Mehidy Hasan Miraz began his captaincy journey with the Bangladesh U-19 team and later led in the BPL. However, he had to wait a long time to take full charge of the national team.
That wait is finally over, as he has now been appointed the ODI captain of Bangladesh. The 27-year-old all-rounder describes this responsibility as the fulfillment of a dream.
In a press release issued by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Miraz said,
“It’s every cricketer’s dream to lead their country. I’m grateful that the board has placed its trust in me. This is a great honor for me.”
Starting with the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, Miraz will serve as Bangladesh’s ODI captain for the next one year. According to the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), Bangladesh is scheduled to play at least 21 ODI matches across 7 series during this period. In addition, the team will play at least 11 more ODIs before the 2027 World Cup.
Miraz first caught attention when he captained the Bangladesh U-19 team at the age of just 16. Under his leadership, Bangladesh participated in the 2014 and 2016 U-19 World Cups. In 2016, the team finished third on home soil—its best result at the time.
In 2019, Miraz captained Rajshahi Kings in the BPL at just 21 years old, becoming the second youngest captain in the franchise’s history. Since then, he has frequently taken on leadership roles for various teams. His opportunity to lead the national side came in 2023, when he captained during the Afghanistan and West Indies tours in the absence of Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Although Bangladesh lost all four ODIs under his captaincy, they managed a win in a Test match against the West Indies during that period.
Now, having been given the captaincy on a full-term basis, Miraz is focused on building a confident and cohesive team.
He said,
“I have full faith in this team. We want to play fearlessly, step onto the field with confidence, and always give our best for the country.”
The BCB recently removed Najmul Hossain Shanto from captaincy in all three formats after 16 months. Litton Das was appointed T20 captain, and now Miraz takes over the ODI reins.
Chairman of the BCB’s cricket operations department, Nazmul Abedeen, stated,
“Miraz’s consistent performances, fighting spirit, and leadership qualities make him the right choice for this role. The board believes he has the mental strength and maturity to lead the team forward in this format.”
