Dhaka:Habibul Bashar will lead Bangladesh at next year's cricket World Cup in the West Indies, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said.

"Habibul Bashar has been reappointed captain of the Bangladesh team till the end of the 2007 World Cup," the board said in a statement on Thursday.

Bashar, 33, is Bangladesh's most successful Test batsman with 2,838 runs from 42 matches at an average of 34.60. He has also scored 1,1663 runs in 82 One-day Internationals.

He has been captain since January, 2004 when he replaced Khaled Mahmud.

Bangladesh have lost 39 of their 44 Test matches so far, their lone win coming against fellow wooden-spooners Zimbabwe. Four matches were drawn.

Of 125 One-dayers, Bangladesh have won 15, lost 108 while two games were washed out.

Bangladesh are due to host seven One-dayers against Zimbabwe in December to prepare for the World Cup in March and April.

Bangladesh will co-host the 2011 World Cup with South Asian neighbours India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.