Shahadat Hossain

Shahadat Hossain (born: 7 August 1986) is a Bangladeshi cricketer.

Hossain soon found himself called up for the Bangladesh U-19 cricket team for the 2003–04 Asian U-19 Tournament in Pakistan, but he didn't find much success, taking only 2 wickets in 3 appearances, as Bangladesh lost all their group stage matches and failed to progress to the final.

His run in the team continued, however, as he was picked for the 2004 U-19 Cricket World Cup as Bangladesh played hosts.

In the group stage he played in all 3 matches, taking 5 wickets, as the team progressed to the Plate competition of the Cup.

For the Plate final, he took a wicket as Bangladesh defeated Australia to finish ninth out of sixteen.

He finished with six wickets at an average of 28.50, and was named by Cricinfo writer Rabeed Imam as the fastest bowler and one of the most promising players in the tournament.

He made his Test debut in 2005 during Bangladesh's first tour of England.

When he came onto the international scene he was cited by then coach Dav Whatmore as the fastest bowler in the team.

The following year, Hossain made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Kenya.

In his debut Test against England at Lord's in 2005 Hossain conceded 101 runs in 12 overs without taking a wicket, an economy rate of 8.41.

On the tour to Zimbabwe in July 2006, Hossain became the first Bangladeshi to take a hat-trick in One Day Internationals.

South Africa toured Bangladesh in February 2008 for two Tests and three ODIs.

Though they were expected to win with ease, South Africa were made to work hard for victory in the opening Test.

Cricinfo recorded that Hossain "bowled at a lively pace and with tremendous control" to help Bangladesh gain a first-innings lead.

He claimed career-best figures of 6/27, and despite a further three in the second innings South Africa won by five wickets.

Bangladesh lost the second match by an innings and 205 runs with Hossain taking 3/107.

Chief selector Rafiqul Alam stated that Shahadat was too expensive, having conceded runs at 6.63 an over in 18 ODIs in 2008, and believed he would benefit from returning to domestic cricket.

At times Hossain has struggled with conceding too many runs, and for that reason was dropped in 2009.

In January 2009 Shahadat was dropped from the national side.

When July–August 2009, Bangladesh toured the West Indies, Hossain was included in the 15-man squad.

By winning the first Test, Bangladesh secured their first win against the West Indies, their first overseas Test victory, and only their second Test win.

The West Indies side was very inexperienced due to the fallout of a dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players' Association over pay.

The first XI had made themselves unavailable for selection and a new squad had to be chosen.

Seven West Indies players made their Test debut in the match and the side was captained by Floyd Reifer who had played the last of his four Tests ten years earlier.

Hossain was fined 5% of his match fee for excessive appealing, one of three Bangladesh players reprimanded after the match for the same reason.

Bangladesh went on to win the second Test, and in the process secured their first overseas series win.

Having played in both Tests, Hossain took three wickets at an average of 42.66.

In November 2010, Hossain was a member of the squad that won Bangladesh's first gold in any event at the Asian Games.

The next time Shahadat played was when Bangladesh hosting India for two Tests in January 2010.

In the lead up to the first match Indian batsman Virender Sehwag called the Bangladesh bowling attack ordinary, provoking anger amongst the team.

India were dismissed for 234 in the first innings, with Shahdat taking 5/71.

It was the third time he had taken a five-wicket haul in a Test innings.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan remarked that "[Shahadat] didn't bowl all that well; he can bowl much better than this. But it's good for his confidence that he got wickets, as he is on a comeback."

Bangladesh were unable to build on their early success and went on to lose the series 2–0.

A broken toe prevented Hossain from playing for Bangladesh in July 2011, but after more than a year since his last Test he returned to the squad in October that year.

He was the leading wicket-taker for Dhaka Division in the 2018–19 National Cricket League, with seventeen dismissals in five matches.

In November 2019, he was given a five-year ban from cricket, after assaulting a teammate.

He made history being the first Bangladeshi to take a hat-trick in the ODI format.

Born in Narayanganj, Hossain began playing cricket during his teenage years in his home town, and his father, a banker, agreed to send him to a training camp.

Whilst at the training camp he was spotted by a scout and was referred to the Bangladesh Institute of Sports to improve.