United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said Thursday that the sudden elevation of his former teammate Tamim Iqbal to the presidency of the national cricket board provides a distinct advantage for the squad ahead of their series against New Zealand. Tamim took charge as the head of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ad-hoc committee on April 7 following a period of intense administrative upheaval. The appointment created an unusual dynamic for the current roster, as Tamim captained the national side as recently as 2023 and played alongside Miraz for Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier League just last year. Speaking at a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Miraz framed the transition from peer to boss as a structural benefit for the players. "Since we played cricket together, he knows us very well," Miraz said. "Because he left playing only recently, he knows what our demands are and what we prefer. This is a positive side for the players." The swift transfer of power at the BCB occurred squarely during the national team's training camp, raising external concerns about potential psychological distractions. However, Miraz insisted the squad successfully insulated itself from the administrative noise. "As professional cricketers, what happens outside does not affect our minds," Miraz said. "Our job is to perform. The way we practiced over the last three weeks was very good. We never thought about what happened outside." Tamim has already leveraged his new executive authority to enact structural changes, recently announcing significant salary and match-fee increases for domestic cricketers. Miraz confirmed the new president also held informal discussions with the national squad to offer encouragement and underscore the need to maintain their recent on-field momentum. Bangladesh will face New Zealand in the first of three ODIs on Friday at 11 a.m. local time in Mirpur. The teams will play a second match at the same venue before traveling to Chattogram for the series finale, which will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series.