When Mehidy Hasan Miraz said on Thursday that he is taking captaincy tips from former national skippers Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal following Bangladesh’s ODI series win over the West Indies, it came as a surprise to many.

Along the way, it also raised a few eyebrows, given that his admission to take a leaf out of Mashrafe and Tamim’s book seemed to validate the notion that he still hasn’t learnt how to make his own decisions — a prerequisite for any captain in any format.

If this is the state of affairs, he is in a sorry position. 

Such revelations might earn him cheap publicity — a few photo cards, social media banners, or online headlines — but in the long run, they do nothing to strengthen his credentials as a captain, which remain under scrutiny despite clinching the series.

This was Bangladesh’s first ODI series win after four successive series losses, but that does little to mask the fact that Miraz managed only three wins from 13 games. 

When his captaincy is closely examined, several decisions turn out to be disappointing.

Former national skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has not led the ODI squad since losing the series to Afghanistan in 2024, as the BCB opted to give Miraz a chance in the following series against the West Indies, with Shanto unavailable due to injury.

Despite losing the series, BCB officials felt the need to back Miraz as ODI skipper. The hope was that he could work some magic, though it hardly paid dividends, as he lost successive series against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. He only sat on the winning side after clinching the series against the West Indies, though several decisions in the second and third ODIs surprised many observers.

Miraz’s decision to give only two overs to Saif Hassan in the second game — including handing him the last over to defend five runs — was a shock. Saif could easily have bowled a couple more overs, especially after he had conceded just seven runs in three overs in the opening game.

Daily Sun understands that a senior cricketer asked Miraz to give Saif a few overs in the third game after posting a huge total, to help him build confidence as a bowler. Miraz, however, paid little heed.

Many inside the cricket fraternity argue that Miraz is becoming insecure about Saif’s bowling. If Saif were to bowl regularly, the team management might opt for three pacers — Rishad Hossain alongside Saif and another part-timer as the fifth bowler.

Another flaw in his captaincy was the inability to assert himself when selecting batters for the Super Over and ensure that Rishad got a chance.

“No, the head coach definitely takes the decision first. It's everyone's assumption that the captain, the coach, and the person whose name came up, Salahuddin Sir, are making all the decisions (regarding not sending Rishad),” Miraz told reporters after Thursday’s game.

“It's not like that. When we make a decision, everyone is consulted together. Phil Simmons consults, talks to Salahuddin Sir, and talks to me, and sometimes we agree, and sometimes we disagree, and I say something, and Salahuddin Sir says something, and then he listens to all of it,” he said.

“That's how it is because the decision is made through discussion. It's not like I made a decision alone, and that's final, it's never like that,” he added.

Why Miraz did not insist that Rishad should bat in the Super Over is a big question. In cricket, the captain ultimately makes the call, which should be followed democratically, often with a two-thirds majority in discussion.

Many suggest that the rise of Rishad is affecting Miraz, as Rishad is increasingly seen as a potential like-for-like replacement. His performances — a 13-ball 26 and 14-ball 39 in two games — validate his growing impact.

Another questionable decision was not bowling the full quota of Nasum Ahmed, despite his three wickets for just 11 runs in six overs, including a maiden, in the third ODI. This defies cricketing logic.

Miraz’s own performance has also been mediocre. He scored 391 runs in 13 innings, averaging 32.58, with a concerning strike rate of 72.40. His impact as an off-spinner is similarly under scrutiny, taking 13 wickets at an average of 43.92. Without captaincy, whether he retains his place in the side could spark serious debate.

Leading a side and being a true leader are two different things. Miraz is yet to establish himself as a leader, despite taking lessons from Mashrafe and Tamim. He needs to see the broader picture rather than making comments to secure a headline.