All-rounder Mosaddek Hossain has been recalled to Bangladesh’s One Day International (ODI) squad after an absence of nearly four years. His most recent ODI appearance came in August 2022 against Zimbabwe. He has now been included in the squad for the first two matches of the upcoming ODI series against Australia, as announced by the selectors.
Bangladesh last played an ODI series in April against New Zealand. From that squad, Afif Hossain and Mahidul Islam have been omitted. In their place, Nurul Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain have been selected for the Australia series. During the New Zealand series, Mahidul Islam did not feature in any match, while Afif Hossain played one match, scoring 27 runs from 49 deliveries.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar explained that the changes were made on tactical grounds. He stated, “We could not give Mahidul many opportunities. I cannot say we gave Afif sufficient chances either; he could have had more opportunities. At this moment, we have made a tactical change.”
Regarding the inclusion of Mosaddek Hossain and Nurul Hasan, Bashar said, “Mosaddek is batting very well at the moment, and his skills will be more useful for us at number six. He is an experienced cricketer, has played before, and is in good form in the Premier League. We will utilise his all-round capabilities.”
Mosaddek’s recent performances in domestic cricket have been notable. Playing for Abahani Limited in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, he has scored 310 runs in six innings at an average of 77.50 and a strike rate of 129.17. Nurul Hasan, who also returns to the squad, has scored 248 runs in eight innings. According to the chief selector, Nurul has been considered a suitable option for batting positions six and seven, particularly in comparison to other wicketkeeper-batsmen.
A summary of the two players’ recent domestic performances is provided below:
| Player Name | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosaddek Hossain | 6 | 310 | 77.50 | 129.17 |
| Nurul Hasan | 8 | 248 | — | — |
The first ODI between Bangladesh and Australia is scheduled for 9 June at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The second and third matches will be held at the same venue on 11 and 14 June respectively. Following the ODI series, the two teams will also contest a three-match Twenty20 International series.
The Bangladesh squad for the Australia series is as follows: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Nahid Rana.