Miraz hints who will step into key batting positions as Bangladesh begin new ODI era

The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM Bangladesh time at the R Premadasa Stadium.

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This marks a fresh start for Bangladesh cricket following the end of the celebrated ‘Panchpandav’ era. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, though not officially retired, is unlikely to return to international cricket. Shakib Al Hasan is now distant from the national setup, while Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah have already bid farewell to ODIs.

With a new leadership structure in place, Miraz admitted that the absence of the experienced players poses a challenge but also presents a golden opportunity for the younger players to make their mark.

“We will definitely miss our seniors. They’ve served the country for a long time. But since they have retired, it’s something we must accept. This is a great opportunity for the younger players — if they perform well, they can secure their place. I believe we’ll do well as a team,” Miraz said at the pre-series press conference.

Mushfiq and Mahmudullah were both part of Bangladesh’s squad for the recent Champions Trophy qualifiers, but neither features in this series. Replacing them has been a challenge for the team management, who are working on identifying suitable options.

“This kind of transition doesn’t happen in one or two series. It takes time. Losing so many seniors at once is difficult for any team. But we are trying to improve in those areas,” Miraz explained.

Interestingly, the captain hinted that he and Litton Das may be tasked with filling the key batting positions left vacant by the seniors. Though Miraz didn’t confirm exact roles, he suggested that Litton could bat at No. 4 while he himself might slot in at No. 6.

“These are two crucial positions. As captain, I think I can take one of those roles and maybe Litton the other. Those spots are where matches are often built from,” Miraz added.