Bangladesh ready to face England in first ODI

English captain Alastair Cook says England won't take the home side lightly as they prepare for the first of three one-day internationals starting on Sunday. England have never lost any match against Bangladesh.

England have won all eight previous ODIs between the two countries but Cook said on Saturday that Bangladesh was capable of beating any team. He also said that he believed his team had enough strength to counter Bangladesh's spin attack which is the main strength of Bangladesh. Pacer Mortaza will play for Bangladesh for the first time since he damaged his knee last July during the first test against West Indies in the Caribbean. He said Bangladesh was playing well enough to beat England and it will depend largely on the spinners.

Bangladesh omitted former captain Mohammad Ashraful from its 13-member squad for the ODI series. Pacer Shahadat Hossain and Nazmul Hossain were also left out with the selectors giving a first chance to all-rounder Mohammed Sohrawardy. Sohrawardy is the former captain of Bangladesh Under-19s, scored 191 runs and took 21 wickets in 5 games in the domestic league.