Bangladesh have confirmed their squad for the three match ODI series against Pakistan in Dhaka, setting the stage for the team’s first assignment since withdrawing from the T20 World Cup. The selectors have tried to balance continuity with calculated risk, blending experienced names with returning faces and a handful of players still trying to cement their places in the format.
The series, which will be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, arrives at a sensitive moment for Bangladesh after a turbulent period off the field and inconsistent one day form. The choices in this squad offer a clear window into how the Bangladesh Cricket Board wants to reset its ODI plans ahead of a busy international calendar.
Schedule, setting and the stakes of Pakistan’s visit
The Pakistan tour of Bangladesh is structured as a three match ODI series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, with the first ODI scheduled for March 11 and the next two games following at the same venue as part of the official Pakistan Tour of schedule. All three contests are day night fixtures, so dew, lights and late evening batting conditions are likely to shape tactical calls for both sides. With Pakistan also naming a 15 member ODI squad for this trip, including six uncapped players as confirmed by official tour details, the series doubles as a testing ground for emerging talent on both sides of the rivalry.
For Bangladesh, the context is particularly loaded because this is the first series after the decision to pull out of the T20 World Cup, a move that drew intense scrutiny and left the national setup under pressure to show clear direction in other formats. Reports on the squad announcement stress that this ODI group is the first assembled after that withdrawal, with selection panel chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain explaining that the board wanted a mix of stability and experimentation, according to selection comments. That backdrop means every role, from openers to lower order hitters, will be judged not just on this series but on what it signals about Bangladesh’s longer term ODI blueprint.
Key absences and the shape of the bowling attack
The headline omission is Shakib Al Hasan, who remains sidelined and unavailable for the Pakistan ODIs. Coverage of the squad announcement makes clear that Shakib is still working through fitness and availability issues, with one detailed breakdown of the list noting that the veteran all rounder is not expected to feature in this three match set, as reflected in analysis of why Shakib Al Hasan. His absence strips Bangladesh of a left arm spin option, a proven middle order batter and a senior voice in on field strategy, which places additional responsibility on the rest of the spin and all round department.
The fast bowling group is also affected by injuries, with Hasan Mahmud currently out due to a right tennis elbow and fellow quick Tanzim Hasan Sakib also unavailable, as detailed in the squad overview that notes both pacers are expected to recover by the end of the month, according to injury updates and reiterated in the explanation that both players are. Their absence opens doors for other seamers to take the new ball and death overs, and it may push Bangladesh to lean more heavily on spin at a venue where slow bowling traditionally plays a major role.
Top order continuity and the Litton Das question
At the top of the order, the selectors have chosen continuity by retaining Litton Das despite his lean patch in recent ODIs. The decision has already been defended publicly, with the chief selector stating that there may be questions about Liton’s recent returns but that the panel retains strong belief in his quality and experience, as outlined in comments that show the board’s confidence in Liton Das. Litton’s role is central not only because he is a senior batter but also because he is listed as a wicketkeeper batter, with tour documentation describing Litton Das as who bats right handed and offers offbreaks, which gives the team flexibility in balancing the top order and the keeping duties.
His inclusion is part of a broader commitment to a stable core at the top, which also features other familiar names who can shift between opening and number three depending on conditions. The selectors’ willingness to back him despite criticism suggests they value his ability to control the powerplay and accelerate later in the innings, and they are clearly weighting past performances over short term form. His presence also affects the composition of the squad’s keeping options, since other players like Nurul Hasan and Mahidul Islam Ankon are also capable behind the stumps, with Litton Das still the most established name in that specialist role.
Afif Hossain’s return and the middle order experiment
The most eye catching recall comes in the middle order, where Afif Hossain has been brought back into the ODI squad after a long absence. Reports on the announcement highlight that Afif is returning to the one day setup for the first time since December 2024, with one detailed breakdown noting that Afif Hossain is among the notable inclusions for the series that begins on March 11. The selection panel has framed his recall as a bet on untapped potential, with one explanation stressing that Afif has shown glimpses of the talent required at this level and that the board wants to give him another chance to translate that into consistent ODI performances, as laid out in the reasoning that the selectors see long term potential in his skill set in the official explanation.
His recall is also part of a longer running conversation about his career trajectory, since he has previously been dropped from ODI squads due to form and then recalled when the Bangladesh Cricket Board looked for a dynamic left handed option in the middle order. Earlier coverage of his selection history notes that the BCB has at times removed him from squads and then brought him back when searching for balance, with one summary of his journey explaining how Taskin Ahmed was ruled out and the selectors instead roped in Khaled Ahmed and Afif Hossain for a previous ODI. That pattern underlines how Afif sits at the intersection of promise and pressure, and this Pakistan series now becomes a critical opportunity for him to prove that he can be a long term solution at number five or six, offering both runs and part time off spin.
Spin depth, all round options and the wicketkeeping puzzle
With Shakib unavailable, the spin department leans heavily on Mehidy Hasan Miraz and fellow slow bowlers who can control the middle overs. Mehidy’s presence as a frontline off spinner and capable lower order batter is central to the balance of the XI, and his profile as a player who has already delivered under pressure in both Tests and limited overs formats is highlighted in his player overview, which describes Mehidy Hasan Miraz as a right arm off spinner and right handed batter. Alongside him, Bangladesh have leg spin available through Rishad Hossain, whose profile lists him as a Bangladeshi cricketer, a right arm leg spin bowler and a right handed lower order batter, which gives the side an attacking wrist spin option, as confirmed in the description of Rishad Hossain. This combination of off spin and leg spin is designed to challenge Pakistan’s middle order on a surface that often grips.
