Harare: Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das is “expected” for the second ODI of the three-match series against Zimbabwe, team physio Beysetul Islam Khan said on Monday.
Suffering a left calf muscle injury during their home ODI series against Australia, Das missed three T20Is against the same opposition and was then ruled out of the only Test match against Zimbabwe.
Despite the fitness concerns, the 31-year-old was included in the Bangladesh squad for the ODI series against Chevron, scheduled to play from July 6 to 11 at the Harare Sports Club.
Although Das was deemed fit enough to join the Bangladesh squad earlier this week, he was unable to be fit for the opening day of the ODI series against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh physio Beysetul said, expecting the wicket-keeper batsman to be available for the next match instead.
“Liton Das is suffering from an injury to his left calf muscle. It’s a grade I injury. It usually takes two to three weeks to recover from such an injury. Two weeks have already passed. We expect him to recover by the end of the third week,” Beysedul said.
“The possibility of him playing in the first ODI is almost zero, but if he meets all the parameters of our fitness test, he can play in the second and third ODIs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh team manager Nafees Iqbal has confirmed that Das will reach Zimbabwe on July 1 and join the tour squad.
Bangladesh squad for ODI series against Zimbabwe
Mehdi Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Santo, Tawhid Hiridoi, Liton Das, Mosadek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanveer Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Shotriful Islam, Nahi Rahmat, Shokin.