Bangladesh name Litton Das to lead UAE tri-series squad

Bangladesh have turned a fresh page ahead of the Afghanistan-Bangladesh-Zimbabwe ODI tri-series in the United Arab Emirates, naming a 16-member squad that mixes experience, returning leadership and a notable new face. Litton Das is back as captain, Towhid Hridoy has been handed the vice-captaincy, and mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam has earned his first ODI call-up.

Litton returns to lead Bangladesh

The biggest headline from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s announcement is Litton Das stepping back into the captaincy role. He missed the previous ODI series against Zimbabwe in July because of injury, and his return gives Bangladesh a familiar leader at the top of a short, high-stakes tournament.

Bangladesh’s build-up to the tri-series has been shaped by selection changes and fitness concerns, but Litton’s availability should settle at least one major part of the lineup. The team will be hoping his presence can bring sharper decision-making and a more confident batting unit in conditions that often reward discipline and adaptability.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who led the side in Litton’s absence, now returns to his all-round role. That shift gives Bangladesh more flexibility in the middle order and with the ball, especially in the UAE where spin is often expected to play a decisive role.

Aliss Al Islam gets maiden ODI call-up

The most eye-catching inclusion is Aliss Al Islam, who has been rewarded with a maiden ODI call-up after previously appearing only in T20Is. The off-spinner adds a different dimension to Bangladesh’s bowling options and could become a useful asset on surfaces that traditionally assist slower bowling.

Aliss’s selection also reflects Bangladesh’s intent to explore depth in the spin department. With the tri-series set in the UAE, a venue where control, variations and tactical bowling matter, the move looks both experimental and practical.

A senior Bangladesh source could describe the call-up as a response to conditions as much as form, and that would make sense given the composition of the squad. The side already includes Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain and Tanvir Islam, but Aliss brings an additional off-spin angle that could be valuable if pitches slow down.

Pace battery strengthened by Hasan Mahmud’s recall

Bangladesh have also recalled Hasan Mahmud, adding another pace option to an attack that already features Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam. That combination gives the side a balanced bowling unit, with pace for the new ball and spin to control the middle overs.

Hasan’s return is significant because it restores depth to a seam department that will need to work efficiently across four day-night matches. With matches beginning at 5:30 PM IST, dew and conditions under lights could shape tactical choices, especially for the team bowling second.

Fast bowler Nahid Rana is unavailable because of injury, which is a setback for Bangladesh’s express pace options. His absence narrows the short-ball threat, but the inclusion of Hasan suggests the selectors wanted to maintain balance rather than overreact to the loss.

Players left out after the Zimbabwe series

There are also notable omissions from the squad that played the previous ODI series against Zimbabwe. Mohammad Saifuddin and Parvez Hossain Emon have not been included this time, while Saif Uddin also misses out after stepping in during the July series.

Those changes point to a squad that is still being refined, with Bangladesh searching for the right blend ahead of a demanding stretch in white-ball cricket. The selectors appear to have prioritized specialist balance, especially in bowling, over keeping the previous group intact.

Bangladesh’s tri-series schedule in Abu Dhabi

Bangladesh begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on October 17 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Their second group-stage match comes against Afghanistan on October 21 at the same venue, while the Afghanistan-Zimbabwe fixture is scheduled for October 19.

The final will also be held in Abu Dhabi on October 23, with the top two teams from the round-robin phase advancing to the title match. All matches in the tri-series are day-night games, adding another layer of challenge for the teams as they adjust to conditions and chase momentum.

For Bangladesh, the tri-series is more than just a short tournament. It is a chance to find rhythm, test squad depth and re-establish control in ODI cricket after a mixed run of results. The return of Litton Das, the fresh ODI opportunity for Aliss Al Islam and the recall of Hasan Mahmud all suggest the team is looking for both stability and upside.

With the squad now set, the spotlight shifts to performance. Bangladesh will want a strong start against Zimbabwe, because in a compact tri-series, one good result can change the mood quickly and set up a run at the final.

Here is the full Bangladesh squad for the tri-series: Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam and Aliss Al Islam.