Bangladesh cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim (L) and Mehedi Hasan jog during a training session in Wellington on Wednesday. — BCB photo
Bangladesh’s hopes of bolstering their batting in the second Test against New Zealand with the return of Mushfiqur Rahim suffered a jolt as coach Steve Rhodes reported on Wednesday that the experienced batsman still remained ‘extremely doubtful’ for the game.
The second Test of the three-match series will begin at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday with Bangladesh trailing New Zealand 0-1, having suffered an innings and 52-run loss in the opening Test in Hamilton.
Mushfiq missed the first Test after sustaining a wrist injury during the third and final match of three-match one-day international series in Dunedin on February 20.
The 31-year old batsman, who was struggling with a wrist injury, returned to training on Wednesday and spent a considerable amount of time in the nets but, according to Rhodes, it did little to wipe out the concern about his participation in the second Test.
‘Situation with Mushy [Mushfiqur] is he is trying his best to be fit as quickly as possible for the Test matches. Today [Wednesday] was his first real hit with the tennis ball and rubber ball and finished with some cricket ball work,’ Rhodes told reporters in Wellington.
‘When he got to [playing with] the cricket ball, there was still a little bit of soreness in that ligament area, so it means he will be extremely doubtful for the second Test,’ he added.
The 54-year old Englishman believed that only a miracle could make Mushfiq play in the second Test but they were fully confident of getting him in the final Test in Christchurch, starting from March 16.
‘It will take an amazing recovery overnight but we all hold out hope all the time for Mushy [Mushfiqur]. The good news maybe that he is on course for the third Test if there is no setback along the way,’ Rhodes said.
Bangladesh also had some worries regarding Tamim Iqbal, who was suffering from a few niggles, but Rhodes was confident of having him and others fit for the second Test.
‘Tamim had a light workout today, just a little bit sore but nothing major. He is in a good spot and batted for few overs and scored over 200 runs [in the Hamilton Test].
‘He [Tamim] is okay and the rest of the boys are fine, so there is no drama in that respect,’ he said.
Bangladesh are already without their regular skipper Sakib Al Hasan, who injured his finger last month and should not be available until the final Test in Christchurch, according the Bangladesh Cricket Board physicians.
Soumya Sarkar, who batted at Sakib’s number five position in the opening Test and scored his maiden century in the second innings, has left coach Rhodes impressed.
‘What was really pleasing in the last game was to see Soumya coming out and doing so well because in many ways he was a back-up batsman along with Liton [Das].
‘Fingers crossed we will go to tomorrow’s session which will be a very light session. Then they all will be available for the second Test,’ said Rhodes.
Source: New Age.
