Soumya on standby as Miraz promises fair chances for all

Soumya Sarkar may not be in Bangladesh’s preferred starting XI at the moment, but captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz insists the experienced left-hander remains firmly in the team’s long-term plans as competition heats up ahead of the One Day International series against New Zealand.

With head coach Phil Simmons signalling continuity for the opening pair of Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan, Soumya’s place has again come under scrutiny—despite his match-winning 91 against the West Indies last October.

Miraz, however, made it clear that selection will unfold across several upcoming series, not just the one beginning Friday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

"Every player will get opportunities. It’s not just one series—we have a lot of matches before the World Cup," Miraz said on Thursday. "As captain, I believe every player will get a chance from their position."

Bangladesh’s renewed emphasis on strong starts has influenced current choices. Tanzid enters the series in form after a standout February against Pakistan, where he struck 67 in the opening ODI chase and followed with a maiden century—107 in the final match—to seal the series.

Saif, in contrast, endured a mixed run with scores of four, 12 and 36 in that same series, but revived his case in the recent inter-squad match, blasting an unbeaten 138 off 133 balls.

Miraz highlighted how even modest contributions from openers can shape results.

"If you look at the last series, the opening partnership crossing 100 was a big advantage," he said. "Sometimes we only count big scores, but even 10, 20, or 25 runs can be very impactful."

That logic has temporarily pushed Soumya down the order, but Miraz stressed that performances—and not reputations—will determine opportunities moving forward.

"We want the batsmen to score more runs from the top and the middle order to finish well. I also want the pace bowlers to take five-wicket hauls," he said. "In the Pakistan series, Tanzid scored 100 and Nahid Rana took five wickets. That shows the bonding in the team—everyone is trying to perform. As captain, that’s a blessing."

Most significantly, Miraz offered reassurance for players in lean patches, a category Soumya currently fits into.

"There are players who have potential and have been successful but may not always be in form. Sometimes they have been dropped," he acknowledged. "But as captain, I’ll try to ensure they don’t feel left out. They should continue training with the team and have the facilities to improve, so they can return more confidently."

As Bangladesh look to build momentum—and ranking points—before the World Cup qualification cycle intensifies, Miraz’s message is clear: competition will be fierce, roles will shift, but no one is being shut out.