Full name : Khondokar Mohammad Rajin Saleh Alam
Born : November 20, 1983, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Current age : 25 years
Major teams : Bangladesh, Bangladesh A, Sylhet Division
Batting style : Right-hand bat
Bowling style : Right-arm offbreak
Profile
Rajin Saleh is one of the most talented batsmen in Bangladesh, and, as a man who takes pride in his physical fitness as well, he has also become a favourite of his coach, Dav Whatmore. Saleh, a No. 3 batsman on the domestic circuit, first attracted attention when he averaged 56 in the National League in 2000-01. He had played only five matches for Sylhet when he was included in the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI which took on the Australian Cricket Academy the following year, but made 81 in the first match, a knock which drew high praise from the Aussie press. Technically sound, Saleh is equally solid forward or back, and has rapidly become a mainstay in the Bangladesh batting line-up. And before he had turned 21 he was elevated to the captaincy for the Champions Trophy in England in 2004, after Habibul Bashar broke his thumb. Back in the ranks, he cracked 89 in the historic victory over Zimbabwe at Chittagong early in 2005, but lost his place after making only 2 and 7 against England at Chester-le-Street. An undefeated 108 against Kenya at Fatullah in March 2006 - on the 35th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan - forced Saleh back into the Test reckoning, and he distinguished himself with innings of 67, 33 and 71 against the Australians. As a result of several ordinary one-day performances, Saleh played just one match in the Champions Trophy in October and hasn't played an ODI since. However, when Bangladesh named their 15 for the World Cup in the West Indies, Saleh's name was on the list.
