Bangladesh’s selectors have brought back middle-order batter Mosaddek Hossain into the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia. The 30-year-old last played an ODI in August 2022, making this a return after nearly four years out of the format.
The squad announcement came ahead of the series starting June 9 in Mirpur. It is Bangladesh’s first bilateral ODI series against Australia in 15 years — a significant occasion that has pushed selectors to rethink their middle-order options.
Mosaddek is one of two changes from the squad that played New Zealand in April. Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan is the other returnee, while Mahidul Islam and Afif Hossain have been dropped for the first two games.
Strong Domestic Form Forces Selectors’ Hand
The recall was not without reason. Mosaddek has been in outstanding touch in the Dhaka Premier League this season. In five matches, he has scored a century and two fifties, averaging 89 with the bat. He has also picked up 11 wickets at 16.27 with his off-spin, making him one of the standout performers in the competition.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar was direct about the decision. “Mosaddek could bat at No. 6. He is in good form. He has more skills to offer. He also has all-round ability. He bowls quite well. He could offer a balance for us in the middle-order,” Bashar said.
Mosaddek has shown consistency at the DPL across the last three seasons, which ultimately made it difficult for selectors to keep ignoring him at the international level.
Middle-Order Struggles Push Tactical Changes
Bangladesh’s batting has been a recurring problem in recent series. Neither Pakistan nor New Zealand series produced runs from the middle order regularly. Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy have not hit their marks in ODI cricket, and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has not produced the batting numbers he was known for during his strong 2022-23 run.
Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto remain the most reliable names with the bat, but that is not enough depth for a series of this scale.
Bashar explained the rationale behind dropping Afif and Mahidul. “We couldn’t provide Afif and Mahidul with a lot of opportunities. Replacing them is a tactical change,” he said. Nurul Hasan returns specifically to fill the lower-middle-order wicketkeeper-batter role, a spot Bashar believes he handles better than Mahidul, who is naturally a top-order player.
Bowling Remains Bangladesh’s Strongest Card
While batting questions remain, Bangladesh’s bowling unit looks competitive. Nahid Rana has been in sharp form, picking up five-wicket hauls in both ODIs and Tests since March. Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam form a solid pace unit.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain adds another dimension, having played in the BBL last season and gained familiarity with several Australian batters.
The three ODIs are scheduled for June 9, 1, and 14 at Mirpur. Bangladesh’s only ODI win against Australia came back in 2005 during a tri-series in Cardiff. Nearly 21 years later, a changed middle order and a potent bowling attack give them a reasonable shot at making history again on home soil.
Bangladesh squad for the first two ODIs against Australia
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana
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