Injured batter Tamim Iqbal left out of Bangladesh’s Cricket World Cup squad
MIRPUR, Bangladesh (AP) — Key batter Tamim Iqbal was left out of Bangladesh's 15-member Cricket World Cup squad on Tuesday because of back injury concerns.
Tamim, Bangladesh's all-time top scorer in ODIs with 8,357 runs in 240 innings, returned to the squad for the New Zealand series after recovering from back pain which had led him to quit the one-day captaincy.
He made 44 in the second ODI against New Zealand, which Bangladesh lost by 86 runs, but the back pain returned and he did not play in the third game on Tuesday.
“Due to his back injury, we had to leave him out from the squad,” said Minhajul Abedin, the chairman of the national team selection panel.
“The decision was taken after consulting with every stakeholder, like the team management which includes captain and head coach and the medical team," Abedin said. "It is understood his pain could be back any time so we can’t take risk with him.”
Tamim retired from the national team during Bangladesh’s series against Afghanistan in July but reversed the decision after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He then took an injection in London as part of his recovery from the back pain.
“The injury issue is recurring for him. A fully fit Tamim is a blessing for Bangladesh as he is one of the finest batters in our country," Abedin said. "Therefore we recalled him in (the) New Zealand series to check his fitness status. The first game was washed out, and he batted, fielded in the second game. Thereafter his pain is back.”
Bangladesh has two genuine openers in its squad in Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan. Litton has recently been going through a bad patch and Tanzid, who made his debut during the Asia Cup, is yet to play any big knock.
“Tanzid is very promising opener," Abedin said. "We need to back him to bring out the best of him.”
The selection panel also kept Mahmudullah as they believe the senior player has the fitness and form to merit inclusion.
Mahmudullah made 49 and 21 in the second and third games against New Zealand.
Bangladesh opens its World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on Oct. 7.
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Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
