Bangladesh in Pakistan 2007-08

Rasel included for Pakistan ODIs

Cricinfo staff

March 25, 2008

	Syed Rasel has been called into service for Bangladesh's tour to Pakistan © TigerCricket.com

Syed Rasel, the left-arm medium-pacer, has been included in Bangladesh's 15-man squad to tour Pakistan in April.

Rasel is the only addition to the 14-member squad that completed a 3-0 win over Ireland. The team will be led by Mohammad Ashraful, who was fined by the board for a recent altercation with a spectator while returning from a practice session.

"We have kept the winning combination for this tour," Rafiqul Alam, Bangladesh's chief selector, said. "I am sure the series whitewash of Ireland has given the boys a lot of confidence which they will carry over to Pakistan.

"With the inclusion of Rasel we have good balance in the side with three specialist pace bowlers and two left-arm spinners in Abdur Razzak, who I reckon is one of the best bowlers in the world in this form of the game, and Shakib Al Hasan. We also have variation as Mahmudullah, who is predominantly a batting allrounder, bowls offspin."

Pakistan invited Bangladesh for a five-ODI series following Australia's pullout of their scheduled tour in March-April due to security concerns. The series begins with the first ODI in Lahore on April 8.

Squad:
Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Nazimuddin, Shariar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Raqibul Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh (wk), Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mahmudullah, Farhad Reza, Syed Rasel.

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