Bangladesh Cricket Schedule 2023 Cricket World Cup—The Complete Guide.
2019 was probably Bangladesh’s best ODI World Cup with Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round performance. However, they fizzled out at the end. Does their schedule allow them to play high intensity cricket all the way through?
Let’s find out together.
Key Takeaways from Bangladesh’s World Cup Schedule
Bangladesh begin their opening match against Afghanistan on October 7, 2023 and play their last group stage match against Australia on November 11, 2023.
Bangladesh play three 3-day games, more than any team in the tournament.
The Tigers will play two games at Dharamsala, Kolkata, and Pune. They also have one game scheduled in Mumbai (Wankhede), Chennai, and Delhi.
Bangladesh have had a steady few years in ODI cricket. They have been rising since 2015 and ended in the Top 2 of the ODI Super League. However, their fortunes have dipped this year with the batting not pulling their
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Bangladesh Cricket Schedule 2023 Cricket World Cup
When is Bangladesh’s first match in the 2023 cricket World Cup?
Bangladesh’s first match is on October 7th, 2023 against Afghanistan.
Can Bangladesh defeat India in the 2023 Cricket World Cup?
Bangladesh surely have the potential to defeat India. It will be tough, but with spin conditions in Pune, Bangladesh may have a chance in a low scoring thriller.
When will Bangladesh play Sri Lanka in the 2023 Cricket World Cup?
Bangladesh will play archrivals, Sri Lanka, on November 6, 2023.
Here is a quick preview: Bangladesh are going with a good combination of youth and experience. The 2007 generation, 2015 youngsters, and the new under-19 crop have provided Bangladesh with never-seen-before depth.
Let’s dive right in.
Key Takeaways from Bangladesh’s ODI Squad Announcement
The average age of Bangladesh World Cup 2023 squad is 27.2. Bangladesh’s squad includes the most experienced players in the World Cup (Shakib, Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur) but there are several youngsters as well. They have youngsters such as Tanzim Hasan Sakib (20), Tanzid Hasan Tamim (22), Towhid Hridoy (22), Shoriful Islam (22), Hasan Mahmud (23), The victorious U-19 WC campaign is serving Bangladesh well.
Bangladesh’s World Cup squad has average ODI match experience of 77 ODIs (1150 ODIs among 15 players). Mushfiqur Rahim (256), Mahmudullah (221) & Shakib Al Hasan (240) are their most experienced players, while Tanzim Hasan & Tanzid Hasan are just starting out.
Bangladesh’s squad composition is as follows: 5 proper batters, 4 all-rounders, and 6 proper bowling options. In total, Bangladesh has 10 bowling options (3 off spin, 2 left arm spin, 2 left arm pace, and 3 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed.
Bangladesh has 6 left-handed batting options (Tanzid, Shanto, Shakib) and two wicketkeeping options.
Bangladesh Cricket World Cup Team at a Glance
Player
Role
Age
Mohammad Naim**
Batter
24
Litton Das
Batter/Wicket-keeper
28
Tanzid Hasan Tamim
Batter
22
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Batter
25
Towhid Hridoy
Batter
22
Mushfiqur Rahim
Batter/Wicket-keeper
36
Afif Hossain**
Batter/Part-time Off spin
23
Shamim Hossain**
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
22
Shakib Al Hasan
All-Rounder/Left Arm Spin
36
Mahmudullah
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
37
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
All-Rounder/Off-Spin
25
Mahedi Hasan
All-Rounder/Off Spin
28
Nasum Ahmed
Left Arm Spin
28
Taskin Ahmed
Fast Bowler
28
Mustafizur Rahman
Left Arm Fast Bowler
28
Shoriful Islam
Left Arm Medium Pace
22
Ebadot Hossain*
Fast Bowler
29
Hasan Mahmud
Medium Pace
23
Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Medium Pace
20
Tamim Iqbal*
Left Hand Bat
34
*left out of the World Cup (due to injury and controversy)
**did not make the final squad
Bangladesh Cricket World Cup 2023 Potential XI
Tanzid Hasan
Litton Das (WK)
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Mushfiqur Rahim
Shakib Al Hasan
Mahmudullah
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Mahedi Hasan
Taskin Ahmed
Mustafizur Rahman
Shoriful Islam/Hasan Mahmud
Injury News
Tamim Iqbal is injured, but likely to be back for the World Cup
Ebadot Hossain has been ruled out of the Asia Cup and is in the race to be fit for the World Cup. Tanzim Hasan replaced him.
