Tamim Iqbal to play 2nd Test against West Indies: Physio

By Saqibul Islam

DHAKA, Bangladesh (TheSportsNEXT) November 20, 2012: Left-hand opening batsman Tamim Iqbal showed great character on Tuesday when he cleared the fitness test to stay on course of playing the second Test match against West Indies.

Team Physiotherapist Vibhav Singh told reporters here, "He felt fine batting in the nets and we think he is fit to play tomorrow”.

Tamim Iqbal had was nursing an elbow injury which he attracted during the first Test and was unlikely to be part of playing eleven in the second Test until Tuesday evening when the left-hand aggressive opening batsman passed a fitness test and was cleared by the medical panel for his inclusion in the final playing eleven.

Following a shambolic 77 runs defeat in first Test against West Indies, Bangladesh selectors had decided to give uncapped opener Anamul Haque a chance in place of Tamim Iqbal.

Anamul Haque was top-performer for Bangladesh in ICC U19 World Cup in August and has hit two centuries in his last three first-class matches.

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Bangladesh name squad for first West Indies Test

By Saqibul Islam

DHAKA, Bangladesh (TheSportsNEXT) November 8, 2012: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), on Thursday, announced a 14-man squad for the Dhaka Test against West Indies starting Tuesday.

The Bangladesh selectors have reposed their trust in the rookie pacer Abul Hasan taking into consideration his performances in the four Twenty20 Internationals he has played for the country so far. However, it is still early to say whether he would be able to find a place in the final playing eleven against a rejuvenated West Indies side that has services of explosive opener Chris Gayle and experienced middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The selectors have also rewarded the 21-year-old offspinner Shohag Gazi for his brilliant show at the domestic cricket where he not only claimed 11 wickets in the last two matches taking a hat-trick but also delivered the goods with the bat by hitting a century.

Talking to a news conference here, BCB Chief Selector Akram Khan said, "He (Shohag Gazi) played very well in the National Cricket League, took few wickets and scored a century, so we thought this is the perfect time to give him the break. Also he is an off-spinner, as you all know West Indies team has plenty of left-handed batsmen, so we needed someone like him."

Fast bowler Rubel Hossain made his comeback into the side while Mushfiqur Rahim has been retained as skipper of the national side. Former skipper Mohammad Ashraful was singled out by the selectors as they replaced him with Naeem Islam.

The Test series between Bangladesh and West Indies consists of two Test matches with the second match starts from November 21 at Khulna.

The 14-man Bangladesh squad includes Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Zunaed Siddique, Shahriar Nafees, Naeem Islam, Nazimuddin, Nasir Hossain, Elias Sunny, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Abul Hasan, and Shohag Gazi.

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