Imrul worry for Tigers

Things have gone from bad to worse for Bangladesh. Over the first two weeks of the tour of South Africa, all three openers on tour have sustained injuries. With Tamim Iqbal ruled out of the second Test, now Imrul Kayes's participation in the second Test is in doubt.

Half an hour into the afternoon session, at 1:16pm in the 35th over Imrul was hit on the knee on the bounce when Aiden Markram edged Mustafizur Rahman towards slip. He limped off the field and was not seen for the next four hours and four minutes of the day.

"Imrul's knee was swelling a lot, although it did not look fractured to the naked eye," said Mushfiqur after the day. "We will observe him tonight and the physio will assist him in the morning and if he is fit, tomorrow he will go straight to the field."

Even so, with the rules stating that a player cannot bat before making up the amount of time he was off the field, it seems likely that Bangladesh will have to do with a makeshift opening combination for the second time on tour, with Tamim having to bat at five in the first innings of the first Test after going off the field for 49 minutes.