Mehidy Hasan Miraz has credited former Bangladesh captains Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal for their support and guidance after leading the Tigers to a 2–1 ODI series victory over the West Indies, his first as full-time skipper. The 179-run win in the final match marked Bangladesh’s first ODI series triumph since March 2024 and offered Miraz much-needed relief following months of criticism.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Miraz reflected on his challenging journey as captain and the lessons learned along the way.
“This is my third series as captain. When I led in the West Indies earlier, I wasn’t the regular captain. Shanto was, but he was injured, so I stepped in. It was definitely very difficult for me at first, but the more I lead, the more I’ll improve over time,” he said.
Miraz was full of praise for Bangladesh’s former captains, revealing that both Mashrafe and Tamim have played vital roles in supporting him through the tough periods.
“The legends of Bangladesh cricket who have captained before have really helped me. Mashrafe bhai has been a big source of encouragement, and Tamim bhai even called me to share advice on how to handle things better. They’re both among Bangladesh’s most successful captains, and it means a lot that they’ve backed me. Over the last two series, they’ve reached out and shared their thoughts and that has really motivated me.”
Appointed as Bangladesh’s ODI captain for a one-year term in July, Miraz’s tenure began with setbacks, losing 2–1 to Sri Lanka before being whitewashed by Afghanistan in the UAE. The defeats pushed Bangladesh further down the ICC rankings and intensified scrutiny over his leadership.
The young all-rounder admitted that the early criticism was tough but urged fans to remain patient as he continues to grow into the role.
“It’s definitely been a difficult time for me. But I need time, and everyone needs to show some patience. Of course, I’m human, I’ll make mistakes. But if everyone supports me, at the end of the day we’re all playing for our country. With time and unity, Insha’Allah, we’ll bounce back.”
Bangladesh’s transitional phase has also made the captaincy more demanding. Since the 2019 World Cup, the team has lost several senior figures: Mashrafe has stepped away, Tamim retired nearly two years ago, Shakib Al Hasan remains unavailable due to political circumstances, and both Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad retired earlier this year following the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Miraz believes that having senior players in the dressing room would have made his job easier.
“If a senior player had been around, things would definitely have been easier for me,” he explained. “When I took over, there were no senior players like Riyad bhai or Mushfiq bhai to guide me. If they were there, it would have made my job,especially in making on-field decisions much simpler.”
Despite the pressure and scrutiny, Miraz remains hopeful about what lies ahead.
“We’re cricketers,tough times will always come. But I believe that after bad times, good times follow. Maybe the challenges I’ve faced mean that something better is waiting ahead. At the end of the day, it’s not about who’s captain, it’s about Bangladesh. We all play for the country, and our aim is to take it forward.”
