NEW DELHI, Aug 5: Bangladesh seam bowler Mashrafe bin Mortaza has been included in the Asia squad to play Africa in three one-day matches in South Africa later this month, a team official said on Friday.

Mortaza replaces Pakistan’s Rana Navedul Hasan who was not available for the inaugural limited-overs series for the Afro-Asian Cup, Asia team manager Sultan Rana said.

“Mashrafe is a terrific asset to the Bangladesh team and I am sure he will be a committed performer for Asia against Africa,” Rana said. The right-arm seam bowler, who has claimed 47 wickets in 18 Tests, is the second Bangladeshi in the 15-man squad after young batsman Mohammad Ashraful.

Revised Asia squad:

Inzamamul Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan); Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble (India); Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka); Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe bin Mortaza (Bangladesh).—AFP