Bangladesh omit Mohammad Ashraful for England Tests

A Test centurion at 16, Ashraful cannot get into the current Bangladesh squad Former captain Mohammad Ashraful has been omitted from Bangladesh's squad for the Test series against England. The 25-year-old missed last week's one-day series to try and recapture his form after a poor tour to New Zealand. But he struggled in domestic cricket and only managed scores of one and 30 for Bangladesh A against England. His place in the Test squad has gone to Raqibul Hasan, who hit a century in the same game, and the selectors have also included three left-arm spinners. Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque Jr join captain Shakib Al Hasan in the 14-man squad as Bangladesh look to prey on the current problems of England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has proven vulnerable to left-arm spin in recent months. Razzak, with five Test caps, and Haque, who has 14, are not Test regulars - Razzak has not played a Test since October 2008, while Haque last featured in five-day cricket against West Indies in July last year. OLIVER BRETT'S BLOG The money from the ICC and broadcasting companies is still not filtering through to where it should The Test series starts in Chittagong on Friday and the need to post competitive totals will be the biggest concern for the home side. and coach Jamie Siddons. But Raqibul's 107 not out and 51 in the Bangladesh A trial has provided some encouragement and he is likely to take over the middle-order role vacated by Ashraful, who has played in 53 of Bangladesh's 64 Tests to date, making him their most capped player. He made his mark with a debut century against Sri Lanka in November 2001 at the age of only 17 but was also dropped for the 2003 home series against England and his consistency is highlighted by a Test average of only 22. The selectors have also included Naeem Islam, an all-rounder who bowls off-spin and a regular in the one-day side, who will be hoping to win his third Test cap and first since 2008, but there is no place for injury-prone paceman Mashrafe Mortaza. Bangladesh squad : Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah, Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque Jr, Shahadat Hossain.