DHAKA (Reuters)
Bangladesh have dropped former captain Akram Khan for the first Test against Zimbabwe. Manager Tanjeev Ahsan Saad said Khan had been left out to give an opportunity to all-rounder Mohammad Ashraful, who only made his Test debut in the Asian championship during August and September.

Khan, who led Bangladesh to victory in the ICC Trophy in 1997 and helped his country qualify for the 1999 World Cup in England, is expected to play in the second and final Test at his home town of Chittagong starting on November 15.

Bangladesh have included debutant medium pacer Mashrafee bin Mortuza instead of the experienced Hasibul Hossain, who has been out of form recently, chief selector Mainul Huq said. World Cup vice-captain Khaled Mahmud has also been recalled after being sidelined for a long period. Bangladesh have opted for seven specialist batsmen, and a draw seems to be the height of their ambitions. Saad said: "We have given emphasis to batting with the aim (of occupying) the crease to reach a draw." Bangladesh have lost all the five-day matches they have played since achieving Test status in 2000 - one against India last November, two against Zimbabwe in April and one each against Pakistan in August and Sri Lanka in September. Zimbabwe are also seeking to find winning form after a lean spell at both Test and one-day level. They lost a two-Test series at home to West Indies 1-0 last July and went down 1-0 in two home Tests against South Africa in September. The Zimbabweans have also lost their last 16 limited overs internationals.

New captain Brian Murphy is approaching the two Tests here in positive mood. "Our players will return to a winning rhythm. We hope to win this series in Bangladesh," he said.

Zimbabwe will not announce their side until just before the start on Thursday.

Bangladesh Naimur Rahman (captain), Khaled Masud, Javed Omar Belim, Al-Shahriar, Habibul Bashar, Aminul Islam, Mohammad Ashraful, Khaled Mahmud, Enamul Hoque, Manjurul Islam, Mashrafee bin Mortuza.

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