in Benoni between September 21 and 23. He had played the first Test against South Africa in Potchefstroom from September 28, but aggravated the injury while fielding during Bangladesh's 333-run defeat. When the team arrived in Bloemfontein on October 3, a specialist ruled him out of the second Test and advised 10 days of rehabilitation to have a chance of being fit for the three-match ODI series starting in Kimberley on October 15.

The Bangladesh team did not practice today, opting for a gym session which all members attended. They will practice in the morning tomorrow at the Mangaung Oval, which is also the venue for the practice match.