The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Tuesday announced the final squads for the ensuing Tri-Nation Series and the Asia Cup with pacer Dollar Mahmud as the only uncapped player in the sides for the tournaments.

The Board also announced the final squad for the Bangladesh A team, which will tour Ireland and England next month.

In the 14-member Tri-Nation squad, four players -- Junaed Siddiqui, Dhiman Ghosh, Shakib Al Hasan and Syed Rasel -- have been dropped from the team that toured Pakistan last month, while Mehrab Hossain Jr, wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim and Dollar Mahmud has been included as replacements.

After being axed from the home series against Ireland and South Africa, Mushfiqur Rahim returned to the ODI side for topping the run-scorers list in the prestigious Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2008. He scored 632 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.61.

Mehrab Hossain Jr. also got the opportunity as Shakib Al Hasan opted himself out of the Tri-Series and Asia Cup as he appears in the HSC examination beginning May 29.

Along with the 14 players of the tri-nation squad, left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel will feature in the 15-member national squad for the Asia Cup to be held in June in Pakistan. Bangladesh have been placed in group A with Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup.

Announcing the squads at a press conference at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) Tuesday afternoon, chief selector Rafiq-ul-Alam said: "We thought this is the best possible team at the moment and we are hopeful to play competitive and consistent cricket during the tournaments."

The other two members of the selection panel, Akram Khan and Naimur Rahman Durjoy, were also present on the occasion.

About the exclusion of left-handed opener Junaed Siddiqui, the chief selector said: "Junaed has been dropped from the squad due to his poor performance in the Pakistan tour. He needs a break and hopefully he can make a comeback in the upcoming A team's tour to England."

Explaining the inclusion of pacer Dollar Mahmud, he said: "Dollar is a pretty good medium pacer and he can bat also. He played for the national Academy team and also represented Bangladesh in the Under-19 World Cup."

Rafiq-ul-Alam, however, said that before choosing Dollar, another pacer Nazmul Hossain was their first choice but he was declared unfit by the team physio due to his groin injury.

Another left-arm pacer Syed Rasel was also out of their consideration for his ankle injury, he added.

Asked about Aftab's place in the squad despite his poor performance recently, the chief selector said: "It's true Aftab is out of form at the moment. We kept faith in him, as he is experienced. We thought he was reasonable (choice) considering his overall performance during the New Zealand tour and the home series against South Africa and Ireland."

He told another questioner that all-rounder Alok Kapali was not included in the final squad as he did not play any international match after the Twenty20 World Cup.

On ignoring wicket-keeper Dhiman Ghosh, the former national cricketer said: "We picked Mushfiq in his (Dhiman's) place as Mushfiq topped the batting aggregate in the Premier League. It's just bad luck for him (Dhiman)."

Meanwhile, the tigers will begin their preparation for the Tri-Nation Series Wednesday morning at the Mirpur Sher-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS). Apart from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are the other two sides to play in the Tournament.

The eight-day tri-nation tournament will begin on June 8 with hosts Bangladesh taking on Pakistan in the first ODI at the SBNS. Pakistan will fight against old foes India in the 2nd ODI on June 10, also at the SBNS.

Bangladesh will face India in the 3rd match on June 12. After the single league basis matches, the top two teams will play in the final billed for June 14, also at the same venue. All the matches will be on day-night basis.

Bangladesh Squad for Tri-Nation ODI Series: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Roqibul Hassan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehrab Hossain (Jr.), Dollar Mahmud

Reserves: Zunaed Siddique, Dhiman Ghosh, Rubel Hossain, Alok Kapali, Musharraf Hossain

Bangladesh Squad for Asia Cup: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Roqibul Hassan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehrab Hossain (Jr.), Dollar Mahmud and Musharraf Hossain

Reserves: Zunaed Siddique, Dhiman Ghosh, Rubel Hossain, Alok Kapali, Naeem Islam

Bangladesh A Team for Tour of Ireland Zunaed Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, Alok Kapali, Jahurul Islam Omi, Nadif Chowdhury, Nayeem Islam, Dhiman Ghosh, Rubel Hossain, Syed Rasel, Suhrawardi Shuvo, Mahbubul Alam Robin, Arafat Sunny and Nazmul Hossain.

Bangladesh A Team for Tour of England: Zunaed Siddiqui, Tamim Iqbal, Nazim Uddin, Roqibul Hassan, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Alok Kapali, Rajin Saleh, Mosharraf Hossain Rubel, Sajedul Islam, Dollar Mahmud, Nazmul Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Syed Rasel and Shakib Al Hasan.