Bangladesh will look to reset their one-day international fortunes under new captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz when they take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, starting Wednesday at a newly prepared, batting-friendly R. Premadasa Stadium.
The visitors are coming off a crushing innings and 78-run defeat in the second Test at the Singhalese Sports Club, where Taijul Islam’s five-wicket haul went in vain. Several Test regulars — including AnamulHaqueBijoy, MominulHaque, Taijul Islam, and NayeemHasan — returned home on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the ODI squad arrived in Sri Lanka earlier and trained at SSC before moving to the Premadasa, where the first two ODIs will be played under lights.
Bangladesh had practice sessions at the iconic venue on Monday morning and Tuesday evening in preparation for the limited-overs challenge.
The ODI series comes amid a turbulent backdrop, with NajmulHossainShanto stepping down as Test captain following the heavy Colombo defeat. The decision stirred unrest in the camp during what has already been a tough tour. However, the team is keen to turn the page and focus on cricket — a sentiment Shanto himself echoed despite the off-field noise.
“Look, there is a lot of talk about the captaincy. But for us, we are not discussing it. Our job is to support our team and perform. When Shanto was captain, I helped him a lot.
Before that, those who were captain, we also tried to perform under them. Every team has a captain, but everyone has to perform. When everyone does well, then the country does well. And I don’t have anything inside me like that, and Shanto doesn’t think that way either. Because the team is first, Bangladesh is first. That is the most important thing,” said Miraz ahead of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Miraz, 27, takes charge of the ODI side for the first time as full-time captain at a time when Bangladesh’s most consistent format has seen steady decline. Since the 2023 World Cup, Bangladesh have dropped from seventh to tenth in the ICC ODI rankings and have lost their last three away series — against Afghanistan, New Zealand, and West Indies.
This series also marks the start of a new era, being Bangladesh’s first ODIs since the retirements of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah earlier this year. The absence of the two seasoned campaigners leaves a significant void in the middle order — a department already plagued by inconsistency. The likes of TowhidHridoy, Litton Das, and Jaker Ali will be expected to step up, though questions linger over the team’s ability to build and finish innings without the calming presence of their former stalwarts.
“Look, we haven’t played any ODIs after the Champions trophy. And Mushfiq and Mahmudullah Bhai retired and they used play in two very important position. They were very important player in the side. The position they used to hold is very valuable. We will be trying to fill those places with experience players. As a captain, I can bat one of those positions. Another place might go to Litton. You see, the game has to build from those two positions. So rather than putting someone younger there, we as a senior player should take that responsibilities,” said Miraz.
Bangladesh’s last bilateral ODI series in Sri Lanka ended in a 3-0 whitewash in 2019 under Tamim Iqbal’s captaincy. They are yet to win an ODI series on Sri Lankan soil, having drawn twice — in 2013 and 2017.
Miraz, who led Bangladesh to the ICC Under-19 World Cup semi-finals in 2016, now faces the task of rebuilding a team that once emerged as a formidable ODI unit. With a blend of youth and experience, the series offers a chance to restore stability and direction in the build-up to the next ICC ODI World Cup.
Bangladesh have won just 9 of their 41 bilateral ODI series away from home — a statistic that underlines the scale of the task ahead. For Miraz, the mission in Sri Lanka presents an opportunity to script a new chapter in Bangladesh’s ODI history — one of resilience, revival, and renewed ambition.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed missed a few catches during Tuesday’s training. It seemed he had a bit of pain in his left palm.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain missed training on Tuesday after falling ill and will be assessed again before Wednesday’s match.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
