Mortaza, 27, injured his knee during a domestic match last month
and selectors felt he would not have regained full fitness in time for the Feb
19-April 2 tournament being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"Mashrafe is our most experienced and best bowler. But
very sad to say he is nowhere near to fitness at this moment," chief selector
Rafiqul Alam told a crowded press conference.
"Medical report says from next week he will have shadow
bowling with two or three steps and from February first week he will have
unrestricted bowling.
"But still there is a question of his cricketing
fitness which includes bowling fitness, rhythm, match practice and confidence.
"We took the opinion of our bowling coach Ian (Pont),
head coach Jamie (Siddons) and realized it will be tough for him to become fit
in such a short period." Paceman Nazmul Hossain replaces Mortaza,
who has taken 146 wickets in 118 ODIs, in the squad. Experienced batsman
Shahriar Nafees also returned after missing last month's one-day series against
Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh who are in Group B with England, India, Ireland, Netherlands,
South Africa and West Indies will begin their campaign against fellow co-hosts
India in the tournament opener in Dhaka on Feb. 19.
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees, Zunaed
Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Roqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah,
Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Sohrawardi, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain,
Rubel Hossain.
