Tigers ready Tamim’s back-up just in case

Liton Das is all set to be appointed vice-captain for the ODI series against Afghanistan, team management sources informed The Daily Star. Perhaps the decision was somewhat forced by what had happened during head coach Chandika Hathurusingha's press conference on Monday afternoon, when he suggested there was no shortage of leaders in case Tamim Iqbal was ruled out of the ODI series, just as he had been before the lone Test against Afghanistan in Dhaka last month.

Tamim Iqbal has been suffering from a back issue which kept him out of the lone Test and, following his return to the ODI series camp, he showed signs of discomfort during a fielding session prior to Eid vacations. As the team moved to Chattogram and went about their second day's practice session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Tamim did not show any signs of pain while batting in the nets.

Despite that, injuries have been a recurring factor for the ODI skipper. Team management sources suggest that there is no concern regarding Tamim's participation for the series. However, it is a fact that his situation is being closely monitored. The BCB's medical department's ploy with the captain has been to allow him time to recuperate when he feels back pain.

With the Afghanistan ODI series set to begin in a day, the media asked if the skipper was fit. Hathurusingha did not want to discuss details but verified that Tamim was being monitored.

"I'm not going to discuss somebody's medical history here but he [Tamim] has trained the last two days and he's good so far. We're closely monitoring his progress as well as how he recovers after training. He is training as usual," the head coach relayed during the press conference.

The vice-captaincy role is one that remains unofficial outside of the team's periphery. However, in case of injury to the regular captain, the vice-captain takes on the role. Hathurusingha opined there were leaders who could act as back-up captain.

"I think it [the issue of back-up captain] is a good question for selectors. Yeah, we have many guys who have captained before. Recently, we had Liton captain in the Test match when Shakib [Al Hasan] wasn't there. Previously Mushy [Mushfiqur Rahim] has captained and Shakib has captained. We have enough leaders so selectors will make the call close to the game if it [Tamim being ruled out through injury] happens," Hathurusingha said.

Perhaps it is a signal to the ODI skipper that the burden of leadership may not have to be carried when there are others available. Tamim missed the series against India in December last year and his return against England was not been impactful. He also struggled against Ireland in Sylhet and only returned to runs in the final ODI against the same opponents at Chelmsford, although he was still far from his fluent best. Thus, apart from the leadership, Tamim also has to return to solid form ahead of important events.

"Shakib obviously won't be a vice-captain. The talk about a back-up captain is for the future," a source close to the team said.

Amidst all the talk about the back-up captain, Hathurusingha also hinted that Mohammad Naim was in the plans for the opening slot. "Whenever we get an opportunity, we want to give him a game," he said.