Bangladesh national cricket team

Infobox Test team | team_name=Bangladesh |known as: the Tigers | colour=green|test status year=2000|first test match=v India at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, 10-13 November 2000|current captain=Mohammad Ashraful|

number of tests=51
most recent test match=v New Zealand at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka, 9 October 2008
current coach=Jamie Siddons
win/loss record=1/47
test matches this year=4
win/loss record this year=0/4
asofdate=10 October 2008

The Bangladeshi cricket team, also known as "The Tigers", is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. It is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status. It played its first Test match in 2000 (against India at Dhaka), becoming the tenth Test cricket playing nation.

Bangladesh's first official foray into international cricket came in the 1979 ICC Trophy in England, leaving the tournament with 2 wins and 2 defeats. Seven years later, on 31 March 1986, Bangladesh played in its first One Day International match against Pakistan in the 1986 Asia Cup. Cricket has gradually become very popular in urban areas of the country. Although football was the most popular game for a long time, cricket gained a momentum and soon surpassed football, especially after Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997. By winning the ICC trophy, the Tigers had qualified for the 1999 Cricket World Cup for the first time. Bangladesh performed admirably in the 7th World Cup and caused an upset by defeating Pakistan in a group phase match. In 1997, Bangladesh became a regular ICC member with the right to play one-day internationals. It attained the status of a test playing country on 26 June 2000.

At the end of 2007, Bangladesh had played in 49 Tests, winning only once against a Zimbabwe team crippled by the exodus of its senior players. They have lost 43 of their matches, and 29 of these by an innings. [http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/team/25.html?class=1;template=results;type=team;view=results Cricinfo Statsguru - Bangladesh - Test matches - Team analysis ] ] Bangladesh's performance has led to repeated calls for them to lose their Test status.

History of Bangladesh Cricket In International Level

1999

Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 62 runs during the 1999 Cricket World Cup in the group match at Northampton. Bangladesh managed 223/9 from 50 overs. Pakistan could only manage 161 due to a few run-outs by wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud and some tight bowling by Khaled Mahmud, who took 3/31 from 10 overs. And Khaled Mahmud Sujan was judged man of the match. They did not qualify for the Super Six round after suffering defeats in most of their other matches. But that win over Pakistan, who also became the runners-up of that world cup, has helped Bangladesh to get the Test playing status one year later.

2000

In 2000, Bangladesh made their debut Test appearance, hosting India in Dhaka. They were defeated by nine wickets.

2001

Bangladesh played eight Tests in 2001. They toured Zimbabwe in April and lost both Tests. They lost two one-off Tests to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, both by an innings, before returning home for a two Test series against Zimbabwe. In the First Test in Dhaka, they escaped with a draw after no play was possible on the final two days due to rain. They had been 213 runs behind in their second innings, with seven wickets in hand. It was their first time they had avoided defeat, in their seventh Test. Zimbabwe then won the Second Test by an innings. Bangladesh then made their first Test tour of New Zealand, losing both Tests by an innings.

2002

Bangladesh played four series of two Tests each, for a total of eight Tests in 2002, against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the West Indies respectively. They lost all eight matches, six of these by an innings.

2003

In September, Bangladesh came very close to their first Test victory, when they lost to Pakistan by only one wicket.

2004

In December, Bangladesh defeated India in their 100th ODI, this being only the third time that they beat a Test playing nation.

2005

Early January, Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe in their 35th Test, their first ever Test match victory. In the first Test of the series, Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by 226 runs in Chittagong Stadium. Bangladesh scored a huge total of 488 in the first innings. In reply, Zimbabwe was all out for only 312 for their first innings. Bangladesh's 2nd innings was declared after scoring 204 for 9 wickets. Powered by a spirited spell from Enamul Haque Jr., who took 6 wickets for 45 runs, Bangladesh wrapped up Zimbabwe's innings for only 154.

Bangladesh would have needed to get the fourth-highest fourth innings total to win in Test cricket history in the second Test of the series. They opted to play out the last four sessions playing conservatively and consequently secured a draw. This gave the team its first Test series win and triggered scenes of wild jubilation across the country. National coach Dav Whatmore was later quoted as saying that playing overly-aggressive cricket to try to win the Test would not have been a good idea.

Bangladesh also secured their first One Day International series win in the same tour. Despite losing the first two matches of the five-match series, they recovered to win the series 3-2.

