Cricket in Bangladesh: How the Country Became a Global Power in Cricket

For a long time, Bangladesh’s place in world cricket was as a negligible underdog to say the least. They were the team people expected to lose. But things have changed. Today, Bangladesh stands toe-to-toe with the biggest teams, playing fearless cricket and producing stars who can turn any game around.

It’s been years of effort, better coaching, and a new generation of players who believe they belong on the world stage. Fans have felt that shift too. And for many of those passionate fans, the excitement doesn’t end when the match begins. Some take their love for the game a step further by wagering on the outcome of the matches.

However, for those who want to join the league of those who bet on cricket and other sports in Bangladesh, understanding how the activities work is a must. Get familiar with the markets, odds, and the right bookies to use. Betting professionals in the country such as Mahdi Kamal also think punters should consider consulting review platforms and guides to get insights on the best betting site in bangladesh to ensure your wagering endeavor is safe.

The rest of this article will look at how Bangladesh went from being the underdogs of world cricket to one of its most respected teams.

The Emergence of Cricket Culture

Before Bangladesh became a Test nation, people loved cricket. In cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna, local clubs and neighbourhood teams were very important. Clubs in Dhaka such as Abahani, Mohammedan, Victoria, Wari, and Eaglets started active in the Dhaka First Division (later Dhaka Premier League) in the 1970s.

Getting Test Status and Early Struggles

In 2000, Bangladesh was made a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which meant Test status. That was a major turning point: to play Test cricket, the nation had to meet higher standards in its domestic game.

To prepare, the country started the National Cricket League (NCL) in 1999-2000. At first the matches were not first-class, but from the 2000-01 season, the NCL gained first-class status. But many difficulties came with the rise. Some of the early struggles included:

• Infrastructure gaps
• Funding constraints
• Talent retention and exposure
• Weak structures

Milestones of Success

Bangladesh has had moments that changed how people view them. Today, the country is one of the top 10 best cricket teams in the world.

Some of their major wins include:

• In March 2012, during the Asia Cup, Bangladesh chased down 290+ runs to beat India at Mirpur.
• In 2016, Bangladesh recorded their first ever Test win over England. This came in the second Test at Mirpur, where they bowled England out and chased down to win the match and draw the series 1–1.

Elated by the victory, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had this to say, “The last one-and-a-half years, if you see our record, I thought we are getting in there to play more Tests. I hope there will be more good results coming our way and they will send us more games against the big boys.”

• Also in 2017, Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in Colombo (their 100th Test match) by four wickets. It was their first Test win in Sri Lanka.
• August 2024, they beat Pakistan in Rawalpindi. It was the first ever Test win over Pakistan in 14 tries.

Rise in Limited-Overs Formats and T20 Era

Bangladesh’s growth has been strong in ODIs and T20s because limited-overs cricket allowed them to build momentum faster.

• A major highlight was in the 2019 Cricket World Cup: Bangladesh beat South Africa by 21 runs at The Oval. They made 330/6, which became one of their highest one-day totals.

Former England captain Alec Stewart acknowledged the win and praised the Bangladeshi players, saying, ‘‘Bangladesh have dominated proceedings and will upset at least a couple of other sides, especially if they play on used pitches more.’’

• In March 2023, Bangladesh beat Ireland by 183 runs in an ODI — their biggest win by runs so far. Shakib Al Hasan nearly hit a hundred, and Towhid Hridoy played a breakout innings.
• More recently, in T20 Internationals, Bangladesh recorded an 83-run win vs Sri Lanka in Dambulla in 2025, one of their biggest margins in T20Is.

Drivers of the Rise

Bangladesh’s rise in the cricket arena came from several factors. Let’s see some of them below.

Investment in Infrastructure

In the last few years, the nation has invested heavily in cricket facilities. The government and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have worked together to build better stadiums, academies, and training grounds.

A new international stadium, the Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium, is being built in Purbachal, Dhaka, with space for around 50,000 fans. Alongside this, over 200 mini-stadiums are being built across the country to give young players access to proper grounds and coaching setups.

Talent Development

The next big driver is the way the nation now grows its young players. The under-19 program has become one of the best in Asia, producing world-class talents such as Shoriful Islam, Towhid Hridoy, and Tanzid Hasan.

Conclusion

Bangladesh’s cricket story is about belief turning into reality. Years of effort and better planning have turned a struggling side into one that the world now takes seriously. This rise means the sport has become the baby of the people in the Asian nation.

The journey is not done yet. To stay strong, Bangladesh needs to keep improving its consistency, win more away games, and give young players the confidence to take on big moments. If they maintain their current trajectory, they should remain at the top for the foreseeable future.

The article was provided by Mahdi Kamal.