BD strengthen pace attack for Aussie tour
DHAKA, Aug 10: Bangladesh have selected five pacemen in their 15-man squad for the upcoming one-day series against Australia, tailoring their side to bouncy pitches.
Bangladesh made three changes from the squad that played in the Asia Cup, for the three matches against Australia from late this month.
Mohammad Ashraful was retained as captain, with Mashrafe Mortaza as his deputy, chief selector Rafiqul Alam told a news conference.
The five pacemen— Mashrafe, Nazmul Hossain, Dollar Mahmud, Shahadat Hossain and Farhad Reza – were selected in anticipation of pitches in the northern Australian city of Darwin that will assist seamers rather than spinners, which is the traditional strength of sub-continental teams.
Dhiman Ghosh will stand in for regular wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who is out with a shoulder injury. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returns to the side in place of Mosharraf Hossain, while Nazmul Hossain is in and opening batsman Nazimuddin out.
The squad will leave on Thursday for Darwin, host of the international one-dayers on Aug 30, Sept 3 and 6 plus three warm-up games – two against the Australian Institute of Sport and one against a Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI.
Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Raqibul Hassan, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Dolar Mahmud and Dhiman Ghosh (wicket-keeper).—AP