In Galle, opener Anamul Haque Bijoy was included in the playing XI in place of Miraz. He had been the player of the series in the last series as well — contributing with the bat in one Test and with the ball in the other, helping Bangladesh draw the series. Mehidy Hasan Miraz has long been Bangladesh’s most reliable name in Test cricket. And yet, Bangladesh missed out on him on a spin-friendly pitch like Galle.
However, he has now brought good news for the team. Test vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz is set to return to the Bangladesh squad for the second and final Test against Sri Lanka. He missed the first Test in Galle due to illness. But on Thursday (20 June), he was seen on the field before the start of the day’s play, raising curiosity among the visiting media personnel. Upon being asked, Miraz confirmed the truth — he is now fully fit and ready to play.
He has been training with the team since before Day 3 of the Test. His return is a major source of relief for Bangladesh. In his absence, opener Anamul Haque Bijoy got a chance in the playing XI, but he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. He failed to make any impact with either bat or ball. As a result, it is almost certain that Bijoy will be dropped from the team upon Miraz’s return.
The pitch at Colombo’s SSC Stadium is generally spin-friendly, so Miraz’s comeback is expected to bring new balance to the team’s bowling attack. He can also contribute significantly with the bat in the lower order. The second Test is set to begin on June 25, and Bangladesh is determined to settle for nothing less than a win.
