Bangladesh’s national cricket team began its preparation for the upcoming ODI series with a fresh sense of direction on Sunday as Mehidy Hasan Miraz officially took charge as the new one-day captain.
The team gathered for their first training session at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium following the conclusion of the Test match. Players stepped onto the field one after another — Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tamim, Taskin Ahmed, Miraz himself — each ready to adapt under new leadership.
What followed was more than just routine.
The pre-drill huddle took place at center field as always. But today, it didn’t break as quickly.
Miraz, in the middle, addressed the squad for an extended period. He wasn’t just talking about drills. He was laying out expectations.
Discipline. Confidence. Aggression.
Words that suggest a shift in tone. Perhaps a shift in mindset.
A Transition of Leadership in Real Time
Miraz’s presence was undeniable. But he wasn’t seizing control so much as assuming a role that was clearly waiting for him. That sense of a smooth succession was obvious as he chatted with his predecessor, Najmul Hossain Shanto, during the team warm-up.
It wasn’t a grand moment. Just a short conversation between two players. But maybe that’s where the real transition lives — in quiet exchanges more than formal announcements.
Then came nets. As players rotated in and out, Miraz made his way to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. Known for his hard-hitting and sharp turn, Rishad clearly has the new captain’s attention. They spoke for a while.
The message felt simple: you’re important, and your role matters.
Leading from the Middle, Not the Sideline
Miraz didn’t stay on the edge of things. He padded up, picked up the bat, and stepped into the nets. Not just to train. To observe. To guide.
He stopped to speak with Shamim Patwari and Tanvir Islam too. Brief chats. But ones that often say more than speeches.
He seems to be trying to shape something — not just a playing XI, but a team culture.
A culture where players know what their captain expects from them. A culture where effort is matched with communication.
A New Chapter, Still Unwritten
Bangladesh will take the field under Miraz’s leadership on July 2. That’s when results will start to tell the story.
But for now, the early signs are hard to miss.
There’s intent. There’s structure. And there’s a captain who looks like he’s not just wearing the armband, but carrying it.
No one knows how this new phase will unfold. But judging by the opening act, Mehidy Hasan Miraz isn’t treating this like a trial run. He’s all in.
