After shepherding Bangladesh to a thrilling victory against India from a seemingly lost position, Mehidy Hasan Miraz revealed he had only one thing on his mind, to win the game for his team, even as last man Mustafizur Rahman joined him in the middle with 50 runs still required to win. Bangladesh produced a lacklustre batting display while in pursuit of 187 runs. Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed off the first ball, prodding at a delivery outside the off stump to first slip. The hosts adopted an ultra-slow approach against India's quality bowling attack, and it all seemed to have gone horribly wrong when the side lost five wickets in a span of 27 balls scoring just eight runs. Read: Mehidy, Fizz carry Bangladesh to nailbiting win over India Ultimately Bangladesh managed to clinch the win thanks to Mehidy’s extraordinary effort with the bat, and his maturity in guiding Mustafizur through the unbroken, matchwinning last-wicket partnership. “It may sound crazy, but I'm telling the truth when I say that I had the belief we could do it,” Mehidy declared in the post-match press conference. “I was addressing my partners and told them we didn't have to lose hope even after losing quick wickets.” After Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed for 18 off 45 balls, Mehidy Hasan came to bat at number eight and had an immense responsibility to steer the Tigers back on track. Unfortunately, Afif Hossain failed to accompany him in the pursuit. After Afif, Ebadot Hossain and Hasan Mahmud failed to provide adequate support to Mehidy in the middle. However, Mustafizur Rahman proved to be a sturdy ally, standing out strongly for Bangladesh. Read: Tamim, Taskin ruled out of India ODIs “When Mustafizur arrived in the middle, he told me he wouldn't get dismissed and that he would take any ball that came his way and take it on his body,” Mehidy said, commending his partner's courage. “It really inspired me.” Bangladesh have endured a number of crushing defeats to India in recent years, with heartbreaks including failing to score two runs off three balls in the 2016 T20 World Cup, unsuccessfully defending 12 runs off the last over of the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final, and losing in the last T20 World Cup by just five runs earlier this year. However, Bangladesh were finally able to turn the tides in their favour on this occasion. Mehdiy was determined to end their streak of close defeats against India. “This is a start,” he declared. “We have been too close for too long. We need to play differently from now on.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has called up off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed to the T20I squad of Bangladesh for the three-match series against the West Indies.  The T20I series will kick off on July 2 in Dominica.  Mehidy has not played a T20I match since December 2018, but he has been a regular part in Tests and ODIs for Bangladesh. Taskin, meanwhile, has made a full recovery from an injury sustained in South Africa in April this year and makes his return to international cricket. The Bangladesh T20I squad, originally named for the series, has been hit hard by injuries with pacer Shohidul Islam pulling out prior to the tour. Batter Yasir Ali was forced to return home from Antigua with a back injury while allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin was withdrawn as he is still short of optimal fitness for international cricket.  Ahead of the T20I series, Bangladesh played a two-match Test series against the hosts that the Tigers lost 0-2 without offering a real challenge.  The first and second T20I of the series will take place at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica on July 2 and 3 respectively while the third and final T20I will be played on July 7 at Providence Stadium, Guyana.  Also read: Shakib to continue playing in SA despite family issues Bangladesh T20 Squad: Mahmudullah Riyad, Munim Shahriar, Liton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed and Taskin Ahmed  

Right-arm spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged four wickets for Bangladesh in the ongoing Antigua Test against the West Indies on Friday.  The West Indies ended up their first innings on 265 for all wickets ensuring a 162-run first-innings lead.  Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies captain, scored 94 while Nkrumah Bonner and Jermaine Blackwood came up with a fifty as well.  The hosts lost their last five wickets in just 41 runs, and four of them are taken by Mehidy who ended up taking four wickets conceding 59 runs in 22.5 overs. Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain bagged two wickets each.  Had Bangladesh not dropped at least four catches, the West Indies would have been wrapped up earlier.  Being behind by 162 runs, Bangladesh started their second innings and at the end of day two, they were batting at 50 for two. Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten for 18 and 8 respectively.  READ: England hits ODI world-record 498-4 against the Netherlands Bangladesh made a cautious start as the openers batted for 9.4 overs before Tamim Iqbal (22) fell victim to Alzarri Joseph who was the first changed bowler for the hosts.  Mehidy got to bat at number three— a surprising move from Bangladesh. But the right-handed batter, who has a ton against West Indies at home, failed to impress this time. He made 2 of 6 balls.  Bangladesh lost both the wickets to Alzarri Joseph.  Earlier, Bangladesh were bundled out for only 103 in the first innings. They suffered six ducks in that innings— which was the second consecutive instance when they suffered six ducks in a Test. The previous one was at home against Sri Lanka.  Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, was the only batter to have scored a fifty for the Tigers. Tamim scored 29, and Liton Das was the only other batter to reach a double-digit total with 12.  Jayden Seales and Joseph bagged three wickets each in the first innings.

A finger injury ruled Mehidy Hasan Miraz out of the first Test against Sri Lanka that will begin on May 15 in Chattogram.  To replace Mehidy, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) added right-arm spinner Nayeem Hasan to the 15-man squad. “Miraz dislocated his right little finger while trying to take a catch in a match on 24 April. An X-ray has revealed a small avulsion fracture,” Dr Debashis Chowdhur, the chief physician of BCB, said in a statement. “A splint has been used to support and protect the injured area. Initial assessments suggest that the recovery could take at least three weeks which effectively rules him out of the first Test against Sri Lanka,” he added. Mehidy sustained the blow on his right small finger during a Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match. READ: Anamul's record-breaking season keeps getting better The Sri Lanka cricket team will arrive in Bangladesh on May 8 for a two-match series. This series is a part of the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship. While the first Test will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on May 15, the second Test commences at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on May 23. Bangladesh squad (for 1st Test): Mominul Haque(Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Yasir Ali, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Shoriful Islam (subject to fitness)

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the right-arm off-spinner and all-rounder, has become the fastest Bangladeshi bowler to take 100 Test wickets.

The Tigers are struggling in Dhaka Test against the West Indies after conceding more than 400 runs in the first innings and losing four wickets for 105 runs.