'We Started...' - Najmu Shanto And Mehidy Hasan Miraz Recall Their Friendship Tale
Shanto and Miraz highlight their friendship ahead of IND Tests (x.com)
Bangladesh cricket captain Najmul Hossain Shanto recently highlighted his decade-old friendship with national teammate Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The two cricketers have known each other since their Under-15 playing days, and they also made their respective international debuts for Bangladesh within three months of each other.
At the Tigers presents Home of Cricket program organized by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Shanto said that he sees Miraz as his captain even though the top-order batter himself is Bangladesh’s all-format skipper at the moment.
Shanto and Miraz reveal their dynamics at BCB function
A few days prior to the launch of the Test series against India, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised his decade-long teammate and national all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Shanto claimed that Miraz used to be his skipper during their Under-15 playing days, and he still sees the all-rounder as his captain today.
The left-handed top-order batter also added that Miraz somehow always convinces him to take reviews on close calls. While speaking at BCB's The Tigers presents Home of Cricket program, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said:
“We started together in 2009 from U-15. I think I know everything about him. He was the captain from U-15, and even today, I believe he is my captain. He knows that too. It never mattered who was the captain. Miraz is so convinced; he convinces me to take the review. You'll notice I often take it at the last second.”
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, in response, jokingly claimed that Najmul Hossain Shanto trusts him with close DRS calls, and he recalled how he justified the faith by taking a timely review against Sri Lanka earlier this year. He added:
“Shanto still trusts me. But I’ve been right too! I forced a review against Sri Lanka that got Chandimal out. No one talks about that!”
Both Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are slated to reprise their playing roles for Bangladesh in their upcoming Test series against India. The first of the two Test matches will be played at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium between September 19 and September 23.