Mehidy Hasan Miraz, an all-rounder, thinks the Bangladeshi team has enough experience to handle the change after a number of experienced players left.
As the renowned ‘Fab Five’—Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza—effectively wrap up their ODI careers, Mahmudullah’s sudden retirement from ODIs signifies the end of an era in the 50-over format.
Although Mashrafe hasn’t publicly declared his retirement from Tests and ODIs either, and Shakib has already stepped away from Tests and T20Is, it seems highly improbable that they will return to the national setup considering their ages. Many people think that because of the gap created by the senior core, Bangladesh is currently entering a transitional phase, especially in the ODI format. Mehidy, though, sees things differently.
“We must strike a balance between those who have played for 8-9 years and the newer players with 2-3 years of experience. A well-thought-out plan and proper coordination will be key,” he added. “Mushfiq[ur] bhai and the previous generation served for 7-8 years and took the team to a certain level. We have also been playing for a long time now. Our goal should be to take Bangladesh cricket to the next stage,” he said.
“The previous generation fulfilled their responsibilities and took Bangladesh cricket to a certain level. Our job now is to take it even further,” he added.
With an eye on the 2027 World Cup, Mehidy also underlined the significance of long-term planning. “We have yet to win a major competition. It would be fantastic for our generation if we could win a trophy.
It’s a procedure. We must remain dedicated and make decisions right away. The World Cup is in two to two and a half years, so we need to start assembling the team as soon as possible. Players ought to be given regular opportunities. It will be difficult if we begin our preparations only two or three months prior to the event,” he said.
