'Will do what is needed'
Even before Mehedi Hasan Miraz made his debut for Bangladesh there were high expectations of the youngster who was rated in many quarters as the next Shakib Al Hasan for his all-round abilities.
Mehedi led the Bangladesh Under-19 team to the semifinals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2016 in Bangladesh, an edition that they ended in third position -- their best result in the event till date.
It was not just about his leadership quality but also his match-winning contributions with both bat and ball as he scored 242 runs in six games with four fifties at an average of 60.50 and also bagged 12 wickets to become the player of the tournament.
Unlike his bowling abilities, which have impressed since his international debut later in 2016 when Mehedi broke into the record books by picking 19 wickets in his first two Test matches against England, the cricketer was unable to lift his batting credentials at the highest level.
So far Mehedi has managed to strike one fifty each in 14 Tests and 11 ODIs, which does not reflect the right hander's batting abilities. However, the 20-year-old has not gotten enough opportunities to bat up the order and had to mostly bat at number eight when the situation required quick runs in the latter stages of the innings.
Mehedi however said that he is working on his batting and looking to contribute to the side as per the demands of the situation.
"I think batting is very important and most of the times I went out to bat we needed 10-15 runs to win and even 30 runs to win. At that situation even if you score 15-20, it is crucial. But I will definitely try to improve my batting and work accordingly to cope with the situation," Mehedi told the reporters after the training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, ahead of the team's Asia Cup campaign in the UAE.
The cricketer from Khulna also said that he is willing to contribute with the new ball as well, to continue a role in which the off-spinner was economical and put in a brilliant string of performances in the three-match ODI series in the West Indies.
"I am willing to do anything for the sake of my team and that is my only aim for the upcoming Asia Cup. If the team requires I will work on how to bowl in the Powerplay and restrict the batsmen from scoring runs. I am not willing to take any added pressure and want to perform according to the demands of my team," he added.
Mehedi, who was also part of the Bangladesh team in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, which took place in the UAE, said that his experience will help him to adapt with the conditions during the Asia Cup.