BOTHA OUT OF SERIES AS BANGLADESH ARRIVE

SOUTH AFRICA spinner and stand in Proteas captain Johan Botha will not be part of the T20 series here in Zimbabwe. The series that also features Bangladesh who arrived in the country last night gets underway on the 17th of this month. Botha suffered a knee injury at training in Johannesburg early this week, but is hopeful of a return against England this August. He was set to captain the side in the series in the absence of AB de Villiers. Botha told Cricinfo: "I got a ball to the knee and didn't think much of it but I was told to go for an MRI when I got home. "The damage got all the way to the patella [knee cap] and although I can cycle and do most things, the South Africa management was concerned that if I got hit on the knee again or was injured during fielding, that would prolong the recovery [period]. Hashim Amla will replace Botha as skipper on the trip, and a disappointed Botha added: "Even though I was only captaining because AB wouldn't be there, I was really looking forward to it. "The Zimbabwe series is important, but for me it may have been a little far out in terms of time. Hopefully, I'll play in England and get some cricket in there before Sri Lanka. "In terms of team combinations, it is disappointing to miss the Zimbabwe series, but I'll still play before [the World Twenty20]." MEANWHILE The Mushfiqur Rahim-captained side is expected to take on the hosts’ select side in a warm-up match which has been slated for Country Club tomorrow. Bangladesh open the series against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club this Sunday. The Tigers will have very bitter memories of their last visit to Zimbabwe after losing the one-off Test and the ODI series in August last year. In a clear sign that the Tigers are taking the series seriously, Richard Pybus told OFF THE CREASE that there would not be banking too much on the series’ “unofficial” tag. " “We are playing against Zimbabwe and in their backyard. We don’t have fond memories of the last tour because we lost both the Test and the one-day series, so it’s an opportunity,” said Rahim. “And playing South Africa so early before the World Cup is an opportunity as well. Definitely we will play for a win and try to give 100%.” The upcoming 12-day tour will be a first tour with the Tigers for six individuals in the touring party: new coach Richard Pybus, all-rounder Ziaur Rahman, batsman Anamul Haque, left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, paceman Abul Hasan and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen. While both South Africa and Bangladesh have already finalised their squads, the identity of the 15 players who will form part of the Zimbabwe team remains a closely guarded secret.