Bangladesh Cricket
BPL 2022: The Favourites, Outsiders and Underdogs
The 2022 season of the Bangladesh Premier League will begin on January 21 (Friday). The final match of the eighth season of the BPL will be contested at the SBNCS in Mirpur on February 18 (Friday). The defending champion Rajshahi Royals and the 2017 champion Rangpur Riders will not compete this season, while the Barishal franchise has returned to the competition. This year's BPL will feature a total of six teams. Let's take a look at the BPL 2022 favorites, underdogs, and outsiders.
The Front Runners of BPL 2022
Based on their respective strengths, Cumilla Victorians and Fortune Barishal are the two front-runners in the upcoming T20 competition.
Cumilla Victorians
Cumilla are perhaps the best team in the competition, and their coach Mohammad Salauddin is one of the most successful in tournament history. Cumilla won the BPL 2016 under his guidance. Therefore, Salauddin will be expected to lead Cumilla to their third Championship. Cumilla can expect to capture the title in the eighth edition of the BPL final, thanks to the presence of Mustafizur, Liton, Imrul Kayes, and other notable T20 players from across the world.
Also read: NZ-BAN First Test draw can give Bangladesh the pleasure of victory
Top five players of Cumilla Victorians:
Faf du Plessis (batter), Moeen Ali (all-rounder), Sunil Narine (all-rounder), Mustafizur Rahman (Left-arm pacer), Liton Das (batter)
Fortune Barishal
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will lead the Fortune Barishal side in the forthcoming tournament. Barishal have featured some effective players in their lineup, all of whom have widespread T20 experience. The Universe Boss Chris Gayle and Danushka Gunathilaka are among them. Young Afghani off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be one of Barishal's main strike bowlers. Overall, the Barishal team has the right balance in their quest for the BPL 2022.
Top five players of Fortune Barishal:
Shakib Al Hasan (all-rounder), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Off-spinner), Chris Gayle (batter), Danushka Gunathilaka (all-rounder), Alzarri Joseph (Pacer)
Read South Africa Dominate as KL Rahul-led India Struggle Day 1 of 2nd Test
The Outsiders of BPL 2022
Dhaka and the Sylhet Sunrisers can be regarded as outsiders in the tournament.
Dhaka
Mahmudullah Riyad is the captain of Dhaka team. They also selected veteran Mashrafe Mortaza and Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal from the players’ draft. However, Dhaka's squad lacks quality backup players, which might limit their chance to perform well in the later stages of the competition. Dhaka's key players must remain fit throughout the campaign in order to advance to the knockout stage.
Top five players of Dhaka:
Mahmudullah Riyad (all-rounder), Mashrafe Mortaza (bowler), Tamim Iqbal (batter), Rubel Hossain (pacer), Mohammad Shahzad (batter)
Read BPL 2022: Five Promising Young Players to Watch
Sylhet Sunrisers
Sylhet Sunrisers will field some of Bangladesh's most well-known cricketers in the forthcoming BPL 2020 tournament. However, finding the right combination may be a huge challenge for the Sylhet side. Players like Taskin, Mithun Ali, and Ravi Bopara would be crucial for Sylhet in the later stages of the tournament. With their present lineup, Sylhet can only be regarded as an outsider to win the tournament.
Top five players of Sylhet Sunrisers:
Taskin Ahmed (pacer), Kesrick Williams (pacer), Ravi Bopara (all-rounder), Dinesh Chandimal (batter), Mosaddek Hossain (all-rounder)
Read ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh Team
The Underdogs of BPL 2022
The Khulna Tigers and Chattogram Challengers are the two underdogs of the forthcoming competition, based on the strength of their respective squads.
Khulna Tigers
Mr. dependable Mushfiqur Rahim will lead Khulna in this season's Bangladesh Premier League. Khulna don’t have a big squad and as a result, they do not have enough quality players to put up a serious fight against stronger opponents. The success of Khulna's BPL 8 campaign will be determined by how they manage their team throughout the main tournament. They must devise a winning combination for a successful season. However, Khulna are one of the underdogs in this year's competition.
Top five players of Khulna Tigers:
Mushfiqur Rahim (batter), Thisara Perera (all-rounder), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (batter), Soumya Sarkar (all-rounder, Farhad Reza (all-rounder)
Read ICC U19 World Cup 2022 Fixtures: Bangladesh to Face England in Group Phase
Chattogram Challengers
Chattogram Challengers will field some of Bangladesh's rising superstars in the Bangladesh Premier League 2022. That’s why everyone is interested in the Chattogram franchise. Will this youthful team be able to make it all the way to the final? From a realistic point of view, this Chattogram squad can’t be regarded as one of the favorites, given the team lacks experience. However, they will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch in the forthcoming BPL 2022.
