‘Modern cricket has huge demand for all-rounders’

In 2017, a 19-year-old Mehedi Hasan Miraz was picked by Trinbago Knight Riders for the Caribbean Premier League – his first pick in a foreign franchise league. However, he didn't get a chance to play any game that year. Years passed by and Miraz is now an experienced member of Bangladesh side and it took him eight more years to get a call from another foreign league as Lahore Qalandars picked him for the remainder of the ongoing PSL. Before leaving for Pakistan yesterday, the cricketer spoke to The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan about his excitement regarding the PSL, reasons behind him not cementing a place in the national T20I side and other things. The excerpts are as follows:

The Daily Star (DS): How much excited are you about your PSL stint?

Mehedi Hasan Miraz (MHM): It's a great feeling. I was previously selected in a foreign franchise league in 2017 but didn't get chance to play. This is my second time in a foreign league. Of course, there is a huge excitement as PSL is a big tournament.

DS: How did the connection happen between you and Lahore Qalandars?

MHM: My manager, Polash Sokal, made things possible. He made the communication with the Lahore franchise and due to his effort, I'm able to go to the PSL.

DS: You must be happy to have your long-time national teammate Shakib Al Hasan in the same team.

MHM: It's really great. We have been playing for the national team for a long time. As he is vastly experienced, I think I can get to learn a lot of things from him.

DS: You were the player of the tournament in the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Still, you didn't get a place in the national team. You must have been disappointed.

MHM: I have been in and out of the national T20I side. It's the call of the selectors and the team management on what they plan about me. But I'm always ready to play T20Is. To be honest, becoming the player of the tournament in the BPL is giving me added confidence. If I can play one or two more franchise leagues, it will add to my confidence.

DS: After playing T20Is for more than eight years, you have only played 29 matches. How would you explain this?

MHM: Honestly speaking, I wasn't serious about the format before. I was more serious about Tests and ODIs. It's also difficult to play in all three formats and perform equally. But now, I want to perform in T20s as well in other formats.

Miraz will play in the PSL for the first time. Photo: Star File

DS: The national team has a jam-packed T20I schedule in the coming days. How important will the PSL be for you to make a comeback to the team?

MHM: I think performing in such big will gives good confidence. As the next T20 World Cup will be held in India and Sri Lanka, I think it will be a big opportunity for me. If I can perform well in PSL with both bat and ball like in the BPL, the selectors may think of giving me the opportunity.

DS: Do you think your recent evolution as an all-rounder has attracted the foreign franchises more than previous times?

MHM: I think yes. If you want to play in franchise leagues, you need to be good in both batting and bowling. Secondly, in T20s, there are lot of different moments and it's important to adapt to those quickly. The way the modern cricket is played, there is a huge demand for all-rounders.

DS: Do you think due to the high-expectations from the people for the bar you have set, you came under scanner very often for your T20 performances?

MHM: I have created high-expectations by performing regularly. If I couldn't perform, there wouldn't be similar expectations. I have delivered several match-winning performances both with the bat and ball. I have played a lot of match-winning innings for the national team. I think it has raised the bar of expectations of people and my expectations as well. If I can't perform, of course I feel bad. But when I can't win matches for my team, especially for the national team, it feels even worse.