The playoff stage of PSL 10 is heating up, and just when it looked like Lahore Qalandars were running out of cards, they pulled one from Dhaka.
Enter Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the Bangladeshi all-rounder known for his clever off-spin and gritty batting, who’s just landed in Lahore to join the Qalandars ahead of their high-stakes Eliminator clash against arch-rivals Karachi Kings.
Miraz isn’t here by chance — he’s replacing Zimbabwean star Sikandar Raza, who’s off to represent his national side in a four-day Test against England. While Raza’s absence is a blow, Lahore may have found a like-for-like replacement in Miraz, especially in the spin department.
Announcing his arrival, the Qalandars’ official social media gave it a dramatic touch:
“Spin wizard in town! Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz arrives in Lahore to join Lahore Qalandars for the remainder of the PSL. Qalandars fans, let’s welcome our Qalandar brother!”
Interestingly, this isn’t Miraz’s first brush with franchise cricket, but it’s easily the biggest. Speaking about the opportunity, he kept it real:
“It is technically the second time I have got a call-up to a franchise league… PSL is one of the top tournaments going around. I have done well in the BPL, so I am confident that I can give my best.”
It’s a golden opportunity not just to help Qalandars, but to push his own case for a T20I recall. He’s currently not part of Bangladesh’s T20 series against the UAE or the upcoming five-match T20I series in Pakistan.
“Definitely, I want to get back into the Bangladesh [T20I] team, and this is one of the ways I can improve myself in the format.”
Miraz won’t feel entirely out of place in the Qalandars’ camp. He’ll be sharing the dressing room with Shakib Al Hasan, the senior statesman of Bangladesh cricket, who recently joined Lahore too.
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