Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh National Cricket team will take on New Zealand National Cricket team in the 2nd Test today at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand. The match starts at 4.00 am BST (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Tamim Iqbal will lead the Bangladesh team in the second Test against New Zealand. Tamim has been named as Captain for the match after regular skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was ruled out due to a thumb injury. Batsmen Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque are also sidelined after failing to confirm fitness for the match. Shakib Al Hasan will be the Vice-Captain for the Test.
Bangladesh physio Dean Conway said, “Mushfiqur still has pain in the joint of his right thumb which needs time to heal. At this stage we are confident that he will recover fully in a couple of weeks and will be fit for our next Test commitment.
“Imrul has a strain in the front thigh muscle sustained on day four of the first Test. He will need around two weeks to return to training from the day of the injury.
“Mominul is nursing a bruised rib cage. The x-ray on him came out clear but he was unable to make the necessary movements in training today and is not fit for the Test.”
Due to the injury-enforced unavailability of the three players fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman and uncapped batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto have been included in the revised 14-man squad for the second Test.
Tamim Iqbal said, ” I shall miss Mushfiqur Rahim and Imrul Kayes. Mushfiqur Rahim is a good Captain. He is a dependable wicketkeeper-batsman. Imrul is a noted opener.”
Trent Boult of New Zealand said, “Hagley Oval is a pretty good surface. Generally a bit of grass is left on it and ball tends to seam around. I think the first couple of hours are crucial, but it does turn into a nice batting wicket.”
The 14-member Bangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan (Vice-Captain), Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Subashis Roy, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Hossain Shanto.
The 13-member New Zealand squad: KS Williamson (Captain), Trent Boult, DG Brownlie, C de Grandhomme, MJ Henry, TWM Latham, HM Nicholls, JA Raval, MJ Santner, TG Southee, LRPL Taylor, N Wagner, BJ Watling.
