Spin all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain Saikat is in line to return to the fold in Bangladesh’s match against Afghanistan on Monday, recovering from his shoulder injury.
The injury kept him away from the Bangladesh’s crucial match against Australia in which Tigers lost by 48 runs after Australia compiled 381-8 to set an improbable target.
Mosaddek’s return will certainly bolster Tigers strength as they attempt to win all three of their remaining matches to stay in contention for a maiden World Cup semifinal berth. More than his batting at number seven, Bangladesh need his part-time off-spin to balance the bowling attack, which they missed against Australia.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza also admitted he missed Mosaddeks off-spin in various phases of the game against Australia when they plundered runs at will.
Sabbir Rahman replaced Mosaddek in Bangladesh’s last game but couldn’t prove his worth after missing a catch of David Warner which later helped him to bludgeon Bangladesh to smash 146 ball-166. He also missed a run-our chance of Usman Khawaja who scored 89 and later Sabbir was dismissed with first ball-duck to complete a horror game.
Bangladesh also missed Saifuddin’s bowling, specially at the death because he has already established him at good death overs. Australia hammered 136 runs in last 10 overs, forcing Bangladesh miss Saifuddin’s service more. Saifuddin was ruled out of the match with side strain and he is yet to recover, said Cricket Operations chief Akram Khan.
“As far as I know he [Saifuddin] is experiencing some pain and it may take some time,” Akram told reporters “I will talk to the physio [Thihan Chandramohan] about that. But Mosaddek may be fit for the next game.”
“He [Saidfuddin] did not play because he has a problem. You cannot just avoid playing a match if you feel like it. And if he says that he has pain, then we will have to place importance on his words,” he said.
Saifuddin is still the highest wicket-taker in this edition of the World Cup for Bangladesh, having taken nine wickets from four matches.
