Mustafiz, Hasan return to bolster Tigers’ pace attack

Bangladesh's pace attack will have a familiar look with the return of Mustafizur Rahman and Hasan Mahmud for the upcoming ODI tri-series in the United Arab Emirates, but the absence of Nahid Rana presents an opportunity to assess the team's fast-bowling depth ahead of a busy international season.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has included both Mustafizur and Hasan in its 16-member squad for the tournament involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, which begins on October 17. Litton Das will lead the side, with Tawhid Hridoy serving as vice-captain.

Hasan's return carries a particularly interesting dimension. His last ODI appearance came against Afghanistan in the UAE on October 14 last year, when he took two wickets for 57 runs. A year later, he is back in the squad with another meeting against the same opposition scheduled for October 21.

The intervening period has seen Hasan continue to feature in Test cricket, including Bangladesh's recent tour of Australia. His inclusion in the ODI squad now gives Bangladesh another pace option alongside Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur and Shoriful Islam.

Mustafizur, meanwhile, returns after missing Bangladesh's previous ODI series against Zimbabwe because of injury. His experience and variations could prove valuable in UAE conditions, where the team will need to manage its bowling resources carefully across the short tournament.

The biggest selection complication is the absence of Nahid Rana, who is recovering from a side strain. His pace and ability to trouble batters with bounce would have offered Bangladesh another option, making the performances of the available quicks particularly important.

Bangladesh open their campaign against Zimbabwe on October 17 before facing Afghanistan four days later. The top two teams will advance to the final on October 23.

For Bangladesh, the tournament offers more than an opportunity to compete for the title. It provides a chance to test the reliability of their pace resources, assess Hasan's return to the ODI format and establish combinations in the absence of Rana.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, how effectively Bangladesh manage their fast-bowling options could prove as important as the results themselves.