Bangladesh national team selector Hasibul Hossain Shanto has stressed the need for middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy to bat in a fixed position ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup. With limited preparation time for the upcoming tournament, ensuring stability in the batting order is considered a key priority.
Since making his ODI debut, Hridoy has batted in multiple positions, ranging from three to seven in 44 matches. At number three, he has scored 40 runs in three innings. At number four, he has accumulated 476 runs in 13 innings at an average of 39.66, while at number five, he has made 539 runs across 18 matches at an average of 31.70.
Hridoy has also batted five innings each at numbers six and seven, scoring 136 runs at number six at an average of 68, and 74 runs at number seven with an average of 24.66. His adaptability has seen him respond well to different match situations, though team combination decisions have often shuffled his position in the order.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Shanto said, “Hridoy has been shuffled a lot in the batting order. His batting position is an important issue. When wickets fall quickly and overs remain, he scores runs. If wickets don’t fall early, he gets fewer overs and needs time to settle. Giving him a fixed position will benefit both him and the team.”
Hridoy has demonstrated his ability to handle pressure in challenging situations. In the latest BPL, he scored 382 runs including a century for Rangpur Riders, even opening the batting and managing the new ball successfully. Shanto added, “If he bats for a long time, he can play all kinds of shots. He is not someone who gets set quickly, but once he settles, he can score all around the ground.”
Selector Shanto noted that team composition sometimes forces Hridoy to bat at five, six, or seven, but a settled batting order would allow the team to maximise his potential.
Bangladesh will host Pakistan next month in a three-match ODI series starting on 11 March. This series will be a crucial part of the Tigers’ preparations for the World Cup under captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Ensuring Hridoy’s batting position is fixed is expected to help strengthen the middle order ahead of the tournament.
