Bangladesh Profiles (On BBC)

[Hasib]

KHALED MAHMUD
Captain, right-hand batsman; right arm medium bowler


FACTFILE

DOB: 26.07.71
Team: Dhaka Metropolis
Test debut: v Zimbabwe, Dhaka 2001
ODI debut:v India, Dhaka 1998

Khaled Mahmud was appointed captain following Bangladesh's disappointing World Cup in 2003.

He claimed the man-of-the-match award against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, scoring a fast 27 and then claiming three quick wickets to seal victory.

Mahmud played in all three of his country's one-day wins to that date.

His partnership with new coach Dav Whatmore has resulted in a more competitive team spirit that has seen Bangladesh make significant progress.

"The captain of the team and another who makes a contribution certainly with the ball, but with the bat also. He has some fine qualities as a leader," Whatmore said of his captain.

HABIBUL BASHAR
Right hand batsman; right arm off-spin bowler


FACTFILE

DOB: 17.8.72
Team: Biman Bangladesh
Test debut:v India, Dhaka 2000
ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah 1995

The only ever present in the side since Bangladesh's inaugual Test three years ago, he goes into the series against England with more than 1,700 runs behind him.

He is also the only batsman with more than one Test century to his credit, having made 108 against Zimbabwe in 2001, a score which he equalled in the recent series in Pakistan.

"A very attacking player - he always wants to get on with the game and I like that", says coach Dav Whatmore.

There are, however, question marks about Bashar's shot selection as shown by the fact that he has only reached three figures twice in Tests despite passing fifty on 17 occasions.

He has proved less effective in one-day cricket and his Test average of 37 is double that in the shorter form of the game.

SANWAR HOSSAIN
Right-handed batsman; right-arm off-spin bowler


FACTFILE

DOB: 5.8.73
Team: Biman Bangladesh
Test debut: v New Zealand, Hamilton, 2001/02
ODI debut: v India, Dhaka, 1997/98

Despite making his one-day debut as long ago as 1998, Hossain has only recently been able to command a regular place in the side.

The replacement of several veteran middle-order batsmen has opened a space for a man viewed as an occupier of the crease - a view he has yet to confirm.

Off-spin bowling provided an extra string to his bow.

But his actin was reported as faulty after the Test series in Australia and, although he has bowle since, he has not taken a wicket.

HANNAN SARKAR
Right-hand batsman; right arm medium bowler


FACTFILE

DOB: 01/12/92
Team: Dhaka Metropolis
Test debut: v Zimbabwe, Dhaka 2001
ODI debut:v India, Dhaka 1998

Introduced to the side as a 20-year-old, Hannan Sarkar had a shaky start but has started to show signs of promise in both the Test and one-day arenas.

The opening batsman weighed in with scores of 76, 55, 41, 35 and 30 in the Test series in Australia.

In the one-day arena he had a poor 2003 World Cup, but hit 61 and 50 during the series against Pakistan that followed.

He is very much part of the new, competitive Bangladesh side under Dav Whatmore.

"A young batsman who really wants to do well in the opening position and has shown a liking to facing the fast bowlers," Whatmore says.

"He's had a pretty decent rise in a short space of time so he's one of the young players doing well."

JAVED OMAR
Right hand batsman; right arm leg-spin bowler


FACTFILE

DOB: 25.11.76
Team: Dhaka Division
Test debut: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2001
ODI debut:v India, Sharjah 1995

An opening batsman who lacks the shot-making flamboyance of some of his team-mates, Omar compensates with a patient approach ideally suited to Test cricket.

But he is not a one-day regular, having made just 28 appearances since his debut eight years ago.

After four Test half-centuries, he achieved a notable breakthrough with an innings of 119 in the recent series in Pakistan.

"He's been arround for a while now and by his own admission had been under-achieving," says coach Dav Whatmore.

"The hundred he got in Peshawar has re-ignited his self-belief, so we hope his form continues."

Omar's vulnerability at the start of an innings remains an area of concern - he has been dismissed for less than 10 in 14 of his 34 Test innings to date, and a further eight times between 10 and 20.

Part of a new generation of players after making his international debut just last year, Kapali is a fearless batsman against pace bowling.

But he is also capable of suffocating leg-spin bowling and is developing into an impressive all-rounder.

Says coach Dav Whatmore: "He has oodles of talent and the day he realises how much talent he has got he will be a revelation for the team."

Kapali was a revelation against Pakistan at Peshawar in August, when he became the first Bangladeshi bowler to take a Test hat-trick.

The achievement helped secured his side their first ever first-innings lead, in their 23rd match at the highest level.

RAJIN SALEH
Right hand batsman; right arm off-spin bowler


FACTFILE

DOB: 20.11.83
Team: Sylhet Division
Test debut: v Pakistan, Karachi 2003
ODI debut: v Pakistan, Multan 2003

A new face introduced to the squad following the World Cup, Saleh has already shown plenty of potential.

