Bangladesh's chief cricket selector quits

Chief selector Akram Khan has quit in protest at the Bangladesh Cricket Board's alleged interference in the selection committee's work.

Khan submitted his resignation on Wednesday apparently over differences in selecting the national team for the Asia Cup, which starts on Sunday.

"I could not work independently," Khan, a former national team captain, said.

The board on Monday dropped four of the 15 players who were part of a home one-day series against Pakistan in December.

Regular opener Tamim Iqbal was left out of the board's 14-man squad, while Mashrafe bin Mortaza was recalled.

Khan said the three-member selection committee had included Iqbal in the squad, but the board dropped him.

Mortaza was recalled after he led the Dhaka Gladiators to victory in the inaugural Twenty20 Bangladesh Premier League. Iqbal played only two games for the Chittagong Kings due to a groin injury.

But Khan said Iqbal's fitness was not a problem for the upcoming tournament.

Bangladesh will host Pakistan in the opening match of the competition at Dhaka's Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.