Top five players of Chattogram Challengers:
Nasum Ahmed (left-arm spinner), Benny Howell (all-rounder), Afif Hossain (all-rounder), Shoriful Islam (pacer), Chadwick Walton (wicket-keeper, batter)
Read BPL 2022: SWOT Analysis of all Six Teams
Verdict
After a short assessment of the teams' strengths to determine the tournament's favorites, underdogs, and outsiders, it is evident that the Cumilla Victorians have the best team among the participants. Cumilla Victorians along with Shakib Al Hasan's Fortune Barishal will be the hot favorites this season. Both Dhaka and Sylhet have several national stars in their teams, but neither Chattogram nor Khulna have strong squads. Therefore, Dhaka and Sylhet Sunrisers have an outside chance of winning the BPL 2022. On the other hand, Chattogram and Khulna have some young players in their squads. Both sides will need to find a suitable combination in order to fight hard against the stronger opponents. Hopefully, the best team in the competition will take home the championship.
Read NZ vs BAN Test Series 2022: Five Bangladesh Players to keep an eye on
BPL 2022: Five Promising Young Players to Watch
The Bangladesh Premier League will begin on January 21 after a two-year break and the competition will enter its eighth season. The most recent Bangladesh Premier League took place in 2019. This year's edition of the franchise-based T20 cricket league will include six teams. According to the BCB, the huge event would take place at three cricket venues around the country. The upcoming championship will feature some fresh young talented cricketers. Take a look at the five young players to watch out for in the BPL 2022.
Young Players to Watch in BPL 2022
It's a challenging task to pick the top five players from a bunch of young, promising cricketers. Here are the five cricketers who can showcase their abilities at the upcoming tournament.
Akbar Ali (Chattogram Challengers)
T20 M: 29 | Runs: 337 | HS: 45* | Ave: 21.06 | SR: 126.69 | 50s: 0
Akbar Ali captained Bangladesh's U19 World Cup-winning team in 2020. Many cricket analysts predict that Bangladesh's future captain will be Akbar Ali. He is a wicket-keeper batter. This right-hander is a hard-hitting batter who can accelerate the run rate in the death overs. Akbar will play for Chattogram Challengers in the eighth season of the BPL. He will almost certainly be a regular starter for Chattogram. Therefore, Akbar Ali will have a fantastic opportunity to prove his capabilities. The selectors are also looking forward to seeing Akbar thrive in the BPL 2020.
Read: It’s tough to play all formats together: Shakib
Shamim Hossain (Chattogram Challengers)
T20 M: 40 | Runs: 560 | HS: 52* | Ave: 19.31 | SR: 136.91 | 50s: 1
Shamim Hossain was a member of the Bangladesh U19 World Cup-winning team. He is regarded as one of Bangladesh's most promising young cricketers. Shamim has been a part of the Bangladesh T20 setup since the Zimbabwe trip in 2021. This left-handed power batter will be keen to show his true potential for his Chattogram Challengers team in the upcoming BPL 2020. Shamim's performance in the competition will have a significant impact on Chattogram's team.
Read ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh Team
Parvez Hossain Emon (Cumilla Victorians)
T20 M: 24 | Runs: 563 | HS: 100* | Ave: 24.47 | SR: 123.73 | 50s: 2
The U19 World Cup-winning opener Parvez Hossain Emon holds the record for the fastest T20 century by a Bangladeshi player (42 balls). He set the record during a match in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup in 2020. Parvez will play for Cumilla in the BPL this season, and he will most certainly be one of their openers. Parvez was a member of Bangladesh's T20I team against Pakistan. However, he did not appear in any of the matches. The selectors will keep a close eye on him during the competition. Therefore, the upcoming competition will surely put the left-handed top-order batter under pressure, which he must embrace as a challenge.
Read BPL 2022: SWOT Analysis of all Six Teams
Towhid Hridoy (Fortune Barishal)
T20 M: 25 | Runs: 587 | HS: 66* | Ave: 30.89 | SR: 116 | 50s: 3
Towhid Hridoy is a young cricketer who came through the U19 system. In domestic T20 cricket, he already has a decent track record. Towhid will play for Barishal in the forthcoming competition. He and Najmul Hossain Shanto will most likely open the innings for Fortune Barishal. As one of Bangladesh cricket's emerging prospects, this will be an excellent opportunity for him to demonstrate his genuine potential to the selectors.
Read: Shakib Al Hasan's next stop: Bank director
Rejaur Rahman Raja (Chattogram Challengers)
T20 M: 16 | Wkts: 15 | BBI: 3/25 | Ave: 21.33 | Econ: 6.48 | SR: 19.7
22 years old right-arm medium pacer Rezaur Rahman Raja has been picked in the Bangladesh Test team for the two-match series against Pakistan. Despite being on the team, he did not appear in any of the matches. Raja will play for Chattogram Challengers in the upcoming BPL 2022. Rezaur Rahman Raja is one of the Challengers' talented cricketers. National selectors and fans will closely monitor his fast bowling during the competition. Raja will do all in his power to showcase his abilities to everyone at the event.
Read ICC U19 World Cup 2022 Fixtures: Bangladesh to Face England in Group Phase
Bottom Line
The main objective of the T20 format Bangladesh Premier League is to develop new, promising players. In other words, the Bangladesh Premier League is an excellent platform for young, talented cricketers to improve their skills. The next generation's rising stars are looking forward to displaying their abilities through this competition. This time will be no different. Aside from the players mentioned above, there are a number of talented cricketers who can regularly perform in the upcoming event. Overall, the young cricketers are likely to play a key role in the BPL 2022 this year.
Read NZ vs BAN Test Series 2022: Five Bangladesh Players to keep an eye on
Shanto, Joy hit fifties as Bangladesh reply strongly
Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mahmudul Hasan Joy hit a fifty each in the ongoing first Test against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.
At the end of day two, Bangladesh were batting at 175 for two with Joy and captain Mominul Haque remained unbeaten for 70 and eight respectively.
Joy, who got his Test captain in the second Test against Pakistan at home, scored only six in his debut. But coming into bat for the third time in Tests, he notched up his maiden fifty.
Along the way of scoring 70, Joy played 211 balls— the highest by any Bangladeshi openers in New Zealand.
Read Bangladesh Cricket in 2021: Performance Analysis by Series
Joy and Shadman Islam added 43 in the opening stand. Shadman fell for 22 off 55 balls, but Joy remained firm at the other end of the wicket. In the second wicket stand, Joy and number three Shanto added 104 runs on the board.
The pair of Joy and Shanto was going well until Neil Wagner bagged his second wicket and removed Shanto. It was an outswinger delivery from Wagner after a barrage of short balls. Shanto’s foot movement was disappointing. He only sent a catch to Will Young.
Joy and Mominul played the last nine overs of the day without any loss.
Joy got a life at 20, but later, he took the advantage and did not give any chance to the hosts’ bowlers.
Earlier, Bangladesh scalped the last five wickets of the hosts inside 70 runs on top of their overnight total of 258 for five. The hosts were ended up at 328 in their first innings of this Test after being sent to bat first losing the toss.
Read Traditional folk sports of rural Bangladesh: A look back
Devon Conway was the highest runs getter for the hosts with his well-composed 122 while Henry Nicholls scored 75 and opener Will Young put 52 on the board.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the bowlers on the second day morning. The right-arm spinner bagged three wickets in the first session of the day, while Mominul and Shoriful scalped one each.
Mehidy and Shorfiul ended up taking three wickets each. It was the best bowling for Shorfiul in Tests. He previously played one Test against Sri Lanka.
Restricting the hosts under 350 runs in the first innings, came as a good chance for Bangladesh to end this Test on high.
But as the first step, the Tigers now need to score 153 runs more to pass the first innings total of New Zealand.
ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh Team
The BCB declared a 15-man squad for the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2022 in early December. The Bangladesh U19 team flew to the UAE in the same month to take part in the 9th edition of the ACC U19 Asia Cup. It took place in the last week of December 2021. However, this competition provided good preparation for the World Cup despite Bangladesh’s loss to India in the semifinal. The SWOT analysis for the 2022 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is discussed in this article.
SWOT Study of Bangladesh Youth Squad for the ICC U19 World Cup 2022
The current squad includes three players of the 2020 U19 World Cup-winning team. With the present lineup, Bangladesh's youth team is very much capable of retaining the championship. Let's take a look at Bangladesh U19 World Cup squad: Rakibul Hasan (c), Prantik Nawrose Nabil, Mohammad Fahim, Mushfik Hasan, Iftikher Hossain, Ariful Islam, Mahfijul Islam, Tahjibul Islam, Abdullah Al Mamun, SM Meherob, Aich Mollah, Ripon Mondol, Naimur Rohman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Ashikur Zaman, Ariful Islam, Mahfijul, (Reserve Players: Ahosun Habib Leon, Jishan Alam)
Read: U-19 Asia Cup: Bangladesh lost to India in semifinal
Strength
The main strength for Bangladesh's U19 World Cup squad is having Youth World Cup champions Rakibul Hasan, Tanzim Sakib, and Prantik Nabil. These guys know what it takes to win the World Championship. Their presence in the squad will motivate other players.
In terms of squad strength, the Bangladesh Youth team boasts a diverse bowling lineup. There are some prospective medium pacers in the team, as well as a few right-arm off-spinners. These players have gained experience playing in a variety of conditions over the last year. As expected, slow left-arm orthodox spinner Naimur Rahman is Bangladesh's most successful youth bowler in 2021. In 11 matches, he took 18 wickets at a fantastic average of 19.22. Naimur was the only Bangladeshi bowler to take 5 wickets in an innings in 2021. Therefore, the bowling unit will have to play the most essential roles in the competition if the Bangladesh U19 team wants to retain the ICC World Youth Championship.
