Ahead of the crucial ICC Champions Trophy contest against New Zealand on Monday, the Bangladesh contingent in Islamabad heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as the experienced campaigner Mahmudullah completed his first net session since sustaining a calf injury in Dubai.

The injury, which occurred during Bangladesh's first practice session after reaching Dubai, had ruled Mahmudullah out of their opening Group A match against India in Dubai which they lost by six wickets.

But the 39-year-old returned to training in Bangladesh's first practice session in Pakistan at the picturesque Islamabad Club Cricket Oval yesterday.

Teams usually take a rest day after travelling to a new destination to recover from jet lag. But that was not the case for the Tigers as after landing in Islamabad in the early hours of Saturday, the team took the field the same day, considering the importance of the next game which is virtually a 'do-or-die' contest for them.

Most cricketers had high intensity practice sessions covering all three aspects – batting, bowling and fielding – and it seemed like they were more serious about their batting and catching, which let them down against India in their tournament opener.

Mahmudullah attending yesterday's net session was a big boost for the side but it also has made the selectors rethink about the playing XI for the next game as they will have to drop someone if they want to accommodate the experienced all-rounder.

Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali, who bat at lower down the order like Mahmudullah, were the standout performers for the Tigers after they were left tottering at 35-5 against India. Hridoy hit a sensational hundred, braving painful cramps, while Jaker hit a dogged but crucial half-century.

According to some sources and judging by the way the training session went, Bangladesh are seemingly planning to drop opener Soumya Sarkar, who was out for a duck against India, to accommodate Mahmudullah in the New Zealand match.

Soumya was the last batter to bat at the nets yesterday while skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehedi Hasan Miraz had long batting sessions during Bangladesh's three-and-a-half-hour-long practice session.

It was also learnt that Shanto or Miraz may open the innings with Tanzid Tamim if Mahmudullah gets back in the side for Monday's match.

"It depends on the physios' report. He practiced today [Saturday], he hadn't done so for a while, he took part in almost all the drills. The physios have not informed anything yet, they will most probably do it after practice," selector Abdur Razzak told Bangladeshi reporters in Islamabad yesterday.

Razzak was also asked about Mushfiqur Rahim's poor form, as the wicketkeeper-batter, who was dismissed for a duck against India, has only one fifty in his last 13 ODI innings.

But the selector claimed he was not worried about any batters' form in the team.

"Why would Mushfiqur's form be a concern? He just had one bad match. It could've happened to anyone… I don't think any individual's performance is too concerning," he concluded.