Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selector Habibul Bashar remarked that Bangladesh needs veteran opener Tamim Iqbal's expertise in the upcoming World Cup and hopeful that Tamim will return in the New Zealand series before the extravaganza in India.
Recently, the opener has stepped down as the one-day international captain. Tamim's decision comes after a lot of uncertainty over his availability, as the cricketer is currently healing from a recurring lower-back problem.
Tamim opted out of the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023 because the schedule is too short for the cricketer to recover and attain match fitness.
Tiger selector is confident about Tamim’s recovery as the latter is also eyeing to return with the ODI home series against the Kiwis in mid-September and also play the Cricket World Cup 2023.
“He (Tamim) is working hard, trying hard to come back. I think he will come back before time. I am confident that we might get him in the New Zealand series. Because we need Tamim very much for the World Cup. Tamim's experience, performance is much needed for us to do well. The way Tamim is working, the way he is giving time, I think he can come back before time,” Bashar said to media on Saturday.
“Look, the World Cup in October, he has time before that. We hope he will be back before coming to New Zealand. Maybe there will be some niggles, Tamim knows that and he can make the best decision about that. As I said, we need a healthy, fit Tamim. Because his performance will be very important in doing well in the World Cup” he added.
Tamim traveled to England for treatment of the injury and took two injections in the lumbar as part of the pain relief management.
He started the rehabilitation process a few days after returning home on July 31 after his treatment in London.
As a part of the plan, the Southpaw has started gym and fitness from August 9. Tamim is scheduled to start batting today as per the schedule for his rehabilitation process.
Another experienced all-rounder Mahmudullah was not included in the 17-member Asia Cup team. However, there is a special practice session for Tamim-Mahmudullah, which starts tomorrow (August 20-September 5).
Along with these two experienced cricketers, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain, Tanjim Hasan, Saif Hasan and Zakir Hasan will be in this special training camp of BCB.