A bits-and-pieces allrounder from Rangpur, Tanbir Hayder rose up quickly through the Dhaka league system to make his first-class debut in January 2010. A month later, he was called up to play for the BCB XI in a 50-over practice match against England. Hayder bats in the middle order and bowls legspin.

He became a regular for Rangpur Division in 2012-13, bringing up his maiden first-class ton and 10-wicket match-haul. However, it was in the following season that he best showcased his all-round prowess, scoring 443 runs, including two centuries, and picking up 12 wickets. In 2015-16, he made 400-plus first-class runs again, in the National Cricket League, but the emphasis on his batting led to a drop in bowling form.

Still, with a dearth of genuine legspinners in Bangladesh, he caught the eye of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha at a training camp in 2016. Although he had an average time in one-day cricket with Kalabagan Krira Chakra, playing under Mashrafe Mortaza, Tanbir dismissed four England batsmen - including Joe Root - in a four-day game in October. He was put on standby for the Tests that followed.

Even though he missed most of the 2016-17 BPL with a hand injury, Tanbir was picked in Bangladesh's ODI squad to tour New Zealand at the end of the year.
Mohammad Isam