Bangladesh ODI Team in Crisis Under Miraz but Faruque Ahmed Confidence Remains Unshaken

Bangladesh’s current ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has struggled to meet expectations, with the team’s recent performances raising questions about direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup. In the second ODI against Afghanistan on October 11, Bangladesh suffered a heavy 81-run defeat, giving Afghanistan the series win with one match to spare. Chasing 191, the Tigers were bowled out for just 109, marking Bangladesh’s third consecutive ODI series loss and heightening concerns over the team’s form.

Despite criticism of Miraz’s captaincy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) continues to back him. Speaking to the media at the ACL T20 final in Sylhet, former captain and BCB vice-president Faruque Ahmed said, “Miraz is a very talented cricketer — that must be said first. He is captain material. When a team doesn’t perform well, the captain often faces blame, but when the team plays well, many mistakes go unnoticed.”

Faruque added, “You cannot expect a captain to perform miracles immediately. I believe a captain should be given at least one to two years to understand his responsibilities, plan for tournaments, and work with the selectors. Miraz is not failing as a captain, and when the team improves, his leadership will also shine more.”

Bangladesh’s batting remains the biggest challenge. While the bowlers have performed admirably, the middle order has struggled to convert starts into big scores. Faruque acknowledged this issue but remained optimistic, “As a former captain, I think the middle order is not about criticism. The team management is still figuring out players’ positions, where to use them, and their strengths. Some players have also lost form — Jaker, for example, was scoring runs consistently against the West Indies but is going through a rough patch now.”

Under Miraz, Bangladesh’s ODI team is facing a challenging phase, but the continued faith from the BCB and senior figures indicates hope for gradual improvement in performance.