DHAKA, Dec 31: Akram Khan gets the chance to prove his critics wrong when he was named Sunday as Bangladesh ‘A’ captain for the three-day match against Pakistan starting Jan 5 at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) ground.

The former Bangladesh captain, who led from the front in 1997 ICC Trophy, was dropped after the home series against Zimbabwe last month.

Akram, 33, was axed because of a string of poor scores during that series.

The big Chittagonian scored only 169 runs in 10 innings and has failed to make a half-century in five Tests.

However, the move must be seen by selectors as throwing Akram another lifeline to return to the Test squad.

Discarded national opener Mehrab Hossain, Under-19 captain Nafees Iqbal, all-rounder Mushfiqur Rahman and veteran left-arm spinner Enamul Hoque are the other notable inclusions in the 14-man squad.

Also, young Chittagong medium-pacer Tareq Aziz Khan who grabbed ten wickets against Dhaka in the inaugural National League match and Under-19 right-arm seamer Talha Jubayer earned a call-up.

Squad: Akram Khan (captain), Mehrab Hossain, Hannan Sarkar, Tushar Imran, Nafees Iqbal, Akram Khan, Hasanuzzaman, Mushfiqur Rahman, Anwar Hossain (wicket-keeper), Enamul Hoque, Fahim Muntasir, Tareq Aziz Khan, Talha Jubayer, Anwar Hossain Munir and Mohammad Alamgir.