Newly appointed ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said on Friday that his immediate goal is to restore stability, unity, and a forward-looking team culture in Bangladesh’s 50-over side, which has struggled to find its identity and form since the 2023 World Cup.
Miraz, who took over the role in a sudden leadership reshuffle this week, stressed the importance of rebuilding from the inside out when the team is trying to adjust to a new era without several senior players.
“It’s time for us to take responsibility,” he said at a press conference at Mirpur Sher-e Bangla National Cricket Stadium before leaving for Sri Lanka.
“We’ve played enough international cricket now — eight or nine years — so we have to lead from the front and support the juniors the way our seniors supported us when we came in.”
Drawing from his early days under Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s leadership and later experiences under several other captains, Miraz said he hopes to use those learnings to shape his approach.
“I’ve learned a lot from them, especially how they made tough decisions and stood firm under pressure,” he said. “That’s something I’ll try to carry forward. You won’t always get the result you want, but how you lead in those moments matters.”
The 26-year-old, who previously served as vice-captain and briefly led the side during a series in the West Indies, acknowledged the challenges of stepping in mid-cycle. Yet he insisted the one-year appointment gives him just enough time to instil a collective mindset.
“It’s easier to boost a team if you have a longer tenure,” he said. “Now that I’ve been given one year, I’ll try to place the team in a strong position. We need to stabilise, especially with two senior players having recently retired.”
Miraz noted that the ODI side had not seen much action since the World Cup, during which Bangladesh slumped to a 10th-place finish.
“At one time, we were ranked fifth; now we’re tenth. This is the moment to rebuild and reassess,” he said.
While unsure of the internal process behind his appointment, Miraz said he was informed directly by cricket operations chairman Najmul Abedin Fahim, and that the board likely felt a reset was needed.
“We’re going through a difficult time, so maybe the board thought to give it a year and build a foundation. Then they can decide whether to continue or take the next step,” he said.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
