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Bangladeshi cricketer Rubel Hossain has been detained after his ex-girlfriend alleged he fraudulently promised to marry her in order to have sex.

The allegations made by 19-year-old actress Naznin Akter Happy amount to a rape claim under Bangladeshi law.

The bowler denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers say he will appeal against the court's decision to deny him bail.

Mr Hossain was named in Bangladesh's squad to play in next month's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

It is unclear how long he will be spend in detention, but the case has cast doubt over his participation.

Taboo subject

People who file rape allegations are given anonymity in Bangladesh, but Ms Happy has regularly spoken to the media about the case.

She filed the case in December, saying that her nine-month relationship with the cricketer had ended when he reneged on a promise of marriage.

She told reporters at the time that she would withdraw her allegations if the bowler would marry her.

Ms Happy has so far appeared in one Bengali film, Kichu Asha Bhalobasa (Some Hopes, Some Loves), released in September 2013.

Mr Hossain, a big star in Bangladesh, has accused her of blackmailing him.

The case has garnered huge attention in Bangladesh, where public discussion of sex before marriage is still taboo.