Mehidy Hasan Miraz said Mosaddek Hossain’s return to Bangladesh’s ODI squad after a four-year break should not force an either-or choice, as the all-rounder argued the two can fit into the same XI against Australia. The series began on Monday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, making the selection call immediately relevant.

That matters because Bangladesh have brought Mosaddek back into the squad just as they open the home series, and the recall adds another option to a side trying to balance batting depth with bowling cover. Habibul Bashar’s new selection committee restored Mosaddek after a long absence, giving the team another player who can bat and chip in with the ball if needed.

Miraz drew a clear line between the two roles, saying Mosaddek is a batting all-rounder while he is a bowling all-rounder. He said there would be no issue if they played together, pointing back to the 2019 World Cup, when both were in Bangladesh’s squad. Miraz also said Towhid Hridoy will bat at number five, leaving Mosaddek’s place in the XI as part of the broader shape of the side rather than a direct contest with him.

That view cuts across what the selectors had previously suggested. Former chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain had said Mosaddek’s chances were very slim while Miraz was in the team, because the two roles were seen as similar. Bashar, by contrast, said Mosaddek’s preferred job was to bat at six or seven and bowl a bit, which is closer to the balance Bangladesh now appear to want in the middle and lower order.

Miraz said Mosaddek had earned the recall by performing well in domestic cricket and said the added bowling option strengthens the side, especially in a format where five specialist bowlers can still run into trouble. But the final answer remains unwritten: Bangladesh must still choose its playing eleven for the Australia series, and Mosaddek’s return has made that decision more interesting, not less.