Tigers Pacemen Given All-Clear 30 Sep 2006 By: George Roberts

Bangladesh's Champions' Trophy hopes have been lifted by the news that new-ball pairing Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel will both be fit to travel to India.

Mortaza slipped and injured his ankle at home, while left-armer Rasel was involved in a motorcycle accident. Both players will play crucial roles if Bangladesh are to progress from a qualifying group that includes Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe into the main group stage of the competition.

The Tigers have been short of match practice recently, with the only game possible between a Bangladesh A and B side being curtailed by rain. They will play a practice match against a Punjab Cricket Association side in Mohali on Tuesday before opening their campaign against Sri Lanka next Saturday.