After years of waiting for his opportunity, Mehidy Hasan Miraz finally made his Caribbean Premier League debut in emphatic fashion, playing a key role in Guyana Amazon Warriors’ four-wicket victory over Saint Lucia Kings.
The Bangladesh all-rounder produced an outstanding spell with the ball at Providence, finishing with three wickets for just 13 runs from his four overs. His disciplined bowling helped Guyana restrict Saint Lucia to 119 before the hosts chased down the target with nine balls to spare.
Miraz’s CPL debut had been a long time coming. He was initially expected to make his first appearance in the tournament in 2017, when he was associated with Trinbago Knight Riders. However, he never got the opportunity to take the field for the franchise. Nearly a decade later, he finally stepped onto the CPL stage, this time representing Guyana Amazon Warriors.
The 28-year-old off-spinner immediately demonstrated why he remains a valuable option in T20 cricket. His four-over spell contained 13 dot balls, meaning more than half of the deliveries he bowled failed to yield a run. He dismissed John Campbell, Kemol Savory and Charith Asalanka, repeatedly putting pressure on Saint Lucia’s batting line-up.
Miraz was less successful with the bat. Coming in during Guyana’s chase, he faced four deliveries and scored one run before being dismissed. His contribution with the ball, however, proved far more significant to the outcome of the match.
Saint Lucia Kings struggled to build momentum after being sent in to bat. Guyana’s spin attack played a major role in keeping the scoring under control, with Miraz operating alongside experienced leg-spinner Imran Tahir.
Tahir was even more destructive. The Guyana captain claimed five wickets while conceding only 17 runs, delivering a commanding performance in front of the home crowd. His five-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match award.
Saint Lucia’s total of 119 left Guyana with a modest target, although the chase was not entirely straightforward. Guyana eventually reached the required total with nine deliveries remaining, securing a four-wicket victory.
Glenn Phillips and unbeaten batter Quinton Sampson both top-scored with 37 for Guyana. Their contributions helped the home side complete the chase after the bowlers had laid the foundation for victory.
Tahir was full of praise for Miraz during the post-match presentation. The South African former international acknowledged the quality of Mohammad Nabi, who had previously been an important part of the side, while highlighting how effectively Miraz filled the role.
Tahir said Miraz had delivered exactly the kind of performance the team had been looking for and described having him in the squad as a major positive. He also praised the Bangladesh international’s record at the highest level, calling him a world-class bowler who has consistently performed in international cricket.
The CPL is Miraz’s second overseas franchise league in which he has actually played. Earlier this year, he was part of the Galle Gladiators side that won the Lanka Premier League. He was also involved with Lahore Qalandars when they won the Pakistan Super League, although Miraz did not get an opportunity to play a match in that competition.
His first CPL appearance, therefore, carried significance beyond a single performance. After waiting since his expected debut in 2017, Miraz finally had the chance to test himself in one of the Caribbean’s premier T20 competitions. He responded with figures of 4-0-13-3, helping Guyana claim victory and earning strong praise from one of the most experienced spin bowlers in the tournament.
For a player whose international career has been built on his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, the opening performance in the CPL offered an encouraging start. While his batting contribution was minimal on this occasion, his bowling was decisive, economical and well suited to the demands of T20 cricket.
