I want to create a positive environment for players: Miraz
Bangladesh stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz is keen to create a positive vibe in the team dressing room so that every player can express them well. His comment came before Bangladesh's three-match ODI series against West Indies. Miraz is leading the side in absence of regular skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto who was ruled out of the Caribbean tour after sustaining a groin injury in an ODI series against Afghanistan.
"I want to create a positive environment and help everyone give their best," Miraz told the reporters in St Kitts ahead of the three-match ODI series opening game. "Every player's performance is crucial. My role is to support and motivate my teammates and at the same time, I myself also contribute to the team."
Miraz successfully led the side in two-match Test series, which Bangladesh were able to draw following a brilliant victory in the second and final Test. The victory was Bangladesh's first in Caribbean Island since 2009. Bangladesh, however, have been dominant in ODI series against the West Indies. They haven't conceded a bilateral series against the Caribbean side since 2016 and won four series in this period.
The Tigers in fact have been unbeaten in their last 11 ODI meetings with the West Indies. This time, they will move forward without some of their key players. Not only Shanto, they also lost senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim and dependable middle order batter Towhid Hridoy due to injury. While Miraz said, it will be challenging for them to keep up the winning trend without those key players, he believes, this is also an opportunity for the existing players to cement their place.
"This series is undoubtedly challenging because several players are missing," Miraz said. "But it's also a great opportunity for others. I hope those who get the chance can make this series memorable for them." Bangladesh though won a Test here, that was largely due to their bowlers' exploit. The batters have been inconsistent regardless of the format of the cricket. Miraz therefore urged the batters to step up.
"Batters need to step up. Cricket revolves around runs. When you score, it makes things much easier for the bowlers," he remarked. "In 2018, we scored over 300 runs in the final match on this ground and won the series. In 2022, we came back and won again. So, we hope we'll continue that kind of performance. In fact, the players are highly motivated to win the series."
