Tamim recovery on track for World Cup

Tamim Iqbal's recovery towards full fitness is right on track to play in the World Cup, starting in three weeks. For the first time since his December 29 operation, he played pace bowling in the nets after he had only taken throwdowns and played against the bowling machine over the past week.

While the rest of the Bangladesh team leaves for Brisbane on Saturday evening, Tamim will depart for Melbourne on Sunday. He has an appointment with orthopaedic surgeon Dr David Young followed by his third platela rich plasma (PRP) injection on January 27. He hopes to start training on January 29.

Tamim complained of pain on his left knee which was later diagnosed as a grade one tear on his meniscus, after which Dr Young performed the arthroscopic evaluation and surgery on his left knee on December 29.

He is pinning his hopes now on the PRP injection as well as a running session in Brisbane which he hopes will underline his return to fitness.

"I don't think there is a major problem with my knee," Tamim said. "I am playing all kinds of shots against all sorts of bowling. My next sprint session in Australia is the most important to me. I had some pain sprinting before the operation, so if my pain goes away while sprinting, the fitness would have improved. But I have to be in rehab even during the tournament.

"I will get my injection on the morning of January 27, and I will meet a physio in the evening. They will give me the following week's instructions. I have completed two of the three injection courses in Australia. I will complete the last one now. I will join the squad on January 28 and start practice the next day."

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha had said on Thursday that Tamim would only be picked if he is 100% fit.

"I don't think anyone would want to play an unfit player, and especially not in a big tournament," Tamim said. "I hope to play with 100% fitness. I don't want to be a burden to the team, so I am putting equal importance to my fielding. The next 10-12 days in Brisbane is the most important phase of our preparation.

"If we can use this time well, we won't have many problems going ahead. I missed a few good sessions here, so if I can use the next two weeks properly, I will be happy. Of course I should be able to play at least two practice matches. I will try to play the warm-up matches in Brisbane since I have heard that wickets there are one of the toughest in Australia."

The recovery has not dampened Tamim's spirits, as he spoke about his goal for this World Cup campaign and explained how he had missed out on his personal target in 2011. Tamim has only two fifties in World Cups, both against India. The first of these, in 2007, was his famous onslaught on the India bowlers, but overall he averages just 21.93 in 15 matches of the tournament.

"There are no centuries for Bangladesh in the World Cup so I hope I can be the first to do that," Tamim said. "If I can't do it, I would hope someone from this team gets to do it. I didn't set any goals in the 2007 World Cup. I was too happy to be playing against the big teams.

"In the next tournament, I had set myself some goals but I couldn't reach them. We played at home but I wouldn't say it was a great World Cup for me. I haven't started well in this campaign, with the injury. But I hope to finish it nicely."

Tamim trusts that the Australian conditions will suit his style of batting, as there will be true bounce. He also felt that in Bangladesh, those conditions are being overplayed. Overseas, Tamim has a slightly better average than at home though he has only three fifties in nine matches in Australia and New Zealand.

"My batting style goes with those wickets," he said. "I think wickets in Australia and New Zealand are perfect for stroke-makers. I think we have become too concerned about wickets there. We should think about how we can win matches.

"If you look at history, you will see that Asian batsmen have done well there. India scored heavily in the Test series. There is no need to think so much about the wicket. I think Australia is best for batting. I don't think wicket will be a big issue."

Still, he would like to start cautiously in both Australia and New Zealand, particularly against the two new balls. Since the introduction of the new rule on October 1, 2011, Tamim has averaged 30.60 in 31 innings and has had only two substantial scores with a strike rate above 100.

"It would be tougher in Australian conditions now that there are two new balls," Tamim said. "We are the sort of team that has to rely on a good start and good finish, and you can see that in our past.

"We have to start more carefully than teams like Australia in their conditions. It would be tough to hit out from the start, but spend six to seven overs which would make it easier for us."