Bangladesh

Bangladesh Men’s Cricket Team History

Although cricket was played in the region that is now Bangladesh during the 18th and 19th centuries, organized tournaments only began in the 1950s when the territory was known as East Pakistan. The game gained more formal structure following the 1976-77 tour by an MCC side, leading the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (BCCB) to assemble a team for the 1979 ICC Trophy. Seven years later, in 1986, Bangladesh played their first official One Day International.

The team’s progress culminated in 1997 when they won the ICC Trophy in Malaysia, defeating Scotland and Kenya in the knockout stages. This victory secured their maiden appearance at the World Cup in 1999. Upon their return from the tournament, where they famously upset tournament favorites Pakistan, the team received a massive reception from millions of supporters led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Following their successful hosting of the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy and their competitive showing in the 1999 World Cup, the country established a first-class domestic competition. In June 2000, Bangladesh was granted full membership by the ICC, becoming the tenth Test-playing nation.

The team’s early years in Test cricket were challenging; they waited 34 matches to secure their first victory, which eventually came against Zimbabwe. Shortly thereafter, the team faced a difficult debut Test at Lord’s, though they salvaged some pride during that tour by defeating Australia in an ODI in Cardiff. Under the guidance of coach Dav Whatmore in the mid-2000s, the side began to develop, blending veteran leadership with emerging talent like Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Mushfiqur Rahim. This core group helped the team pull off notable victories against India and South Africa during the 2007 World Cup.

As senior figures such as Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Rafique retired in 2008, the leadership mantle passed to Mortaza, Shakib, and Tamim. Through the 2010s, with various coaches including Jamie Siddons, Shane Jurgensen, and Chandika Hathurusinghe, the team established a strong home record in the ODI format. During this era, Shakib Al Hasan solidified his status as a premier global allrounder, while Tamim Iqbal emerged as the country’s most prolific opener. The team translated their improved form into the Test arena with historic wins over England and Australia in 2016 and 2017. Their growth in the longest format reached a significant peak in 2024 when they achieved a 2-0 series victory away against Pakistan, a performance they replicated with a 2-0 series win at home against the same opponent in 2026. Despite historically fluctuating results in global World Cup events, cricket remains the preeminent sport in Bangladesh.