Alok Kapali to lead BCB XI against New Zealanders

Alok Kapali, the allrounder who was recently dropped from the Bangladesh team for consistently failing with the bat, has been given a chance to claw his way back into the national team. He was named captain of the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI that will take on New Zealand in a tour opener later this month. Kapali was dropped from the team during the second Test against West Indies but came back into the side for the Asia Cup. Then, upon registering a string of low scores, he was dropped from the team.

The BCB XI squad includes three others with Test experience - Talha Jubair, Alamgir Kabir and Anwar Hosain Monir, all medium pacers. Jubair returns to the scene after a gap of two years, having been laid low by a back injury.

Jamaluddin Ahmed, the offspinner who has played one-day cricket, has also been included in the squad, as have four cricketers from the Bangladesh under-19 team. Shahadat Hossain Rajib, the 18-year old considered to be the fastest bowler in Bangladesh, may also get a look in.

New Zealand are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on October 8 and play a three-day match at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) from October 14-16. The first of the two Tests start in Dhaka on October 19.

BCB XI squad
Alok Kapali (captain), Mohammad Ashraful, Hannan Sarkar, Nafees Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Jamaluddin Ahmed, Talha Jubair, Alamgir Kabir, Anwar Hossain Monir, Dhiman Ghosh, Shamsur Rahman, Nadif Chowdhury, Nasiruddin Faruque and Shahadat Hossain.