Battered Bangladesh Send for Reinforcements Against England

Bristol: Mohammad Ashraful could find himself playing for Bangladesh in the second one-day international against England on Saturday just a matter of hours after arriving in Britain.

Ashraful, who in 2005 made a match-winning century as The Tigers beat world champions Australia in a stunning one-day upset in Cardiff, joins a Bangladesh squad who saw wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and recalled batsman Raqibul Hasan both suffer series-ending injuries in a six-wicket 1st ODI loss to England at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Mushfiqur was hit in the face by a ball from spinner Faisal Hossain that bounced alarmingly while Raqibul, who top-scored on Thursday with 76, had his toe fractured by a James Anderson yorker.

But, with the three-match one-day series against England ending at Edgbaston on Monday, not all of Bangladesh's replacements may arrive in time.

Ashraful, who has struggled to live up to the promise of his hundred against Australia five years ago, was due to arrive in England on Friday.

All-rounder Naeem Islam, who played against England on their recent tour of Bangladesh, has also been summoned although he is not due to arrive until Saturday, which means he could play at Edgbaston.

However, the issue of a replacement for Mushfiqur is more complicated, with wicketkeeper Saghir Hossain still awaiting visa confirmation.

Meanwhile batsman Jahurul Islam - who was himself ruled out of the first ODI with illness - is set to be behind the stumps in Bristol.

Bangladesh have yet to win an international match in 2010, having been beaten in 24 matches in total after losing seven Tests, 14 ODIs and three Twenty20s.

Team news

England There must be a temptation from Strauss and Andy Flower to make a change in the bowling department with Ajmal Shahzad having carried the drinks in recent weeks. They like the balance of the current team, but James Tredwell only bowled three overs at Trent Bridge so Shahzad could slot in for the offspinner and increase the pace options.

Squad from Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood (vice-capt), Craig Kieswetter (wk), Ajmal Shahzad, James Tredwell, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy, Jonathan Trott.

Bangladesh will have to wait and see how many of the reserves arrive in Bristol in time for the game. Mohammad Ashraful, Naeem Islam and wicketkeeper Saghir Hossain are jetting over and without them the squad is down to the bare bones. If Saghir doesn't reach in time for the match, Jahurul Islam will keep wicket.

Squad from Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Abdur Razzak, Faisal Hossain, Jahurul Islam, Naeem Islam, Junaid Siddique, Mahmudullah, Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Syed Rasel.

Pitch and conditions
This is the ground where 23 wickets fell on the first day of Gloucestershire's County Championship match against Northamptonshire at the beginning of the season. Although conditions have certainly eased considerably since then, and Gloucestershire eased to 154 for 2 in slightly more than 15 overs in the last Twenty20 match played here, the pitch should provide a decent battle between bat and ball. The weather is set fair for Saturday's game.

Stats and trivia

• After his unbeaten 84 in the first game, Ian Bell now averages 143.40 in all international matches against Bangladesh, having scored 717 runs - including three Test centuries - against them.
• Despite Tamim Iqbal's consistent form, Bangladesh's leading runscorer in ODIs in 2010 is his opening partner, Imrul Kayes, who has 502 runs at 35.85 this year. Tamim is just behind him, with 499 runs at 35.64, but has a far superior strike-rate of 103.09 as compared to Kayes' 68.11 in 2010.

Match facts
Saturday July 10, 2010
Start time 10:45 local (9:45 GMT)