Waiting in the shadows

Tamim Iqbal stole the show with a hundred in the first warm-up match against Pakistan ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy campaign at Edgbaston in Birmingham yesterday. While Tamim showed consistency in his batting another left-hander, Imrul Kayes, took the opportunity to give the team management the message that he was ready to play whenever the team requires his service.

Imrul is not someone who can expect a place in the playing eleven even if he is in good touch. Imrul travelled with the team to Sri Lanka but didn't play in any ODIs, and he was also with the team in Ireland but was an onlooker.

In the yesterday's match, Imrul came to bat at number three as Sabbir Rahman was rested and the southpaw capitalised on the opportunity, making 61 off 62 balls with eight boundaries.

The 40-yard boundary

Imrul last played ODI cricket during the last New Zealand tour, where he made 16, 59 and 44. Apparently, the batsman now needs to beat Sabbir or Soumya Sarkar to find a place in the playing eleven, unless someone else horribly fails to deliver. Sabbir however made 35 and 65 in his last two outings while Soumya, who made 19 runs yesterday, has two good scores --- 61 and 87 not out, under his belt.

So when fate will smile on Imrul remains a big question.