The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup 2024 is just about a week away, starting from June 2nd. With teams like Australia, England, and India in it, Bangladesh are definitely not the favourites for a top finish however, they can still spring up some surprises on the way. That being said let us take a look at if the players are equipped to handle the pressure at the international stage.
Bangladesh Team Rating (5/10)
The Bangladesh Tigers are facing some challenges following their recent series loss against the USA, which has raised questions about their readiness for the upcoming T20 World Cup. While their squad looks promising, there are noticeable weaknesses, particularly in their batting lineup.
They’ve been struggling to build solid partnerships at the top of the order, and their spin department lacks consistency. Although Mustafizur Rahman’s outstanding form offers some hope, the overall team cohesion seems shaky, which could affect their performance in the World Cup.
Leading the team is Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who brings stability to the batting lineup alongside players like Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, and Towhid Hridoy. In bowling, they have a mix of young talent and experienced campaigners like Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Shoriful Islam.
However, concerns remain about Taskin Ahmed’s fitness due to a rib injury, adding uncertainty to their preparations for the tournament.
Najmul Hossain Shanto (6/10)
Najmul Hossain Shanto has been one of the most reliable and consistent players for Bangladesh. In his T20I career, he has maintained an average of 24.87. Over his last 10 T20Is, he has averaged a strong 38.5. Shanto has participated in one T20 World Cup, where he scored 180 runs in five matches, averaging 36.00, with a highest score of 71.
Litton Das (7/10)
Litton Das, despite some recent struggles, remains a bright spot in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. He has scored 1804 runs in T20Is with a strike rate of 128.12. Litton has played in two T20 World Cups, scoring 260 runs in 13 matches. His highest score in these tournaments is 60. While he has not yet scored a century, his experience and consistent performances are invaluable to the team.
Soumya Sarkar (5.5/10)
Soumya Sarkar is known for his aggressive batting style, though he has struggled with consistency, maintaining an average of 17.92 in T20Is. Across three T20 World Cups, he has scored 151 runs in 15 innings. Recently, he has shown notable performances against the USA and Zimbabwe, recording scores of 43*, 20, and 41.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim (5/10)
A new kid on the block, Tanzid Hasan Tamim has impressed with an average of 47.40 in his seven T20I matches. His highest score of 67* demonstrates his ability to anchor the innings and contribute significantly to the team’s efforts. However, he has yet to appear in a T20 World Cup.
Tawhid Hridoy (6.5/10)
Tawhid Hridoy has shown consistency and adaptability in recent T20 matches, maintaining a career average of 30.26 with a strike rate of 131.59. His performances against the USA included scores of 25 and 58, though he faced challenges against Zimbabwe, managing only 1 and 12. Despite these fluctuations, Hridoy remains a vital part of Bangladesh’s middle order.
Jaker Ali Anik (4/10)
Jaker Ali Anik, has demonstrated quite potential in his limited international experience. In 13 T20I matches, he has scored 210 runs at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of 128.04. His performances highlight his growing confidence and consistency.
Shakib Al Hasan (7.5/10)
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is set to play a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup campaign. With 2440 runs and 146 wickets in T20Is, Shakib has an average of 23.46 and a strike rate of 121.93. His bowling is equally impressive, with an economy rate of 6.78, making him a key player for Bangladesh.
Mahmudullah Riyad (5/10)
Mahmudullah Riyad is an experienced all-rounder who brings stability to Bangladesh’s middle order. In T20Is, he has scored 2299 runs and taken 39 wickets. His batting average is 26.76 with a strike rate of 119.05, and his bowling economy rate is 7.13, showcasing his versatility and resilience.
Shakib Mahedi Hasan (5.5/10)
Shakib Mahedi Hasan, an emerging all-rounder, offers valuable contributions with both bat and ball. He has taken 38 wickets in T20Is at an average of 27.28 and an economy rate of 6.59. With the bat, he has scored 317 runs with a highest score of 30* and a strike rate of 103.25.
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Mustafizur Rahman (7/10)
Mustafizur Rahman, a key left-arm pacer for Bangladesh, has 120 wickets in 96 T20I matches. He boasts an impressive average of 21.56 and an economy rate of 7.55. Recently, he made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to claim six wickets for just 10 runs in the third T20I against the USA. Rahman also had a decent IPL 2024 outing with 14 wickets in eight games with best bowling figures of 4/29.
Shoriful Islam (6/10)
Young pace bowler Shoriful Islam has proven his worth with 46 wickets in 41 T20I matches. He has an average of 24.23 and an economy rate of 8.14. His recent performances against the USA and Zimbabwe have demonstrated his ability to take crucial wickets and contribute to the team’s success.
Tanvir Islam (5/10)
Tanvir Islam has faced challenges in his T20I career, taking just 2 wickets in 4 matches with an average of 34.50 and an economy rate of 7.66. His recent performances, including figures of 0/14 and 1/26 against Zimbabwe, show that he is still working to make a significant impact at the international level.
Rishad Hossain (5.5/10)
Rishad Hossain has shown potential in his T20I career, taking 15 wickets in 17 matches with an average of 24.86 and an economy rate of 7.17. His recent performances against the USA, including taking 2/21 and 1/7, highlight his ability to control the game and take crucial wickets.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib (5/10)
Tanzim Hasan Sakib, an exciting young prospect for Bangladesh, has taken 4 wickets in his 6 T20I matches. Despite a high bowling average of 45.75 and an economy rate of 8.31, he has shown promise with notable performances, such as his 1/32 against the USA.
Taskin Ahmed (6.5/10)
Taskin Ahmed is preparing for a return in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup opener against Sri Lanka after recovering from a rib cage injury. With 64 wickets in 61 T20I matches, Taskin has an average of 24.79 and an economy rate of 7.53. Before his injury, he was in excellent form, taking eight wickets in the first four T20Is against Zimbabwe and earning the Player of the Series award.
Bangladesh T20 World Cup 2024 Squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Travelling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud