Bangladesh sweating over fitness of Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Bangladesh's preparation for the first Test against Sri Lanka faces uncertainty as all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz battles illness. The match is scheduled to begin on June 17 in Galle.

Miraz was missing from the team's training session on the eve of the Test series opener. © Getty

Miraz's absence from Monday's training session has fueled concerns after he already missed a previous session due to fever.

According to sources, medical reports indicate that Miraz is free of any viral infection, but he is reportedly suffering from extreme weakness.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons had hoped Miraz would participate in the final training session before the Test.

Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged the potential impact of Miraz's unavailability on the team's composition. Speaking to reporters in Galle, Shanto stated, "Miraz's condition is better than before, but he is still under observation."

Shanto emphasized the significance of Miraz's role, saying, "A lot of things depend on him as far as tomorrow's combination is concerned because to be honest he is still not well. His health is improving but a lot of things depend on his availability, and if he is alright, we can play with a good combination."

The captain also highlighted the importance of a strong start to the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. He noted that the team can draw motivation from their previous successes in Sri Lanka. While Bangladesh had only one victory in the 2021-23 WTC cycle, they improved significantly in the 2023-25 edition with four wins, all of which were achieved overseas.

"It is very important to start the WTC on a positive note," Shanto said. "We had good preparation back home. I hope we can start the competition very well. We have good memories in Sri Lanka, which will be helpful, but every series is a new beginning. The top order has to provide the team with a good start. We have a good squad here, so it will be a great opportunity to do something special here."

Addressing the challenges posed by the Sri Lankan conditions, Shanto added, "There will be challenges for the batters as spinners take a lot of wickets in this venue. But we also have to consider that there are a lot of runs here in the first 2-3 days. We have to bat well. We are enjoying each other's company despite all the challenges."

Shanto recalled his positive experiences in Kandy and expressed his desire to capitalize on the opportunity in Galle. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing spin but emphasized the run-scoring potential in the initial stages of a Test match in Galle.

Reflecting on the squad selection, Shanto stated, "I am happy with the Test squad. I think it is also quite positive that we all could agree on this combination. It is a balanced side with enough options for batting and bowling. We can pick the XI depending on the opposition and conditions. We also have to execute our plans by playing good cricket."

In addition to Miraz's illness, Bangladesh faced a minor scare when Shanto himself sustained a finger injury during slip-catching practice. However, he recovered quickly and continued the session, participating in batting drills.