Mosaddek Hossain was the hero of Bangladesh’s last and only multi-nation tournament triumph, when the Tigers won the Ireland tri-nation series, also featuring the West Indies, in 2019. The batter now hopes to draw inspiration from that triumph and replicate his heroics in the upcoming tri-nation series in Abu Dhabi, starting on October 17.
Mosaddek smashed a 27-ball 52 in the final against the West Indies to help Bangladesh secure victory in a rain-curtailed match. Since then, he has endured considerable ups and downs before recently returning to the ODI fold for the home series against Australia in June.
Asked about the team’s preparations for the upcoming tri-series, also featuring Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, and whether he could draw inspiration from the 2019 triumph, Mosaddek said the tournament presented a valuable opportunity.
“Preparation-wise, I would say we are doing well, and the 2019 tri-nation series is an inspiration. From that point of view, this series is a good opportunity for us with the Asia Cup and the World Cup to come. If we can win these kinds of tri-nation series, we will get a lot of confidence,” Mosaddek told reporters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
“You can’t take any team lightly, and in recent times, every team has been doing well in the ODI format. So I feel that it will be a challenge in terms of gauging our strength and how well we can do. The next challenges will be the Asia Cup and, after that, the World Cup, and those challenges will be easier if we can do well as a team here,” he added.
The Tigers will take the field under new ODI captain Litton Das. The squad held their second practice session at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi today, with Mosaddek expressing confidence in Litton’s leadership and saying the players had discussed their roles during team meetings ahead of the series.
“Last night, we discussed things with the captain. Everyone has been informed about their roles in the meeting. I think everyone has clarity regarding their roles, and we have known Litton for a while now. He is an exciting captain and reads the game very well from behind the stumps. I think he will do well as a captain, and we will prove it as a team,” he said.
Asked whether Bangladesh could win another tri-nation series after their 2019 triumph in Ireland, Mosaddek replied: “Inshallah. Thank you.”