Read: Shakib nominated for ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year
Notable bowling stats (Youth ODI) by Bangladesh cricketers in 2021
Player
Match
Wkts
BBI
Ave
Econ
SR
4W
Naimur Rahman
11
18
5/17
19.22
3.43
33.5
1
Ripon Mondol
6
16
4/20
13.37
3.86
20.7
1
Musfik Hasan
5
11
3/37
16.90
3.74
27
0
Ashiqur Zaman
8
9
3/37
27.55
4.09
40.3
0
Ariful Islam
11
7
2/23
32
3.67
52.2
0
SM Meherob
12
6
1/14
38.66
3.59
64.5
0
Rakibul Hasan
2
3
3/41
13.66
4.10
20
0
Tanzim Hasan Sakib
2
1
1/51
51
5.66
54
0
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Conway hits ton to overshadow Bangladeshi pacers
Weakness
Bangladesh had some excellent top-order batters in the most recent edition of the ICC U19 World Cup. Those players assisted Bangladesh in winning many matches during the 2020 edition of the tournament. Prantik Nabil, who was a part of the 2020 Bangladesh U19 World Cup squad, will play at no. 3 in the upcoming event. Prantik's average in 2021 was under 20 and he didn't even get a half-century. On the other hand, openers Mahfijul and Tahjibul had a decent year. Mahfijul had a 25.83 average and two fifties in 2021. Therefore, Bangladesh's top order has some weaknesses that must be addressed before the major event.
Notable Youth ODI batting stats (Top Order) by Bangladesh cricketers in 2021
Player
Inn
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
50s
Mahfijul Islam
12
310
75
25.83
57.72
2
Tahjibul Islam
11
145
50*
14.50
64.44
1
Prantik Nawrose Nabil
8
158
45
19.75
66.10
0
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read ICC U19 World Cup 2022 Fixtures: Bangladesh to Face England in Group Phase
Notable Youth ODI batting stats (Middle Order) by Bangladesh cricketers in 2021
Player
Inn
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
50s
Aich Mollah
12
375
108
34.09
70.22
2
Ariful Islam
11
214
50
23.77
56.16
1
SM Meherob
11
173
52
15.72
66.28
1
Iftakher Hossain
8
167
36
20.87
67.61
0
Abdullah Al Mamun
5
90
37
22.50
68.70
0
Ashiqur Zaman
6
89
54*
89
76.06
1
Md Fahim
2
33
28*
33
89.18
0
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Mominul eager to erase past in New Zealand as Tigers go into first Test Saturday
Shakib nominated for ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year
Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been nominated for the International Cricket Council’s Men's ODI Player of the Year award.
Along with him, Pakistan captain Babar Azam, South African batter Janneman Malan, and Ireland batter Paul Stirling have also been named for the same.
Read: It’s tough to play all formats together: Shakib
Shakib is the only allrounder among the nominees. In the pandemic-hit year, Shakib batted in nine matches and scored 277 runs with two fifties. He also bagged 17 wickets. Shakib’s bowling performance is keeping him ahead of the other nominees.
2021 was the year when Bangladesh allrounder made a comeback after serving a ban imposed on him by the ICC due to failing to report corrupt approaches made to him by the bookies.
Shakib started a challenging year with the home series against the West Indies and emerged player of the series. Right before that series, he participated in the inaugural Bangabandhu T20 Cup at the domestic level but failed to impress. That was his first competitive cricket event after the ban ends.
Read: Shakib Al Hasan's next stop: Bank director
After the home series against West Indies, Shakib played against Sri Lanka as well but failed to continue on a good run. He returned to his true form against Zimbabwe when he amassed 145 runs in three ODIs and bagged eight wickets— which help him to earn the second player of the series award in the same calendar year.
While Shakib shone both with ball and bat, Babar, the Pakistan captain did well with the bat scoring 405 in six matches with two centuries, and Janneman also batted superbly scoring 509 in eight matches with two centuries, and Paul also did well with the bat amassing 705 runs in 14 ODIs he played in the year with three centuries and two fifties— which was also the highest run by any batters in the format in the calendar year of 2021.
ICC U19 World Cup 2022 Fixtures: Bangladesh to Face England in Group Phase
The 2022 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup will be held in the West Indies from January 14 to February 5. The World Cup will feature 16 nations and four cricket grounds in the Caribbean Islands will host all 48 matches. The top eleven teams from the previous edition, as well as the five regional tournament champions have qualified for the upcoming youth World Cup. Bangladesh U19 team will kick off their campaign against England. Let's have a look at the group stage schedule for the ICC U19 World Cup 2022.
Group A Fixtures of 2022 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup
This group includes the defending champions Bangladesh and one of the tournament favorites England. UAE and Canada are the other two teams in this group. Based on the strength of the teams, Bangladesh and England are likely to proceed to the super league stage quarter-finals. It will be fascinating to witness who comes out on top in this group. Some of the Bangladeshi players that were part of the U19 World Cup 2020 winning team will also take part in this tournament.
Read India Heading to Win the First Test against South Africa
Full Schedule Group A
Date
Fixture
Venue
January 15 (Saturday)
Canada vs UAE
Saint Kitts and Nevis
January 16 (Sunday)
Bangladesh vs England
Saint Kitts and Nevis
January 18 (Tuesday)
England vs Canada
Saint Kitts and Nevis
January 20 (Thursday)
England vs UAE
Saint Kitts and Nevis
January 20 (Thursday)
Bangladesh vs Canada
Saint Kitts and Nevis
January 22 (Saturday)
Bangladesh vs UAE
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Group B Fixtures of ICC U19 World Cup 2022
2020 U19 World Cup runner-up India and South Africa are two of the strongest teams in this group. The other two teams are Ireland and Uganda. India and South Africa are the favorites to reach quarter-finals from this group.
Read BPL 2022: SWOT Analysis of all Six Teams
Full Schedule Group B
Date
Fixture
Venue
January 15 (Saturday)
India vs South Africa
Guyana
January 15 (Saturday)
Ireland vs Uganda
Guyana
January 18 (Tuesday)
South Africa vs Uganda
Trinidad and Tobago
January 19 (Wednesday)
India vs Ireland
Trinidad and Tobago
January 21 (Friday)
South Africa vs Ireland
Trinidad and Tobago
January 22 (Saturday)
India vs Uganda
Trinidad and Tobago
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read NZ vs BAN Test Series 2022: Five Bangladesh Players to keep an eye on
Bangladesh’s aimless year in cricket
Dhaka, Dec 29 (UNB) — The year started on a hopeful note for Bangladesh as Shakib Al Hasan had returned to international cricket early this year after serving a ban imposed by the ICC for failing to report corrupt approaches by a known bookie. But by the time it ended, supporters of the Tigers were hoping they could forget 2021 as soon as possible.
Shakib was the most valuable player immediately upon his return, in the ODI series against the West Indies early this year. It was not the right indicator of what was in store for the remainder of the year. The downhill slide began in the Test series that followed the ODIs against the men from the Caribbean, who were severely depleted yet totally outplayed Bangladesh in both matches on the way to winning 2-0.
Bangladesh won 20 international matches across all three formats this year, out of 46 played. Although that makes it their second-best year in terms of matches won, this does not reflect the suffering that Bangladesh went through playing at home or abroad in 2021, and across all three formats really.
The poor show in Tests continued all through the year. At the end of the year, the Mominul Haque-led team suffered another 2-0 series defeat at home, this time against Pakistan.
NZ vs BAN Test Series 2022: Five Bangladesh Players to keep an eye on
Bangladesh will play New Zealand in their second Test series of the current ICC Test Championship's second cycle (2021-2023), starting January 1. Bangladesh were thrashed by Pakistan in the inaugural series of their Test Championship in December and is presently ranked eighth in the standings. Oppositely New Zealand are now in sixth place in the standings. Bangladesh must give it their all if they want to earn some points in the series. Let's have a look at the five Bangladesh players that can make a difference in the NZ vs BAN Test series 2022.
Key Bangladesh players in New Zealand vs Bangladesh Test series
Bangladesh selectors picked an 18-man squad for the two-match Test series. Here are five players that have a chance to make a significant impact during the contest.
Mominul Haque (Captain, Middle-order batter)
M: 47 | Runs: 3,363 | HS: 181 | Ave: 41.01 | 100s: 11
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque hasn't been in the best of form in recent international series. Mominul's batting average was 50 a few years ago, but it has dropped to 40 due to a poor run of form on the international stage. However, Mominul has the best Test average among Bangladesh players, and he must bat with a great deal of responsibility. Mominul's decision-making as a captain will also be important for Bangladesh.
Read Tour match: New Zealand X1 score 71 for 5 against Bangladesh on day-1
Mushfiqur Rahim (Middle-order batter)
M: 77 | Runs: 4,856 | HS: 219* | Ave: 37.06 | 100s: 7
Mushfiqur Rahim is the most seasoned batter in the squad. His presence in the middle order will bolster confidence in the Bangladesh batting lineup. Mushfiqur delivered one of his finest Test innings in New Zealand in 2017. So, Rahim and other Bangladeshi players may take a lot of inspiration from the innings. Mr. Reliable Mushfiqur's main priority will be to anchor the innings in the absence of experienced Tamim Iqbal. Bangladesh team management will be hoping that Rahim will find his best form in this series.
Liton Das (Wicket-keeper, batter)
M: 27 | Runs: 1,453 | HS: 114 | Ave: 32.28 | 100s: 1
Liton Das has struggled in the limited-version formats, but his recent Test performances have been outstanding. Liton made 594 runs in 12 innings, averaging 49.50 this year. Liton’s Test stats for 2021 is unquestionably a positive sign for the Bangladesh team. In the middle order, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das have the ability to change the scenario of a game. Therefore, Liton's batting in the lower middle order will be crucial for Bangladesh.
Read Australia Clinch Ashes with a Thumping win Over England in Third Test
Taijul Islam (Left-arm Spinner)
M: 35 | Wkts: 144 | BBI: 8/39 | Ave: 32.61 | 5W: 9
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has established himself as Bangladesh's main strike bowler in Test cricket. Taijul has taken the most Test wickets for Bangladesh in 2021. With a 30.50 average, he took 30 wickets in ten innings this year. Taijul has sharpened his skills as a genuine longer-version bowler. He bowls with superb control and has a lot of good variations. Despite the fact that New Zealand surfaces help faster bowlers, Taijul's spin may make a difference in the crucial stages.
Taskin Ahmed (Pacer)
M: 8 | Wkts: 20 | BBI: 4/82 | Ave: 53.75 | 5W: 0
Taskin Ahmed was a very ordinary bowler a few years ago. However, his transformation during the covid-19 epidemic is truly inspirational to all cricketers. He now has better ball control than he had before. Taskin Ahmed has learned how to take wickets in the longer version of the game. He aims to get wickets by being consistent in his bowling. Taskin will be more effective in New Zealand's conditions. Therefore, the Bangladesh campaign is hoping for a strong showing from him.
Read BPL 2022 squads at a glance after draft
Bottom Line
The Bangladesh Test cricket team will have to play as a unit to demonstrate their real potential during the NZ vs BAN Test series 2022. Head coach Russell Domingo, captain Mominul Haque, and the team management must devise an effective game plan for the contest. Though the main goal would be to bring the squad together in order to perform well on the field. The five players stated above will be crucial for Bangladesh in this longer-version series. They will have to carry most of the burden if Bangladesh want to gain their first points in the Test Championship.
Bangladesh’s Iconic Sports Achievements in 2021
Various sporting events around the world were postponed or canceled for the majority of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, many sports events were organized in accordance with health guidelines in 2021. The Tokyo Summer Olympic Games was the most significant of these. Bangladesh's performance at the Olympics was disappointing as usual. Bangladeshi athletes failed to win any medals in the Tokyo Olympics. Women performed better individually and in groups than males this year. The most noteworthy moments of Bangladesh sports in 2021 are discussed in this article.
2021 Year in Review: A Glimpse at the Notable Moments in Bangladesh Sports
Cricket and football are the most popular sports in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's men's teams had a disappointing year in these two sports. However, the Bangladesh women's cricket team and the Bangladesh Under-19 football team enjoyed significant success at the end of the year. Aside from that, Bangladeshi athletes have had great success in individual events. Let's take a look at some of Bangladesh's major sporting incidents in 2021.
Kabaddi
The Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation hosted the Bangabandhu Kabaddi Cup in the first quarter of the year. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kenya, Poland, and Bangladesh, the host country, competed in the tournament. The men's Kabaddi team from Bangladesh won all of their games in the group stage. Bangladesh won the tournament by defeating Kenya 34-28 in the final. It was one of Bangladesh's most notable sporting successes in 2021.
Read Bangladesh Cricket in 2021: Performance Analysis by Series
Cricket
Bangladesh cricket saw various ups and downs in 2021. The men's cricket team of Bangladesh had a disastrous T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. They also lost a handful of Test series at home. Two of Bangladesh's men's cricket team's notable successes were winning the T20I series against Australia and New Zealand at home. In contrast to the men's team, the Bangladesh Women's National Team had a successful year. Bangladesh women's team qualified for the ICC One-Day International World Cup in 2022 after winning a bilateral series in Zimbabwe. The BCB was under fire from the media and supporters in the second half of the year.
Football
The Bangladesh national men's football team competed in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the year 2021, a four-nation event, and the SAFF Championship. Bangladesh placed fifth in World Cup qualifying group F and third in the four-nation tournament. Despite a strong start to the campaign, Bangladesh finished fourth in the group stage of the SAFF Championship. Therefore, Bangladesh men's football team had a bad year in 2021.
Read Bangladesh’s U-19 SAFF Women’s Championship victory to serve as a harbinger of success in football
On the other hand, the Bangladesh U19 Women's team performed well throughout their campaign in the 2021 SAFF U19 Championship. They became the undefeated winners after defeating India 1-0 in the final. It was their second title in a row. The sports year 2021 in Bangladesh came to a close with this great achievement of women.
Field Hockey
Bangladesh hosted the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time in December. Bangladesh national men's hockey team was given the chance to play in the Champions Trophy for the first time as the host country. Malaysia was one of six teams invited to play, however, they were unable to compete due to coronavirus restrictions. Bangladesh was eliminated from the competition after losing all four matches in the group stage. South Korea won the championship for the first time after beating Japan 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
Read Traditional folk sports of rural Bangladesh: A look back
Archery
During the 2021 Archery World Cup, Ruman Shana and Diya Siddique took silver in the recurve mixed team event. In the final, Bangladesh finished second behind the Netherlands. Despite losing 5–1 in the final, it was Bangladesh's best result in an Archery World Championship. It was also the first time Bangladesh has reached the final of a World Cup event in Archery.
Weightlifting
Maksuda Akhter, the first Bangladeshi woman to compete in an international bodybuilding competition, participated in the IHFF Olympia Amateur Bodybuilding Championship in Mumbai. Out of 30 bodybuilders, Maksuda placed third.
She advanced to the top eight in the preliminary round and was chosen third runner-up in the final by the judges. Her victory was a watershed moment for her, and women in Bangladesh may take a lot of encouragement from it.
Read Memorable International Cricket Moments in 2021
Shooting
In total, 73 shooters from nine nations competed in the Bangabandhu tournament organized by the Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation: India, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Munna shone brightest among Bangladeshi shooters, claiming gold with a score of 626.8. While Syeda Atkia Hossain took silver with a score of 623.3 in the women's 10m air rifle event. Another Bangladeshi shooter, Shakil Ahmed won bronze in the air pistol event.
Bangladesh at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Six Bangladesh athletes competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics, representing four sports: archery, athletics, shooting, and swimming. In the mixed event of Archery, Ruman Shana and Diya Siddiqui were close to winning a medal in the event but were defeated by South Korea in the Round of 16.
In Athletics, sprinter Mohammad Jahir Rayhan failed to move to the next round. He was knocked out from the heat. Swimmers Mohammed Ariful Islam and Junayna Ahmed did not progress from their heats, while shooter Abdullah Hel Baki came in 41st place in the Men's 10-meter air rifle event. Overall, Bangladesh's participation in the 2020 Summer Olympics was a disappointment.
Read Achievements of Bangladesh in sports in 50 years since independence
Car Racing
Until recently, no one from Bangladesh had ever gained a reputation for himself on the world racing stage. Motorsport lover Avik Anwar, became the first Bangladeshi to finish third in the UAE Pro Car Championship in February 2021.
Later in November, Avik Anwar won the NGK Pro Car Championship with the Toyota GT86 Model Car at the Yas Marina Formula 1 track in the UAE, beating off Helal Almazrouei and Fahad Alzaabi. It was a significant milestone for him, and his efforts will undoubtedly inspire Bangladesh's motorsport enthusiasts.
Aftermath
When looking at the most memorable achievements of the sports in Bangladesh in 2021, it is clear that women have accounted for the majority of the successes. Therefore, more government support is required for women to succeed in the field of sports.
Read Top 10 Most Memorable Football Moments of 2021
Furthermore, each designated sports board must devote special emphasis to improving facilities for female athletes. Meanwhile, the men's cricket team of Bangladesh had a very poor showing in 2021. Some of the great triumphs of the Men's team have also sparked controversy.
On the other hand, the women's cricket team had a successful year. Similarly, Bangladesh's major football success came through its age-based women's team. Bangladesh has had an eventful year in the field of sports overall.
Bangladesh Cricket in 2021: Performance Analysis by Series
Bangladesh cricket has had a difficult year in 2021. The Bangladesh national men's cricket team's disappointing performance in the absence of experienced players is one of the key indications of this. The performance of the men's cricket team provides strong evidence that the country's cricket pipeline is weak. On the other hand, the Bangladesh women's cricket team has had a successful year. The Tigresses confirmed their participation in the 50-over World Cup for the first time by competing in the ICC Women's World Cup qualifiers at the end of the year. This article analyzed the performance of Bangladesh's men's and women's national cricket teams in the year 2021.
Performance of Bangladesh Cricket in 2021
The men's and women's teams of Bangladesh had significant achievements in 2021. However, there are a number of major failures. Let's take a look at Bangladesh's overall performance in cricket in the year 2021.
Bangladesh Men’s National Cricket Team
Bangladesh Men’s cricket team played 7 Tests, 12 One-Day Internationals, and 24 Twenty-20 Internationals in 2021. Bangladesh's greatest success came in one-day internationals (ODIs). In the year 2021, they won three ODI series and lost one. Overall, Bangladesh won eight ODIs while losing four. Bangladesh lost three-Test series and only won one against Zimbabwe. Overall, Bangladesh only won one Test match, lost five, and drew one.
Read Traditional folk sports of rural Bangladesh: A look back
Bangladesh played the most Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in 2021, with 24. They won 11 T20Is and have lost 13. However, winning the home series against Australia and New Zealand were two of Bangladesh's finest achievements in 2021. Besides that, Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe in a T20I series. However, they were hammered by New Zealand (3-0) and Pakistan (3-0), and their performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 was disastrous.
Bangladesh's first international series after the covid-19 outbreak in March 2020 was a home series against the West Indies in January 2021. In that perspective, the series was crucial for Bangladesh. The Tamim Iqbal-led side had shown a lot of character throughout the series. Shakib Al Hasan has also returned to international cricket through this series after completing a one-year suspension imposed by the International Cricket Council. Here are the results of Bangladesh's men's cricket team's international matches in the year 2021.
Read Memorable International Cricket Moments in 2021
Bangladesh vs West Indies (3-match ODI Series at home)
The second-tier West Indies side arrived in Bangladesh to play a limited-overs series against the host. The Bangladesh campaign had great expectations for this encounter, and they did not disappoint the supporters. Bangladesh went on to defeat the Caribbean team 3-0 in the series. After returning to international cricket, Shakib Al Hasan made an immediate impression. He won Player of the Series after taking 6 wickets and scored 113 runs in three matches. It was Tamim Iqbal's debut match as permanent captain of Bangladesh's One-Day International team.
Bangladesh vs West Indies (3-match ODI Series at home)
Bangladesh faced the West Indies in a two-match Test series after sweeping the ODI series 3-0. However, the team tigers underperformed in the longer-version format. They were beaten 2-0 against a West Indian team that was pretty poor. The outcome of this series was one of Bangladesh's most embarrassing performances in 2021.
Read Achievements of Bangladesh in sports in 50 years since independence
New Zealand vs Bangladesh (3-match ODI Series, away)
Expecting a win is far from realistic, given the fact that Bangladesh has never won a match in New Zealand. Bangladesh came near to winning the second One-Day International, which may be their most significant achievement in 2021. However, Bangladesh were defeated 3-0 by New Zealand in the series.
New Zealand vs Bangladesh (3-match T20I Series, away)
As predicted, Bangladesh lost all three T20I matches they played against New Zealand. More importantly, they were unable to put up a good fight against the host New Zealand. Bangladesh's disastrous trip to New Zealand came to an end with a series of defeats.
Read Top 10 Most Memorable Football Moments of 2021
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (2-match Test Series, away)
In April, Bangladesh headed to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series. They drew the first Test at Pallekele but lost the second match there by 209 runs. Bangladesh lost the series 1-0, demonstrating their ineptness in the Test format once again.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (3-match ODI Series at home)
Sri Lanka visited Bangladesh in May for a three-match One-Day International series. Bangladesh claimed the series with a game to spare but failed to complete the sweep in the final match. Mushfiqur Rahim was named Player of the Series for his outstanding batting.
Read Sports Year in Review: A Flashback of the Major Events in 2021
Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh (1 Test, 3 ODIs, and 3 T20Is, away)
In July, Bangladesh traveled to Zimbabwe to play bilateral series across all formats. Bangladesh clinched the series by winning the one-off Test by 220 runs. Later, Bangladesh won the ODI series 3-0, followed by the T20I series 2-1. All of Bangladesh's key players performed well during the tour.
Bangladesh vs Australia (5-match T20I Series at home)
One of Bangladesh's most significant achievements in 2021 was defeating Australia 4-1 at home in a T20I series in August. Australia never expected to get beaten so badly by Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh dominated Australia courtesy of a slow Mirpur surface. Shakib Al Hasan was named player of the series for his remarkable all-rounder performance.
Read Top Performers in the BAN vs PAK Test Series 2021
Bangladesh vs New Zealand (5-match T20I Series at home)
Bangladesh were optimistic going into the New Zealand series in September after defeating Australia in August. Bangladesh went on to win the five-match Twenty20 International series 3-2. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed was named player of the series.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021
Bangladesh team had high expectations ahead of the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup after two successful home series. However, Bangladesh's performance was completely disappointing. They only managed to win two games, both of which came in the qualifying rounds. Bangladesh suffered heavy losses in all five of their Super 12 Round matches, and their campaign came to an end in despair.
Read Maksuda Akhter: Bangladesh’s first woman bodybuilder to win international medal
Bangladesh vs Pakistan (3-match T20I Series at home)
Bangladesh welcomed Pakistan for a three-match T20I series after a poor World Cup campaign. Pakistan had a fantastic T20 World Cup and came into the bilateral series with a lot of confidence. Bangladesh were defeated in all three matches against Pakistan national team. The Bangladesh team contained a few newcomers in the series.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan (2-match Test series at home)
It was far from realistic to expect a great performance following a disastrous T20I campaign. Bangladesh had a chance to draw the second Test, but they failed to see out the fifth day. Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh in the Test series (2-0).
Among the players, Liton Das was Bangladesh's most successful batter across all formats in 2021, while Mustafizur Rahman was the most successful bowler.
Read Ballon d'Or 2021 Winner: Lionel Messi wins the coveted award record seventh time
Top three most successful batsmen in 2021 (across formats)
Player
Innings
Runs
HS
Ave
100s
Liton Das
39
1,058
114
27.12
2
Mahmudullah Riyad
38
1,045
150*
36.03
1
Mushfiqur Rahim
34
1,033
125
36.89
1
Top three most successful bowlers in 2021 (across formats)
Player
Innings
Wickets
BBI
Ave
5W
Mustafizur Rahman
32
48
4/12
20.66
0
Shakib Al Hasan
31
47
5/30
19.44
1
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
23
40
5/82
30.37
1