And like opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, Miraz too praised team effort for their comprehensive 90-win last Saturday.
“I will give credit to the seniors players. Seniors players supported me very much on the field. Honestly, I felt nervous at the beginning. Because in a Test match, a player has plenty of time to bounce back from a bad spell or a player can plan about his game-play,” Miraz told the media on Sunday at Aliya Resorts in Dambulla.
“But in ODIs, there are less time available for a player to prepare himself. So I want to thank my senior players, particularly Shakib [al Hasan] bhai, Tamim bhai, Mushfiqur [Rahim] bhai, [Mahmudullah] Riyad bhai and Mashrafe [bin Mortaza] bhai, who supported me from the beginning.
“Our captain Mashrafe bhai inspired me and told me that if I can bowl in good areas then it will be difficult for the batsmen to play. I felt very relaxed and confident due to their support and I felt no pressure,” he said.
The off-spinner returned home following the two-match Test series but was surprisingly called up the ODI squad days later. With the Lankans boasting several left-handed batsmen in their line-up, the Tigers team management thought it best to include him in the starting XI for the first ODI.
It paid off in some style as Miraz bagged the important wickets of Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, conceding 43 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
“I really enjoyed the moment. When the BCB president (Nazmul Hasan) informed me about going to Sri Lanka, I felt really good. I decided after the call that if I get the chance in the best XI then I will try do my best. I think my debut went well but the most important matter is Bangladesh won the match. I felt very good overall,” he said.
The Tigers were in a relaxed mood on Sunday. Miraz informed that the players are happy after winning the first ODI but added that the series is not over yet.
“We felt good after winning the first ODI. But there is still two more games left. If we celebrate too much at the moment, then our development could be hampered. So, we will celebrate after winning the series,” he said.
Miraz had a blistering Test debut, taking 19 wickets in his first two matches against England at home last year. And despite his impressive debut in ODIs, Miraz thinks he has to keep on improving his game.
“International cricket is pretty tough. To survive here, I have to improve myself continuously. Because everyone is watching how I play, people will do research and analyse my video footage. So if I stick to the same plan then it will not work. I have to improve myself every day. Then I can survive in international cricket. So I need to work hard and do more for my country,” he said.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
