Post by : Maya Rahman

In a significant overhaul, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reshaped its leadership core for international cricket. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Saif Hassan will serve as vice-captains for Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals (T20Is) respectively. This decision arrives as Bangladesh gears up for matches against Ireland involving both Test and T20 formats.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz is appointed as the vice-captain in Tests, assisting Najmul Hossain Shanto, who retains his captaincy for the red-ball format until the conclusion of the 2025-27 World Test Championship. Mehidy’s designation enhances his status as a crucial senior presence among the spin bowlers.

The scenario flips for the ODIs, where Najmul steps in as the vice-captain under Mehidy, who was appointed ODI captain in June for a one-year term. This dual leadership layout aims to cultivate stability and effectiveness in the Bangladesh squad across both formats.

Saif Hassan, recognized for a commendable performance in T20Is over the past year, takes up the vice-captaincy role in the shorter format. Having scored 344 runs at an average of 34.40 and a strike rate of 131.80 in 13 T20Is this year, his contributions have been significant, alongside three half-centuries. Meanwhile, Das continues as T20I captain, preparing the team for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

This leadership adjustment follows a resounding victory over Ireland, where Bangladesh clinched the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, leading the two-match series. Performances from Mahmudul Hasan Joy (171) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (100) were pivotal, alongside Hasan Murad’s impressive four-wicket haul.

While Ireland showed some resistance in their second innings with notable scores from Andy McBrine (52) and Andy Balbirnie (38), they were unable to match Bangladesh’s first-innings total, falling short against a disciplined bowling unit.

The players will next prepare for a three-match T20I series against Ireland starting on 27 November. The vice-captain roles are anticipated to inject focused leadership and support as they navigate through various formats. With seasoned players at the helm, Bangladesh is eager to sustain their winning ways in both Tests and T20s.

The BCB's initiative to elevate Mehidy Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Saif Hassan highlights a deliberate strategy to fortify leadership capabilities across formats, ensuring a balanced mix of experience and skill. Following a strong showing in the recent Test match, Bangladesh is poised for the upcoming challenges in the T20I series and beyond.

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