Bangladesh will look to start a new chapter in One Day International cricket after a three-month hiatus when the Tigers take on a revamped Pakistan side in the first match of a three-ODI series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.
The hosts had been away from international cricket since the controversy surrounding the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which Bangladesh did not participate in due to a political standoff. In the meantime, the Bangladesh Cricket Board organised two domestic tournaments to keep the players match-fit and maintain morale within the squad.
Missing a World Cup was frustrating for the players, but with that episode now behind them, the focus has shifted to the future. Bangladesh’s attention is firmly set on the next ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027, which will be played in the ODI format — a format where the Tigers have historically performed better compared to Tests and T20Is.
With several ODI assignments scheduled both at home and away in the coming months, Bangladesh see the upcoming series against Pakistan as the starting point of their preparation for the global tournament.
“Obviously we have a target. The ODI World Cup is in 2027, so we need to start our preparation from now,” Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz said at the pre-match press conference in Mirpur.
“In the past we had a good pattern in ODI cricket because we had quite a few senior players in the side. But now we are a different team and we need to take responsibility as players and adapt to the situation to perform well.”
Miraz said the team management is trying to settle on the best possible combination while ensuring that players are given roles suited to their strengths.
“We are trying to play with our best possible combination. We will allow players to bat in their preferred positions so they can perform well. We have 22 ODIs this year. At the end of the day results are important. We have to focus on the next ODI World Cup and the ICC rankings are also an important factor for us,” he added.
Miraz began his tenure as ODI captain on a promising note, scoring three half-centuries in his first four matches. However, his form with both bat and ball has dipped in recent outings. In his last 11 ODI innings, the all-rounder has managed just one fifty, averaging 19.1 with a strike rate of 71.80.
His off-spin has also lacked its usual sharpness, with the captain picking up 11 wickets in his last 11 ODI appearances.
Despite the dip in form, Miraz insisted he is not overly concerned about his personal performances and believes regular cricket will help him rediscover rhythm.
“I am not worried about my form. We have played only 15 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup and those matches were played with long gaps in between,” he said.
“I know as a captain there are expectations for me to lead from the front. Since we will play a good number of ODIs in the coming months, I will try my best to perform and help lift the team whenever needed.”
Pakistan, meanwhile, arrive in Dhaka with a refreshed ODI squad following a below-par T20 World Cup campaign. Several established names, including Babar Azam, have been left out as the visitors also begin a rebuilding phase ahead of the next major ICC event.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged that Bangladesh will be formidable opponents, especially in home conditions.
“Bangladesh have a good side and they play very well in their home conditions. They recently beat West Indies,” Afridi said.
“But we are prepared as a team. We won our last two ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka and played very good cricket. We just want to continue that momentum.”
With both teams looking to reset and build towards the 2027 World Cup, the Mirpur series could offer an early glimpse of the direction each side intends to take in the new ODI cycle.
