Bangladesh Announces Vice-Captains Ahead of Ireland Matches

Post by : Mara Rahim

In a strategic move, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has revamped its leadership framework for all international formats. The appointments of Mehidy Hasan Miraz as vice-captain for Tests, Najmul Hossain Shanto for ODIs, and Saif Hassan for T20Is come as Bangladesh gears up for their matches against Ireland.

For the Test matches, Mehidy Hasan Miraz will assist Najmul Hossain Shanto, who will retain captaincy through the current World Test Championship cycle ending in 2025-27. This vice-captaincy acknowledges Mehidy's significant role as an emerging leader and vital spinner within the squad.

Shanto will switch roles for the One-Day Internationals, serving under Mehidy, who took the ODI captaincy reins in June for one year. This leadership dynamic aims to bolster the team's consistency and create a robust framework for improvement.

Meanwhile, Saif Hassan's promotion to vice-captain in T20Is follows an impressive year, where he scored 344 runs across 13 matches at a commendable average of 34.40 and a strike rate of 131.80, including three half-centuries. The T20I captaincy remains with Das, leading towards the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The BCB's reshuffle comes off the back of a decisive victory over Ireland, where Bangladesh won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, taking an early series lead. Key performances included centuries from Mahmudul Hasan Joy and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, with Hasan Murad excelling with a four-wicket haul.

Despite resistance from Ireland's second innings, with contributions from Andy McBrine and Andy Balbirnie, they were unable to match Bangladesh's formidable performance. Bangladesh's dominance in the first Test set the tone for this leadership transition.

Following the Test series, Bangladesh will take on Ireland in a three-match T20I series starting 27 November. The vice-captain appointments aim to bolster leadership as the teams compete across different formats, with experienced players guiding the squad towards maintaining momentum.

Through these appointments, the BCB is strategically enhancing leadership across formats, blending experience with emerging talent. With noteworthy recent successes, including the commanding win over Ireland, Bangladesh is poised for the upcoming T20I challenges.