Translating that potential into consistent performances at international level is the challenge that now faces him, but coach Dav Whatmore believes he is made of the right stuff.

"Rajin was given an opportunity in the Pakistan series," says Whatmore.

"He grabbed it with both hands and I'm really pleased for him because he has a terrific desire to do well."

Saleh batted for almost five hours to make 60 in his debut Test and followed that with two half-centuries in the one-day series against Pakistan.

His bowling is his weaker suit at present but he took 3-48 in only his second one-dayer at Faisalabad.

MUSHFIQUR RAHMAN
Right-arm medium bowler; right-hand batsman


FACTFILE

DOB: 1.1.1980
Team: Rajshahi Division
Test debut: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2000/01
ODI debut:v India, Dhaka, 1999/00

Mainly a one-day all-rounder, Rahman's two appearances in Tests so far have shown up his suspect credentials.

A nagging medium-pacer in the shorter form of the game, he lacks wicket-taking bite when runs are not at a premium for opponents.

He can also be rash in shot selection, resulting in just 10 runs in four Test innings, all against Zimbabwe in 2001.

KHALED MASHUD
Wicket-keeper; right-hand batsman


FACTFILE

DOB: 08/02/76
Team: Rajshahi Division
Test debut: v India, Dhaka 2000
ODI debut:v India, Sharjah 1995

A veteran of more than 20 Tests, Khaled Mashud became the first Bangladesh player to play in 50 one-day internationals.

Behind the stumps he is courageous and skillful, offering continuing support to his bowlers, and he is also an aggressive lower middle-order batsman.

He took over from Naimur Rahman as captain in November 2001.

But he resigned the post after Bangladesh's poor showing in the 2003 World Cup.

Coach Dav Whatmore described him as "a very hard worker, both behind the stumps with the gloves and also with the bat. He has a very good attitude."

TAPASH BAISYA
Right-arm fast-medium bowler; right-handed batsman


FACTFILE

DOB: 25.12.82
Team: Sylhet Division
Test debut: v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2002
ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2002

"Tapash is one of the younger bowlers in the group but he has been around for a little bit," says coach Dav Whatmore.

"He will be looking to cement his place with some disciplined bowling."

Like Whatmore, Baisya learned his trade in Australia, at the Academy in 2001, before making his Test debut at the age of just 19 a year later.

And it was in Australia that he came of age after a nervous start, impressing with his accuracy and economy.

However, he will have to work on his pace to gain bigger wicket-hauls in future.

HASIBUL HOSSAIN
Right-arm fast-medium bowler; right-hand batsman


FACTFILE
DOB: 3.6.1977
Team: Sylhet Division
Test debut: v India, Dhaka, 2000/01
ODI debut:v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 1994/95

Out of the side for much of 2002 and over-looked for the World Cup, Hossain returned to the fold for the recent tours of Australia and Pakistan.

One of the longest-serving members of the Bangladesh team, he has an extra yard of pace on many of his team-mates.

The veteran has in the past displayed a tendency to be erratic in line and length, negating his ability to move the ball both ways.

But he was parsimonious in three matches on tour, and will hope to bring that form home with him.

MOHAMMAD RAFIQUE
Left-arm spin; left-hand batsman


FACTFILE

DOB: 05/09/70
Team: Sylhet Division
Test debut: v India, Dhaka, 2000
ODI debut:v India, Sharjah, 1995

One of the most experienced players in the Bangladesh squad, Mohammad Rafique has played in more than 50 one-day internationals.

The left-arm spinner and hard-hitting batsman took part in Bangladesh's first one-day win, the 1998 victory over Kenya, when he hit 77 and took 3-56 to be named man-of-the-match.

Rafique also played in the win over Pakistan at the 1999 World Cup.

His career started badly after being reported with a suspect bowling action in 2001, but he bounced back 18 months later.

"Our left-arm spinner has been in and out of the team a little bit over the years, but now assumes the mantle of our number one spinner. He's a hard worker and any reward that he gets is deserved," says coach Dav Whatmore of the player.

MASHRAFE MORTAZA
Right-arm fast-medium bowler; right-handed batsman


FACTFILE

DOB: 5.10.83
Test debut: v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2002
ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2002

The one real pace bowler of the side, Mortaza gained good reviews during Bangladesh's tour of Australia, where he took four wickets in two difficult Test innings.

With Courtney Walsh as his idol and and other West Indian, Andy Roberts as a coach during his formative years, Mortaza has a chance to stake a claim as his country's pace spearhead.

Coach Dav Whatmore tempers that enthusiasm, saying: "Another youngster, Mashrafe's first first-class match was a Test so he's very much on the learning curve at the moment."

"But he's got the potential to become a good player for us."