Bangladesh name rookie opener for Sri Lanka Test

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Monday included uncapped opening batsman Shamsur Rahman in a 14-man squad for next week´s first Test against Sri Lanka in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka, currently playing against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, arrive in Dhaka on Friday for a tour of two Tests, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games.

Shamsur, 25, was rewarded with a likely Test debut following a string of big scores in domestic first-class cricket, including a double-century.

The selectors also recalled opener Imrul Kayes, who played the last of his 16 Tests against the West Indies in 2011. The pair replaced opener Anamul Haque and middle-order batsman Naeem Islam.

Sri Lanka will remain in Bangladesh after the tour ends on February 22 to take part in the five-nation Asia Cup in Dhaka, to be held from February 25 to March 8.

Bangladesh was rocked by some of the deadliest political violence in its history in recent weeks as the opposition tried to derail the January 5 general election which it boycotted.

Bangladesh is also due to host the 16-nation World Twenty20, its biggest sporting event, from March 16 to April 6.

The three venues chosen for the World Twenty20 -- Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet -- had all experienced violence over the past month. Sri Lanka will play at all three venues during their tour.

In 2009, during a trip to Pakistan, the Sri Lankan cricket team was ambushed by gunmen in an attack that wounded several players and killed at least six policemen.

Bangladesh Test squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Marshall Ayub, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mominul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Imrul Kayes, Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi, Robiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain.

Sri Lanka´s tour itinerary: Jan 27-31: First Test at Dhaka, Feb 4-8: Second Test at Chittagong, Feb 12: First Twenty20 at Chittagong, Feb 14: Second Twenty20 at Chittagong, Feb 17: First ODI at Sylhet, Feb 20: Second ODI at Dhaka, Feb 22: Third ODI at Dhaka.
(AFP)