Irish bowler Boyd Rankin picked for England Lions tour

William Porterfield and Boyd Rankin will play for the ICC's Associate and Affiliate team against England in Dubai

Ireland fast bowler Boyd Rankin has been named in the England Lions squad for the tour of Bangladesh in January.

Rankin will link up with the Lions squad after playing for an International Cricket Council Associate and Affiliate selection against England in Dubai on 7-9 January.

Irish captain William Porterfield will lead that ICC team which also includes George Dockrell and Paul Stirling.

Rankin has been training with the Lions recently in India and South Africa.

Nottinghamshire's James Taylor will captain the England Lions squad.

ECB performance director David Parsons said: "We have selected a young squad for this tour.

"This is in line with our strategy of looking ahead to the 2015 World Cup."

The squad spent the first part of the winter training at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

Porterfield described his appointment as captain for the ICC associate and affiliate selection as a "great honour".

"If you look through their squad they are full of world class cricketers and it will be a great test for us against whatever 11 they put out," added Porterfield.

The team will be coached by UCC Global Academy Coaches Mudassar Nazar and Dayle Hadlee.