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 South Africa in Bangladesh 2008 | ||
| February
19 Tour match v Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, Fatullah
22 1st Test, Mirpur
29 2nd Test, Chittagong
March
7 Tour match v Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, Chittagoing
9 1st ODI, Chittagoing
12 2nd ODI, Mirpur
14 3rd ODI, Mirpur | ||
Informs selectors of his decision to call it quits
Rafique to retire after South Africa series
Cricinfo staff
February 7, 2008
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"Rafique is our most experienced spinner. We have recalled him [after he missed out of the New Zealand series] because our chances of winning the series depend on him," Bangladesh chief selector Rafiqul Alam told AFP, adding that Rafique told him about the his decision to retire.
Rafique, who is Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs with 94 and 119 wickets respectively, is aiming to sign off by becoming the first bowler from his country to take 100 Test wickets.
He made his ODI debut against India in Sharjah in April 1995, and played in Bangladesh's inaugural Test in November 2000, also against India, and was their most economical bowler with figures of 3 for 117 in 51 overs. Rafique played starring roles in Bangladesh's first ODI and Test wins: against Kenya in 1999 he followed three wickets with 77 as opener and, against Zimbabwe in early 2005, he claimed figures of 5 for 65.
An aggressive lower-order batsman, Rafique has scored 1035 at 19.52 in his 31 Tests, his only century coming while batting at No. 9 against West Indies in St. Lucia, when he helped Bangladesh claim a vital first-innings lead.
In the one-day format, Rafique has scored 1191 runs at 13.38, and is the first Bangladesh player to achieve the 1000 runs and 100 wickets double in ODIs.
Cricinfo
Ashraful to lead 17-member squad
Omar dropped, fit Rasel in for series against South Africa
Cricinfo staff
February 6, 2008
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Mohammad Ashraful will lead Bangladesh's 17-man squad in the upcoming series against South Africa. Junaid Siddique and Tamim Iqbal who shared a record 161-runfirst-wicket partnership in the first Test against New Zealand in January have been named as the openers.
As expected, Javed Omar, the opening batsman, was not selected. Three other players - Tushar Imran, Nazmul Hossain and Mehrab Hossain - were also excluded from the squad that toured New Zealand.
"This decision [to drop Omar] has been taken because we are now looking forward. Tamim [Iqbal] and Zunaed [Siddiqe] both showed their considerable potential in New Zealand and plus Shahriar Nafees is an important player for us as well," the chief selector Rafiqul said.
"There was no reason to make wholesale changes. We announced a 17-member squad because of some injury problems in the team but all 23 players [including the reserves] will be considered for both the Tests and one-day series."
The bowling attack will be led by Mortaza, and includes Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak and Shahadat Hossain, besides allrounders Shakib Al Hasan, and Farhad Reza. In addition, Syed Rasel, the left-arm medium pacer who dislocated his collar bone during a tour game and missed out the series against New Zealand, and his replacement Sajidul Islam, find a spot in the squad.
Bangladesh, who were swept aside 3-0 and 2-0 in the ODI and Test series by New Zealand, will be looking to put up a better performance in the home series against South Africa. They will play two Tests and three ODIs against the visitors and the final squad for the Test series will be named later.
Khaled Mashud, the veteran wicketkeeper, has been named in the reserves, which also includes the fast-medium bowler Dolar Mahmud. Jamie Siddons, the coach, will oversee a camp for the players (excepting the reserves) at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from February 9, 2008.
Shariar Nafees, who played in the middle-order in the Test series against New Zealand, has been named as opener for the three-day tour game against South Africa starting from February 17. Nazimuddin and Talha Jubair, both part of the reserves, too get a chance to display their skills in the tour game.
Squad Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Habibul Bashar, Aftab Ahmed, Junaid Siddique, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-capt), Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sajidul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Rajin Saleh, Farhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque jnr, Mohammed Rafique, Syed Rasel.
Reserves Khaled Mashud, Nazimuddin, Talha Jubair, Dolar Mahmud, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain.
Squad for the tour game: Junaid Siddique, Shahriar Nafees, Nazimuddin, Rajin Saleh, Shakib Al Hasan, Aftab Ahmed, Mushfiqur Rahim, Enamul Haque jnr, Sajidul Islam, Talha Jubair, Farhad Reza, Syed Rasel, Roqibul Hassan, Habibul Bashar.
Cricinfo
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