Mosaddek Hossain Saikat has finally responded to the controversial remarks made by former chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, who had publicly suggested that Mosaddek would have no place in the Bangladesh ODI side for as long as Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained in the team. Lipu subsequently apologised for the comments, but the remarks had lingered, and Mosaddek has now addressed them directly following his recall to the ODI squad under Miraz’s captaincy.
Speaking to reporters on 4 June, Mosaddek was measured but candid, pointing out that Bangladesh have regularly fielded three or four allrounders simultaneously and that his exclusion had never been a matter of logic.
“It is not just one or two matches. In many matches, we have had three or four allrounders playing together for Bangladesh. I was naturally a little disappointed, as anyone would be. But the opportunity has finally come. I will try to repay the faith that the selectors and the people of the country have placed in me,” he said.
Asked whether his return had been delayed longer than it should have been, Mosaddek refused to dwell on any sense of grievance, acknowledging the complexity of selection decisions while suggesting that the timing now feels right.
“I never really thought about it that way. All together it has been around four years. A long wait, and I had to keep performing well. There are many factors involved, team combination, the opposition, various other considerations. The selectors felt this was the perfect time to pick me, which is why they have done so,” he said.
Lipu is no longer in the role, with Habibul Bashar Sumon having since taken over as chief selector.
On the subject of Shakib Al Hasan’s absence from the ODI set-up, Mosaddek was thoughtful and deflective, resisting any comparison between himself and the legendary allrounder while urging the public and media to allow players the freedom to express themselves without being held to an impossible standard.
“Even when Shakib bhai did not play a particular match, we felt the gap from the very beginning. That gap is still visible. When Shakib bhai plays, you can field an extra batter or an extra bowler. Without him, that flexibility is lost, and whoever plays in that position carries enormous pressure. When you compare someone to Shakib bhai, you are comparing them to someone who could handle two departments simultaneously at the highest level, which is genuinely rare in world cricket. Extra pressure makes it harder to perform. Everyone should be given the freedom to play their own game and be encouraged, not compared,” he said.
Mosaddek will now play his ODI cricket under Miraz’s leadership, the very player whose presence in the side was once cited as the reason for his exclusion.
