Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has confirmed that Nurul Hasan Sohan will be the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, highlighting both his experience and importance to the side.
Sohan, who returned to the national team during the Asia Cup after a three-year absence, had been playing primarily as a lower-middle-order batsman and had rarely been seen behind the stumps. He first impressed during the Asia Cup group-stage clash against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, scoring an unbeaten 12 off six balls to help Bangladesh surpass the 150-run mark. Though he remained on the bench for subsequent Super Four matches, Sohan featured again against Pakistan in the absence of Litton Das, scoring 16 runs off 21 balls.
The T20 series against Afghanistan further cemented Sohan’s credentials, with the wicketkeeper-batsman scoring 64 runs across three matches without being dismissed , including 23 off 13 balls, 31 off 21, and 10 off nine. His consistent form has now opened the doors to the ODI squad.
Speaking at a pre-series press conference, Miraz emphasised Sohan’s value behind the stumps: “We know how important Sohan is as a wicketkeeper for Bangladesh. If we are talking about the country’s best wicketkeeper, then without a doubt, it is Sohan. Naturally, he will have more opportunities for wicketkeeping in ODIs.”
Miraz also explained why Sohan is favoured over Jaker Ali, citing his experience as a decisive factor: “As captain, this is also what I would want. He has plenty of experience and has played many matches for Bangladesh. If given the opportunity, I believe Sohan can bring a lot of success to Bangladesh.”
Beyond individual selection, Miraz stressed the need for collective performance. He added, “Cricket is not an individual game; it is a team game. If we rely on one or two players, we cannot win the series or play good cricket. Every player must perform well in their role and contribute to the team.”
