Dhaka: Bangladesh has dropped former captain Khaled Mashud from its Test team which is to take on South Africa in a two-match series starting on April 24.

Wicket-keeper Mashud has been replaced by Mohammad Salim, who kept wickets in their last match of an ongoing three-nation tournament featuring India, South Africa and hosts Bangladesh.

All-rounder Khaled Mahmud, who took over captaincy from Mashud after this year's World Cup, will lead the side. Paceman Mashrafi bin Murtaza and left-arm spinner Enamul Haque have been drafted into the side at the expense of seamer Tariq Aziz and all-rounder Tushar Imran, who were in the One-day team.

The first Test match will be held at Chittagong and the second at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here from May 1.

Bangladesh:Khaled Mahmud (captain), Mehrab Hossain, Mohammad Ashraful, Javed Omar, Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, Sanwar Hossain, Mohammad Salim, Alok Kapali, Mohammad Rafique, Tapas Baishya, Manjural Islam, Mashrafi bin Murtaza, Enamul Haque.

Copyright AFP 2001