Enjoying my role as an opener: Miraz

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz said that he is enjoying his new role as an opener and that he is looking forward to putting in more valuable performances in the coming days. 

"As I got an opportunity to open the innings, I am trying my best to play good cricket. I am enjoying this and everyone is supporting me, so that makes me feel really good," Miraz said in a video message to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday ahead of their match against Pakistan in the opener of the tri-nation T20I series in Christchurch tomorrow.  

Miraz also mentioned that seeing everyone having faith in him is also building his confidence. 
 
"Even in practice, everyone is supporting me and remaining confident about me. In fact, I am also confident [about this new role]. Now it is all about performing out there on the field," Miraz added. 
  
With injury concerns to regular openers further deepening the opening issues for Bangladesh, the Tigers had opted for a makeshift opening combination of Sabbir Rahman and Miraz since the Asia Cup in September. 

Unlike Sabbir, Miraz was able to impress in his new role. He scored a 26-ball 38 in the Asia Cup group stage game against Sri Lanka and then followed it up wth scores of 12 and 46 in the two-match T20I series against the UAE last month. 
 
The upcoming tri-nation T20I series is being played as a prelude to the T20 World Cup later this month and Miraz emphasised playing good cricket in the tournament to help build confidence ahead of the marquee T20 event. 

"The result is not in our hands. What we can do is follow the process and play good cricket individually," Miraz added.