The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has selected 15 players for the ensuing Australia tour, with three changes to the squad that took part in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, wicket keeper Dhiman Ghosh and pacer Nazmul Hossain have been included in the new squad in place of Musharraf Hossain Rubel, Mushfiqur Rahim and Nazimuddin.

Mohammad Ashraful will lead the side, while pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will act as his deputy.

Chief selector Rafiqul Alam announced the squad at a press conference at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Sunday. Skipper Mohammad Ashraful and coach Jamie Siddons were present.

About the exclusion of Mushfiqur Rahim, the chief selector informed that Mushfiqur dislocated his shoulder during the Bangladesh A team's tour to England and they waited a long time for him.

He said: "Mushfiqur had a fitness test Sunday morning. There was no problem with his batting and keeping, but he faced some problem in throwing. As we are going to Australia with just one specialist wicket keeper, we decided to (keep him as standby). Besides, in the Pakistan tour, he was neither very good or very bad."

About top order batsman Nazimuddin, he said Nazim didn't perform up to the mark (in Pakistan tour) and that's why he has been given rest.

On return of pacer Nazmul Hossain, the chief selector said he has been taken in place of Nazimuddin as an additional pacer as Bangladesh would play five practice matches and have six practice sessions apart from their three-match ODI series.

"There is always hot breeze out there at Darwin and some of the wickets are bouncy. So, we thought in that way."

Asked whether Aftab Ahmed, who suffered finger injury, will be available for the home series against New Zealand, the former national player said Aftab is looking better and he is fielding and batting also. He is now fit.

About their target against the current world champions, Rafiqul Alam said: "At present, we are a very bold, driven side. We had a much better batting performance in the Kitply Cup and then in the Asia Cup. We'll try to develop in all things."

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team will leave here for Australia on August 14. They will play five one-day practice matches against Australian Institute of Sports and Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI before playing the three-match ODI series.

The first four one-day practice matches against Australian Institute of Sports are slated for August 18, 20, 23 and 25 at the Gardens Oval, Darwin. The 5th one-day practice match against Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI will be held on August 27, also at the Garden's Oval.

Later, the three ODIs between Bangladesh and Australia will be held on August 30, September 3 and 6 at the TIO Stadium in Darwin.

Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Roqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Mahmudullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Reza, Mehrab Hossain Jr., Nazmul Hossain and Dollar Mahmud.

Standbys: Zunaed Siddiqui, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nazimuddin, Musharraf Hossain Rubel and Nayeem Islam.