Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday (June 12) appointed Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the new ODI captain, replacing Najmul Hossain Shanto. His tenure will be of “the next 12 months”. The surprising decision came less than a month ahead of a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, starting on July 2.

Shanto, who recently stepped down from T20I captaincy to concentrate on his batting, was all set to lead the team in ODI, though the board felt otherwise.

“The Board felt that Miraz’s consistent performances with the bat and ball, his ability to fight and inspire the team and his energetic presence on and off the field make him an ideal candidate to lead the ODI side during a transitional time,” Chairman of BCB’s Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedeen said.

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“We believe he has the temperament and maturity to take Bangladesh forward in this format. We take this opportunity to thank Shanto for the positivity and character he has demonstrated as captain. He remains very much a part of the leadership group, and we know how important his batting is to the team,” he further added.

With 1617 runs and 110 wickets in 105 ODIs, Mehidy Hasan Miraz is currently ranked No. 4 among all-rounders in the ICC ODI rankings, which is also the highest for any Bangladeshi player. He is also a part of the elite club, comprising Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, and Shakib Al Hasan, who have scored 1000 runs and claimed 100 wickets double in the ODI format as well. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has previously led the team in four ODIs in Najmul’s absence.

“It is a huge honour for me to be entrusted with this responsibility by the Board,” Miraz said in a statement released by the BCB. “Leading the country is a dream for any cricketer and I am grateful for the confidence the Board has shown in me. I have every faith in this team. We have the talent and the belief to play fearless cricket. I want us to perform with confidence, play without inhibition and continue giving our best for the country.”