On 18 June, Bangladesh scored an upset victory over Australia in the NatWest Series. Australia scored 249 runs for 5 wickets in 50 overs. In reply, Bangladesh reached 250 runs with 4 balls to spare. Mohammad Ashraful scored 100 runs off just 101 balls, his first one-day century, while Aftab Ahmed hit a huge six in the first ball of the final over, and hit a single for the next ball to win the game. This win was a triumph for a Bangladeshi team that had been criticised by Richie Benaud, Mike Gatting and others as incompetent and not good enough for Test or ODI cricket in the English media, just days before.Here is the scorcard [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/211364.html] of the match:

2006

The first home One-Day International series of 2006 began with some optimism for Bangladesh, who registered their first-ever win against Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the series. At the end of March, Bangladesh played four ODIs against Kenya, winning all four. Then in April, they came very close to beating Australia in a Test match, taking a first-innings lead of 158, and eventually losing by only three wickets after bowler Mashrafe Mortaza dropped what could possibly have been a catch to turn the match around. At the end of July, Bangladesh toured Zimbabwe as the ODI series favourites but lost by three games to two. However, in August, the team defeated Kenya in all three matches of a series and subsequently went on to whitewash Zimbabwe in an ODI series staged in Bangladesh. That year, Shahriar Nafees became the first Bangladeshi to score over a thousand runs (which included three centuries) in a calendar year while Mashrafe Mortaza became the leading wicket-taker in the world in ODIs staged in 2006.

2007

Bangladesh prepared for the World Cup with three series wins, defeating Zimbabwe 5-0 at home and 3-1 in Zimbabwe. They then played a series of matches against non-Test playing nations, defeating Scotland 2-0 at home and winning a tri-series undefeated against Canada and Bermuda.

On 17 March, in their first match of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh stunned India, a former world cup champion, with a five wicket victory in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Bangladesh scored 195/5 in reply to India's 191 all out. On 21 March, though, they lost to Sri Lanka 318/4 to 112 all out, Bangladesh losing by 198 runs. However, on 25 March, Bangladesh recouped its loss 96/3 to 94/9 win against Bermuda, advancing to the Super 8 round and cementing India's first-round elimination in the tournament. Bangladesh lost to Australia on 31 March and Ireland in that tournament and also to New Zealand on 2 April. On 7 April they won an outstanding game against South Africa by 67 runs. [http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IES20070331025619&Page=S&Title=Sports&Topic=447&]
* [http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/2007_Cricket_World_Cup:_India_vs_Bangladesh For match details see Wikinews]

On June 2, Habibul Bashar, who had previously resigned as ODI captain, though insisting that he would like to retain the Test captaincy, was replaced as captain by Mohammad Ashraful in both forms of the game. Mashrafe Mortaza was appointed vice-captain.

2008

Bangladesh started their year of 2008 by being in New Zealand. They finished their ODI matches in December 2007 and started to play their Test matches against New Zealend. Their 1st Test with New Zealand was at Dunedin on January 4-6, 2008. The result shows that they had bad start in 2008 because New Zealand won by 9 wickets. Bangladesh 137 and 254; New Zealand 357 and 39/1.In the 2nd Test, New Zealand scored 393, whereas Bangladesh scored 143 and 133. The game took place at Wellington on January 12-14, 2008. Again, New Zealand won by an innings and 137 runs.

South Africa toured Bangladesh in early 2008 and won all their matches, winning the Tests 2-0 and the ODIs 3-0. Bangladesh then beat non-Test playing Ireland 3-0 in an ODI series.

On the 9th of October 2008, Bangladesh recorded its first ever victory over the New Zealand in an ODI winning by 7 wickets in Mirpur further reinstating their reputation of being so called "giant killers".----

Twenty20 World Championship 2007

The future

Bangladeshi former captain Habibul Bashar and former coach Dav Whatmore have said that they hope Bangladesh will become a serious cricketing contender by 2010. Cricket's enormous popularity with the Bangladeshi people has produced a mood of optimism that this ambition can be achieved. Bangladesh's U19 team, the stepping stone before the International Test scene, regularly performs well against established Test nation's U19 teams. In the recent 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh were one of the favourites to win beforehand, but fell in the quarter finals to England U19.

Many have criticised Bangladesh's elevation to Test Status. The country's supporters counter this by pointing out that it took New Zealand, now a strong international side in both forms of the game, many years to win its first Test match. Possibly due to these doubts about Bangladesh's ability to compete at the highest level, Bangladesh will only get the opportunity to play 41 tests through 2006 - 2012 (The least among full ICC members with the sole exception of Zimbabwe), according to the recently publicised ICC Future Tours Programme.

India, which strongly supported Bangladesh’s bid for test status in 2001, is the only full member nation not to invite Bangladesh to play on its own soil, even though India is due to tour Bangladesh three times between 2006 and 2012. Bangladesh has yet to play a Test on Indian soil. Some have suggested that India, which will be one of the busiest cricketing nations during this period, did not schedule to play Bangladesh because of time conflicts and fear of player fatigue. However, this still strengthens the notion that Bangladesh is not on an even footing with other Test playing nations when it comes to securing regular international fixtures. For example, Bangladesh usually plays only two tests in a test series, while most other countries play three or more matches. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/test/future_tours/ ICC Future Tours Program] ] [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/246766.html Whatmore concerned at lack of Tests] ]

Current squad

For following players were selected for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa

Tournament History

=World Cup=

*1975: Not eligible - Not an ICC member
*1979 to 1996 inclusive: Did not qualify
*1999: First round (Two Wins)
*2003: First round
*2007: Second round - Super Eight Stage (7th place and Three wins)

