Highly skilled versatile player Mahmudullah, even after attending the fitness camp, has once more been left out from the team selection. The experienced campaigner, boasting 218 ODIs to his name, has been excluded from the roster following Bangladesh’s defeat to England in March during the ODI series.
This Wednesday marks the commencement of the 16th rendition of the Asia Cup, a cricket contest among six nations. After many debates, argument, and disagreement, finally all the concerning cricket boards agreed for the venue. This time Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-hosting the event. Pakistan competes against Nepal in the tournament opener held in Multan.
Defending champions Sri Lanka will strive to retain their title. This Asia Cup will stand out as the tournament hosted by two nations; Pakistan will host four matches, while Sri Lanka will stage the remaining nine matches.
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On August 12 Bangladesh Cricket Board disclosed a 17-member squad set to compete in the upcoming Asia Cup, headed by Shakib Al Hasan. After a break of 12 years, he’s been appointed as the captain of the ODI team. Managing the Test and T20 formats already, Shakib takes on this role due to the absence of the usual captain, Tamim Iqbal, who’s dealing with a back injury. Till date, Shakib has captained his nation in 50 ODIs.
Asia Cup 2023: The Bangladesh Team List
Scheduled in Group B, the Tigers are gearing up to commence their continental event on August 31, squaring off against co-host Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy. Their subsequent encounter will be against Afghanistan on September 3, slated to be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Batters:
- Mushfiqur Rahim
- Litton Das
- Tanzid Hasan Tamim
- Najmul Hossain Shanto
- Towhid Hridoy
- Mohammad Naim Sheikh
Bowlers:
- Taskin Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Shoriful Islam
- Tanzim Sakib
- Hasan Mahmud
- Nasum Ahmed
All-rounders:
- Shakib Al Hasan
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Afif Hossain
- Shamim Hossain
- Mahedi Hossain
Wicketkeeper:
Mushfiqur Rahim
Standby:
- Taijul Islam
- Saif Hasan
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Talented all-rounder Mahmudullah, despite being summoned to the fitness camp, has once again been omitted from the lineup. The seasoned player, with 218 ODIs under his belt, was removed from the squad subsequent to Bangladesh’s loss to England in March during the ODI series.
A prolonged discussion revolved around Mahmudullah, with the team management outlining a plan for the future. After weighing all variables, the conclusion was reached to omit Mahmudullah.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim secured his debut selection due to his outstanding performance in the recently concluded ACC Men’s Emerging Asia Cup last month. He accumulated a total of 179 runs in the four matches he played, achieving a striking rate of 116.99. Impressively, he achieved three half-centuries during this period. Notably, as the opener, he emerged as the top run-scorer for the Tigers in the tournament.
A look at Bangladesh’s performance in the Asia Cup Cricket Tournament so far
Bangladesh cricket team made their debut on the international scene during the 1986 Asia Cup cricket tournament against Pakistan. However, they suffered a defeat, losing by 7 wickets. Since then, the Tigers have participated in thirteen Asian Cup tournaments, comprising twelve instances in the ODI format and one in the T20 format.
When they first appeared in the 1986 edition, the Bangladesh team was labeled as minnows. However, Bangladesh has been playing ODIs as an ICC ODI playing nation since 1996. They have participated in every subsequent tournament and have taken on the role of hosts for a remarkable five Asia Cup cricket championships, notably achieving a three-year streak from 2012 to 2016.
Bangladesh hosted the 2012 Asia Cup, where they defied expectations by defeating both India and Sri Lanka during the group stage, securing their spot in the finals. This marked a significant chance for the Tigers to secure their first-ever Asia Cup championship. Regrettably, Pakistan shattered the dreams of countless Bangladeshi cricket enthusiasts by clinching victory in the final with a slender 2-run lead.
In the 2014, though Asia Cup held on their home turf, Bangladesh faced their most disastrous outcome, losing every one of their four group-stage matches against India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The 2016 edition of the Asia Cup was again arranged by Bangladesh Cricket Board. This marked the debut of the T20 format for the Asia Cup. Bangladesh advanced to the inaugural Twenty20 format Asia Cup championship by triumphing over the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan during the group stage. Nonetheless, their quest for victory in the final remained elusive as India defeated them by 8 wickets.
UAE hosted the 14th edition of the Asia Cup, featuring a one-day format tournament. Through a remarkable performance, Bangladesh secured a spot in the Super Fours by defeating Sri Lanka by a significant margin of 91 runs. The Tigers emerged victorious against both Afghanistan and Pakistan in the subsequent round, securing their spot in the championship match. Nevertheless, Bangladesh faced defeat at the hands of India in the final once again, dashing their aspirations of clinching an Asia Cup victory.
Bangladesh faced elimination from the Asia Cup 2022 following consecutive losses in the group B matches against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, which led to their exit from the tournament.
To sum up, Bangladesh’s experience in the Asia Cup Cricket Tournament has been quite eventful thus far. The nation has come remarkably close to winning the Asia Cup Cricket title on at least three occasions; nonetheless, victory eluded them. As the 2023 Asia Cup tournament approaches, the Team Tigers are on the verge of another chance to secure triumph in an Asian Cup championship. Nevertheless, considering their recent showings, the Bangladesh national team is likely to encounter challenges in progressing to the Super Four stage.
