Bangladesh call up Shafiul, Ziaur as injury cover

Seamer Shafiul Islam and allrounder Ziaur Rahman have been called up to the Bangladesh Test squad, as cover for pacers Rubel Hossain and Shahadat Hossain. Shafiul and Ziaur will fly to Harare on Sunday night.

Rubel, who had back trouble during the tour to Sri Lanka earlier this year, hurt his shoulder during the first Test here, while Shahadat had missed the Test due to a knee injury. They do not have much time to regain full fitness, with the second Test beginning on Thursday, thus prompting the team to call for back-up.

Bangladesh's other injury concern is opener Tamim Iqbal, who also missed the first Test. However, his thumb injury is coming on well and indications are he should be fit in time for the second game. On Saturday, captain Mushfiqur Rahim said: "He is doing really well."

Ziaur had featured in the limited-overs leg on Bangladesh's tour to Sri Lanka, but is yet to debut in Test cricket. Shafiul last played in the home series against West Indies, in December last year. He had made a comeback in that series, following a long injury layoff to recover from a shoulder injury that he picked up while fielding in the Asia Cup in March 2012.

Bangladesh lost the first Test by a whopping 335-run margin, within four days, and will have to win the second match to squad the series.