Rajin Saleh named captain

Rajin Saleh: captain at 20 © Getty Images Enlarge

Rajin Saleh has been named as the new Bangladesh captain for next month's Champions Trophy in England, after Habibul Bashar was ruled out with an injured thumb, according to an AFP report. He will lead a 14-man squad, including Faisal Hossain, who has replaced Bashar in the side.

The elevation to captaincy is a remarkable achievement for Saleh, who is not 21 until November. He has been a member of the national team for barely a year. He has played nine Tests and 19 one-dayers, and averages in the mid-20s with the bat in both forms of the game, but is viewed as one of the better batsmen in Bangladesh's middle order.

Saleh was called up into the Bangladesh team at the age of 19 after a string of eye-catching performances in the domestic league. He tasted defeat in his first Test, though he stood out with contributions of 26 and 60. Since then, Bangladesh's Test performances have improved, and Saleh, supported by Dav Whatmore, was named vice-captain.