DHAKA, - Batsman Mohammad Ashraful is the new Bangladesh cricket captain, replacing Habitual Bashar who stood down as one-day skipper earlier this month.

Ashraful will lead both the test and limited-overs sides until the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced Sunday. His first task will be leading the team on the Sri Lanka tour later this month.

Bashar stepped down as one-day captain following the recent home series defeat to India, but had initially wanted to stay on to lead the test side. During his three-year stint, he captained Bangladesh to 29 one-day victories in 69 matches, and one win in 18 tests.

Ashraful, 22, who has played 35 tests and 101 one-dayers, became the youngest player to score a test century on his 2001 debut, against Sri Lanka. He was his side's leading run-scorer during the recent World Cup in the West Indies, where Bangladesh upset India and South Africa and advanced to the Super 8s round.

Leading pace bowler Mashrafee Bin Mortaza is vice-captain, and Shaun Williams, the national junior coach, will steer the seniors team for its upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, the BCB said.

Williams takes over from fellow Australian Dav Whatmore, who left Friday after completing a four-year contract as coach. The board plans to name Whatmore's long-term successor after the Sri Lanka tour.