Bangladesh name three uncapped players in the Twenty20 Squad

Bangladesh selectors have named a youthful 15 member squad for the upcoming Twenty20 world cup to be held in South Africa in September 2007.

The squad led by Mohammad Ashraful includes three uncapped players Junaed Siddique Imroz, Nazim Uddin and Ziaur Rahman, the first two are known for their big hitting abilities while the

Rafique Alok Kapali recalled for Twenty20 World Cup © Cricinfo

last one is a fresh face in the pace bowling department.

Lanky paceman Shahadat Hossain is the only notable omission from the 30 man provisional squad and left arm spinner Mohammad Rafiq opted out due to a minor fracture in his left rib.

Alok Kapali, who was out of contention for the last two years has been handed another opportunity to prove his worth largely due to his outstanding form in last domestic season.

Bangladesh Squad

Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Masrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice-Captain), Alok Kapali, Abdur Razzak, Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury, Syed Rasel, Forhad Reza, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Tamim Iqbal Khan, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Junaed Siddique Imroz, Nazim Uddin, Nadif Chowdhury, Ziaur Rahman.

Boot camp for Tigers ahead of Twenty20 World Cup

Bangladeshi cricketers will go through an "Australian style boot camp" next week in the north-eastern Sylhet division under a special military unit as part of their warm up campaign for the Twenty20 World Cup.

The boot camp will last for six days and will be supervised by the "Special warfare unit" of the Bangladesh army. The camp will start on 11 August and will only include players selected for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in South Africa in September 2007. National selectors will announce the 15 member squad from the provisional squad of thirty on 9 August.

Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, former Bangladesh captain and now chairman of the cricket operations committee of BCB's new ad hoc committee is hoping to bring out the best inn the players through intensive training programmes.

"This training is for gaining fitness and getting harder as quickly as possible as they will go through a strenuous routine during the camp. An Army unit will be in charge of the players," he said.

Pace spearhead Masharfe Mortaza is spared from the camp due to a minor ankle injury and to attend his ailing wife.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, who went through a similar camp under Gordon Greenidge, believes the camp will help in building mental toughness of the players:

"We once did it in Cox's Bazar with Gordon Greenidge. I don't remember much but I still recall that doing our regular workouts on sand was tougher. We need this type of exercises because it will naturally make us stronger mentally and physically, "said Ashraful.

Shaun Williams to remain in charge of Bangladesh for twenty20 World Cup.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), still struggling to find out the successor of Dave Whatmore, have appointed Shaun Williams, BCB game development manager, as interim Bangladesh coach for the up-coming twenty20 World Cup to be held in South Africa.

Williams acted as the interim coach in the recently concluded Sri Lanka tour in which Bangladesh were whitewashed in both Test and ODI series. Sarwar Imarn, who acted as the deputy of Williams for the Sri Lanka tour will also remain in charge.

The decision was taken in the first meeting of the newly formed committee at Navana Tower office of BCB on Wednesday afternoon. Ahmed Sazzadul Alam, member of the BCB executive committee, made the decision public in a news conference after the meeting.

Bangladesh are placed in group A along with host South Africa and West Indies, and will start their campaign against West Indies on 13 September in Johannesburg.

Bangladesh make changes to avoid whitewash in the ODI series

Bangladesh think tank has opted for couple of changes in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in a desperate bid to avoid whitewash. Sri Lanka have already gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match Laqshya series by defeating Bangladesh comfortably in the first two ODIs.

Mahmudullah Riyad, can a new face help saving blushes? © Cricinfo

To bring solidity to the top order batting, Bangladesh have picked veteran opener Javed Omar in place of struggling Shahriar Nafees and Tushar Imran, who made a duck and 9 in last two matches, is also dropped in favour of uncapped off-spinning all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad.

Bangladesh have shown some improved performances in the bowling and fielding departments in the ODI series, but top order batting has let them down throughout the tour.

Bangladesh pace spearhead Mashrafe Mortaza failed to recover from his sprained right ankle and is ruled out of the third ODI. The match will be played tomorrow (Wednesday) at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Squads

Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Javed Omer Belim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Aftab Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Farhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain Rajib, Syed Rasel.

Sri Lanka (From) : Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Chamara Silva, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Upul Chandana

Jayasuriya stars in Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka trounced Bangladesh by 5 wickets inside 32 overs in the second ODI to obtain an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Laqshya series at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today.

Bangladesh top order displayed their familiar collapse after Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and sent Bangladesh in. After losing 4 wickets for a mere 26 runs, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and middle order batsman Aftab Ahmed tried to steady Bangladesh innings and formed a 61 run partnership in the fifth wicket.

