Mortaza to replace 'unfit' Shoaib in Afro-Asia Cup

Dhaka, May 24 (UNI) Bangladesh pace spearhead Mashrafee Mortaza will replace dope-tainted Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar in the Asian squad for the next months Afro-Asia Cup in India.

Mortaza inclusion was confirmed by ASM Faruque, the Bangladesh selector in the four-member in the ACC selection committee panel.

''The selection committee have picked up Mortaza to replace Shoaib in the Asian squad,'' Faruque was quoted by 'The New Age' as saying.

''He was the automatic choice after Shoaib was ruled out,'' he added.

Mortaza joined left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique to become Bangladesh's second representative in the 14-member Asian squad.

Shoaib who earlier missed the World Cup due to injury, was ruled out of the Asian squad on Tuesday after he was declared unfit to take the field.

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seemed reluctant to release the 24-year-old bowler as during last year's edition of the tournament he injured himself to miss his side's Sri Lanka tour.

UNI