Mehidy Hasan Miraz: Bangladesh's Next Shakib Al Hasan?

Mehedy Hasan Miraz was once considered the potential successor to Shakib Al Hasan in Bangladesh cricket. He was expected to make significant contributions with both bat and ball, just like Shakib. However, there was a phase when he played primarily as a bowler and couldn’t showcase his batting skills as expected. Nevertheless, Miraz has shown improvement in his batting recently, as evidenced by his recent performances where he has excelled with both bat and ball. Miraz now aspires to become the world's best all-rounder.

Recently, in the series against Pakistan, Mehedi Hasan Miraz took on the role of a genuine all-rounder. His contributions were pivotal in Bangladesh's series victory. He scored 155 runs and took 10 wickets across two matches, earning the Player of the Series award. He had also played crucial innings in Tests against Sri Lanka and New Zealand prior to this.

Miraz is pleased with his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. He commented, “Having two all-rounders in a team is highly advantageous. Since my batting is improving now... initially, my batting wasn’t up to the mark, and I played primarily as a bowler. Now that I am contributing more, it feels great.”

According to Miraz, becoming the world's best all-rounder overnight is not feasible. It requires sustained effort over a long period. Miraz hopes that with consistent performance, he will one day become the best all-rounder. “To become the best all-rounder, one must practice and work hard. It’s not something that can be achieved in one or two years. Continuous good performances over a long time are essential. If I can maintain my current form for an extended period, I hope to become the best all-rounder one day.”

As Shakib Al Hasan approaches retirement, the main responsibility will shift to Miraz. “Currently, both of us are playing and taking on significant roles. Eventually, everyone has to retire. It’s common in every team to have replacements. When Shakib Bhai is not playing, my role will likely become even more crucial for the team.”