CHITTAGONG,(Bangladesh), April 21: Bangladesh on Thursday omitted seasoned all-rounder Khaled Mahmud from a 16-man squad for their first ever Test tour of England starting next month. Mahmud, who turns 34 in July, is a former captain who played the last of his 12 Tests at home against England in 2004.

But the right-arm seamer and lower order batsman has been a regular member of the one-day team.

Bangladesh will play two Tests at Lord’s (May 26-30) and Durham (June 3-7) before taking part in a limited-overs tri-series also featuring world champions Australia from June 16 to July 2.

Chief selector Faruk Ahmad said he was confident the team, led by batsman Habibul Bashar, will do well on the pathbreaking tour.

“We have picked the best possible team and kept in mind the playing conditions and weather in England,” said Ahmad.

Coach Dav Whatmore, who on Wednesday renewed a two-year contract with Bangladesh, said he was looking forward to his team’s first Test series in England.

Bangladesh have lost 31 of their 36 Tests, drawn four and won one since gaining Test status in 2000.

Their maiden Test win came against depleted Zimbabwe earlier this year.

Bangladesh have won nine of their 106 one-day internationals, including a victory over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup in England and one against India at home in December.

Squad: Habibul Bashar (capt), Khaled Mashud, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Ashraful, Javed Omar, Rajin Saleh, Nafees Iqbal, Aftab Ahmad Chowdhury, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Mohammad Rafique, Enamul Haque (Junior), Mashrafe Mortaza, Tapash Baishya, Anwar Hossain, Talha Jubair, Shahdat Hossain.

Coach: Dav Whatmore.—Agencies