The Bangladesh cricket also known as the Tigers are a Full Member nation of the ICC and play ODIs, Test and T20Is. They are administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and have Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the troops as of 2024 across all three formats.
Cricket was played in unified Bengal in the 18th and 19th century, but when Bangladesh was formed the sport was not as popular. Football was what really united the Bangladesh public and was easily more popular. But that changed in the 1990s and cricket found its feet. Bangladesh became an Associate Member of the ICC in 1977, but were quite inconsistent for the first 20 years.
In 1998, Bangladesh successfully hosted the ICC Knockout Trophy but their biggest international win came in the 1999 ODI World Cup when they beat Pakistan. That paved the way for Bangladesh to become the 10th Test playing nation which happened in the year 2000. Bangladesh played their first Test against India in Dhaka in November 2000. But it took them four years and a bit and 34 Tests to finally achieve their first win in the format.
Bangladesh played their first ODI match in 1986 against Pakistan which they lost. Their first ODI win took 12 years and came against Kenya in 1998. From Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh have produced some talented players. While they have not done anything extraordinary in World Cups, cricket remains the NO. 1 sport in the country.
Captain: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Test, ODI, T20I)
Coaches: Chandika Hathurusinghe (head coach), Nic Pothas (assistant coach), David Hemp (batting coach), Andre Adams (fast bowling coach)
First ODI match: 1986
First Test match: 2000
First T20I: 2006
Cricket board: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)
Bangladesh in T20 International cricket
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Winning% |
| 176 | 68 | 104 | 0 | 4 | 38.63% |
Bangladesh have a pretty weak record when it comes to T20Is. They played their first T20I in 2006 against Zimbabwe in Khulna which they won easily by 43 runs. They won their second T20I too, but only won one out of their next 14 games in the format and have never really been consistent in the 20-over game.
They have in all played 176 matches in T20 format, won 68 games and lost a whopping 104 matches. That is a win percentage of only 38.63%. Four of their games have ended in a no result. Bangladesh have played most T20Is against Zimbabwe. They also have their best record in the format against Zimbabwe: 17 wins in 25 T20Is and just eight losses. Against teams they have played more than 10 T20Is, Bangladesh have the weakest record against India. They have played them 14 times and managed just one win.
But, Bangladesh under the captaincy of Najmul Hossain Shanto have taken huge strides in the T20I format and should be a force to reckon with in the years to come.
Bangladesh’s record against other countries (minimum 10 T20Is)
| Opponent | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R |
| Zimbabwe | 25 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| New Zealand | 20 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| Pakistan | 19 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 17 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| West Indies | 16 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| India | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Afghanistan | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Australia | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Bangladesh in T20 World Cups
Most runs: Shakib Al Hasan (853 runs)
Most wickets: Shakib Al Hasan (50)
Highest score: Tamim Iqbal (103*)
Captains: Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah, Najmul Hossain Shanto
Out of the Test playing nations, Bangladesh have one of the poorest records when it comes to T20 World Cups. They have in all played 45 games in the tournament, won just 12 games and lost 32 matches with one ending in a no result.
They have played all the nine editions of the T20 World Cup. In 2014, 2016 and 2021, Bangladesh had to go through the qualifying rounds of the World Cup to make it to the main stage. While they managed to do that quite well, their luck ran out in the next stage. Bangladesh’s best display was at the T20 World Cup 2024 when under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto, they produced exhilarating cricket. Their fast bowling was a treat to watch and their batters too did an excellent job. Despite being around for a number of years, Bangladesh have not yet made it to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup even once in nine attempts.
The highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup is Shakib Al Hasan. In addition, he is also the highest wicket-taker not just for Bangladesh but in the tournament’s history with 50 wickets to his name. Alongside Rohit Sharma, Shakib is the only player to feature in every single edition of the T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2024.
Bangladesh’s record in T20 World Cups (2007 to 2024)
| T20 World Cup | Hosts | Bangladesh’s finish | Winners | Highest Scorer | Most Wickets |
| 2007 | South Africa | Group Stage exit | India | Aftab Ahmed | Abdur Razzak |
| 2009 | England | Group Stage exit | Pakistan | Junaid Siddique | Naeem Islam |
| 2010 | West Indies | Group Stage exit | England | Shakib Al Hasan | Shakib Al Hasan |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | Group Stage exit | West Indies | Shakib Al Hasan | AbulHasan |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | Group Stage exit | Sri Lanka | Shakib Al Hasan | Al-Amin Hossain |
| 2016 | India | Group Stage exit | West Indies | Tamim Iqbal | Shakib Al Hasan |
| 2021 | UAE | Group Stage exit | Australia | Mohammad Naim | Shakib Al Hasan |
| 2022 | Australia | Group Stage exit | England | Najmul Hossain Shanto | Taskin Ahmed |
| 2024 | USA and West Indies | Group Stage exit | India | Towhid Hridoy | Rishad Hossain |
T20 World Cup 2007 – Group stage exit
Led by young gun Mohammad Ashraful, Bangladesh went to South Africa in the inaugural edition of the 2007 World Cup with hopes of toppling a few big sides. They did that right in the first game when they beat West Indies by six wickets. It was Ashraful who led the chase scoring 61 off just 27 balls to take Bangladesh home. But, that was the only win Bangladesh could manage in the competition. They went down to South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the next four games to crash out of the tournament without much fanfare.
