Bangladesh physio: Tamim, Soumya will be fit for first SA Test

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar will be fit for the first Test match against South Africa, believes the national team physio Thihan Chandramohan. The Tigers physio informed thus to the media following the three-day warm-up game against Cricket South Africa XI Saturday. Tamim suffered a minor injury while batting in the first innings of the warm-up match. Soumya meanwhile, suffered a neck strain and was kept out from the field as precautionary measure in the third and final day of the game. “Tamim suffered a minor muscle injury while batting. He looks pretty good, will train normally this week and should be available for the Test,” said Thihan. “Soumya while fielding had hurt his shoulder. So it is just precautionary that we kept him off the field [Saturday]. He will train normally this week and should be fine,” added the Bangladesh physio.

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Also read: Tamim uncertain for first South Africa Test

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Given that questions looming regarding the fitness of the openers ahead of the first Test, starting from Thursday at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, it is understood that the Bangladesh think-tank are thinking of backup. According to the BCB cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan, the selection panel is mulling the inclusion of top-order batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto as the 16th member of the Bangladesh squad touring South Africa. However before anything else, Shanto will need to apply for visa to fly to the African nation. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh cricketers are coping well with the South Africa condition, thinks physio Thihan. The Sri Lankan national said the cricketers have been in good shape coming out of the home series against Australia recently. “They had a good training camp before that (Australia) series. Now we are just getting used to the condition in South Africa, which is different to that of Bangladesh. Basics are the same but in South Africa the altitude is different so the boys need to get used to that. But other than that, it is business as usual, they are trained to do this and ready to go,” Thihan explained.