Bangladesh middle-order batsman Mosaddek Hossain sees his return to the national fold as a second life in his international career. The right-hander returned to the Tigers’ dressing room for limited-overs cricket after around a year. Mosaddek last played limited-overs cricket for Bangladesh in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England against India in the semi-final.
Sunday, Mosaddek returned to the national team after getting named in the 15-member Bangladesh squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Dehradun next month.
“The break from the national team was not a short one for me. I am returning in the coloured outfit after almost a year. I am very happy and treating this as a new opportunity,” said Mosaddek in the sidelines of the national conditional camp at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Sunday.
Mosaddek got sidelined from the national team after picking up an eye infection that took months to heal.
“I was always confident and had the belief in me (that I could return). It is natural for a player to go through tough times. I cannot say what awaits me in the coming days but I will try to put in my best contribution for the team,” he added.
Bangladesh in their last T20I campaign, during the Nidahas T20I tri-nation series earlier this year, had batsmen in the shape of Mahmudullah, captain Shakib al Hasan and Soumya Sarkar to take care of the middle-order. Mosaddek coming into the fold under such situation has doubts over his inclusion in the playing XI.
“I am not thinking about that (chance in the playing XI) and also that I will do brilliant stuff – that way I cannot be successful. I am focusing more on skill development,” said Mosaddek.
The 22-year-old Mosaddek since his international debut in January 2016 has played two Test matches, 18 ODIs and six T20Is. Slight concerns have been raised regarding Mosaddek’s supposed weakness against the pacers.
However, Mosaddek said, “I have played around 25-26 matches for Bangladesh among which I played only three or four games (seven) at home. Majority of the matches I had played were in foreign conditions. So if you see, majority of my success had come from away matches in pace-friendly conditions. I feel it’s not right to speak or think that way about me,” said Mosaddek.
