The national selectors have included Mohammad Salim in the Bangladesh squad for the forthcoming TVS Cup triangular series and theTest series against South Africa as an additional wicketkeeper.

Chief selector Aliul Islam confirmed this yesterday.

Talking to The Daily Star Sport, Aliul said that they had initially decided against an extra wicketkeeper. But after receiving a request from coach Imran Sarwar, they finally selected Salim on Wednesday and the BCB approved the addition yesterday.

"We need another wicketkeeper in the team so that he can play when Khaled Mashud is injured or sick. We selected Salim for that spot because he is in a good touch with both the bat and with the gloves," Aliul said.

When asked why they have ignored youngster Anwar Hossain as the second wicketkeeper as he had already played for the country, Aliul revealed that Anwar was selected against West Indies last December as a specialists batsman and not as a wicketkeeper. "We gave him chance as a batsman. But again he did not do well in the domestic cricket this season. That's why we did not consider him," Aliul said.