Mehidy Hasan Miraz

An off-spinning all-rounder who is developing into one of the most potent weapons in Test cricket, Bangladesh may feel that they have unearthed a new star in the shape of Mehidy Hasan Miraz. A prodigious young talent coming through the ranks, Mehidy has made a spot in the team his own as Bangladesh try to establish themselves as one of the teams to beat on the international stage.

U-19 World Cup heroics and immediate breakthrough

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was named captain of the Bangladesh team for their U-19 World Cup campaign in 2016, a home tournament for the young Tigers. It was an opportunity that they and Hasan in particular grabbed with both hands.

Bangladesh would reach the semifinals of that tournament, and ultimately win the consolation third-place playoff match to finish third in the tournament. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the star of the show for the Tigers in that tournament, taking 12 wickets and scoring 242 runs in six matches.

It was enough for Mehidy Hasan to win player of the tournament honours for that significant moment in his career, and he would take off from there. He would have a stellar first class season, and was rewarded by earning his debut call-up for the senior team later in the year.

His debut, against England at Chattogram, bore immediate results as he was asked to bowl nearly 40 overs and responded with a 6-fer in his debut innings, including the scalps of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.

Becoming a regular

Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s inclusion into the Test setup resulted in an upturn of fortunes for Bangladesh. His greatest skill is to bowl huge spells while remaining unerringly accurate and economical with his lines and lengths.

His excellent first year in the Test team, at just the age of 20, saw him act as an excellent deputy in the spin department alongside Shakib Al Hasan, as the two spinners in tandem brought about famous victories against Sri Lanka, Australia, and England.

Mehidy Hasan also provides excellent depth to the Bangladesh batting order. Although he started out as a number nine and is now their number eight, his batting has come along in recent years to make him an excellent option and open up the possibility of Bangladesh playing an extra pacer. Miraz has eyes on a promotion up the order.

He scored his only Test century so far against the West Indies in 2021, but the famous series win over Pakistan in 2024 is perhaps the best indication of his improving batting form. Only batting twice in the series, he contributed with essential scores of 77 and 78 in the two Tests, earning him player of the series for his exploits with bat as much as with ball.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz also owns the record for the highest score while batting at number eight or lower in a successful ODI chase, having scored an unbeaten 81 in Bangladesh’s heist over Afghanistan in 2022. His brilliant maiden century against India later that year revealed him as a bonafide all-round star, making him only the second ODI batter to score a century while batting at number 8.

As Bangladesh look forward to a bright future as the quality of their squad keeps improving, Mehidy Hasan Miraz at just 26 years of age will be central to their plans as he develops in all facets of the game.