In an another setback for host Bangladesh, Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out from the upcoming home series against Pakistan due to a thumb injury.
Host Bangladesh will already be without the services of Mohammad Saifuddin for the entire series while ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has been ruled out of the T20I series because of the hamstring injury which he had sustained during the just concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE.
As per reports, Tamim had began his net sessions last week to prepare for the Tests however, he went for an x-ray as he felt uncomfortable while batting against pace bowlers and later, scans revealed that he had fractured his thumb.
Significantly, the Bangladesh opener was eyeing a comeback during the Test series against Pakistan.
“Yes, he is ruled out from the home series against Pakistan due to a thumb injury. The swelling has not healed and due to that reason he had another x-ray. It revealed he is having a fracture that was not found out previously,” Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) chief selector Minhajul Abedin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
As per schedule, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan is scheduled to play two Tests and three T20 matches in Bangladesh during the tour, which will begin on November 19 in Dhaka.
While the T20I matches will be played on November 19, 20, and 22 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, the opening Test will be held from November 26 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram and the second and final Test will be held from December 4 in Dhaka.
Earlier, the Bangladesh cricket team had toured Pakistan in January 2020 for a three-match T20I series. Hosts Pakistan had won the series 2-0 with a game being abandoned due to rain.
Meanwhile, the BCB is hoping to allow fans back in the stadium for the home series against Pakistan as chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury had reportedly said that his board is aiming to bring back crowd in the stands.
As per reports, up to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity could be filled during the upcoming home series against Pakistan.
Notably, fans have been barred from the stadium in any international game in Bangladesh due to the Covid-19 situation. However, Chowdhury said that the BCB is thinking to allow atleast 50 percent crowd but the last decision will be taken by the government.
“We are hopeful to have fifty percent fans in the ground subject to the government approval. The fans need to be vaccinated. As children are yet to be vaccinated, they are unlikely to be allowed to see the matches from the gallery in the Pakistan series,” Chowdhury was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.