Akram to lead President's XI

Former national skipper Akram Khan will lead a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President's Eleven against visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of England in a three-day match starting at the Rajshahi Stadium on Friday.

Akram after steering Bangladesh to their maiden ICC Trophy victory in Malaysia in 1997, was forced to relinquish the captaincy after disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign in September of the following year. Although the team failed to win a single match nevertheless, the reliable middle order batsman held his place in the national squad until suffering an Achilles' tendon injury kept him out of action for a few months.

The portly right-hander made a brilliant comeback in the just-concluded inaugural National League as member of champions Chittagong by slamming an unbeaten 118 against Khulna last month.

The 12-man list also includes three new faces-- Mizanur Rahman, Shaheen Ahmed and Mohammad Lal. Mizanur is a wicketkeeper who played for Khulna in the National League. Left-arm spinner Shaheen also represented Khulna. Mohammad Lal was the highest wicket-taker in the Damal Smriti tournament for champions Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Sangha and is the other specialist left-arm tweaker.

Azam Iqbal and Sajid Hasan will open the innings. Right-hander Azam scored two centuries for Chittagong in the National League.

Al-Shahriar, Akram Khan, Naimur Rahman, and Mushfiqur Rahman form the middle order. Fahim Muntasir is the lone off-spinner. Medium- pacer Shafiuddin Ahmed and left-arm seamer Monjurul Islam are expected to form the new ball attack.

SQUAD
Azam Iqbal, Sajid Hasan, Naimur Rahman, Akram Khan (captain), Al-Shahriar, Mushfiqur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman, Fahim Muntasir, Monjurul Islam, Shafiuddin Ahmed, Shaheen Ahmed and Mohammad Lal.