Nasir, Soumya, Shabbir in World Cup squad, Mashrafe to lead

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

The game’s 11th showcase event will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand from Feb 14 to Mar 29.

Bangladesh have been pitted in Group A against England, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Scotland.

BCB President Nazmul Hassan announced the squad at a media briefing on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been made the skipper of the team and Shakib Al Hasan will be his deputy.

Nasir Hossain has returned along with allrounder Shabbir Rahman, who debuted in the Zimbabwe series last year. But left-handed allrounder Soumya Sarkar was the surprise inclusion, having played in only one ODI.

Apart from Shakib, there are two more spinners in the squad while Mashrafe and three other quicks will lead the Tigers’ pace attack.

Pacer Shafiul Islam and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain could be kept as standbys, said the BCB chief.

Wicketkeeper Musfiqur Rahim's recent shoulder injury is not serious and he is set to return to practice next week. He has been drafted in the team as well.

Tamim Iqbal, who is also in the squad, underwent a surgery last week for his knee injury.

But BCB senior physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury confirmed that the left-handed opener would return to training in two to three weeks following his rehabilitation and be able to play in the World Cup.

The World Cup squad

Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Hoque, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Taijul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Al Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Soumya Sarkar.