Why Was Rishad Hossain Benched? Bangladesh Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz Breaks Silence

Bangladesh’s ODI series against Sri Lanka ended in disappointment. The visitors lost the series 2-1 after a heavy 99-run defeat in the third and final ODI.

Many things are being questioned about the Tigers’ performance, but one big talking point is the absence of leg-spinner Rishad Hossain during the whole series. Even though Rishad was part of the squad, he did not play a single match. Instead, left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam played in all three games. He also took a match-winning five-wicket haul in the second ODI, which helped Bangladesh level the series.

Why Rishad Hossain Didn’t Play – Captain Miraz Explains

Originally, Rishad Hossain was in the team’s plans for the first ODI. But an illness at the wrong time ruled him out of the match. This gave Tanvir Islam a chance to play — and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. After his match-winning five-wicket haul in the second ODI, he kept his place in the team for the rest of the series.

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Captain Miraz Clears the Air

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz explained why Rishad was not picked again: "(smiles) Look, if a player takes five wickets and wins you the match, you can’t really drop him. On turning pitches, we often go with three spinners and two pacers. But in this series, the pitch supported pace more. You could see that most of the wickets — for both teams — went to fast bowlers. So, tactically, it made sense to keep that combination. We are not too worried about it."

Sri Lanka Seals the Series with a Big Win

In the final ODI, Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis played a brilliant knock, scoring 124 off 114 balls. Their pace bowlers also did well, each taking three wickets. Sri Lanka won the match by 99 runs and clinched the series 2-1.

Mendis Praises Bangladesh

Speaking in Sinhalese during the post-match press conference (with his media manager translating), Kusal Mendis said: "Bangladesh are a strong Test-playing team. Yes, they are in a transition phase, but their batting, bowling, and fielding still show good quality. With time, they will bounce back and return to their best."