'Tamim likely for practice match'

There seems to be some good news on the horizon for Bangladesh as star opener Tamim Iqbal is well on the way to recovery from a thigh muscle injury, with chief selector and acting team manager Minhajul Abedin saying that there is a good chance of the left-hander playing the one-day practice game against a South Africa Invitation XI in Bloemfontein tomorrow. 

"He is okay. He will bat in the nets tomorrow [Wednesday]," Minhajul told The Daily Star yesterday. "He stretched and did weight training in the gym today [yesterday]. There is more than an even chance that he will play in the practice game on Thursday. We will know more after practice tomorrow."

Tamim suffered a Grade 1 tear of his left thigh muscle during the three-day tour match in Benoni. He had played the first Test in Potchefstroom from September 28, but aggravated the injury while fielding. When the team arrived in Bloemfontein on October 3, a specialist ruled him out of the second Test and advised 10 days of rehabilitation to have a chance of being fit for the three-match ODI series starting on October 15.

The Bangladesh team did not practice yesterday, opting for a gym session which all members attended.