Rubel included in preliminary Test squad

Rubel Hossain, the Bangladesh fast bowler, has been included in a 22-member preliminary squad for the first Test against West Indies which begins on November 13. The experienced batsman Mohammad Ashraful and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak have both been left out. Ashraful's form took a major downturn in this season's NCL while Razzak has long been considered only for limited-overs cricket, having played his last Test in August last year.

Rubel has been called up for the first time since a shoulder injury for which he has had to undergo a surgery in South Africa earlier this year. He injured his shoulder while playing in the first Test against Pakistan in Chittagong last year, and hadn't played top-flight cricket until making an appearance in this season's National Cricket League where he took three wickets in two matches.

Others making a return include Junaid Siddique, Enamul Haque jnr and Jahurul Islam while the uncapped Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Sohag Gazi and Al-Amin have also been drafted in.

Junaid, Jahurul and Enamul have been rewarded for their performance in the first-class competition as well as for Bangladesh A in the past year with the left-handed batsman Junaid and the left-arm spinner Enamul all set to make the final cut. The 14-member squad for the first Test will be announced on November 10 at the end of a three-day warm-up game against West Indies, to be played at the BKSP from November 8.

The BCB XI for that match will be led by Mushfiqur Rahim, who is among a number of international cricketers in the squad. Shahriar Nafees, Junaid, Jahurul, Mahmudullah, Nazimuddin, Enamul and Shafiul Islam are the other Bangladesh cricketers who will get an opportunity to gauge the opposition ahead of the Test match.

Preliminary Squad for first Test: Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Nazimuddin, Enamul Haque jnr, Elias Sunny, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Al Amin

BCB XI squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (Capt & wk), Shahriar Nafees, Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Nazimuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Enamul Haque jnr, Shafiul Islam, Al Amin