ICC Champions Trophy

*2002: First round
*2004: First round
*2006: 9th place

=ICC Knockout=

*1998: Did not participate
*2000: First round

Commonwealth Games

*1998: First round

ICC Trophy

*1979: First round
*1983: 4th place
*1986: First round
*1990: Semi Finals
*1994: 2nd round
*1997: Winner
*2001 onwards: Not eligible - Now an ICC full member

Asian Test Championship

*1999: Not eligible - Not an ICC full member
*2001/02: 3rd place

Asia Cup

*1984: Did not participate
*1986: 3rd place
*1988: 4th place
*1990/91: 3rd place
*1995: 4th place
*1997: 4th place
*2000: 4th place
*2004: 4th place

ACC Trophy

*1996: Won
*1998: Won
*2000 onwards: Not eligible - Now an ICC full member

Australasia Cup

*1986: Did not participate
*1990: First round
*1994: Did not participate

National Records of Bangladesh

Batting and Individual records

Test Matches

* Highest team total - 488 all out against Zimbabwe in 2005.

*Highest aggregate of runs - Habibul Bashar (3026) in 49 matches at an average of 30.87.

*Highest individual score - 158* by Mohammad Ashraful against India in 2004.

*Highest partnership - 191 for the sixth wicket by Mohammad Ashraful (102) & Mushfiqur Rahim (80) against Sri Lanka in 2007.

*Most number of centuries - Mohammad Ashraful (4) in 42 matches.

*Most number of half centuries - Habibul Bashar (24) in 50 matches.

*Most number of dismissals (wicket-keeping) - Khaled Mashud (87 dismissals) in 44 matches.

*Most number of catches (excludes wicket-keeping) - Habibul Bashar (21) in 50 matches.

*Highest average (qualification 20 inns.) - Habibul Bashar (30.87)

*Most number of matches played - Habibul Bashar (50).

*Most number of matches as captain - Habibul Bashar (18) from 2004 to 2007.

ODI Matches

*Highest team total - 301/7 against Kenya in 2006.

*Highest aggregate of runs - Mohammed Ashraful (2238) in 116 matches at an average of 22.38.

*Highest individual score - 134* by Shakib Al Hasan against Canada in 2006.

*Highest partnership - 175* for the fourth wicket by Habibul Bashar (64) & Rajin Saleh (108) against Kenya in 2006.

*Most number of centuries - Shahriar Nafees (4) in 55 matches.

*Most number of half centuries - Habibul Bashar and Aftab Ahmed (14) in 111 and 80 matches.

*Most number of dismissals (wicket-keeping) - Khaled Mashud (126 dismissals) in 126 matches.

*Most number of catches (excludes wicket-keeping) - Mohammad Rafique (28) in 123 matches.

*Highest average (qualification 20 inns.) - Shahriar Nafees (34.69).

*Highest number of sixes in a match - Mashrafe Mortaza (6).

*Highest number of sixes in a career - Aftab Ahmed (49) in 80 matches.

*Most number of matches played - Khaled Mashud (126).

*Most number of matches as captain - Habibul Bashar (69) from 2004 to 2007.

Bowling records

Test Matches

*Most number of wickets - 102 by Mohammad Rafique at 40.76 in 33 matches.

*Best individual bowling - 7/95 by Enamul Haque Jr against Zimbabwe in 2005.

*Best bowling in a match - 12/200 by Enamul Haque Jr against Zimbabwe in 2005.

*Most number of 10 wicket hauls - Enamul Haque Jr (1).

*Most number of 5 wicket hauls - Mohammad Rafique (7).

*Best average (qualification 50 overs bowled) - 36.69 by Shahadat Hossain.

ODI Matches

*Most number of wickets - 119 by Mohammad Rafique at 38.75 in 123 matches.

*Best individual bowling - 6/26 by Mashrafe Mortaza against Kenya in 2006.

*Most number of 5 wicket hauls - Aftab Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe MortazaFarhad Reza and Mohammad Rafique (1).

*Best average (qualification 50 overs) - 25.82 by Abdur Razzak.

ee also

*Bangladeshi national cricket captains
*Bangladesh national women's cricket team

Notes

External links

* [http://www.banglacricket.com BanglaCricket: Bangladesh cricket news, scores, player profiles, interactive discussion forum, and fantasy games.]
* [http://www.tigercricket.com TigerCricket: The Official Website of Bangladesh Cricket Control Board: Among other things, Animated live score]
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/BDESH/ Cricinfo Bangladesh: Bangladesh cricket news, photos, live scores, profiles, statistics by Wisden Cricinfo]
* [http://www.bangladesherkhela.com Bangladesherkhela: A complete sports website in Bangla.] bn icon
* [http://bangladesh.cricketcircle.com/ Bangladesh Cricket News]
* [http://www.cricbd.com CricBD: Bangladesh cricket news, scorecards, player profiles and discussion]
* http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/05/02/sports.htm