Mehidy Hasan Miraz Embraces Challenge as New Bangladesh ODI Captain Ahead of Sri Lanka Series

Taking the helm at a difficult time, Mehidy Hasan Miraz says he is ready to lead Bangladesh's ODI side through its struggles with consistency and inexperience. Speaking at the pre-series press conference in Colombo, the new captain struck an optimistic note about rebuilding and supporting his team.

“We haven't been playing well for a while, but that doesn’t mean we’re bad,” Miraz said. “The real problem is we don’t get regular series. When you play once every six months, gaps will show. If we can get back-to-back series, we’ll be able to come back.”

When asked about captaincy, Miraz emphasized the importance of team coordination over hierarchy. “When Shanto was captain, I was there to support him. It’s everyone’s responsibility to support the team. If we perform, Bangladesh will do well. There’s no ego between me and Shanto—this team-first, country-first message is clear to everyone.”

While acknowledging the absence of senior players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, he stressed the need to plan for the future. “Mushfiq bhai and Riyad bhai were very important in the last Champions Trophy. Replacing them isn’t easy. It’ll take time. But those of us who have played for years—me, Shanto, Liton, Taskin, Mustafiz—we know how to handle international cricket.”

He also underlined the stakes of the series. “If we want to qualify directly for the World Cup, we have to be in the top eight. Every match is important, but we can’t collapse under pressure. Our goal is to take it one match at a time.”

Miraz expressed confidence in managing that pressure thanks to what he’s learned from past Bangladesh captains. “I’ve played under everyone—Mashrafe bhai, Tamim bhai, Shanto. I’ve learned to handle pressure from them. If I’d been given this responsibility earlier, it might have been tough. Now I feel ready.”

Regarding his own batting role, Miraz noted: “With Mushfiq and Riyad bhai gone, there are two crucial spots to fill. Liton and I can take on that responsibility.”

Speaking about conditions at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, Miraz said: “We know these conditions, and we’ve played here before. We even beat India here once. That experience builds confidence.”

Asked about managing the pacers’ workload, he replied: “It doesn’t matter if it’s Tests or ODIs—it’s all Bangladesh cricket. It’s not a worry if Taskin or someone else doesn’t play; we think about backups. The team management is very careful about this.”