Miraz dreams of becoming the world's best all-rounder like Shakib
Miraz has now completed eight years in international cricket, but he has yet to establish himself as an all-rounder of Shakib's caliber. In fact, he hasn't even firmly established his identity as an all-rounder yet.
Who is the biggest star in the history of Bangladesh cricket? Without a doubt, anyone would instantly name Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib became the first all-rounder from Bangladesh to reach the top of the world rankings, holding the No. 1 all-rounder spot in all three formats simultaneously. For many, Bangladesh cricket is synonymous with Shakib Al Hasan. Several years ago, there was hope that another player from Bangladesh could follow in Shakib's footsteps: Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Although Miraz has played as a full-fledged all-rounder in age-level cricket, his role in the national team became primarily that of an off-spinner. He has been playing in that role for a long time. However, the batsman inside Miraz never let him rest easy. He dedicated himself to improving his batting, and the results are starting to show.
In Bangladesh's historic Test series victory against Pakistan, Miraz made significant contributions with both the ball and the bat. He took 10 wickets in two Tests (the most in the series) and scored 155 runs at an average of 77.50, including two half-centuries.
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His exceptional performances earned him the Player of the Series award, and he moved up three spots in the ICC Test all-rounder rankings. Now, Miraz is more confident in his abilities as an all-rounder, just as he is in his batting. His dream is that if he continues to progress this way, one day he may become the world's best all-rounder, like Shakib.
However, Miraz did not openly declare this ambition himself. During the Bangladesh team's preparations for their tour of India, he became the center of media attention, and in response to a journalist's question, he shared his thoughts. When asked if he aspires to be the world's best all-rounder like Shakib, Miraz replied that if he can maintain his form for a long time, it might one day be possible.
The 26-year-old all-rounder told reporters on Monday, "When a team has two all-rounders, it's very beneficial for the team. Since my batting has improved recently, the team didn't rely on my batting much in the beginning. I was primarily playing as a bowler. Now that I'm contributing more, it feels great. Of course, I need to keep practicing and working hard. It's not something that can be achieved in one or two years. I have to perform well for a long time. If I can maintain my current form over the long term, I believe one day I can become the world's best all-rounder."
When asked about stepping out from under Shakib's shadow as an all-rounder, Miraz said, "Having an all-rounder in the team is always an advantage. Since both of us are playing, we are both taking on important responsibilities, contributing with both bat and ball. But in world cricket, everyone eventually retires at some point. Every team has to prepare alternatives. When Shakib Bhai eventually steps away, my role might become even more crucial for the team."
