In 13 ODIs as captain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has managed just three wins. Two of these victories came on Mirpur’s spin-friendly black pitches – a familiar home advantage, not necessarily a testament to strategic brilliance.
As Bangladesh missed out on the opportunity of rising to the 9th spot in the ICC ODI rankings, when confronted with criticism after the West Indies series, Mehidy’s response was revealing. “What was the ranking of Bangladesh when I was given the captaincy? 10. And now? Also 10,” he said. A question arises, was this a defensive reply? Does it highlight a mindset more focused on justification than improvement?
Miraz’s reluctance to take risks is evident in critical moments. During the third ODI against West Indies, with Bangladesh defending 297 and the opposition struggling, he refused to try part-time spinners, especially Saif Hassan, who has been brilliant with the ball in the recent past. “I felt the game would not go to 50 overs, so I bowled all the main bowlers,” he explained. Instead of experimenting and building depth in his attack, he opted for safe, predictable choices, prioritizing short-term effectiveness over long-term team growth.
Even in high-pressure moments, Miraz seems to lean on excuses. After Bangladesh lost the second ODI in a Super Over, he blamed the team’s inexperience. “This is the first time the Bangladesh team has played a Super Over, so it was a new experience for us,” he said. Preparing for high-pressure scenarios is a captain’s job. Should a captain treat crucial moments as learning opportunities rather than moments to lead decisively?
Even after about a decade of his stay in international cricket, Miraz also relies heavily on the advice of former captains, including Mashrafe Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal during international series. While mentorship is valuable, his references to their support give the impression that he is dependent on others to navigate leadership decisions. At the press conference, he said, “And at the end of the day, the legendary players of Bangladesh who have captained a lot are helping me a lot, and honestly, they are supporting me from behind, especially the successful captains of Bangladesh. If I say Mashrafe Bhai, he is supporting me a lot and has advised me. Tamim Bhai called me and told me how to do things better, because you see, both of them are the most successful captains of Bangladesh.”
Perhaps most concerning is his cavalier approach to long-term planning. With the 2027 World Cup only two years away, Miraz insists there is “still a long way off” before Bangladesh needs to focus on it. At the same time, the strategy of preparing spin-friendly pitches to secure home wins, a strategy he backs, undermines the development of batters who will face faster, bouncier tracks abroad. Short-term home advantage may bring victories, but it comes at the cost of sustainable growth and competitiveness on the global stage. He says, “Wherever you play in the world, whoever we play against, they take the home advantage. And I believe that when I played in New Zealand, they took the home advantage. So, if any team comes to Bangladesh, we will definitely take our home advantage.”
Miraz’s captaincy seems defined by caution, excuses, and an over-reliance on conditions that supports the team for a short term, and makes them suffer in the long run.
– Shajedul Rahin
