Bangladesh ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz wants to use the next 12 months to ensure his side qualifies automatically for the 14th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The next edition of the 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027 and Bangladesh currently sit just outside the spots on the ICC ODI Team Rankings that provide automatic qualification for teams.
Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe are guaranteed entry into the 50-over showcase, with the top eight teams on the ICC Rankings then joining them in the next edition of the tournament.
Bangladesh currently sit in 10th place on the ODI Team Rankings and Mehidy is looking for positive results from his side in 2026 as they push for automatic qualification.
“If I summarise 2025, we didn’t actually play many ODI matches, it was on and off,” Mehidy said.
“In 2026, we have a lot of matches and back-to-back series.
“Our current ranking is very important because staying in the top eight is crucial ahead of the World Cup. So 2026 is a very, very important year for me.
“With more ODIs, along with Tests and T20Is, players will be able to set their mindset accordingly, especially in terms of how to play in one-day cricket.”
If Bangladesh are to thrive in the 50-over format in 2026 and move up to the automatic qualification positions for the next World Cup then Mehidy will need to play a big role in their resurgence.
The 28-year-old has been a mainstay in Bangladesh’s ODI setup for the majority of the last decade and was named ODI captain of the side during the middle of this year when Najmul Hossain Shanto finished his tenure in charge.
Mehidy has batted in a variety of different positions during his 114-game ODI career, but the hard-hitting right-hander is keen to cement a spot in the middle-order during the lead-up to the next World Cup.
“What I always say is that I’m a player who has played in every position for Bangladesh, from opening all the way down to No.9. I know every role and how to play in each position,” Mehidy said.
“I’ve felt that my most impactful innings came when I batted at No.8, batting with the bowlers. I’ve won many matches that way, against India, against Afghanistan.
“I’ve realised that if I score 40, 50 or 60 runs and that brings momentum for the team to win, that’s very important for me.
“If I bat at No.6, I can bat with specialist batters as well as with the bowlers. That gives me the maximum chance to win matches.
“I’ve scored runs batting at No.4 in many matches, but we didn’t win those games. At the end of the day, as captain, winning matches is the most important thing. Even if I score 60 or 70 at six, that will have an impact and be very helpful for the team. I’ll try to master this role even more.”
