Bangladesh ODI skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz said on Monday (June 8) that it is the right time for seasoned campaigner Mosaddek Hossain to return to the team's 50-over setup.

Mosaddek earned a recall to the national side after a gap of four years, having been named in the 15-member squad announced by the BCB for the opening two matches of the series. The 30-year-old has forced his way back into contention with impressive domestic performances, scoring 310 runs in six innings at an average of 77.50 and a strike rate of 129.17, including one century and two half-centuries. He also picked up 12 wickets in seven innings.

"He has been performing in domestic cricket for many years and has been playing very good cricket as well. He is also in shape. I think this is the right time for him to have been picked," said Miraz. "If he can do well in the role we have envisioned for him, it will be much better for the team," he said.

Miraz added that despite both players possessing similar skill sets and often playing comparable roles, he does not foresee any issues. "Look, let me say one thing. Regarding Mosaddek's issue, he and I have played together for Bangladesh for many years. If you look back, we even played together in the 2019 World Cup. So I do not think this is any different issue," said Miraz.

"Mosaddek will play his role, and I will play mine. Mosaddek is a batting all-rounder, while I am a bowling all-rounder. So our roles are different. I think if he can perform, it will be a huge help for me and for the team," he said.

"At the end of the day, we all think about how far we can take this team, and I am very confident about him because of the way he has performed in domestic cricket. If the opportunity comes, he will do well."

MMiraz added that Mosaddek's offspin could provide Bangladesh with a valuable sixth bowling option.. "If we have that kind of option, it will help the team a lot. When you play with five bowlers and also have an extra bowling option, you feel much more confident. A bowler can have a bad day. So having a backup bowler keeps the team balance very good and if the opportunity is there, he will certainly have the chance to do well," he said.

"I think he has bowled very well in domestic cricket and he is proven. If he can bowl in the right areas, it will be good, and as a captain I will also be very confident in using him if he bowls well," he added.

Miraz also suggested that leg-spinner Rishad Hossain still has room to develop his ODI game in order to cement his place in the playing XI. Rishad, who enjoyed a productive stint in the Big Bash League and finished as the joint-highest wicket-taking spinner with 15 wickets, is expected to be an important option for Bangladesh against Australia's batters. However, despite his growing reputation, he has been relatively underutilised in the 50-over format in recent times.

"Rishad is playing domestic cricket and, as you can see, he is also playing in various franchise leagues. He is becoming more confident and is settling himself. I think if he wants to establish himself even more, he will have to perform even better," said Miraz.

"And one thing you have to keep in mind is that franchise T20 cricket and ODI cricket are two different games. But he has to be more proactive because he has not played many matches in the ODI format. I think when the opportunity comes, he will understand it himself.

"He is obviously a very important bowler for us and we certainly trust him. But you have to remember that T20 and ODI cricket are different formats. In ODIs, sometimes you need to control the run rate and sometimes you need wickets. I think he still has a few areas to improve. If he improves further, it will help us a lot, and in the future he can become a very good bowler for us. So I think opportunities will be there for him, and he needs to continue developing himself," he said.

Miraz also insisted Bangladesh are not taking anything for granted against a depleted Australian squad as they prepare to face the visitors in the opening match of the three-game ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Australia arrived without their World Cup-winning pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, none of whom were included in the touring party. The visitors have since been further weakened by the absence of captain Mitchell Marsh, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, and Travis Head, who has been granted personal leave. Josh Inglis will continue as stand-in captain.

The two sides last met in a bilateral ODI series in 2011, when Australia completed a 3-0 sweep. Fifteen years later, the landscape looks markedly different. Bangladesh head into the contest on the back of successive home series victories over the West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand, while Australia arrive after a series defeat to Pakistan and without several of their most influential players.

"We are treating them as a very good side with a strong squad," he said. "We will try to perform at our highest level without overthinking about them. Our plan is simple: play good cricket and win matches," he said.

"We will do our best to play good cricket. I am very confident because everyone is in good form at the moment - the batters and bowlers are all in very good touch after the DPL. This is a huge opportunity for us, especially since we are playing Australia after so many years. As it is on our home ground, it will be a great achievement if we can make the most of that advantage," he added.