DHAKA, Aug 29: Shahriar Nafees was on Tuesday described as Bangladesh's captain-in-waiting after being appointed Habibul Bashar's deputy for the Champions Trophy in October.

Shahriar, 20, was promoted to vice-captain in a provisional 18-man squad for the 10-nation tournament to be played in India from Oct 7 to Nov 5.

“The idea is to groom Shahriar for the captaincy to succeed 34-year-old Habibul,” said Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Mahmudur Rahman.

Shahriar, who earlier led Bangladesh's under-19 squad, will complete his first year in Test cricket in September.

The left-handed batsman has so far scored 402 runs in six Tests and 787 runs in 25 one-dayers.

Shahriar could lead Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy itself if Habibul is declared unfit following a thumb injury on the tour of Zimbabwe last month.

Bangladesh will take on the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the preliminary round-robin stage of the Champions Trophy with the top two advancing to the main tournament against Australia, India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand and South Africa.Bangladesh have to name the final 14-man squad by Sept 5.—AFP