Injury concerns for Tigers ahead of opener

Bangladesh are facing quite a few injury scares ahead of their first game of the World Cup 2019 against South Africa at the Oval in London tomorrow. 

The Tigers took part in a practice session at the Oval yesterday morning where opener Tamim Iqbal had a fresh injury scare after getting hit by a ball on his left wrist while batting in the nets. 

All-rounder Saifuddin is facing back problems and did not train yesterday. 

Skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza also did not bowl in the nets as he is suffering from a hamstring injury. 

Seamer Mustafizur Rahman also had a calf muscle problem but the left-arm pacer braved it and bowled in the nets at the Oval. 

Mahmudullah has not started bowling yet as he is suffering from a shoulder injury for months now. 

The three pacers - Mashrafe, Saifuddin and Mustafizur - are first choice for the Tigers as frontline bowlers. 

Bangladesh have one more day before their opening game against the Proteas and pace bowling coach Courtney Walsh gave an update on the Tigers bowlers’ injuries during the practice session. 

“The good thing is that we have time on our side because we are not playing until [tomorrow], so we have [yesterday] and [today] to reassess. Saifuddin, in the last game, had a lot of stiffness so [yesterday] is his complete day off as he is recovering. We will reassess him [today] with the advice of the physio,” Walsh said at the Oval yesterday. 

“I think Mashrafe has got some niggles as well. He is not doing much [yesterday], [today] we will reassess him. Fizz is okay in the sense that it’s stiffness, but he is able to bowl with it. He has just had a bowling session so we will see how he pulls up. If he pulls up okay then he can bowl again [today]. If it’s a concern, then we have to make sure that the workload is managed and that he is okay for the game. The most important thing is to get everybody fully fit for [tomorrow],” he added. 

Answering the question whether these players will be fit for the first game, the Windies legend informed that the team management is managing the injuries cautiously as it’s going to be a long World Cup. 

“Some of them is playable, like Fizz is feeling something, but he is strong enough to give it a go so we can reassess him. In Saifuddin’s case, it has flared up, so it is best to be safe, and make sure that he gets adequate rest and then reassess him [today]. Sometimes you have to play with niggles and injuries, and a lot of these players have done it before. But it’s the World Cup, it’s the big stage and everybody wants to be fully fit for it so I think we are doing the right thing in terms of taking precautionary steps to get them fully fit for it,” Walsh said. 

Host England have beaten South Africa at the Oval Thursday where the home side scored 311 batting first. 

The wickets at the Oval are generally batting friendly. 

The Bangladesh team are expecting a good batting track and Walsh believes it will be an exciting contest.  

“I think we will be playing on the wicket that was played on [Thursday], which should be very good for us. At the Oval, you normally get good cricket wickets, good scores. I am anticipating a very good game. The wicket should play well, I expect it may help both departments in terms of a bit of spin, a bit of pace. We saw how it played yesterday, so we have a good idea how it might play [tomorrow],” he concluded. 

Bangladesh will train today prior to their first match at the Oval tomorrow.