4 Bangladesh Players Who Were Unlucky to Miss Out
Tamim Iqbal, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali
Surprise Picks for Bangladesh’s World Cup Squad
Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan
Bangladesh World Cup 2023 Squad – Complete List of Players
1. Mohammad Naim**
**did not make it to the final World Cup squad
Role: Left Hand Batter (Opener)
Matches/Innings: 4/3
Runs: 10, Best: 9
Average/SR: 3.33/32.25
100/50: 0/0
*Although his numbers are not that great in ODI cricket, he has played some defining innings in his 35 T20I innings.
*Not in the Asia Cup squad due to an injury, but is expected to be back for the World Cup. Update: He came back, but was dropped after public controversy.
This may be Bangladesh’s best chance to win a World Cup, or at least to go to the semi-finals.
Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, and Shakib Al Hasan (and Mahmudullah) have been legends for Bangladesh, and this is their lasst chance. With the yuong crop (Mehidy, Liton, Taskin, Mustafizur, etc.) coming into their own, definitely watch out for this Bangladesh ODI side.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Bangladesh World Cup 2023 Squad
Who is selected for Bangladesh’s World Cup 2023 squad?
Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das (WK), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Naim, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shamim Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, and Towhid Hridoy are selected for Bangladesh’s 2023 World Cup preliminary squad.
What is the average age of Bangladeesh’s World Cup and Asia Cup squads?
The average age of Bangladesh Asis Cup 2023 squad is 26.4. Bangladesh’s 19-men preliminary squad includes the most experienced players in the World Cup (Shakib, Tamim, and Mushfiqur) but there are several youngsters as well. They have youngsters such as Tanzim Hasan Sakib (20), Tanzid Hasan Tamim (22), Towhid Hridoy (22), Shoriful Islam (22), Shamim Hossain (22), Afif Hossain (23), Hasan Mahmud (23), and Mohammad Naim (24). The victorious U-19 WC campaign is serving Bangladesh well.
Who is selected for Bangladesh Asia Cup 2023 squad?
Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das (WK), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Naim, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Shamim Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, and Towhid Hridoy are selected for Bangladesh’s 2023 Asia Cup squad.
Can Bangladesh win the 2023 ODI World Cup?
This may be Bangladesh’s best chance to win the 2023 ODI World Cup, but it is going to be tough. They have a great chance to make their first semi-finals, given their recent ODI Super League record.
Is Babar Azam in the Fab Five? Does he join Kane Williamson, Steven Smith, Virat Kohli, and Joe Root or replace Root altogether? This was the talking point in the first test of the ongoing England-Pakistan Test series.
The debate will continue. In the meantime, I offer a counterargument.
Who are the true Fab 5 of this era? None of the above.
I argue that the Fab 5 of this decade is not a combination of stars. Rather, it is the core of a single team: The Bangladesh Fab 5—Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, and Mashrafe Mortaza.
The Argument
The Golden Period of The 2000s
In the 2000s, each team had a golden generation or a solid core.
Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka had world-beating teams. Pakistan had Younis-Yousuf-Inzi. Similarly, India had Sehwag-Tendulkar-Dravid-Ganguly-VVS, NZ had Fleming-Astle-McMillan-Vettori, and even a declining West Indies team had Gayle-Sarwan-Lara-Chanderpaul.
Although Australia were the standout team of the generation, all the other teams had multiple match-winners and could challenge Australia on their day. Over the past decade, though, most of the teams have undergone a transition as older generations retire.
