The Bangladesh Cricket Board has named a 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan in Dhaka. Mehidy Hasan Miraz will captain the side. All three matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 11, 13, and 15.
The squad carries several changes from the side that last played an ODI series against the West Indies in October 2025, with four players dropped, two recalled, and two ruled out through injury.
Full Squad
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Liton Kumar Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.
Players Returning to the Bangladesh Squad
Liton Kumar Das returns after a prolonged absence from ODI cricket. His last appearance in the format came in July 2025 against Sri Lanka. He was subsequently left out of the series against Afghanistan in the UAE and the West Indies at home. The selectors have backed him to rediscover his best form with targeted work alongside the coaching staff.
Afif Hossain has not played international cricket since December 2024, when he featured in both ODIs and T20Is against the West Indies. His recall is based on current domestic form and the experience he brings to a middle order that has lacked consistency.
Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam also return to the pace unit, giving the selectors four seam options and more flexibility in how they build their attack for home conditions.
Players Dropped or Unavailable
Players Dropped
Nurul Hasan Sohan, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, and Nasum Ahmed have all been left out of the squad. The selectors’ position is straightforward; opportunities were given in the middle order, and those players did not do enough to hold their places.
Players Ruled Out Due to Injury
Hasan Mahmud is sidelined with a right tennis elbow and is unavailable for the series. Tanzim Hasan Sakib is recovering from back pain. Both pacers are expected to return to full fitness by the end of the month.
Bangladesh Spin Attack for the Mirpur Conditions
Miraz leads the spin department alongside leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam. The three offer different variations — off-spin, leg-spin, and left-arm orthodox — giving Bangladesh genuine match-up options depending on which batters Pakistan field.
Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur is one of the more spin-friendly surfaces in world cricket. The pitch tends to be slow and low, with the ball gripping and turning from the middle overs. Bangladesh have historically used this to their advantage at home, and the depth of their current spin unit is well-suited to these conditions.
Bangladesh Pace Bowling Options
With Hasan Mahmud and Tanzim Hasan Sakib both unavailable, the pace attack will be led by Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, two of Bangladesh’s most experienced seamers in ODI cricket. Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana provide backup and have shown they can take wickets in home conditions. The four give Bangladesh enough cover to rotate their seamers and manage workloads across three matches in five days.
What the Selectors Said
Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu addressed the changes after the squad announcement, focusing particularly on the middle-order decisions.
“We have provided opportunities to several players in the middle order, but unfortunately, some have not done enough to secure their places. With that in mind, Afif Hossain has been recalled. He brings valuable experience and is currently in good form. Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan has been retained, and this is a good opportunity for him to fulfil the potential he has shown,” Lipu said.
On Liton Das, whose recent ODI record has drawn scrutiny, Lipu was measured but supportive. “There may be questions about Liton Das’s recent ODI form, but he has been working closely with the coaches on his game. We believe he can soon produce his best in this format and are considering him as an option to strengthen the middle order,” he added.
The selection panel’s thinking is clear: the middle order has been a problem area, and they are backing experience and recent form in the domestic circuit over persisting with players who have not delivered at the international level.
Tour Confirmation
The BCB confirmed the Pakistan squad will arrive in Dhaka on March 8, dismissing media reports suggesting the tour had been called off due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The series will go ahead as scheduled.
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