Bangladesh name Asia Cup squad

The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the squad for this year's Asia Cup on Monday, selecting fourteen players from a preliminary list of eighteen. The team will once again be lead by Aminul Islam, who has two victories under his belt from eleven ODIs. The selectors based their decisions on experience of the players rather than youth and zeal. Only one uncapped player Mushfiq Babu was included in the side. Very interestingly, the team has four off-spinners. Mohammad Rafiq, the left handed all rounder who was the highest wicket taker in the Bangladesh Premier League among the local players, with 25 from 16 matches. Enamul Haq, another left arm off spinner had 24, while Naimur Rahman, a middle order batsman but used frequently as a bowler had the same number. Mushfiq Babu is the other off spinner in the side. Hasibul Hossain, the country's leading pacer with Manjurul Islam will be in charge of the new ball.

The team will miss the services of opener Mehrab Hossain, Bangladesh's only centurion in one day internationals, who is out with an injury. Javed Omar will replace him to partner Shahriar Hossain to open the innings. The middle order looks pretty solid with Akram Khan, Habibul Bashar, Aminul Islam and Khaled Masud, who will be behind the stumps as always. Vice-captain and all rounder Khaled Mahmud almost lost his place due to his poor form in recent times, but he was still picked on the basis that he is Bangladesh's second highest wicket taker in ODIs. In the absence of Eddie Barlow the team is being coached by Sarwar Imran, who is also the coach of Abahani Club, the winners of this year's premier league.

The Squad: Aminul Islam (captain), Khaled Mahmud (vice-captain), Javed Omar, Shahriar Hossain, Akram Khan, Habibul Bashar, Naimur Rahman, Khaled Masud, Mushfiq Babu, Enamul Haq, Mohammad Rafiq, Hasibul Hossain, Manjurul Islam and Shafiuddin Ahmed