Akram Khan injured, misses Bangladesh selection

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Saturday announced a 16-member Bangladesh team to play against West Indies next month here leaving out Akram Khan as the dependable batsman withdrew himself due to injury.

The national team, which will play two one-day internationals and a threeday match against the Caribbeans, includes three new faces while there is no axing among the country's historic World Cup debutants.

The new faces are middle order batsman Nasirul Alam Nahid, leg spinner Mosaddeque Hossain Rubel and all-rounder Ahmed Kamal Colonel.

Promising batsman Al Shahriar Rokon, who was dropped from the world cup squad, again found his place in the national side.

The team is without three world cup members - Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Faruque Ahmed and Mohammed Rafique - who earlier announced their retirement from international cricket.

The BCB announced the team after its three-member selection committee recommended the names from among 38 cricketers who had been training under Eddie Barlow of South Africa at the Savar BKSP.

Former national captain Akram Khan, though not included in the side, will join the national camp Sunday for nursing his injury under South African physio , informed chief selector Tanveer Haider.

"Akram would find his place in the national team whenever he recovers from injury," he said.

The new South African physio, Gavin Benjafield arrived in the city Saturday. He is replacing Australian Robert Allan Hunt, the first ever physio for Bangladesh team. He had an important role in improving the physical fitness of the cricketers.

West Indies team, led by Brian Lara, will arrive Dhaka on October 1 to play the ODIs on October 3 and 4 at the grand venue of Bangabandhu National Stadium. Later, they will play a three-dayer from October 7 against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Team: Aminul Islam Bulbul (capt), Mehrab Hossain Opee, Javed Omer Belim, Shahriar Hossain Bidyut, Nasirul Alam Nahid, Al Shahriar Rokon, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Khaled Mahmood Sujon, Khaled Masud Pilot, Hasibul Hossain Shanta, Monjurul Islam Monju, Shafiuddin Ahmed Babu, Ahmed Kamal Colonel, Neeyamur Rashid Rahul, Enamul Haq Moni and Mosaddeque Hossain Rubel.