Mosaddek's allround capability key to his inclusion after 3-yrs

Sports Desk :    |    ০৭:৪২ পিএম, ২০২২-০৪-৩০

 Mosaddek Hossain Saikat's sudden inclusion in the first Test against Sri Lanka raised an eyebrow but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selection panel made it clear that he was drafted to the fold due
to some pure cricketing reasons.

The selection panel, led by Minhajul Abedin Nannu called up Nayeem Hasan as the replacement for Mehidy Hasan Miraz who sustained a finger injury during a Dhaka Premier League (DPL) game. Then they added Mossadek Hossain, who had no significant first class performance over the last two seasons. But Mosadeek
scored heavily in the recently concluded DPL in which he made 658 runs in 15 matches even though his performance couldn't make Abahani Limited champions.

"You know Miraz has already been ruled out and Nayeem has been out of cricket for sometimes now. Therefore we added Mosaddek Hossain. We'll watch the performance of the both cricketers in the camp after which we'll decide who will play the game," chief selector Minhajul Abedin said here today.

Mosaddek scored just 104 runs at an average of 26 in the five innings of three matches in 2019-2020 first class season. In 2020-2021 he had improved number but still not convincing as he made 150 runs at an average of 37.50 in same number of matches.

Mosaddek made his Test debut in 2017 in Sri Lanka, when Bangladesh played its 100th Test. In his debut Test, he played a magnificent 75-run knock and then in the next year, he fought hard in the wake of innings defeat, scoring 8 not out off 53 balls. In 2019 against Afghanistan, he played an unbeaten 48-run knock but he failed in the next three innings, which led to his axe from the team.

After three years, the selectors want to pin hopes on him again.

"If we play four bowlers, we will need a batsman lower down the order to guide the lower order batters. Mosaddek can be perfect to guide the lower order," said another selector Habibul Bashar Sumon.

The Sri Lanka cricket team will arrive in Bangladesh on May 8 for a two-match Test series which is a part of the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship. The first Test starts at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chattogram on May 15 while the second Test commences at the Sher-e-Bangla National
Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Dhaka on May 23.

 Squad:
Mominul Haque (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Shoriful Islam (subject to fitness) and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat.