Miraj aims to stage intl cricket comeback against Zimbabwe
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Mehidy Hasan Miraj, promising all-rounder of Bangladesh team, is focused on making a comeback to international cricket in the imminent home series against Zimbabwe. The East African side is scheduled to tour Bangladesh in February, even though the tour was earlier slated for March. But the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) talked with Zimbabwe Cricket and brought the event forward. Some changes have also been made in the format of matches and the fixture.
Zimbabwe will play a one-off Test, three ODIs, and two-T20Is during their month-long tour. As per the instruction of the national team physiotherapist, Miraj has started bowling and batting at the nets of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur from last week. Even though having a bit of pain while bowling, Miraj is confident of recovering fully from his finger niggles within the next seven days and could play the third round of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL).
The third round of the franchise-based first-class cricket tournament is slated to commence from February 14. Im quite well by the grace of Allah. A few days back I started my bowling in keeping with the suggestions of the national team physio Julian Calefato and the BCB doctor and trainer under whom I have been working. I will not play the second round fixture but aim to play the third round of BCL, Miraj said.
I hope I can join the team and play for the third round after becoming completely fit within the next week, Miraj told the media prior to his regular net practice at the BCB-NCA ground on Thursday. I feel a bit of pain while bowling. I have talked with the physio about this. I have even spoken to the head coach, Russell Domingo. Both told me to take proper rest so that I can come back properly. Im now working with the bat and the ball at the nets, he added.
The all-rounder said if he could play his BCL games and impress the team management with his performance, he could then play the series against Zimbabwe on home turf. Miraj was well-known for his batting more than his bowling at the age-level cricket, especially in Under-19 cricket. But stepping into the national team, he became popular with his bowling, which overshadowed his batting.
When asked about batting higher up in the order, Miraj said he would try to bat higher up after consulting the matter with the team management in domestic cricket. I have talked with selectors about my batting. They pushed me up in the batting order in domestic cricket. Particularly, when I played BPL for Khulna Tigers, the team management helped me much. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim bhai, Sujon bhai (Khaled Mahmud), and Coach James Foster guided me and gave me confidence. Talha bhai and Nafees bhai told me that I would do well as a proper batsman if I tried. It gave me confidence. I played well in BPL, he added.
In BCL, I will get enough time to bat in whatever position I can get. There is no problem in Tests, or BCL, or NCL. Even if I get a chance to bat seven down, there would be enough time for batting. One-day and T20, however, are different because of the urgency to score more runs from fewer balls, he explained. But Tests, BCL, and NCL are the best for batting. A player gets enough batting opportunity. If I bat at six down, there would be enough time for me to bat. I have tried to bat higher up in the Premier League. Already, I have talked with my team about my batting position. I told them if I could play up in the order and make more runs, I would get my confidence back. Itll be better for me to perform, he concluded.
