"We've Beaten Afghanistan Many Times Before" - Mehidy Hasan Miraz

After a disappointing loss in the first ODI, Bangladesh is aiming to bounce back in the series. Following a batting collapse, Bangladesh lost to Afghanistan in the opening match of the three-match ODI series. Although Afghanistan might now see an opportunity to secure the series, Mehidy Hasan Miraz remains optimistic, reminding that "one loss doesn’t mean everything is lost."

Speaking at a press conference before the second ODI, Miraz stated, "We’ve beaten Afghanistan many times before. We won our first World Cup match against them, and we've beaten them in a series at home. Losing one match doesn’t mean everything is over. In international cricket, every team is of high quality, and no team should be underestimated. We’re trying our best. One bad match doesn’t erase our efforts. The wicket didn’t behave as expected, and set batters should have taken responsibility."

In the first ODI, Bangladesh went from a comfortable 120 for 2 to losing their remaining eight wickets for just 23 more runs. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto initially built two partnerships with Soumya Sarkar and then with Miraz, adding 53 and 55 runs for the second and third wickets, respectively. However, Bangladesh’s innings ended shortly after Shanto was dismissed at 120, and Miraz couldn't hold on for much longer either.

Miraz shared his assessment of the Sharjah wicket in the first ODI, saying, "When Shanto and I were batting, the pitch felt easy for us. But after 20 overs, when the ball got old and soft, it suddenly began turning more. Even after being set, we struggled in the middle. One of us should have finished the match. When we were having issues, I told Shanto that it would be even tougher for the later batters. The wicket suddenly turned slow and unpredictable, making it hard to judge which ball would turn and which would go straight. We both made mistakes in that situation. On such a pitch, it’s essential for set batters to see it through to the end."

Miraz’s reflections indicate Bangladesh's determination to learn from their mistakes and make a comeback in the remaining matches.