Bangladesh have included all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain in their ODI squad against Australia after he impressed with his performances in domestic cricket. Zimbabwe tour: Bangladesh selectors bring back wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan; squad for first two matches of three-match series

Mosaddek returned to the national side for the first time in August 2022. In five matches in this season’s Dhaka Premier League, the 30-year-old has scored a hundred and two fifties and has been one of the top performers. He has also chipped in with the ball, taking 11 wickets through his off-spin to place a strong case for national-team recall.

The duo coming back in overcame Mahidul Islam and Afif Hossain from Bangladesh’s latest set of ODIs against New Zealand. The selectors said the changes were “tactical” and aimed at bolstering the middle-order.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar cited Mosaddek’s all-round ability as one of the reasons why he was selected. Mosaddek has the potential to add balance to a side, contributing both with the bat and ball, and he is slated to replace either Kamrul Islam Rabbi or Mehedi Hasan at No. 6.

The return of Nurul Hasan also aims at bringing stability in the middle order. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter is considered the specialist in the lower middle-order and provides an option who can play more freely under pressure.

The batting unit of these men in green lacked consistency to the end of both respective 0DIs against Pakistan and New Zealand. Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto provided some runs but many batters failed to convert their starts into big scores. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz had continued his form as a bowler but has failed with the bat to create any positive impact like the period of 2022-23.

The hosts would rely a lot on their bowlers once again. Fast Bowler Nahid Rana Are One Of The Best Talents Ever To Come Out From Bangladesh After Performing Well In All Formats He also has seasoned pacers like Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam to aid him. Left-arm spinners will also play a critical role, with Rishad Hossain, the leg-spinner who had oodles of experience playing against Australian players in the Big Bash League.

The ODI series will be held in Mirpur on June 9, 11 and 14. This will be the first time Bangladesh have hosted Australia in a bilateral ODI series in 15 years. Bangladesh have just one ODI win over Australia to their name, famously chasing down 250 in the 2005 tri-series in Cardiff.

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