Bangladesh at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Team Preview

Between 2020-2022, Bangladesh won 21 out of 30 ODIs, that is, 70 per cent of all games they played. While their form might have dipped this year and the team environment might not be the best (cue Tamim Iqbal’s retirement saga and Shakib Al Hasan’s explosive interview), in subcontinental conditions, Bangladesh are a force to reckon with in the ODI format. They have quality in every department and have most bases covered. A few calm heads and a little bit of luck might very well see them reach the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time.

Bangladesh’s ODI World Cup history

Bangladesh made their World Cup debut in 1999. In the five editions since then, they have reached the knockouts only once – in 2015 when they famously beat England to qualify for the quarter-finals. They had a decent run in 2007 as well when they beat India to qualify for the Super Eights. Bangladesh have never finished beyond the seventh spot in their World Cup history and would like to change that in this edition.

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Bangladesh at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Full squad

Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Kumer Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Captain: Shakib Al Hasan

Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha

Wisden Cricket Monthly’s Most Valuable Player: Litton Das

Shakib remains the fulcrum of the side but Das – who will open the batting, keep wicket and serve as Shakib’s vice-captain – has become an increasingly influential figure for his side after a slow start to his international career. Only six players in the world have scored more runs at a higher average since the 2019 World Cup and his recent record is particularly impressive in Asia, where he has made four of his five ODI tons.

Player to watch: Shakib Al Hasan

At the 2019 World Cup, Shakib Al Hasan was many people’s pick as the unofficial Player of the Tournament. He passed fifty in seven out of eight innings, twice going on to a century, and became the first cricketer to score 500 runs and take 10 wickets in a single top-level ODI tournament. By October that year, he was leading a players’ strike over pay and the make-up of Bangladesh’s domestic system. A few days later, he was banned for 12 months for a series of anti-corruption breaches.

For most players, that would be a career-defining few months. Shakib calls it Wednesday. This is how Bangladesh’s greatest ever cricketer has always rolled.

Read the piece on Shakib Al Hasan in issue 71 of the Wisden Cricket Monthly here.

Bangladesh at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Predicted XI

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh at the 2023 Cricket World Cup: Full fixtures list

Saturday, October 7: Bangladesh v Afghanistan, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala – 10:30am
Tuesday, October 10: England v Bangladesh, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala – 10:30am
Friday, October 13: New Zealand v Bangladesh, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – 2pm
Thursday, October 19: India v Bangladesh, MCA International Stadium, Pune – 2pm
Tuesday, October 24: South Africa v Bangladesh, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai – 2pm
Saturday, October 28: Netherlands v Bangladesh, Eden Gardens, Kolkata – 2pm
Tuesday, October 31: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Eden Gardens, Kolkata – 2pm
Monday, November 6: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi – 2pm
Saturday, November 11: Australia v Bangladesh, MCA International Stadium, Pune – 10:30am

A full preview of the 2023 World Cup appears in issue 71 of Wisden Cricket Monthly.