Shakib retained as captain for 2011

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh allrounder, has been retained as captain of the national team for 2011. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has been named his deputy, and both will face their first major assignment in the new year in the World Cup.

The Bangladesh captaincy has shuffled between Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib since the tour of West Indies in 2009 but Mortaza's knee injury has affected his prospects for the next year. Tamim, who returned to the line-up after a hand injury in Bangladesh's last ODI series against Zimbabwe, takes over from wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim as vice-captain.

The year 2010 was a mixed one for Bangladesh as they lost each of their seven Tests, but bounced back from a poor start in the ODIs to beat New Zealand 4-0 at home in October. They then followed that up with a 3-1 series win over Zimbabwe to end the year on a satisfactory note.