A key member of Bangladesh's Test team, Mehidy Hasan Miraz suffered a finger injury while playing in a Dhaka Premier League match. According to the BCB's physio, Miraz's full recovery would take two to three weeks. Therefore, he was excluded from the Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. Mosaddek Hossain and Nayeem Hasan were chosen to replace the injured Miraz. Let's see who has the best longer-version record to earn a place in the playing XI of the BAN vs SL series 2022's Chattogram Test.

Test Records of Mosaddek Hossain and Nayeem Hasan

Mosaddek Hossain and Nayeem Hasan have both played Test cricket for Bangladesh. Nayeem Hasan is more consistent than Mosaddek in the Test format. Nayeem has appeared in seven Tests, whereas Mosaddek has only been in three. Nayeem Hasan is a specialist off-spinner, which is one of the reasons he plays more longer-version cricket than Mosaddek. Specialist players are given more preference in Test cricket than regular all-rounders. 

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Test Profile of Mosaddek Hossain

Mosaddek made his Test debut in 2017 against Sri Lanka, and his most recent match was in September 2019 against Afghanistan. He has 164 runs and a 41-run average in three outings. Mosaddek has the highest score of 75 in this format, which he achieved against Sri Lanka. He is also a good off-spinner, especially in limited-version formats. Mosaddek is yet to take a wicket in a Test match.

Mosaddek Hossain’s Test Stats

   Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/

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Nayeem Hasan’s Test Profile

Nayeem Hasan made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2018, and his most recent encounter came in February 2021 against the same opponents. He is a promising off-spinner with 25 wickets at a strike rate of 26.24 in seven games. Nayeem has two fifers in his career, with his best bowling figures of 5/61 against the West Indies. Nayeem can also bat and he has the ability to play crucial knocks in the lower order.

Nayeem Hasan’s Test Stats

   Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/

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Who would be a better fit for Bangladesh's team against Sri Lanka?

Given their respective Test performances, Nayeem Hasan should have the upper hand against Mosaddek Hossain. Nayeem is a wicket-taking off-spinner who may be even more devastating against the Lankan batting order in Bangladesh's conditions. Nayeem may be a potential match-winner on day four or five when the surface offers more bounce and turn for the slower bowlers. Furthermore, Nayeem's abilities as a batter in the lower order can help Bangladesh's innings.

Mosaddek Hossain, on the other hand, is a limited-overs specialized all-rounder, but his all-round abilities in the longer-version format may not be as impactful. Mosaddek can help with a good knock with the bat. Though, in bowling, he may not be the best choice because the Bangladesh team requires a proper off-spinner in their playing XI. In this scenario, Nayeem Hasan, rather than Mosaddek Hossain, would be the best pick to play the first Test in Chattogram.

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Test Schedule of BAN vs SL Series 2022 

First Test: 15-19 May | Venue: Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram

Second Test: 23-17 May | Venue: Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

Bottom Line 

The head coach and captain usually have the final say when it comes to selecting players for a game. However, the opinions of the Bangladesh team management and senior players will be taken into account when picking the playing XI for the first Test of the BAN vs SL series 2022. Chattogram's pitch will most likely be more conducive to batting than Dhaka's.

Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Bangladesh Test Squad Analysis

Therefore, adding a specialized spinner rather than a batting all-rounder might be a wiser option. However, the Bangladesh team may want to have a strong batting lineup. Anyone who will get the opportunity to play in the match should try to make the most of it by giving their all for the Bangladesh team.