DHAKA, Nov 11, 2024 (BSS)-On a day when he reached the milestone of 100 ODI 
matches, Mehidy Hasan Miraz also made his captaincy debut.

Regular skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was ruled out of the series-deciding 
third and final ODI against Afghanistan due to his groin injury, paving the 
way for Miraz to lead the side. 

Miraz became the 13th Bangladesh cricketer to play the century of ODIs and 
17th captain to lead the side. Current chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain 
Lipu was the first captain to lead Bangladesh in International cricket. 

Before taking the leadership role eventually in senior cricket, Miraz led the 
Bangladesh in aged level cricket. He was the captain of Bangladesh Under-15, 
17 and 19. Interestingly Shanto who is now all format captain of Bangladesh 
played under the leadership of Miraz in all aged level cricket.

"Interestingly me and Miraz played together since Under-15 level and since 
then he was my captain. Still I believe he is my captain and he knows it 
well," Shanto once said in BCB 'home of cricket' podcast.

"When he was the captain in aged level cricket, I gave him suggestion if 
needed. Now I am the captain of national team and he gave me suggestion when 
needed. We have good camaraderie and understanding," Shanto added.

Miraz, however, got the captaincy at a moment, when Bangladesh need to win 
the game to clinch the series. And he started with positive note by winning 
the all important toss. The Sharjah history suggested that batting first team 
most of the time wins the game.