Ashraful to captain BCB XI against NZ

Mohammad Ashraful has been named captain of the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI that will take on the touring New Zealand team in the first warm-up match in Savar on October 1. Ashraful, who has been in and out of the Bangladesh side following a prolonged run of poor form, was left out of the squad that will play five ODIs against the visitors, but gets the chance to show the selectors they made a mistake.

The selectors have opted for youth, picking a number of players under the age of 23 in the 14-man squad. Shamsur Rahman, 22, averaged 67 in two unofficial Tests against South Africa A earlier this year. He was also part of Bangladesh's squad for the World Twenty20 in 2009, and was called up to the Test team that toured England earlier this year as back-up.

The bowling attack includes 21-year-old Dolar Mahmud, who last played for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in 2009, and 18-year-old legspinner Noor Hossain, who has just four first-class matches under his belt. Meanwhile 20-year-old Mithun Ali will keep wickets.

The BCB XI plays two one-day matches against New Zealand, the second of which is also at Savar on October 3. The five ODIs will be hosted in Mirpur from October 5 to 17.

Bangladesh Cricket Board XI squad: Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Shamsur Rahman, Faisal Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Mahbubul Alam, Syed Rasel, Nazimuddin, Noor Hossain, Dolar Mahmud, Rony Talukder, Nasir Hossain, Mithun Ali (wk), Shabbir Rahman, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury