Since taking over the ODI captaincy from Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s tenure has been marked by failure. He became the full-time captain in July against Sri Lanka, starting with a 2-1 series defeat, winning only one match in that series.
Since that lone victory, Bangladesh has not won another ODI. They were whitewashed 3-0 by Afghanistan. Batting has been a major concern, with the team failing to play the full 50 overs in recent matches. In the last 12 ODIs, Bangladesh lost 11, resulting in four consecutive series defeats.
Miraz has also struggled with his own performance. Since becoming the permanent captain, he has crossed fifty only once, scoring 60 off 87 balls in the first ODI against Afghanistan. In the next two matches, he managed just 4 and 6 runs. In the last match, he fell cheaply, nicking one off Bilal Sami to Ikram Alikhil while attempting a flashy drive.
Batting at number five, he failed to hold the middle order. As a full-time captain, he has scored 106 runs in six innings and taken eight wickets with his off-spin. In the Sri Lanka series, he scored 0, 9, and 28.
Some of his field decisions have also been questionable. In the last ODI against Afghanistan, part-timer Saif Hassan took three wickets in four overs for just six runs, including a maiden, yet was not used again. Miraz bowled the penultimate over in the Afghanistan innings, where Mohammad Nabi hit three sixes. Bowling a spinner against a known hitter without variation was a risky decision that backfired.
Miraz symbolises Bangladesh’s recent ODI struggles. Despite playing top-level cricket for years, the team’s focus seems to be on surviving 50 overs rather than winning matches. In Abu Dhabi, Miraz himself said the goal was to play 50 overs: “Our goal is to play the full 50 overs, something we haven’t managed in recent ODIs, so we are planning on how to achieve that.”
In modern white-ball cricket, where teams like England, India, and Australia bat aggressively, this mindset is counterproductive.
In the last ODI, chasing 294, Bangladesh never appeared to pursue the win. Their aim seemed to be surviving the overs and avoiding embarrassment. After failing to bat full innings in the previous six ODIs, they couldn’t even last 30 overs this time. Their innings lasted just 163 balls, with 93 dot balls, and they lost by 200 runs.
This may be the true face of Bangladesh cricket. ODI cricket, once the team’s strongest format, now struggles under an underperforming captain.
Though Miraz is eying the forthcoming West Indies series, “As a captain, I want the team to stay mentally strong, even if improvement takes time. Our coaching staff is giving great support, and I aim to boost the team as well. I hope for a comeback starting from the next series, Insha’Allah, and to deliver exciting matches for the fans.”
