Ashraful back for England Tests

Dhaka:

Bangladesh have recalled former captain Mohammad Ashraful for a two-Test series in England starting later this month.

The 25-year-old batsman, who was dropped from the home Test series against England in March, returned to form with a 49-ball 65 in his team's World Twenty20 match against Pakistan in St Lucia on Saturday.

Ashraful has so far scored 2,256 runs in 53 Tests with five hundreds and seven half-centuries.

Fast bowler Robiul Islam is the only newcomer in a 15-man squad to be led by all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. The 23-year-old Robiul has bagged 102 wickets in 30 first-class matches.

"Robiul brings in a lot of energy and has brisk pace," chief selector Rafiqul Alam said.

"He is strong and aggressive and we feel he can be a handy option in English conditions."

The opening Test starts at Lord's on May 27, while the second will be played in Manchester from June 4.

England won both their Tests in Bangladesh in March under stand-in captain Alastair Cook.

Bangladesh's Test squad:

Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Junaid Siddique, Jahurul Islam, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mahbubul Alam, Robiul Islam.