'Spin-bowling allrounder is 'most improved' cricketer in last 5-6 years' CHENNAI: Things suddenly look bright in Bangladesh cricket . The recent Test series win in Pakistan was probably their highest point and the success has a lot to do with the two spinning allrounders in the team - Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz . The duo lends a lot of depth to the team and that has allowed Bangladesh to play three pace bowlers, something that they couldn't do earlier.
While left-hander Shakib is probably the best Bangladesh player ever with 4543 runs and 247 wickets in 69 Tests, offie Miraz's batting has come up in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. In their second Test win against Pakistan, his five-wicket haul and 78 in the first innings played a significant role. Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha is particularly impressed with the way the 26-year-old has shaped up in recent times.
"Miraz is probably the most-improved Bangladesh cricketer in the last five-six years. He is ready to take over whenever Shakib moves out. He has developed his batting and obviously his bowling has been his strength.
Add to that he is a gun fielder," Hathurusingha said about the off-spinner, who has been toiling hard at the nets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for the last couple of days. Shakib, though, hasn't trained with the team yet and reached Chennai only on late Tuesday evening. He was playing county cricket for Surrey and the Bangladesh management believes he has enough game-t.