Tamim to miss home series against Australia, New Zealand

Bangladesh's skipper Tamim Iqbal plays a shot during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on 25 May, 2021
AFP file photo

Bangladesh opener and ODI captain Tamim Iqbal will miss the home series against Australia and New Zealand in August and September, respectively.

The left-handed batsman has been suffering from a leg injury that he has sustained during the Sri Lanka tour earlier this year. He had recovered well to play an ODI series in May. He also took part in the Dhaka Premier League T20.

Tamim missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe earlier this month due to the same injury. He is now coming back home without playing the three-match T20 series against the hosts.

“Tamim has been advised to stay out of cricket for at least six to eight weeks,” Minhajul Abedin, the chief selector of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), told the media.

“He will now miss the Australia and New Zealand series at home. He is coming back home with Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam. We asked Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain to stay with the team for the T20 series,” Minhajul added.

Bangladesh have played a one-off Test and three ODIs in Zimbabwe and won all the matches.

In the last ODI on Tuesday, Tamim hit his 14th ODI ton off 87 balls. It was his fastest ton in the format.