Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal opts out of India tour

Tamim Iqbal, the ace Bangladesh batsman, has pulled out from the tour of India. The same is because his wife, Ayesha Siddiqa, is expecting their second child later in November. The Chittagong-born was earlier named in the T20I squad, but he had informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that he might have to skip the second Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, starting November 22.

The southpaw, who is currently, nursing a rib injury, has since decided to be with his better-half for the weeks heading up to the delivery date too. Tamim hasn’t played any international cricket after the Tigers’ ODI series versus Sri Lanka where he was the skipper in Mashrafe Mortaza’s absence.

“Tamim had informed us earlier that he would miss the second Test in Kolkata but now he will be with his wife for the coming weeks,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

BCB names Tamim’s replacement

After Tamim opted out, the BCB has named Imrul Kayes as his replacement. However, it’s not yet known whether the latter will stay for the Test series too. Kayes has been in excellent form in the National Cricket League (NCL). The left-hander scored an unbeaten 202 against Rangpur Division, playing for the Khulna Division. He backed it up with knocks of 93 and 22 in the next game.

As far as Tamim Iqbal is concerned, he asked the BCB for a break after the Lanka series. He didn’t play the Tests and T20Is versus Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. The experienced campaigner made his return in the NCL for the Chittagong Division and got scores of 30 and 46. To his sheer agony, he developed an injury ahead of the second game. The tour of India was set to mark his return at the highest level.

Apart from Tamim, Bangladesh have been dealt with another setback. Fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin, one of their in-form bowlers, was ruled out due to a back injury. Saifuddin will be undergoing rehabilitation and will be monitored by the medical team of the BCB.

The cricket board hasn’t announced his replacement though. The T20Is versus India get underway on November 3 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Two more games in the shortest format will be played after which the Test series starts.

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