Ashraful, regarded as one of Bangladesh's most talented batsmen, will replace Sanwar Hossain who failed in both innings in Karachi.

Sanwar's contribution was 15 and 3 runs respectively. Even his off-spinners produced no wickets prompting the inclusion of 19-year-old Ashraful.

But since rising to prominence against Sri Lanka in 2001 when he became the youngest batsman in Test history to score a century on debut, Ashraful has remained inconsistent.

His performances in Australia, where the young right-hander could only manage a meagre thirty runs in two innings in the first Test at Darwin and a 'pair' in the second Test at Cairns, prompted him to be dropped for the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi,

However, coach Dav Whatmore has great belief in his immense talent and wants to give Ashraful another chance to fulfil his enormous potential.

But the real surprise was the naming of right-arm quick Alamgir ahead of more experienced left-arm Monjurul Islam.

Alamgir has played only one Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2002 but it wasn't the perfect introduction for the 22-year-old who conceded 82 runs in 15 overs in that match.

But he returned in triumph to the island nation as a member of the Bangladesh Under-23 team. Alamgir bagged an impressive 24 wickets in seven matches, which included a record eight-wicket innings haul in a two-day game.

When asked to comment on Alamgir's inclusion, captain Khaled Mahmud said that the paceman had tremendous fighting spirit, admirable fitness and a natural ability to move both the old and new ball.