Ashraful in charge for tour match

Mohammad Ashraful has been handed the Bangladesh A team captaincy after opting out of the ongoing one-day series

Mohammad Ashraful will captain Bangladesh A when they face England in a three-day practice match in Chittagong starting on Sunday.

The former Tigers skipper, recognised as one of his country’s best batsmen since their admission to Test cricket in 2000, has suffered a stark dip in form that led him to opt out of the current one-day series.

Ashraful will lead a strong side that includes Junaid Siddique, Raqibul Hasan and promising youngster Shamsur Rahman.

The 25-year-old Ashraful made just 12 and two in Bangladesh last Test, a one-off match against New Zealand in Hamilton.

Bangladesh have not yet named their squad for the two Test matches in Chittagong and Mirpur that follow the ODI series.

Bangladesh A team to face England: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Junaid Siddique, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Shamsur Rahman, Raqibul Hasan, Shuvogoto Chowdhury, Shahagir Hossain (wkt), Mahbubul Alam, Robiul Islam, Syed Rasel, Dolar Mahmud, Nur Hossain Munna.

The new Brit Insurance 2010-11 official England Cricket Team kit will be available to pre order from April 1 via ecb.co.uk, and in store from April 29