Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ignored the Importance of a specialist right-arm spinner in the

final selection of 16 players for the forthcoming ICC Trophy, scheduled to begin in Malaysia from March.

The final list, which was announced by the BCB yesterday. surprisingly missed the name of a probable candidate — Sheikh Salauddin. an impressive performer in Bangladesh's triumph at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Trophy in Malaysia last year. The right-ann spinner, however, was included in the stand-by choice of four.

The selection committee headed by Shaiqul Haq Hera kept their faith in Akram Khan

at the helm of Bangladesh's serious bid for the ICC Trophy. The top-down three in the 22-team tourney will get a ticket to the next World Cup to be held in England in 1999 The selected sixteen, a blend of youth and experience, will now have to fight it out without a right-arm spinner.

But the notable omission in the squad is young opener Shahriar Hossain Bidyut. the highest run-scorer in ACC Trophy. Bidyut. who is now a pale shadow of his former self, was left out of the choice considering his poor showings in the domestic cricket.

With Akram's retaining of the captaincy after his successful mission for the ACG Trophy. Aminul Islam Bulbul will once again be acting as his deputy. Three star performers — Athar Ali Khan. Minhazul Abedin Nannu and Enamul Haq Moni — have been brought back in the team after their omission from the ACC squad following their much publicised one-month suspensions slapped by the Board on disciplinary grounds.

Abahani's right-arm pacer Zakir Hossain and Mohammedans middle-order bat Sanwar Hossain are the two freshers for the Malaysia mission.

Besides, two precious performers, all-rounder Nalmur Rahman Durjoy and opener Javed Omar Bellim Golla, have also earned selectors' nods for a place In the elite sixteen.

Jahangir Alam, known for his shakiness on artificial

wickets, and Khaled Mahmood Sujon. who is going through a lean patch in the league so far. however, managed to keep their places mainly due to their impressive international records.

SQUAD

Akram Khan (captain). Aminul Islam Bulbul (vice-captain) Athar Ali Khan. Minhazul Abedin Nannu. Enamul Haque Moni. Jahangir Alam. Mohammad Rafiq. Sanwar Hossain. Javed Omar Bellim. Saiful Islam. Anisur Rahman. Hasibul Hossain Shanto. Zakir Hossain. Khaled Masood Pilot (wicketkeeper). Khaled Mahmood Sujon, Nalmur Rahman Durioy.

Stand-by force: Sheikh Salauddin, Morshed Ali Khan. Habibul Basher Sumon. Atiar Rahman.