DHAKA,  – While his hamstring problem troubled him, Bangladesh captain in one-one-day format, Tamim Iqbal himself made it clear, there is strong possibility for him to play the first ODI against New Zealand, starting on March 20 at Dunedin.

He declared that he is on the way to recover from the injury fully and there was nothing wrong with the MRI report. “I hope to play from the first match,” Tamim told reporters in a zoom meeting, arranged by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today. “The condition of the hamstring is better now. Hopefully things will go in right direction,” he added.

The Bangladesh squad took part in an inter-squad warm-up match in Queenstown, but Tamim could not play in the match due to the injury. The left-arm batsman was also absent from practice the next day which raised a question whether he could play the first game.

Returning to practice on Thursday after a day’s rest, he was quite cautious as he didn’t work hard. However, he will practice in full force on Friday, the day before he enters the match on Saturday. “I have practiced well today. Tomorrow I will practice with full strength and rhythm. I am optimistic to play in the first match.”