Tamim boosts rehab with short net session

Bangladesh were given some positive news ahead of the World Series as former ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal returned to batting in the nets following his rehabilitation.

Though the southpaw’s session only lasted for 15 minutes against throwdowns on Sunday (Aug 20) afternoon at the BCB academy, it was the highlight from Bangladesh’s practice session after an interesting last month for the opening batter. 

On July 6, Tamim took the cricket fraternity by shock when he out of nowhere announced retirement from international cricket with immediate effect during a press conference in Chattogram. However, the veteran batter reversed his decision following intervention from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

The 34 year old then departed for England, where he was given multiple injections in order to recover immediately for his injured disc that forced him out of the only test against Afghanistan. He returned to Bangladesh on July 31 and ever since has undergone rehabilitation.

During the time, Tamim also decided to bow out as the ODI captain as he was uncertain of how back would respond to the treatment and opted to pull off the upcoming Asia Championship as he wants to fully recover before the precursor to the World Series i.e. ODI series against the Kiwis. 

Tamim mostly played on the front foot on Sunday, besides attempting occasional shots off the back foot. He didn’t seem fazed while driving or cutting the short ball off the backfoot. 

He was seen talking to members of the medical unit including physio Bayzidul Islam and recently appointed head of board’s rehabilitation centre Kiron Thomas, in between his batting.  He was stretching and bending his back without much trouble, indicating that he is slowly but surely getting better. 

BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus was delighted to see Iqbal’s progress. “We wanted him to return as soon as possible and we calculated previously that he would return [to bat] on 18 or 19 and later after recovering fully, return to the national team [ahead of the home series against New Zealand]," Jalal told reporters on Sunday.

"So far what we are hearing is that he is doing well. Now he's started batting and after increasing intensity [we will have a better knowledge about his physical condition].

"We all want to see Tamim get back his old form and everyone is supporting him, not only the cricket operations team but our board president [Nazmul Hasan] is also calling and talking to the physio and the head coach and constantly getting updated about him and I don't think there is any gap there," he added.

Meanwhile, Jalal said that even if there was any minor misunderstanding between Tamim and team management, it was not an issue to raise concerns and will soon be sorted out sooner than later. 

It was reported earlier this year that Tamim and Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha were not seeing eye to eye though the claim could not be validated by BCB, but Jalal said that it wouldn’t take long to make a start. 

“Everywhere there is misunderstanding and it can also be there in the team, but I don't think it is a big issue," he said. "We are hoping everything will be fine and we will try from every corner and I think there will be no gap."