Miraz Explains Soumya’s Omission from Pakistan ODIs

Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz has clarified why Soumya Sarkar was left out of all three One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Pakistan, despite his previous strong performances. The decision surprised many, as Soumya had recently been the standout performer in the final ODI of the last series against the West Indies in October, winning the player-of-the-match award. Yet, he did not feature in any fixture against Pakistan.

Speaking after Bangladesh’s 2–1 series victory, Miraz explained: “We wanted to give a player extended opportunities. There is no doubt that Soumya performed well in the previous series, but he may have been slightly out of rhythm over the last few weeks.”

Struggles in Recent Matches

Soumya’s dip in form was evident during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) One Day edition, where he failed to reach double figures in any of the three matches. Even in a preparatory match against the BPL All-Stars before the Pakistan series, he managed just 11 runs from 22 balls. To maintain stability, Bangladesh chose to open with Tanziḍ Hasan and Saif Hassan throughout the series.

Miraz elaborated on the decision to keep Saif Hassan: “If we had included both Saif and Soumya, Saif’s confidence might have suffered, and if Soumya failed, it could have been mentally challenging for him. We aim to give players continuity so they can build rhythm and confidence.”

Strategic Approach

The captain highlighted that Bangladesh is focused on giving batsmen extended runs in the team to establish consistency. He cited Tanziḍ Hasan’s example: previously left out in a series, he later became the top performer once given consistent opportunities. “Our philosophy is simple: if a player gets a chance, he should get enough matches to prove himself. If he underperforms, he will understand someone else may take his place,” Miraz said.

With a crucial ODI calendar ahead—including 19 matches this year—and the challenge of breaking into the top eight to bypass World Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh is prioritising stability at the top order. Miraz added, “Every series and every match matters. Our goal is to win series and accumulate ranking points to ensure direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup.”

Following the Pakistan series victory, Bangladesh is set to move up from tenth to ninth in the ODI rankings, reinforcing the effectiveness of their selection strategy and long-term planning.