Bangladesh will retain Mohammad Ashraful as national captain for a limited overs home series against Pakistan in March and the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June. Ashraful has been under pressure after scoring only 12 runs in three one-day internationals at home against Zimbabwe last month.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman said on Saturday Ashraful's position would be reviewed before a tour of West Indies following the World Cup. "We have decided to give him more time. He will remain under observation during the period," he said after a board executive meeting. The spokesman said pace bowlerMashrafe Mortaza and wicketkeep-er Mushfiqur Rahim were potential replacements.

Copyright Reuters, 2009