Mehidy Hasan Unfazed by Missed Century, Aims to Strengthen Bangladesh's Test Fortunes
Mehidy also voiced support for Shakib, who missed the South Africa Test series due to security concerns, encouraging fans and teammates to rally behind him during a challenging period. "Since he's going through a certain situation, I think everyone should stand by him," he added.
Bangladesh’s all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has emerged as a crucial figure for the team in 2024, delivering with both bat and ball in the absence of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Despite narrowly missing his second Test century, getting dismissed on 97 against South Africa, Mehidy remains focused on helping Bangladesh succeed and is unfazed by comparisons to Shakib.
This year, Mehidy leads Bangladesh’s scoring charts in Tests, accumulating 461 runs across seven matches at an average of 46.10, with four half-centuries to his name. He also ranks as the team’s top wicket-taker. His form is partly attributed to an extensive training period in the Bangladesh Tigers program, as he was absent from the T20 World Cup. Mehidy’s commitment has been evident in his consistent contributions, even though he couldn’t score much in the series against India, where he displayed solid batting form.
Reflecting on his 97-run knock, Mehidy admitted that missing a century was disappointing but emphasized the importance of playing for the team’s success. "It always feels bad to miss a century, and I am also feeling bad, but if I could’ve executed the plan, it would have felt much better," he remarked. His focus, he added, was less on personal milestones and more on advancing Bangladesh’s position. “I was not thinking about the century; all I was thinking about was how far I could take the team.”
Analyzing the team’s performance against South Africa, Mehidy pointed to the lack of significant first-innings runs as a key factor in Bangladesh's struggles. "If there are runs on the board, it’s much harder for the bowlers," he said, commending the efforts of Taijul Islam and the bowling unit. Mehidy noted that a stronger batting performance in the first innings could have changed the game’s outcome, emphasizing that in Test cricket, the first innings often sets the tone.
With a steadfast focus on team goals and continual improvement, Mehidy is determined to carry Bangladesh forward, keeping his personal achievements secondary to the broader success of the squad.