The Current Generation
Sure, Williamson-Smith-Kohli-Root/Azam are all great. They have consistently dominated the batting charts across formats both at home and abroad. However, teams consisting of a group of playersconsistently winning games over all the formats in the past decade has been a rarity.
New Zealand had a brief period of stability with the McCullum-Guptill-Williamson-Vettori-Boult/Southee era. Likewise, England were just beginning to develop a side that could sustain its dominance on one-day cricket before the pandemic intervened. Sri Lanka and South Africa have yet to recover from the transition, while most others revolve around one or two individuals.
Hence, the only team in the past decade with a golden generation has been Bangladesh.
The Team: Bangladesh Cricket Fab 5
Today’s Bangladesh team is a competitive force. Maybe even second best in Asia. It is no longer considered an upset when they win. This was not always the case.
First Memory
1999 and 2007. Years that Bangladesh fans remember fondly.
Bangladesh first burst onto the scene in the 1999 Cricket World Cup (CWC) when they stunned Pakistan. Although that game caught the eye of the world and paved their Test cricket dreams, it was the 2007 WC victory against India that would usher a new era for Bangladesh altogether.
Mashrafe Mortaza rocked India with his opening spell and 4 wickets. Tamim, Shakib, and Musfiq all made crucial 50s. 17-year old Tamim’s running-down-the-wicket assault to Zaheer Khan was the highlight, and Mushfiqur stayed till the very end to deliver victory.
Wisden cricketer of 2011, Tamim Iqbal established himself as Bangladesh’s opener between 2007-2011. After a brief slow patch, Iqbal has become the symbol of consistency since the 2015 World Cup. Earlier in his career, he was known for his aggressive stroke play. As he gained experience, he has taken more responsibility and curbed the aggression.
Result: Test centuries and longer ODI innings. Accumulated hundreds in all formats, highest Bangladeshi run-scorer across formats, and the first to 10000 international runs.
Test: 4405 runs, 38.64 average, best of 206, 9-100s/27-50s
ODI: 7202 runs, 36.74 average, best of 158, 13-100s/47-50s
T20I: 1758 runs, 24.08 average, best of 103*, 1-100/7-50s
Shakib is, perhaps, Bangladesh’s first cricket superstar. One of the best all-rounders of all-time and certainly of this era. Coveted by worlds T20 franchises and Ranked No. 1 in all three formats for the majority of the decade. He has rescued Bangladesh time and again. Whether it is finishing a innings, taking 5-fors as a hobby, or taking responsibility as No.3 at the 2019 World Cup, scoring over 600 runs and taking 10 wickets— he has done it all.
Records: Fastest to 6000 runs + 250 wickets, 2nd Bangladeshi to 10000 international runs, and more
Test: 3862 runs, 39.4 average, best of 217, 5-100s/24-50s + 210 wickets at 31.12
ODI: 6323 runs, 37.86 average, best of 134*, 9-100s/47-50s + 260 wickets at 30.21
T20I: 1567, 23.74 average, best of 84, 9-50s + 92 wickets at 20.58
Only wicket-keeper to score two or more double centuries in test-cricket (he has 3), Mushfiqur has become the pillar of Bangladesh’s line up and an energetic presence behind the wicket. Short in stature, he has become one of the best players of the pull shot and the reverse sweep. Always preserving his best against India, he most recently finished the T20I game in 2019 to exorcise the ghost of Bangalore in 2016. Will go down as one of all time best wicket-keeper batsman.
Test: 4413 runs, 36.77 average, best of 219*, 7-100s/21-50s + 119 dismissals
ODI: 6174 runs, 36.31 average, best of 144, 7-100s/38-50s + 225 dismissals
T20I: 1282 runs, 20.03 average, best of 72*, 5-50s + 62 dismissals
A late-entrant into the Fab 5, Mahmudullah is Bangladesh’s shock absorber. Has been involved in almost all of their famous victories. Most famously, promoted to No.3 in the 2015 World Cup, he scored back-to-back centuries. The turning point in Bangladesh cricket was the 2017 Champions Trophy match against New Zealand when he and Shakib combined a partnership to go from 33/4 to chase 265. Later in his career, he has become a finishing specialist. Also a handy off-spinner and astute captain in the BPL.
