Naimur Rehman to lead Bangladesh

All-rounder Naimur Rehman will lead a 14-member Bangladesh team in its inaugural Test against India at Dhaka from November 10 to 14.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board, which announced the team on Tuesday night, dropped four players from the disastrous South African tour and the ICC knock-out tournament in Nairobi and brought in two new faces as also seasoned Meharab Hossain and Shariar Hossain, both after injury lay-offs.

Right-arm off-spinner Fahim Muntasir and middle order batsman Razin Saleh Alam are both from the under-19 team.

Mehrab Hossain is the only centurion for Bangladesh in one-day cricket and his inclusion is expected to bring solidity to the batting line-up.

However, one-down batsman Hadibul Bashar, left-arm spinner Enamul Haque, opener Eshanul Haque and medium pacer Mushifiqur Rahman, all of whom played in Nairobi, have been dropped.

"Bashar is a good player but at the moment we thought we must give the best 14," BCB vice-president and chairman of selection committee Tanvir Haider told reporters.

Tanvir said selection was done purely on the performance of the players and the report of South African physiotherapist Gavin Benjafield.

"We have done our best in selection of the team," he said, adding the team has seven specialist batsmen and five bowlers.

Bangladesh became the 10th Test playing nation in June this year.

Mail Cricket Editor