T20 World Cup 2009 – Group stage exit
When Bangladesh travelled to England for the 2009 edition of the T20 World Cup, they were still a relatively inexperienced side in the format. And that showed. Placed in Group A alongside India and Ireland, Bangladesh started with a 25-run thrashing at the hands of India. Two days later they lost to Ireland by six wickets and had to exit the tournament after just two games.
T20 World Cup 2010 – Group stage exit
Not a lot changed when Bangladesh travelled to the West Indies in 2010. They were placed in Group A alongside Australia and Pakistan and it was always going to be tough for them to make it to the next round. They began with a 21-run loss against Pakistan and then went down to Australia by 27 runs. That saw Bangladesh crash out of the tournament in a jiffy.
T20 World Cup 2012 – Group stage exit
When Bangladesh travelled to Sri Lanka for the 2012 edition of the T20 World Cup, they were placed in Group D alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh. It was never going to be easy to get to the next round and Bangladesh were once again ousted after just two games. They began their tournament against New Zealand, who posted a mammoth 191 for 3 in Pallekele. In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 132 for 8. In their next game, Bangladesh posted 175 for 6, but Pakistan got home without much of a fuss with eight wickets in the bag.
T20 World Cup 2014 – Group stage exit
Bangladesh had to go through the qualifying rounds to make it to the main draw of the T20 World Cup in 2014 which they hosted. They won the first two games against Afghanistan and Nepal, and despite a loss against Hong Kong, they qualified to the main round as they had a superior net run rate. But Bangladesh’s luck ran out in the main group. They began with a 73-run loss against defending champions West Indies. Then they went down to India, Pakistan and finally Australia to end the tournament much to the dismay of the home fans.
T20 World Cup 2016 – Group stage exit
The teams made their way to India to play the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh had to once again go through the qualifying rounds to reach the main group. There they met Netherlands and Oman and won both games while their outing against Ireland was abandoned. When they reached the main group, they were placed in Group 2 of the Super 10. It was the same old story for Bangladesh as they suffered defeats against Pakistan, Australia, India and New Zealand to crash out of the tournament without a win in the main stage.
T20 World Cup 2021 – Group stage exit
Much was expected from Bangladesh when they went to the UAE for the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. They had to go through the qualifying stage again, where they lost to Scotland but won against Oman and Papua New Guinea to make it to the next round. In the Super 12 round, Bangladesh were placed in Group 1 where they once again failed to win a single game. They went down to Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, South Africa and Australia and were ousted.
T20 World Cup 2022 – Group stage exit
Bangladesh did not have to qualify for the main rounds in the 2022 edition of the T20 World which was held in Australia. They were placed in Group 2 of the Super 12s and this was a much better World Cup for them, compared to the earlier editions. They began with a nine-run win against Netherlands, but then went down to South Africa by 104 runs. They then defeated Zimbabwe by three runs, before defeats to India and Pakistan sent them out of the tournament.
T20 World Cup 2024 – Group stage exit
Bangladesh made their way to the West Indies and USA for the T20 World Cup 2024 under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto. It was a 20-team World Cup and Bangladesh were placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Nepal. It turned out to be one of Bangladesh’s best performances in a World Cup. They began with a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka. Then, they lost to South Africa, only by the smallest of margins and then beat Netherlands and Nepal to qualify for the Super Eight stage. They went down to Australia, India and Afghanistan but would have gone home with their heads held high.
What to expect from Bangladesh
Bangladesh have been one of the weaker teams in the world when it comes to T20Is. But if the 2024 T20 World Cup is any sort of an evidence, they are surely rising. With the likes of Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam in their ranks, Bangladesh have a crop of fast bowlers who are absolute world beaters. They don’t have the best of batters and if they manage to get a few, Bangladesh can work and try and qualify for the semi-finals come the T20 World Cup in 2026.
