Uncapped mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam has earned a surprise maiden call-up to the Bangladesh ODI squad as the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 16-member team led by newly appointed full-time captain Litton Das for the upcoming tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates starting October 17, 2026.
The selection committee delivered its squad on Saturday, setting the stage for a busy autumn campaign in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah featuring Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Litton steps into the role for his first series as permanent ODI captain, taking over the leadership on a full-time basis after previously serving in interim periods. Alongside him, middle-order batsman Tawhid Hridoy has been named vice-captain for the tournament.
Aliss Al Islam Earns Maiden ODI Call-Up on Domestic Form
The inclusion of Aliss stands out as the primary talking point of the announcement. The 29-year-old spinner recently debuted in international T20 cricket during the Asian Games against Sri Lanka, where he claimed a wicket while conceding 18 runs across four overs. His path to the 50-over side was paved by dominant domestic numbers and a solid showing during an ‘A’ team tour of South Africa, where he picked up three wickets for 35 runs in ten overs.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar highlighted the tactical value of incorporating a mystery spinner into the white-ball lineup, pointing to the bowler’s ability to restrict scoring and break partnerships. In white-ball cricket, having a mystery spinner with the team always helps, Bashar told Bdnews24, explaining the rationale behind the selection.
Having a mystery spinner with the team in white-ball cricket always helps. And as for Aliss, the thing is that he concedes very few runs and has a great ability to take wickets. We have seen him in T20s. Now we want to give him an opportunity in ODIs as well. Habibul
In the most recent Dhaka Premier League season, Aliss topped the wicket-taking charts with 24 scalps across 10 innings while playing for Prime Bank Cricket Club, maintaining an economy rate of 3.83 and an average of 13.16. Across 19 career List A matches, he has accumulated 35 wickets at an average of 17.05.
Squad Changes, Injuries, and Fast Bowling Depth
Beyond the addition of Aliss, the selectors made several adjustments to the group. Fast bowler Nahid Rana remains sidelined during rehabilitation for an injury, leaving the team without his raw pace. In Rana’s absence, the pace department will rely on Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam.
Both Litton and Mustafizur return after recovering from injuries. Hasan Mahmud also earned a recall to the 50-over side.
Match Schedule and Tournament Format in the UAE
The tri-nation tournament brings together Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe for a series of round-robin fixtures hosted across Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. All matches are scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM local time.
| Date (2026) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 17 | Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe | Abu Dhabi |
| October 19 | Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe | Abu Dhabi |
| October 21 | Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh | Sharjah |
| October 23 | Final (Top Two Teams) | Sharjah |
The opening fixture on October 17 pits Bangladesh against Zimbabwe at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. After playing Afghanistan on October 21 at Sharjah, the top two teams in the points table will meet in the mega final on October 23.
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