Cricket: Tourists arrive weakened as fever forces key bowler to miss flight

The Bangladesh cricket team arrived in New Zealand yesterday without key player Mashrafe Mortaza who missed the flight out because of a bout of fever.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board did not confirm when Mortaza, who was recalled to the Bangladesh limited-overs squad after a seven-month lay-off, would depart.

Bowler Mortaza, who captains Bangladesh when fit, underwent knee surgery after the tour of the West Indies last year and was forced to miss the home tests against India and the tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka.

He was to lead the team to the West Indies but since the first test of that tour, when he suffered the injury, Shakib Al Hasan has led the team in his absence.

The 15-member squad for New Zealand does not include any new faces.

Batsman Shahriar Nafees, who failed in his comeback test against India in Chittagong, has been dropped and replaced by his former ICL teammate Aftab Ahmed.

Selectors also recalled left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak to the test squad, at the expense of Enamul Haque Jr.

Fast bowler Mahbubul Alam, who didn't play the tests against India, was omitted in favour of Nazmul Hossain, who has recovered from a right quadriceps muscle injury which had ruled him out of the tri-series.

Junaid Siddique, who replaced Nafees in the second test against India in Mirpur, will join the team for the test at Hamilton on February 15.

The tour begins on Wednesday with a one-off Twenty20 match, followed by three one-day internationals.

The one-off test begins on February 15 at Hamilton's Seddon Park.

Bangladesh squad:

Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (vice-captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Raqibul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Aftab Ahmed, Naeem Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza.

- NZPA