Mehidy Hasan replaces Najmul Hossain as Bangladesh ODI captain

Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named the new ODI captain of Bangladesh, replacing Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Thursday, June 12. This decision comes as a surprise, occurring less than a month before the scheduled three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, set to commence on July 2.

Mehidy Hasan's first assignment in-charge as Bangladesh's new ODI captain would be the three-match series in Sri Lanka next month. © Getty

Shanto, who recently relinquished his T20I captaincy to concentrate on his batting performance, was expected to continue leading the ODI team. However, the BCB's think-tank opted for a different direction.

Nazmul Abedeen, Chairman of BCB’s Cricket Operations Committee, stated, "The Board believes that Miraz's consistent performances with both bat and ball, his fighting spirit, and his energetic presence on and off the field make him the ideal choice to lead the ODI side during this transitional period. We are confident in his temperament and maturity to guide Bangladesh forward in this format."

Abedeen also acknowledged Shanto's contributions: "We extend our gratitude to Shanto for his positive attitude and character as captain. He remains an integral part of the leadership group, and we recognize the importance of his batting to the team."

Miraz's impressive record in 105 ODIs includes 1617 runs and 110 wickets. He currently holds the No. 4 position among all-rounders in the ICC ODI rankings, the highest ranking for any Bangladeshi player. He also joins an elite group of Bangladeshi cricketers, including Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, and Shakib Al Hasan, who have achieved the milestone of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the 50-overs format.

"It is a great honor for me to be entrusted with this responsibility by the Board," Miraz expressed in a statement released by the BCB. "Leading the country is a dream come true for any cricketer, and I am thankful for the confidence the Board has placed in me."

Miraz further added, "I have complete faith in this team. We possess the talent and the belief to play fearless cricket. I want us to perform with confidence, play without any hesitation, and continue to give our best for the country."

Prior to this appointment, Mehidy had previously captained the national side in four ODIs in Najmul's absence.

This decision signifies a return to a strategy of appointing different captains for different formats, a practice previously employed when Tamim Iqbal led the ODI side, while Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah captained in Tests and T20Is, respectively. Currently, Najmul leads the Test team, while Litton Das serves as the T20I skipper.

Shanto's ODI record includes 1565 runs at an average of 34.77 in 49 matches, with three centuries and 10 half-centuries. As captain, he scored 564 runs in 13 ODIs, averaging 51.27. During his tenure, Bangladesh won four matches and lost nine.