February 08, 2008	Friday	Muharram 29, 1429

DHAKA, Feb 7: Veteran Bangladesh spinner Mohammad Rafique will retire from international cricket after an upcoming home series against South Africa, the selectors announced here on Thursday.

The left-arm spinner, ignored for a recent tour of New Zealand, was recalled for a two-Test series beginning in Mirpur on Feb 22. The tourists will also play three One-day Internationals.

“Rafique is our most experienced spinner. We have recalled him because our chances of winning the series depend on him,” Bangladesh’s chief selector Rafiqul Alam said, adding that Rafique had already informed the selectors he would retire after the South Africa series.

The 37-year-old, one of the four specialist spinners in the squad, had told reporters earlier he would quit all forms of the game after the series during which he aims to complete 100 Test wickets.

Rafique, who played his last Test in July 2007 against

Sri Lanka, has so far grabbed 94 wickets in 31 matches. He has also claimed 125 wickets in as many One-day Internationals.

Veteran opener Javed Omar, who toured New Zealand, failed to find a place in the 17-man squad led by middle-order batsman Mohammad Ashraful. Tushar Imran, Mehrab Hossain and Nazmul Hossain were also dropped.

“We have selected a team which has every chance of beating South Africa, provided the batsmen take the Test into the fifth day,” Alam said.

South Africa open the tour with a three-day warm-up match starting in Fatullah on Feb 17.

Bangladesh Test squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Habibul Bashar, Aftab Ahmed, Junaid Siddique, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sajedul Islam, Saqibul Hasan, Rajin Saleh, Farhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque, Mohammad Rafique, Syed Rasel.—AFP