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[indcric]

Habibul Bashar replaced in both forms

Ashraful named Bangladesh captain

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/current/story/296705.html

Cricinfo staff

June 2, 2007
 
Mohammad Ashraful has been named Bangladesh's new captain in both forms of the game. He replaces Habibul Bashar who stood down as one-day captain following the series against India, but had indicated his wish to remain in charge of the Test side. However, the board have decided on a clean break and, at 22, Ashraful becomes the second youngest international captain behind Prosper Utseya.

Ashraful's first assignment will be a three-Test and three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, later this month, and he'll also lead the side at the Twenty20 World Championships, in South Africa, during September. Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh's leading pace bowler who also enjoyed success with the bat against India, has been named as Ashraful's vice-captain.

Ashraful's coach on the tour of Sri Lanka will be Shaun Williams, the Australian who has been in charge of the successful Under-19 side, following Dav Whatmore's departure after the India series. The board plan to name Whatmore's long-term successor following the series in Sri Lanka.

"With his [Ashraful's] captaincy, Bangladesh cricket enters a new era," said a BCB spokesman. "The board is confident Ashraful will lead by example and take the country's cricket to a new height. He is a talented batsman and has all the abilities to be a very good leader."

Despite Test and ODI averages of 24 and 21 respectively Ashraful is one of Bangladesh's key players. He hit the headlines in 2001 by becoming the youngest Test century-maker and was Bangladesh's leading run-scorer during the World Cup in West Indies. Against South Africa he hit an 83-ball 87, which was central to the team's memorable Super Eight victory.

However, his finest moment came at Cardiff, in 2005, when he hit 100 to guide Bangladesh towards a famous victory over Australia in the Natwest Series. But each time his game has appeared ready to move to the next level his inconsistency, and impetuosity, has reared its head. Now he has the added responsibility of having to lead by example.

© Cricinfo

[kban1]

Not a bad decision, IMO.

I watched Ashraful's captaincy on the second day of the test when Habibul was off the field -- he had well set fields which choked the run flow --quite a departure from the previous day when the runs were flowing for India easily.

[indcric]

We have to wait and see whether the captaincy brings some responsibility to his batting, so that he consistently plays those kind of scintillating knocks or the added responsibility weighs him down and his batting gets affected negatively.