Thumb injury rules Tamim Iqbal out of New Zealand Tests

Veteran batter Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of Bangladesh’s Test series against New Zealand as he is yet to recover from the thumb injury that he sustained while playing in the Everest Premier League back in September-October. It’s been more than four months since the Tigers’ left-hander last played international cricket.

Debashish Chowdhury, the chief physician of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, put forth the development surrounding Tamim’s availability for the Tests against the Kiwis. Chowdhury said that the 32-year-old will need a rest of one more month to get back to shape.

“He (Tamim) met the physician and they have advised him to take a one-month rest though he won’t require any surgery. In that case, he’s missing the New Zealand tour,” Debashish was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand is scheduled to get underway on Saturday, January 1 with the opening Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The second Test will take place from Sunday, January 9 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Tamim Iqbal to not play against Pakistan as well

Earlier, the Chattogram-born was ruled out of Bangladesh’s opening Test against Pakistan, starting Friday, November 26 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Now that he has been ruled been ruled out of the New Zealand series, it invariably means that he won’t be a part of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Tamim is currently the leading run-scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket, having scored 4788 runs with nine centuries and 31 half-centuries after making his debut back in 2008. Back in 2010, he also scored a Test ton against England at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Apart from Tamim, the Tigers are also jostling with injury concerns to their all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan. The Khulna-born Shakib missed the three-match T20I series against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury after initially get ruled out during the T20 World Cup 2021.

The veteran has been picked in the Tigers’ squad for the opening Test against Pakistan, but his fitness will be assessed before the contest. Uncapped Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Rahman Raja has been called up for the game.