The Faruque Ahmed-led selection panel is almost decided about the final team, but it will only be announced after their submission of the team to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on September 6, the day before the International Cricket Council (ICC) deadline.

"Habib's (Habibul Bashar) progress is satisfactory so he will definitely be included to lead the side in the tournament. The committee met on several occasions to decide on the squad and we will submit it to the board on September 6. I don't know whether the board will disclose it here or not," said chief selector Faruque Ahmed.

There was an uncertainty with the injured Bangladesh skipper, who sustained an injury in his left metacarpal during the second one-day match against Zimbabwe, as his condition will only be confirmed when he starts batting from September 14 but none have doubted about his participation due to his progress.

It was learnt that uncapped opener Mehrab Hossain is all set to get the final nod from the 18-member preliminary squad and that meant the axe will definitely fall on the veteran opener Javed Omar, whom many believe is not suitable for the shorter-version game.

All-rounder Alok Kapali, who was excluded from the recently concluded Kenya tour after yet another disappointing performance in Zimbabwe, was not discussed at all, not only for his poor show but also illness. Alok is yet to join the camp.

There was also no scope for the selectors to carry Mushfiqur Rahim as a second wicketkeeper in the 14-member squad for the second successive occasion while Tushar Imran was the other member not to consider for ICC's second biggest tournament.

Although BCB earlier told that the ICC will announce the teams simultaneously, they may disclose it to the local media on September 7 as Sri Lanka and India already made public their final squads.

Bangladesh will play the qualifying round of the tournament along with the form team Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

The Tigers will launch their campaign taking on Sri Lanka on October 7 and their next two matches are scheduled on October 11 against West Indies and September 13 against Zimbabwe.

Top two teams will join six top seeded sides -- Australia, Pakistan, India, South Africa, New Zealand and England-- in the eight-team second round competition which will begin on October 15 with the match between hosts India and England.

LIKELY 14
Habibul Bashar, Shahriar Nafees, Rajin Saleh, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Khaled Mashud, Sakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain, Forhad Reza, Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafee Bin Mortuza, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain.