Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was rushed to hospital after taking a blow to the head during the second ODI against Australia in Dhaka on Thursday. The incident happened in the 34th over of Bangladesh’s chase, yet Mehidy remarkably continued batting and hit the winning six to seal his side’s maiden ODI series victory over Australia.
The blow came from a Riley Meredith bouncer that struck Mehidy on the side of his helmet. He immediately grabbed the point of impact and dropped to his knees on the pitch.
Bangladesh team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan came out to carry out a concussion assessment on the field. During the assessment, Mehidy appeared to vomit, prompting the Australian team doctor to join the group as well. A stretcher was brought onto the field as a precaution. Within minutes, Mehidy was back on his feet and the stretcher was sent back.
Physio Confirms Concussion, Player Kept Under Observation
After the match, team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed the diagnosis. Mehidy had suffered a concussion during the game. He was assessed in the middle before being allowed to continue, but was later sent to hospital for further checks and general observation. According to the physio, Mehidy would remain in hospital for 24 hours. ESPNcricinfo later reported that he was out of danger but would stay admitted through Friday.
Najmul Hossain Shanto represented Bangladesh at the post-match presentation in Mehidy’s absence, reflecting the seriousness of the situation despite the on-field outcome being a positive one for the home side.
Taskin Ahmed Praises Captain’s Courage Under Pressure
Senior fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was vocal in his admiration for Mehidy’s decision to stay at the crease. He called it incredible that Mehidy chose to bat on under those conditions. Taskin also explained the thinking behind that decision.
If Mehidy had walked off, a new batter would have had to face a tense pressure situation at a critical point in the chase, which would potentially put the result at risk. Despite the signs of discomfort, Mehidy’s choice to carry on was widely seen as a defining moment of the match.
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Bangladesh Complete Historic Series Win Against Australia
The result itself was a landmark moment for Bangladesh cricket. Winning an ODI series against Australia is something the team had never done before. The victory in Mirpur came with Mehidy and Towhid Hridoy guiding the chase together. Mehidy’s six to seal the win made the moment even more dramatic given everything he had just been through on the field.
This incident has again brought the issue of concussion protocols in cricket to the fore and the kind of pressure which players sometimes have to endure to keep playing after taking a hard hit. Cricket’s governing bodies have faced ongoing scrutiny over how concussion substitutes and on-field testing are handled in the moment. Mehidy’s case will likely add fresh weight to those conversations in the days ahead.
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