Test: 2764 runs, 31.77 average, best of 146, 4-100s/16-50s
ODI: 4070 runs, 33.63 average, best of 128*, 3-100s/21-50s
T20I: 1475 runs, 24.18 average, best of 64*, 4-50s
Debuted in 2001, the longevity of Mortaza’s career as a fast bowler itself is an incredible achievement. Began his career as someone who could bowl in the late 140s Km/hr. Ended as a line-and-length control bowler with speeds down in the low 120s. Started the fast bowling revolution in Bangladesh, but his claim to fame is his captaincy. Kept the team united for the last 5 years of his career, providing a period of growth for Bangladesh cricket. Also a handy lower-order batsman.
Test: 78 wickets at 41.52 + 1/1 win as captain
ODI: 270 wickets at 32.93 + 50/88 wins as captain
T20I: 42 wickets at 36.35 + 10.28 wins as captain
What Makes Them Great?
The beauty of this generation is in the variety of the roles they play.
Tamim Iqbal is an opener. Mushfiqur Rahim is a middle-order wicket-keeper. Shakib Al Hasan their premier spinner and all-rounder. Mahmudullah the calm finisher. Mortaza—once the pace spearhead, now the ace captain.
They have all been vice-captain and captain at some points in time. Shakib-Musfiq-Mahmudullah have batted in all the positions in the middle order. Hence, the fluidity in the batting order and experience is why they have become a consistent team.
Regardless of the selections around them, the Fab 5 have been a reliable presence for the past 10-15 years.
The opening batting partners of Tamim and bowling partners of Mortaza might change, the understudies to Mushfiq’s wicket-keeping and Riyad’s finishing might come and go, others from Bangladesh’s left-arm-spin-factory might briefly complement Shakib, but these five themselves have remained a constant.
The Moments
After India were defeated in 2007 CWC, South Africa also faced defeat against the mighty Tigers. Subsequently, they knocked out England in 2011 and 2015. They truly became a global force in 2016 with series victories against India, South Africa, England, and Australia across formats at home.
Recently, with the 2018 Asia Cup final almost ending in a tie, Bangladesh winning their first tri-series, and a memorable 2019 CWC campaign with an inspirational superhuman display from Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh have definitely elevated their status in world cricket.
Furthermore, Bangladesh U-19 team has shown immense progress. They went to the semi-finals in 2016 under Mehidy Hasan Miraz and last February, they lifted the U-19 WC trophy when captain Akbar Ali kept his nerve. The new generation of Bangladesh are talented and hungry to win.
The Legacy
Imagine this squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup:
Openers: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar
Wicket-Keepers: Liton Das, Musfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun
Middle-Order: Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Akbar Ali
All-Rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Fast-Bowlers: Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Haider, Taskin Ahmed
Liton Das has been earmarked as a destructive batsman for the future. The Fizz has already made a name in T20 leagues around the world. Saifuddin and Miraz have taken the baton from Shakib for the future all-rounder spot.
In addition, with Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Sabbir Rahman in-and-out of the side and the likes of Saif Hassan and Rakibul Hasan waiting in the wings, this squad looks potentially dangerous. All-rounders, solid openers, variety of fast bowlers, and choking spinners, this squad has it all.
Mortaza has said on numerous occasions they are targetting 2023 semifinals at least. Maybe they will go far in the 2023 world cup. Maybe they won’t. In any case,
Whatever Bangladesh cricket accomplish in the future from now, it will be built on the shoulders of these giants.
What The Future Holds
With the advent of T20, overkill of cricket, increasing injuries to fast bowlers, mental pressure the players need to deal with, we may no longer have sides that play together for a long time across formats. Heck, we may now have different teams playing different formats on the same day, an idea Eoin Morgan recently alluded to.
What we can do, is to enjoy the final stretch of these players that have given Bangladesh cricket and world cricket whole loads of joy.