Bangladesh lost their captain at the score of 87 when Ashraful unnecessarily poked at a Jayasuriya delivery and could only manage to guide the ball to waiting gloves of Sangakkara. Bangladesh again lost their way and finally were bundled out for a meager 137 in 46.5 overs.

Aftab Ahmed top scored for Bangladesh with 47 runs while 7 Bangladeshi batsmen returned to the pavilion with single digit score. Sanath Jayasuriya was the pick of the Sri Lanka attack and grabbed 4 wickets for 31 runs to complete 300 wickets in one day international. Lasith Malinga produced an impressive opening spell and bagged 3 wickets for 22 runs.

Bangladesh bowlers bowled to their heart out to create some sort of competitiveness but 137 runs were too little to resist experienced Sri Lanka batting line up. After reducing Sri Lanka to 79-4, Bangladesh failed to press on and Sri Lanka finally reached home comfortably losing 5 wickets in 31.1 overs.

Syed Rasel was the most successful Bangladeshi bowler and bagged 2 wickets for 39 runs while Shadadat, Razzak and Ashraful grabbed one wicket each.

Bangladesh will play the 3rd and final ODI on 25th July at the same venue.

Mahmudul Guides Bangladesh U-19 Home Over Sri Lanka

A brilliant all-round performance from captain Mahmudul Hasan ensured Bangladesh U-19 recorded a 43 run win host Sri Lanka U-19 in the Tri-Nation Under-19 tournament at P Saravanamattu Stadium in Colombo today (Monday).

Winning the toss Bangladesh captain Mahmudul opted to bat first under overcast conditions. Sri Lanka U-19 new ball pair Tissara Perera and Charith Jayampathi struck early blows to remove both Bangladeshi openers with the score on 23.

Mithun Ali and Ashraful Aziz steadied the Bangladesh innings and once medium pacer Ishara Jayaratne removed both of them, Mahmudul took charge of the innings with some patient stroke play. Some late hitting from Taposh Ghosh helped Bangladesh to post a competitive total of 204 before being bowled out in 48.4 overs. Taposh made a quick fire 27 off 20 balls with 2 boundaries and 1 six.

Ashraful Aziz top scored for Bangladesh with 35 runs while Mahmudul Hasan and Mithun Ali added 32 and 27 respectively. Tissara Perera was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler and bagged 3 wickets for 38 runs.

Chasing a victory target of 205 runs in 50 overs, Sri Lanka received a double blow from fast bowler Rubel Hossain and were reduced to 20 for 2. Opener Dinesh Chandimal (36 off 62) and middle order batsman Lahiru Thirimanna (31 off 44) tried to repair the Sri Lanka innings but were undone by the Bangladesh spin trio Mahmudul Hasan, Taposh Ghosh and Nasir Hossain.

Sri Lanka U-19 kept losing wickets regularly and were finally bundled out for 161 runs in 45.2 overs. Bangladesh spinners shared 7 wickets between them conceding only 67 runs. Mahmudul Hasan was the pick of Bangladeshi bowlers and grabbed 3 wickets for 20 runs while Rubel Hossain, Taposh Ghosh and Nasir Hossain bagged 2 wickets each.

India U-19 is the third team of the tournament. Bangladesh will play their next match against India–U 19 on 26 July.

Bangladesh prevail in tense finish against Sri Lanka Invitation XI

A match winning 92 not out by Aftab Ahmed ensured a 3 wicket Bangladesh win over Sri Lanka invitation XI in the only practice match of the three match ODI series at Police Park Ground in Colombo today.

Winning toss Sri Lanka XI decided to bat first and posted a competitive 241 for 5 in the stipulated 50 overs. Sri Lanka Academy Team opener NT Paranavitana

Aftab guides Bangladesh to victory © Cricinfo

top scored with an unbeaten 63 while Sri Lanka Academy team captain Ian Daniel struck a fine 57. Syed Rasel and Sakib Al Hasan grabbed two wickets each for 37 and 41 runs respectively.

In reply to a victory target of 242, Bangladesh chase was initially thwarted by Sri Lankan new ball bowlers as Shahriar Nafees, Captain Mohammad Ashraful and Tushar Imran failed to reach double figures. After losing opener Tamim Iqbal for 45 runs, Bangladesh were in a spot of bother on 112-5 at the end of 29 overs.

Aftab Ahmed and young wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim steadied Bangladesh innings and after the departure of Mushfiq, Aftab found a partner in Farhad Reza to carry Bangladesh towards victory. Mushfiqur Rahim scored 25 runs while Farhad Reza added 26 runs to Bangladesh total.

The first match of the three match ODI series will be played on 20th July at P Sara Stadium in Colombo.