Shakib boost for defeated Tigers

Bangladesh will head to Dharamsala to begin their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on the back of a four-wicket defeat against England in their second warm-up fixture in Guwahati yesterday, but they will be boosted by skipper Shakib Al Hasan's return to fitness.

Captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto in absence of the injured Shakib, Bangladesh were handed a four-wicket defeat at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium last night. After Bangladesh had scored 188 for nine in 37 overs on winning the toss in the rain-interrupted fixture, the defending world champions were set a revised target of 197, which they chased down in 24.1 overs, despite losing the top half of their batting within 114 runs during an aggressive chase. 

Bangladesh will feel good about the batting form of opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who followed up his 84 against Sri Lanka in the first warm-up with a 44-ball 45. Mehedi Hasan Miraz's form with the bat will be another big boost, with the all-rounder scoring his second consecutive half-century during an innings-high of 74.

The pace bowlers also fared decently, with Mustafizur Rahman's two wickets at the top the brightest spot in the bowling innings.

What will be of further relief is the fact that Shakib will be fit to start the game against Afghanistan, having sat out the two practice matches through an ankle injury, which he suffered recently during a training session.

Shanto informed that Shakib was fully fit and available for the opening match during the toss yesterday.

"Shakib [Al Hasan] is 100 percent fine and ready for the first match," Shanto said during the toss at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Bangladesh had beaten Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their first practice match at the same venue on September 29.