Saif Hasan earns maiden ODI call-up as Bangladesh name squad for Afghanistan series

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Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have unveiled a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, handing a maiden One-Day International call-up to a talented right-handed batter. The series will be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on October 8, 11 and 14, 2025.

The 26-year-old Saif Hasan, who has shown remarkable consistency in recent T20 internationals, finds himself elevated to the ODI setup for the first time. His ability to anchor the innings as well as play with aggression at the top of the order has impressed selectors. Bangladesh will hope that his inclusion adds stability to their batting line-up, which has occasionally struggled to build strong foundations in recent months.

BCB, in their official statement, confirmed: “Right-hander Saif Hassan has earned a call-up to the ODI setup for the first time. The 26-year-old has been included following a string of impressive performances in recent T20 internationals and is expected to add depth to the top order.”

While Saif’s inclusion marks a fresh chapter, Bangladesh will be without the services of senior batter Litton Das. The wicketkeeper-batter continues to recover from a side strain and has been ruled out of the white-ball series. His absence will be a significant blow for the Tigers, given his experience and reliability in anchoring Bangladesh’s batting unit.

Parvez Hossain Emon, who was part of the squad in the earlier ODI series against Sri Lanka, has also been dropped as part of the changes. The rest of the squad remains largely unchanged, maintaining continuity in preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025.

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According to BCB, five players – captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Hasan Mahmud, Tanvir Islam and Nahid Rana – are scheduled to fly out to the UAE tonight to join the squad.

Meanwhile, two players are facing travel-related issues. Left-handed opener Md Naim Sheikh is still awaiting visa clearance and will join the team once approval is granted. Similarly, Soumya Sarkar, who is currently playing in the T20I series against Afghanistan, has also encountered delays due to pending visa formalities.

The Afghanistan tour comes at a pivotal time for Bangladesh, who are keen to fine-tune their preparations ahead of next year’s ICC tournaments. The squad, led by all-rounder Miraz, features a mix of youth and experience, with bowlers like Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed expected to spearhead the pace attack. Rising talents such as Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tawhid Hridoy and Rishad Hossain will look to cement their places in the side with impactful performances.

With Afghanistan proving to be a strong competitor in limited-overs cricket, the three-match ODI contest promises to be an intense battle in Abu Dhabi.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Md Naim Sheikh, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

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