Bangladesh cricket has often been the dark horse in international cricket. On their day, they can beat the best teams in the business, as they did against New Zealand in the 2017 edition to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Bangladesh is placed in a tough group and will have to play their best brand of cricket if they want to push for a place in the next round.
Recent form:
The Bangladesh team has had mixed results lately. They drew their recent Test series against the West Indies, lost the ODI series badly, and then bounced back to win the T20 series 3-0. Before that, they also lost an ODI series against Afghanistan (2-1) in Sharjah in November. As a result, they will enter the Champions Trophy on the back of two bilateral series defeats.
Moreover, Bangladesh has not played any recent ODI matches. However, the players selected in the squad participated in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and performed well.
The good news is that the Bengal Tigers will play a warm-up game against Pakistan Shaheens in Dubai on February 17.
Despite their inconsistent form, Nazmul Hossain Shanto will continue to captain Bangladesh in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Shanto remains optimistic about the tournament and has expressed his ambition to win.
“We are going to the Champions Trophy to become champions,” Shanto boldly claimed.
“All eight teams deserve to be champions in this tournament. They are all quality teams. I believe our team has the ability. No one will feel extra pressure.”
Head coach Phil Simmons recently acknowledged that the team has not been preparing well for the 50-over format but was pleased that they played plenty of white-ball cricket in the T20 format. He is hopeful that the players will adapt to the 50-over format quickly.
“We have to get their minds up to 50-over cricket in the next six or seven days. They have the skills. They are performing. It is about getting to that 50-over mentality now. We will have double practice sessions in the next couple of days. We bat and bowl in the morning, and then do the same under the lights.”
Squad:
Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
Probable Playing XI:
- Tanzid Hasan
- Soumya Sarkar
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)
- Towhid Hridoy
- Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
- Mahmudullah
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Rishad Hossain
- Taskin Ahmed
- Nahid Rana
- Mustafizur Rahman
Key players:
In the absence of Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tamim Iqbal, the responsibility will fall on players like Shanto, Miraz, and Taskin to lead the team.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto:
Shanto will have to play a crucial role if Bangladesh wants to make a statement on the world stage. The captain missed the last ODI series against the West Indies due to a hamstring injury but played a match-winning knock against Afghanistan in the second ODI, forcing a series decider.
Since the last edition of the 2023 World Cup, Shanto has amassed 358 runs at an average of 59.67. As a top-order batter and captain, he will need to lead from the front.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz:
Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been a mainstay in the team, scoring 352 runs at an average of 39.11 and taking 9 wickets since the last edition of the World Cup.
He was in exceptional form against the West Indies, where he also led the side in Shanto’s absence. He scored 152 runs in three ODIs at an impressive average of 50.66 and a strike rate of 84.91, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer in the series.
His bowling was particularly impressive in the T20Is, where he picked up 8 wickets in just three matches. One of his standout performances was a remarkable 4-13 off his four overs, with an economy rate of just 3.25.
Mahmudullah:
Mahmudullah will likely be playing his last ICC tournament, having already retired from T20 internationals after the 2024 T20 World Cup. This could be his “last dance,” and he will be eager to make a lasting impact.
Since the last edition of the 2023 World Cup, he has scored 337 runs at an average of 48.11. He also performed well in the recent edition of the BPL, scoring 206 runs at a strike rate of 143.06.
Players to watch out for:
Towhid Hridoy is an aggressive batter who scored 312 runs at a strike rate of 130 in the latest BPL season.
Nahid Rana and Jaker Ali are also worth keeping an eye on. Rana made an impact in the Test series against Pakistan, where Bangladesh secured a historic whitewash. He took six wickets at an average of 39.5. Tanzim Hasan is another player to watch.
Strengths:
- New Ball Bowling: Their bowlers have taken 21 wickets at an average of 27.52 with an economy of 4.82, the third-best average among the teams in the Champions Trophy.
- Death Bowling: Bangladesh has a death-over economy rate of 6.67, the third-best after India and Australia. (All stats are post-World Cup 2023.)
Concerns:
- Slow Scoring in the First 10 Overs: Bangladesh has the lowest run rate in the first 10 overs among all Champions Trophy teams.
- Lack of Wicket-Taking Options in the Middle Overs: They struggle to take wickets in the middle phase of the innings, which could be a major challenge.
Fixtures:
- February 20: Bangladesh vs. India, Dubai
- February 24: Bangladesh vs. New Zealand, Rawalpindi
- February 27: Bangladesh vs. Pakistan, Rawalpindi
In conclusion, Bangladesh is not a bad side and cannot be ruled out, especially since they will be playing in familiar Asian conditions. However, they will need to be at their absolute best to secure a semi-final spot. Historically, Bangladesh has struggled in this competition, winning only two out of 12 matches. Their first victory came against Zimbabwe in Jaipur in 2006, while their second came in the last edition in 2017, against New Zealand in Cardiff.
Now, with a new-look squad and key players stepping up, can Bangladesh defy the odds?
