Role clarity spurs Mosaddek’s rebirth

By all means, Bangladesh’s opening One-Day International against Australia in Mirpur yesterday felt like a rebirth for Mosaddek Hossain, who had remained outside the national 50-over setup for much of the last four years. The all-rounder marked his return with a heroic unbeaten 86 off 70 balls, an innings shaped by struggle but also by a clarity of purpose instilled by the team management.

“I was very clear about my role and that was a defining factor. The other thing was that I felt there was nothing to lose,” Mosaddek told this reporter after the press conference on Tuesday.

His role can be precarious. Batting at number six or seven, one is often either a hero or a villain, as Mosaddek himself put it during a recent interview with this newspaper. This time, he was undoubtedly the hero. Not just with the bat, but also with two wickets and safe hands in the field as he capped a memorable all-round performance against the mighty men from Down Under.

The pressure was on when Mosaddek arrived at the crease after Bangladesh lost the experienced Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das in quick succession. Not only did he absorb the pressure, he also put wind in Bangladesh’s sails with an innings that was inventive, methodical and courageous.

“The way the team management backed me and gave me complete freedom before the match started was crucial,” Mosaddek said at the post-match press conference following Bangladesh’s 86-run DLS victory.

He revealed that he took calculated risks, including reverse-sweeping Adam Zampa, to keep the scoreboard moving despite the home side losing most of their recognised batters.

“I had a conversation with [Mohammad] Salahuddin sir and [Mohammad] Ashraful bhai yesterday, and they gave me clear instructions on how to approach different match situations. They told me that if I go in at 40 for four, my job is to rebuild and stretch the score to 160-170, and if I go in at 200 for four, I should maximise it to 260-270.

“Since it was a great batting wicket today, the clear message was to maximise the score, so I played my shots accordingly,” he said while reflecting on the clarity that helped shape his innings.

Fortune favours the brave, as the saying goes, and Australia dropping Mosaddek on 21 may have been the slice of luck he needed on his return. A comeback that once appeared unlikely had gradually come back into view through improved domestic performances after a difficult period in his career.

“There was certainly frustration [at not making the national team for a long time. Many people saw my struggles during those years, and many didn’t. However… I kept it in my mind that whenever an opportunity arrives, I must grab it with both hands,” he said.

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Mosaddek has certainly done that. His return to the national side coincided with a momentous outcome which ended Bangladesh’s 21-year wait for a second ODI win against the six-time world champions.

“Obviously, it’s a historic win. I would say we have a fantastic opportunity to win this series if we just stick to our processes.”