Bangladesh recall Asraful against Zimbabwe

Ashraful, the country's most successful batsman, last week scored 263 in a domestic match.

Bangladesh on Sunday recalled talented batsman Mohammad Ashraful who was axed last week from a 13-member squad to play against Zimbabwe, a selector said.

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"We have recalled him after he did well in domestic cricket," Faruk Ahmed, chief selector of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, told reporters at a news conference.

"A player like Ashraful should not be out of the squad when he regains form."

Ashraful, the country's most successful batsman, last week scored 263 in a four-day domestic match after selectors excluded him from the squad against Zimbabwe.

"We had kept Ashraful out of the squad to create pressure on him so he could regain his form," Ahmed said. "I think he has proven himself again."

A 15-member Zimbabwe team arrived in Bangladesh's capital on Thursday to play five limited-overs internationals and a Twenty20 match against the host.

On Friday, Zimbabwe skipper Prosper Utseya said his team was ready to play good cricket against Bangladesh.

The two teams have met 11 times over the last couple of seasons with Bangladesh holding a 6-5 advantage.

The visiting team will leave for the southwestern city of Khulna on Monday ahead of Tuesday's Twenty20 match.

The first limited-overs international match is scheduled for November 30, 2006 in Khulna while the northern district of Bogra will host second and third matches on December 3 and December 5, 2006.

The last two matches will be held in Dhaka on December 8 and December 9, 2006. Zimbabwe currently ranks one place below Bangladesh at number 10 in the ICC limited-overs internationals rankings.