Mosharraf Hossain recalled to Bangladesh squad after eight years

Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain has been included in the Bangladesh squad after almost eight years of exile. At the age of 34 at the moment, Hossain will be expected to bring in supremely valuable expertise when it comes to guiding the spinners who are currently present in the squad. He will be a part of the side when England come visiting in September.

He joined the squad in training earlier this week and is being considered as a possible second spinner in the ODI squad. Hossain was a part of the spin bowling camp that was conducted by former Indian spinner Venkatapathy Raju. With most prospects for a selection recall done and dusted, he took a trip to India for a personal leave in late August. However, after receiving news on his selection, Mosharraf Hossain took the scenic route back to Bangladesh by road from Kolkata.

He will be expected to replace Arafat Sunny who was banned from bowling earlier this year during the World T20 in India. Taskin Ahmed and Sunny were both banned from bowling and had also attended bowling tests in March earlier this year. With Arafat Sunny’s action deemed illegal, it was clear that the likes of Shakib-al-Hasan would have to step into the difficult role.

At the moment, however, Hossain will join up with the rest of the squad at Dhaka where there is a camp being conducted by Bangladesh coach Chandika Haturusingha. Reports go on to suggest that it was Venkatapathy Raju who spoke extremely highly of the 34-year old, something that was supremely instrumental in the latter’s naming in the side.

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Mosharraf Hossain was a part of the Bangladesh side that played against a strong South African side. He played all three ODIs but could muster just the one wicket. He played in the Indian Cricket League shortly after before being embroiled in the 2013 match-fixing controversy in the Bangladesh Premier League. Now, at the age of 34, it seems as though Hossain has a second bite at the cherry. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin did not talk up Mosharraf’s chances just yet. “He was with the HP squad until recently,” he said. “We want to see how much he has progressed.”