DHAKA, April 16, 2026 (BSS) - Mehidy Hasan Miraz has reiterated his belief in giving players extended opportunities as Bangladesh prepare for their ODI series against New Zealand national cricket team, starting at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium tomorrow (Friday).

Bangladesh head into the series with added confidence after a 2-1 home series win over Pakistan, where the same playing XI featured in all three matches, a decision Miraz says was deliberate.

“A player should be given enough opportunities. Playing one or two matches is not enough for a batsman,” Miraz told the reporters here today. “If he plays three to four matches in the same position, he can properly assess his performance.”

The Bangladesh think tank appears set to continue that approach, with opener Saif Hassan likely to retain his place despite modest returns earlier in the Pakistan series. 

After scores of 3 and 12 in the first two matches, Saif responded with 36 in the final game, sharing a century opening stand with Tanzid Hasan Tamim. Saif also struck a hundred in an internal warm-up match ahead of the New Zealand series.

Head coach Phil Simmons and the team management has indicated that Saif will remain part of the XI.
“As a captain, I want every batter to get enough chances in their position,” Miraz said. “My plan is to ensure equal opportunities so that players can understand their roles and improve.”

While backing consistency in selection policy, Miraz acknowledged the challenge of balancing stability with squad rotation, especially with the ICC World Cup approaching in about 18 months.

“We have many matches before the World Cup, not just one series. Every cricketer will get an opportunity during this period,” he added.

Meanwhile, Soumya Sarkar remains on the sidelines despite solid performances in his last international outing against the West Indies, where he scored 45 and 91. He was not included in the XI during the Pakistan series.

Miraz also emphasized the importance of form and partnerships at the top of the order.

“In the last series, we had a 100-run opening stand, which helped the team a lot. Early wickets create pressure, so even small contributions like 10 or 20 runs can be crucial in building an innings,” he noted.