Changes for Bangladesh

Opener Omar dropped for Test series against the Kiwis

Last updated: 2nd January 2008

habibul bashar Bangladesh 07

Bashar: Back for Bangladesh

You know each and every coach always picks up one or two players at the beginning of their tenure and I think Jamie wanted to rely on Zunaed.

Akram Khan
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Bangladesh have opted for youth for the Test series against New Zealand.

The Tigers were whitewashed 3-0 in the one-day series against the Black Caps in December.

Opener Javed Omar, Tushar Imran, Nazmul Hossain and Mehrab Hossain Jnr have all returned home as a result with Habibul Bashar, Shahriar Nafees and spinner Enamul Haque replacing them.

Selector Akram Khan insists Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons requested the influx of youth to freshen up the side.

Faith

Khan told the Daily Star: "We have taken a risky decision by keeping two uncapped openers for the Test series, but I think the batting of Tamim Iqbal and Zunaed Siddiqui in the one-day series has prompted our coach to take this challenging decision.

"You know each and every coach always picks up one or two players at the beginning of their tenure and I think Jamie wanted to rely on Zunaed.

"And there is nothing wrong with respecting the decision of a coach. But what we must ensure is that we don't show impatience to the new guys. We have to keep faith in them."

New Zealand also sprung a surprise in recalling Matthew Bell to their squad for the first Test, which starts on Thursday.