With big success to cherish, BD cricket also disappoints fans in 2023

FE Team | Published: December 29, 2023 21:55:15

While there was big success to cherish, Bangladesh Cricket left the fans distressed also, giving them some big disappointment in 2023. World Cup flop show, stained relationship between country's two biggest stars Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal forced cricket to hit lowest ebb. With an expectation to seal the semifinal spot in the cricket's biggest extravaganza for the first time, Bangladesh finished eighth and narrowly made it to the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, reports BSS.
They ended with just two wins, their worst return in World Cup since 2003.
But there was success, which showed Bangladesh are on right track despite the hiccups. Men's team regrouped well by inning their maiden ODI and T20 victory against New Zealand at their own den at the end of this year.
Bangladesh in Test cricket Statistically Bangladesh had a good outing in 2023 as they registered three victories in four matches including one against New Zealand. They beat Ireland by seven wickets before crushing Afghanistan by 546 runs. This was the third largest victory in Test cricket's history and Bangladesh's largest against any team.
Najmul Hossain Shanto scored centuries in both innings to become second Bangladeshi batter after Mominul Haque to hit centuries in both innings of a Test. Bangladesh then beat New Zealand by 150 runs in Sylhet on a good pitch.
But when it looked that they would be unbeaten in Test format in 2023, they fell in their own trap in Mirpur to concede a four wickets defeat. Unlike the Sylhet pitch, they prepared a rank turner in Miprur which went against them and denied them the first ever Test series victory against New Zealand.
Bangladesh's ODI pride tarnished
From 2015 to 2022, Bangladesh lost only one series at home to make the home venue a fortress for them in ODI format. But the fortress was severely breached in 2023, tarnishing Bangladesh's pride completely. In 2023 itself, they lost three ODI series at home -England, Afghanistan and New Zealand were the teams which thrived in Bangladesh's slow pitch to stun them. Bangladesh, however, won series against Ireland at both home and away.
In between, they had a forgettable World Cup journey. However when it looked they would have had a disappointing year in ODI format, they found success in New Zealand, though it was in dead rubber. After conceding the series, following New Zealand's victory in the first two matches, Bangladesh routed the Kiwis by nine wickets in the third and final game and that too by wrapping them up for just 98 runs.
That victory was Bangladesh's first on New Zealand soil against the Kiwis and it ended the Black Caps' 17-match winning streak at home. Overall they played 32 ODIs in this year-won 11 and lost 18 while three matches ended in a no result.
No longer a vulnerable side in T20 format
After a disappointing T20 World Cup outing in 2022, Bangladesh turned fortune in this format under the shrewd leadership of Shakib Al Hasan. The captain, however, vowed to make Bangladesh a force in this format like ODI and so far he kept his word. Bangladesh are now no longer vulnerable side in T20 format.
They played seven matches (excluding three-match T20 series against New Zealand which is going on) and won six of it, while lost just one.
The landmark incident was that they whitewashed current T20 World Cup champions England in a three-match series at home. The Tigers beat Ireland by 2-1 and swept two-match series against old foes Afghanistan.
Tamim's retirement and captaincy saga
During the Afghanistan series in July, Tamim Iqbal suddenly retired from the cricket. However at the intervention of Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina he reversed the decision within 28 hours. Later it was revealed that the relations between him and the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was tainted somehow. Also he had cold relations with Shakib Al Hasan. However as he had injury concerns, he relinquished ODI captaincy, paving the way for Shakib Al Hasan to become the all format captain.
Tamim vs Shakib
The year will be remembered due to an unwanted saga between country's two celebrated cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.
Ahead of the World Cup, Tamim posted a video in his facebook where he revealed that he is tired by the dirty game played by some people around him and also there was injury concern which led him to skip the World Cup.
Just hours after his video post, Shakib in an interview with a private TV channel lambasted Tamim for his childish behaviour. It is believed that the spat between the two stars just ahead of the World Cup was instrumental in Bangladesh's flop World Cup show.
Asian Games flop show
Bangladesh were seeking a gold in Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in China but left satisfied with bronze. The team was formed with the players, most of which played in the national team and they won all of the matches in the group phase against associated nations.