The allrounder has slipped to the stand-by list for the Asia Cup ©Getty
The inclusion of Mehidy Hasan Miraz in Bangladesh’s T20I squad has long been a point of debate, with his skills seen as more suited to Tests and ODIs. On Saturday, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain confirmed that Miraz will only be considered for T20Is in times of crisis.
Miraz, who opted out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Netherlands due to family reasons, also failed to retain his place in the 16-member Asia Cup squad, finding himself instead in the stand-by list.
The decision did not come as a surprise to close followers of Bangladesh cricket, as sections of the fraternity have suggested that T20 cricket has taken a toll on his bowling in Tests and ODIs.
Since early 2024, Miraz has managed just five wickets in eight T20I innings at an average of 37.80, a strike rate of 24, and an economy of 9.45, limiting his opportunities in the format. Critics also argue that he approaches T20s with a containing mindset, which they believe bleeds into his red-ball game.
“I think he was not bowling with his usual action during the last Test series against Sri Lanka, as he was literally hiding his hand before delivering the ball. These kinds of things only happen when a bowler is under pressure,” an observer closely involved with the Bangladesh setup told Cricbuzz.
Perhaps recognising this, Miraz has gone back to basics. Despite being on leave until September 5, he has been working daily with childhood mentor Sohel Islam at the BCB Academy, focusing on his technique. He has been seen doing drills to improve balance at landing, stability in the delivery stride, and alignment of his head with the target.
The 27-year-old has also been working on release points, strengthening his stride, and creating angles at the crease in an attempt to regain his potency.
“We are trying to see whether he is maintaining the right process,” said a coach working with him. “When you come from T20 cricket, you sometimes lose direction. In the shorter format you rely on speed, while in longer formats you slow things down. It’s a fine balance, and switching can be difficult.”
The coach added: “Basically everything depends on pace variation and length in modern cricket. At times T20Is can impact a player when he returns to Tests, but with Miraz’s experience he should be able to adjust.”
Chief selector Ashraf echoed these thoughts when speaking to reporters in Mirpur. He stressed that while Miraz remains a valuable allrounder in Tests and ODIs, he is not currently a priority for T20Is.
“About Miraz… Shak Mahedi is in our T20I XI. If our squad had 17 members, Miraz could have been there. But realistically we prefer to keep players according to their focus and interest. That’s why he is not in our 16-member squad,” Ashraf said.
He added: “Red-ball and white-ball cricket have different demands and intensity. Mehidy is a valuable asset in Tests and ODIs. The world knows him for his all-round performances. But playing three formats simultaneously is tough nowadays. If the team is in crisis, he will play T20Is, otherwise we will let him focus on the other formats. He is a sharp cricketer who can adapt, but we must also manage his workload.”
Ashraf pointed to broader trends in world cricket. “You see India fielding separate squads for Tests and limited-overs cricket. We do not have that luxury yet, but we want to move towards specialization gradually.”
© Cricbuzz
