Dhaka Division won the One-Day National Cricket League in November 2010, with all the matches held in the space of three weeks. Hossain took ten wickets from six matches in the tournament, producing his best figures of 4/39 in the final against Barisal Division to help his team to victory. Hossain was not included in Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup, having lost his place in the ODI side to younger fast bowlers Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain. A broken toe, sustained during a game of beach football, prevented him from taking part in Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe in July and August 2011, a series which marked Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket and Bangladesh's first Test match since the tour of England over 14 months earlier. National captain Shakib Al Hasan lamented Hossain's absence, saying "I think Hossain Rajib is a huge loss. He's been our best Test bowler for quite a while." He returned to action in the Bangladesh Cricket Board Cup in September, taking six wickets in four games for Bangladesh A against a team of academy players and the full national side. Hossain was recalled to the Test squad in October to face the West Indies in a two-match series. He also played in both of Bangladesh's Tests against Pakistan in December. During the second Test against Pakistan, Hossain bowled several no-balls. In the first four Tests of his comeback Hossain took just two wickets whilst conceding 394 runs.