The veteran left-arm spinner is part of a 14-member squad that will play three official one-day internationals against the Africa XI in Bangalore on June 6 and in Chennai on June 9 and 10.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene will lead the Asians who have a number of his fellow countrymen including openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga and pacemen Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga. India great Sachin Tendulkar will make an appearance while stylish Mahendra Dhoni has been chosen for wicketkeeping duties.

Upon hearing about his selection, Rafique was humble as usual, citing Bangladesh's performance off-late as the reason for his pick.

"At the fag end of my career, I think this is a special achievement and I am proud to be selected," said the 37-year- old left-arm spinner.

"More than just taking Rafique, they recognised Bangladesh's good show at the World Cup," said the most experienced bowler in Bangladesh.

"They also took Tamim (Iqbal) which shows how much our cricket and youngsters are being appreciated," concluded Rafique.

CEO of Asian Cricket Council Syed Ashraful Huq presented the squads at a press conference at a local hotel yesterday alongside Chetan Chauhan of India, Mohsin Khan of Pakistan, Lalith Kaluperuma of Sri Lanka and ASM Faruque from Bangladesh, the selectors handpicked by the four respective cricket boards.

The four former cricketers also picked a Twenty20 side that include Mohammad Ashraful, Tamim Iqbal, Abdur Razzak and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza from Bangladesh.

Pakistan's new captain Shoaib Malik will lead out this side that play against their African counterparts in Bangalore on June 5. On the same day, a women's Twenty20 match will also take place.

Surprise selections came in the form of Pakistan's beleaguered superstar Shoaib Akhtar and ousted right-arm spinner Harbhajan Singh but the selectors were quick to defend the decisions.

"He is the fastest bowler in the world, without a doubt," said the dashing Mohsin Khan while talking of Shoaib Akhtar and the selectors mentioned that Harbhajan's selection was due to Muttiah Murali-daran's absence due to the Lankan's English county commitments.

"We selected the best side possible for these matches, having taken Bangladesh's World Cup performance into consideration," said the bespectacled Faruque.

"They have scope in the future and with that in mind, we have put them in the Twenty20 side."

Former Indian opener Chauhan said that Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly were discussed as potential players but the former opted out citing a busy international schedule while Ganguly's age went against him.

The selectors, interestingly, had little explanation for Mashrafe's no show in the main side. The leading ODI wicket-taker in 2006, the speedster was instrumental in Bangladesh's fantastic World Cup campaign but he was only considered for the Twenty20 fixture.

The total prize money for the tournament is US dollars 100,000, with the winners of each match getting $25,000. Man of the Match would get $5000 while the Man of the Series stands to get $15,000.

Former India allrounder and World Cup winner Roger Binny has been named coach of the Asia XI while Sultan Rana will be the manager. India's Australian physiotherapist John Gloster will work for both sides.

This will be the second edition of the tournament it was first held in 2005 in South Africa. The series was drawn 1-1 with one game being abandoned owing to rain.