News Flash
DHAKA, Dec 15, 2025 (BSS)— Mehidy Hasan Miraz has set his sights on climbing the ICC ODI rankings next year, with the 2027 World Cup firmly in mind.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play as many as 20 ODI matches in 2026, providing ample opportunity to improve their standing.
Bangladesh’s reputation as an ODI force suffered a major setback this year, as they managed only three wins from nine matches.
The slump pushed them down to 10th in the ICC ODI rankings, raising concerns over their chances of direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Africa.
Acknowledging the team’s struggles, Miraz remains optimistic about a turnaround next year.
“We didn’t play well in the ODI format this year. If I summarize the year, we were inconsistent, and it was difficult to find our rhythm,” Miraz said while promoting the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh’s (CWAB) All-Stars match to mark Victory Day on December 16.
“But next year we have a lot of matches and back-to-back series in this format. That will give us the chance to get into the groove and improve our rankings,” he said.
Emphasizing the importance of ranking improvement ahead of the World Cup, Miraz said the immediate goal is to stay within the top eight.
“We need to improve our game because we know how important it is to stay in the top eight. Remaining there is crucial ahead of the World Cup, so 2026 is a very, very important year for us,” he said.
“I think the players will be able to set their mindset accordingly, because they know how many matches we’ll be playing next year.”
