Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has admitted Bangladesh were well below par in their 3-0 ODI series defeat to Afghanistan, following a crushing 200-run loss in the final match. The captain openly acknowledged both personal and team failures, urging his side to take greater responsibility ahead of their next series against the West Indies.
Bangladesh were bowled out for just 93 runs while chasing 293 in the third ODI, a result that capped a disappointing series where their batting unit failed to fire. Despite having swept the T20I series 3-0 earlier, the Tigers looked unprepared and outclassed in the 50-over format.
Speaking after the match, Miraz did not shy away from criticism. “Yes, we accept that we didn’t play well in this series,” he said. “We had opportunities but couldn’t capitalise on them. Everyone is accepting that. There were some positives in our bowling. We’re trying to improve further.”
The Bangladesh captain made it clear that batting was the key area of concern. “If we don’t score runs with the bat, we can’t expect to win,” he said. “The top and middle-order batters need to take more responsibility. First and foremost, we need to bat out the full 50 overs. That has to be our priority.”
Miraz was equally candid in the post-match press conference, reiterating the need for accountability and improvement. “We must admit that we played poor cricket as a batting unit,” he said. “If batters don’t take responsibility, the team will inevitably suffer. If we can’t put runs on the board, we simply can’t win, no matter what the conditions are.”
When asked why the same mistakes were being repeated, Miraz suggested that lessons were not being learned quickly enough. “Perhaps we’re not improving where we need to,” he admitted. “There’s definitely a lack in that area. We have to move forward with the batters we currently have. If we don’t fix those areas, we’ll continue to struggle.”
Despite the series loss, Miraz defended his players and the coaching staff, stating that effort was not the issue. “Everyone is working hard. No one plays badly on purpose,” he said. “Sometimes things just don’t go our way. Our batters are getting starts and then getting out early. That’s hurting us. But I still believe we’re not as poor a team as these results show.”
Looking ahead to the home series against the West Indies, Miraz stressed the importance of mental recovery. “Everyone’s disappointed, and that’s natural,” he said. “Maybe spending a couple of days with family will help us reset. As captain, I’ll try to keep the team positive. The batters especially need to be mentally tougher, and our coaching staff is helping us a lot in that area.”
With Bangladesh’s ODI form under serious scrutiny, Miraz knows the path forward will not be easy, but he remains focused. “Playing all 50 overs has to be our first target,” he concluded. “That’s what we’ll focus on next, building innings and staying longer at the crease.”
