UAE vs BAN 2025: Nasum Ahmed to return home after Rishad Hossain, Nahid Rana cleared visas

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to recall left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed from the UAE after visa problems involving leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and speedster Nahid Rana have been resolved.

Nasum had been flown to Dubai on Friday as a precautionary measure after Rishad and Nahid were stranded at Dubai International Airport for three successive days owing to invalid entry visas. The duo's visa issues were resolved late on Friday, May 16, allowing them to link up with the national team in the UAE ahead of the first T20I of the two-match series the following day.

"Nasum will be arriving here tomorrow. As there was a visa-related issue, we were a bit confused, and as a back-up plan, we sent Nasum to the UAE yesterday. Now that they have received their visas and joined the team, Nasum will return home," BCB's cricket operations in-charge Shahriar Nafees told The Daily Star on Saturday, May 17.

He also confirmed that experienced seamer Mustafizur Rahman will be available for only one game. Bangladesh are set to play two T20Is against the UAE in Sharjah on May 17 and 19.

"It was a contingency plan. Along with their not receiving the visas, Mustafizur [Rahman] is also set to leave the team after playing one game. Nasum was more of a back-up option for us," he added.

Nasum had been with the Bangladesh 'A' team in Sylhet before embarking on the trip to UAE. The 30-year-old did not take part in the opening four-day match against New Zealand 'A', which the hosts lost by 70 runs on the final day.

UAE win the toss, opt to bowl first

UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem won the toss in the first T20I on Saturday and opted to field first. Matiullah Khan drew first blood for the hosts at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium as he sent Tanzid Hasan packing in the second over.

Bangladesh batted well after the initial setback, as Parvez Hossain Emon and Litton Das forged a 36-run partnership inside the powerplay off 21 deliveries. This was before Muhammad Jawadullah struck off his first ball in the sixth over and dismissed Litton. At the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh raced to 55/2. They will look to capitalise on their solid start.