The left-handed top-order batsman and a very useful left-arm spinner was the only fresh inclusion in an otherwise unchanged squad from a list which was taken in the previous occasion.

Their preparations will start on Wednesday.

The Faruque Ahmed-led selection panel trimmed the squad from the 30-member probables which was announced on August 9.

The 19-year-old Mehrab, who is currently captaining the BCB Academy team in Pakistan, caught the eye during the Bangladesh A team's tour to Zimbabwe last June and had been considered as one of the best future prospects for longer-version cricket.

"Yes, we believe that he is a very good player for the longer-version game but that doesn't mean he is not good enough for the shorter-version. We have lot of hard-hitting batsmen in the squad but we felt that we need a player like Mehrab who has the ability to play the anchor role in the top order," explained Faruque.

"He is basically an opener who can also bat in the middle-order. But if he finally gets the nod he will definitely be consider as an opener. The last two years' performance of the young batsman in different levels gave us the impression that he can represent the senior side for long," he added.

"It is a part of our continuous process to bring young guys in the senior side and two boys' (Forhad Reza and Sakib Al Hasan) performances in the last series made us courageous to do so," said an excited Faruque.

Many might have thought that the inclusion of Mehrab was a message for veteran opener Javed Omar, who many believed is not suitable to open the innings in the one-day international when Bangladesh go for a win.

Faruque didn't say anything directly on this issue but said that they are looking for a proper combination before the World Cup.

"We don't want to write off anybody's career but the fact is that we are trying hard to get a right combination in the opening slot. You know that top-order is permanent headache for the team and we believe that once we get the right pair in the opening spot our maximum problem will be solved," he responded.

Faruque, however, was a little worried with the fitness of captain Habibul Bashar.

"This is really a worrying factor for us because he is not only an important batsman in the middle order but also the captain of the team. We will wait till the last moment," he said.

But there were confusion over the fitness of Bashar as he has yet to confirm weather he will need a surgery for his injured left metacarpal.

"I am feeling good after four weeks of my injury but I'm confused about weather there will be need for a surgery. If it is needed, ICC Champions Trophy is over for me. I will meet with a local doctor tomorrow but I need a week to settle the issue. What I desperately want is to play the tournament," informed Bashar, who had was injured while fielding of the second match against Zimbabwe.

PRELIMINARY SQUAD
Habibul Bashar, Shahriar Nafees, Rajin Saleh, Javed Omar, Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful, Khaled Mashud, Alok Kapali, Tushar Imran, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafee Bin Mortuza, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Forhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Sakib Al Hasan and Mehrab Hossain.