Bangladesh head into the Asia Cup 2025 with a squad that speaks volumes about where their T20 cricket stands. The exclusion of ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the recall of veteran wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, and a gamble on Saif Hassan reflect a team caught between transition and urgency. With their first match against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on September 11, the Tigers know they can’t afford a slow start in a tournament stacked with heavyweights.
Mehidy Dropped: A Signal on Format Roles
Mehidy’s omission is the headline. Just weeks ago, he was captaining Bangladesh’s ODI side and briefly recalled to the T20I setup. But after lean returns against UAE and Pakistan, the selectors have placed him among the standby players.
This isn’t just about form—it’s a redefinition. Bangladesh appear to be pushing Mehidy into an ODI specialist role, valuing his leadership and batting depth in 50 overs, but no longer convinced of his impact in the high-pace T20 format. For a player once seen as an all-format mainstay, it’s a telling shift.
Naim Out After Another Missed Chance
Mohammad Naim’s drop feels more final. Despite strong domestic T20 numbers, he couldn’t carry that form into international cricket. Scores of 32*, 3, and 10 against Pakistan summed up his inconsistency. Even a run with Bangladesh A in Australia’s Top End T20s didn’t spark.
With Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon preferred as young top-order hitters, Naim’s place has slipped further out of reach. Unless he rediscovers consistency, this might be the end of his run in Bangladesh’s T20 plans.
Nurul Hasan: Experience Recalled
Nurul Hasan hasn’t played a T20I since the 2022 World Cup, where he made just 41 runs in five innings. But his domestic resurgence has been impossible to ignore. Over the 2024–25 season, he piled up 513 runs at a strike rate of 132.90 across the BPL, NCL, and Global Super League, even captaining Rangpur Riders to the first GSL title.
At 31, Nurul’s recall isn’t about long-term planning—it’s about stability. With Litton Das carrying dual roles as captain and keeper, Nurul gives flexibility. He can slot in as a finisher, take the gloves if required, and mentor a relatively young batting group.
Saif Hassan’s Shot
The inclusion of Saif Hassan is perhaps the most intriguing. Traditionally a red-ball opener, Saif has been working on his T20 craft, and recent scores in the Top End T20s—a half-century against Pakistan Shaheens and 45 against Melbourne Stars Academy—show promise.
For Bangladesh, his role won’t be to blaze away like a traditional opener, but to anchor innings when collapses happen. Given the volatility of their middle order, that kind of ballast could prove valuable.
Squad Overview: Strengths and Weaknesses
Batting:
- Top order: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, and Parvez Hossain Emon can be dynamic but streaky.
- Middle order: Towhid Hridoy is the standout—Bangladesh’s most consistent T20 batter over the past year. Behind him, it’s less certain. Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, and Saif Hassan all have something to prove.
- Lower order: Nurul and allrounders like Mahedi Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin provide finishing depth.
Bowling:
- Pace unit: Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, and Saifuddin give the Tigers variety. Taskin’s strike power, Mustafizur’s experience, and Tanzim’s raw pace combine into a potent mix.
- Spin attack: Rishad Hossain’s leg-spin has been a bright spark, supported by Nasum Ahmed’s left-arm spin and Mahedi’s off-spin. This is a balanced spin group, though Mehidy’s absence removes a proven all-format operator.
On paper, the bowling looks more reliable than the batting, which has been Bangladesh’s recurring theme in T20Is.
Group Stage Path
Bangladesh start against Hong Kong (Sept 11, Abu Dhabi)—a game they must win comfortably to avoid early pressure. The bigger test comes in the second group match, where they’re likely to face either India or Pakistan.
Given the structure of the Asia Cup, even one upset can change qualification math. Bangladesh’s path to the semifinals will depend on consistency against lesser-ranked opponents and finding a way to push the heavyweights close.
What Success Would Look Like
For Bangladesh, lifting the trophy may be unrealistic given the competition. But success has different benchmarks:
- Making the semifinals would mark progress and validate the new selections.
- Consistent batting partnerships—especially in the top and middle order—would address their chronic weakness.
- Emergence of a new match-winner beyond Litton, Hridoy, or Mustafizur would be a major gain ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup cycle.
This Bangladesh squad doesn’t scream settled. It looks more like a team experimenting under pressure—testing Nurul’s experience, gambling on Saif Hassan’s adaptability, and moving away from Mehidy’s all-format presence.
The Asia Cup won’t just be about results. It’s a live audition for players trying to cement themselves in Bangladesh’s T20 future. If the Tigers can balance their unpredictable batting with their deeper, sharper bowling unit, they might just rattle a few big names along the way.
