Bangladesh recall Afif, Litton for Pakistan ODIs

Batter Afif Hossain has returned to the ODI setup while T20I captain Litton Das also made his comeback as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against Pakistan at home, starting on March 11.

The second and third matches of the series are scheduled for March 13 and 15 respectively.

Afif has not played an international match since December 2024. During this time, the left-hander featured in 14 List ‘A’ matches, scoring 446 runs at an average of 37.16 which was enough for him to be recalled. His most recent outing in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) saw him register a 100 off 86 balls. In last year’s Dhaka Premier League (DPL), he also struck a 98-run knock, although he did not manage another fifty in the competition.

Litton, meanwhile, last featured in the opening ODI of Bangladesh’s three-match series away in Sri Lanka in July 2025. He was dropped for the remaining two matches following a duck in that game and, after sustaining an injury, missed the subsequent ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE and the West Indies at home.

Since being left out of the ODI side last July, Litton has played three List ‘A’ matches, scoring 10, 55 and 0 in the recently concluded BCL. During the same period, however, he has been active in the shorter format, featuring in 30 T20 matches. The right-hander scored 696 runs in those games at an average of 25.77 and a strike rate of 130.58, including five half-centuries.

There were a few notable omissions from the squad that played in the last ODI series against the West Indies in October 2025. Batters Nurul Hasan Sohan, Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain have not been included this time.

Among the bowlers, pacer Hasan Mahmud is currently recovering from a right tennis elbow while fellow fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib is nursing back pain. Both are unavailable for the Pakistan series but are expected to regain full fitness by the end of the month.

“We have provided opportunities to several players in the middle order, but unfortunately some have not done enough to secure their places. With that in mind, Afif Hossain has been recalled. He brings valuable experience and is currently appears to be in fine touch. Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan has been retained and this is a good opportunity for him to fulfil the potential he has shown," chief selector Gazi Ashraf Lipu said. 

“There may be questions about Litton Das’s recent ODI form, but he has been working closely with the coaches on his game. We believe he can soon produce his best in this format and are considering him as an option to strengthen the middle order," he added. 
 

Squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.