Bangladesh recall batsman Imran for Kenya tour

DHAKA, Aug 7 (Reuters) Bangladesh have recalled middle- order batsman Tushar Imran for next week's one-day series against Kenya, officials said today.

Imran, who has played four tests and 35 one-dayers, will join the Bangladesh squad in Nairobi, where they will play Kenya on August 12, 13 and 15.

He was called up because regular captain Habibul Bashar has been ruled out for four weeks with a fractured thumb.

Bashar suffered the injury attempting to make a catch during the second one-day international against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 30.

Although Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 62 runs in that match and again by eight wickets on Sunday, they lost the series 3-2.

''Imran has been recalled in our efforts to stop a recurrence of the Zimbabwe nightmare,'' a Bangladesh Cricket Board official said.

Bangladesh, who beat Zimbabwe 3-2 last year to win a home one-day series for the first time, toured Zimbabwe hoping to maintain their advantage over the hosts.

Wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud will continue to captain the team in Kenya.

Squad: Khaled Mashud, Tushar Imran, Javed Omar, Mohammad Rafique, Rajin Saleh, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Mortaza, Aftab Ahmed, Mushfiqur Rahim, Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Saqibul Hasan and Farhad Reza.

REUTERS PM BS1139