The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday announced a 14-member national squad for the three-match ODI Series against Ireland.

Rasel and Rubel ill performed in the just concluded series with South Africa have been dropped from the new squad.

Mohammad Ashraful will continue to lead the squad despite he is considered by many 'out-of-form' as manifested in his dismal performance with South Africa.

Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will act as his deputy.

Aftab Ahmed, inured in the 2nd test against South Africa, returned to the side in place of left-arm medium pacer Syed Rasel.

Right-arm off spinner cum middle order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad has been recalled in the squad to replace left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel.

After announcing the squad, chief of 3-member selection team Rafiqul Alam said, "We made 2 or 3 changes in the squad. It's a part of the long term plan to build up a team for the 2011 World Cup to be held jointly in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh."

About the exclusion of Syed Rasel, Rafiqul said, "Bad luck for him. Our game plan for the series is spin oriented on slow wicket and we choose Aftab as a slow medium pacer and also a dependable batsman in the middle order."

Explaining the reason of exclusion of Rubel, he said, "Rubel didn't impress us at all although he was impressive with the A team and in domestic cricket before the home series against South Africa."

Replying to a question, Rafiqul said this team is composed of some experienced and young players.

"(Mohammad) Ashraful, (Abdur) Razzak, Shakib (Al Hasan) and Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza) are experienced enough not in terms of age but in terms of matches."

Asked about the dismal performance with the Proteas he said, "Our batsmen totally failed. Besides, South Africa have a very good bowling attack, one of the world's best at the moment. We also couldn't got out South Africa's inform opener cum skipper Smith all the time, Ashraful also couldn't play up to his merit."

He ruled out the possibility of a weak bowling attack. "We have four pacers and medium pacers in the squad -- Mashrafe, Razib, Farhad, Aftab and also three quality spinners Shakib, Riyad and Razzak. I think we've ample bowling options."

"I'm very confident we will win the series against Ireland," said Rafiqul.

The three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and non-playing test nation Ireland begins on March 18 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS). The rest of the two matches are slotted for March 20 and 22 in the same ground.

Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice captain), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Aftab Ahmed, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain Razib, Mahmudullah Riyad, Farhad Reza and Rokibul Hasan.