BANGLADESH have included former skipper Mohammad Ashraful in their 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. A powerful middle-order batsman, Ashraful was dropped from the side for the home series against England earlier this month following a string of failures in previous matches against New Zealand and India.
Chairman of selectors Rafiqul Alam, however, believes Ashraful would be an asset to the team, saying: “Ashraful is a potential match-winner and his ability to improvise in limited-overs cricket makes him an important part of the team in this tournament. We know that he is trying as hard as anybody to fulfil his enormous promise and we expect him to fire.”
Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza has also been recalled.
Bangladesh are drawn in Group A alongside Pakistan and Australia in the tournament which gets under way on April 30.
Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Syed Rasel, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Jahurul Islam. (Eurosport)