Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz has offered a detailed explanation for the surprising omission of Soumya Sarkar from all matches of the recent three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan. The decision drew attention because Soumya had previously been in strong form, winning the player-of-the-match award in the final game of the last ODI series against the West Indies in October last year.
Despite his prior performances, Soumya was not selected for any of the ODIs against Pakistan. After Bangladesh secured victory in the third ODI, Miraz clarified the rationale, saying, “We wanted a player to get extended opportunities. There is no doubt that Soumya played very well in the last series, but he may have been slightly out of form recently.”
Recent Form Concerns
Soumya’s dip in form is evident from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) One Day edition, where he failed to reach a double-digit score in any of the three matches. Even in a preparatory match against the BPL All-Stars ahead of the Pakistan series, he managed only 11 runs off 22 balls. To maintain stability at the top of the order, Bangladesh opted for a Tanziḍ Hasan–Saif Hassan opening partnership throughout the series.
| Player | Runs in BPL ODIs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soumya Sarkar | <10 in all 3 | Out of form; missed Pakistan series |
| Tanziḍ Hasan | Various | Consistent opener; series MVP |
| Saif Hassan | 4, 12 | Retained for confidence-building |
Miraz further explained the decision regarding Saif Hassan: “If we had kept Saif and also played Soumya, two things could have happened. Saif’s confidence might have dropped, and if Soumya failed, it would have been difficult for him mentally. We want our batsmen to receive longer runs in the side and understand the value of the opportunity.”
Strategy for Consistency
Miraz emphasised that the team’s philosophy is to provide extended opportunities to players to establish consistency. He cited examples from the previous series, where Tanziḍ did not feature in a single match initially but later became the series’ standout performer. “When a batsman gets a chance, he should get ample opportunity. If he underperforms, he will recognise that someone else might take his place,” Miraz noted.
With Bangladesh facing a crucial year in ODIs, including 19 more matches ahead and the challenge of entering the top eight in the rankings to bypass World Cup qualifiers, stability at the top order is a priority. Miraz concluded, “Every match and series is vital. Our aim is to win series and accumulate points to ensure direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup.”
Following the 2–1 series victory over Pakistan, Bangladesh is set to rise from tenth to ninth in the ODI rankings, reinforcing the success of the strategic selections.