Dhaka, May 11: Bangladeshi ace pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza will hopefully be fit to play in Bangladesh's second one day international against India this weekend, the team's captain and chief selector said today. Mortaza, who missed the first match because of a back injury, joined the squad for practice today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the capital Dhaka.

"He is almost fit," chief selector Faruk Ahmed told reporters. "We hope he'll play tomorrow." Skipper Habibul Bashar said Bangladesh was keen to step up its performance after India won by five wickets in yesterday's rain-shortened match, and that Mortaza's return would improve the team's chances. "We want to bounce back," Bashar told reporters on the sidelines of the practice.

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"If Mashrafe can play tomorrow, that will be a great advantage," the captain said. "We're hopeful that he will play the second game." Selectors will wait until the last minute before announcing the line-up, in the hope that Mortaza is fit to play. "We want him in the team. So we have decided to announce our final line-up before the game starts," Bashar said. "We'll take the final decision Saturday morning." Bashar said he wasn't worried after yesterday's defeat. "There's nothing to be demoralised about. We played well on Thursday," he said. "We just want to not repeat our mistakes tomorrow." (Agencies)