Rahim named new Bangladesh captain

Dhaka: Mushfiqur Rahim has been named Bangladesh`s new captain for the upcoming home series against the West Indies and Pakistan, an official said on Tuesday.

All-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah was named Rahim`s deputy, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman Rabeed Imam said. "Rahim will captain the national team for Tests and limited-over matches for the home series against the West Indies and Pakistan," said Rabeed. "The West Indies will tour from October and Pakistan from the last week of November." Wicket-keeper Rahim, a former vice-captain, had a brilliant series in Zimbabwe last month when he hit his first century in one-day internationals. He was singled out as a likely choice for captaincy after the BCB sacked regular captain Shakib Al Hasan and vice-captain Tamim Iqbal early this month following the team`s unsuccessful tour of Zimbabwe. Bangladesh lost the one-off Test and then a five-match one-day series 3-2 in Zimbabwe. Shakib and Tamim are the best Bangladeshi cricketers to have emerged on the international scene, winning Wisden cricket magazine`s international player of the year in 2009 and 2010, respectively. But they were accused of indiscipline during the Zimbabwe tour. Bureau Report