Bangladesh has long found stability in ODI cricket, even when their performances in Tests and T20Is fluctuated. However, over the past two years, their results in both global tournaments and bilateral series have been dismal.
Before leaving for the Champions Trophy, Najmul Hossain Shanto confidently dismissed concerns about a lack of preparation. “We have played this format since childhood. We’ll adapt; it won’t be a problem,” he said. The statement came despite Bangladesh’s players spending the last month and a half focused on T20 cricket, with Shanto himself not having played any format for over a month. Yet, the Bangladesh captain remained optimistic—because it was ODI cricket, their comfort zone.
Shanto wasn’t alone in his confidence. For years, Bangladesh had found solace in ODIs, steadily building their reputation as a formidable team. While their Test and T20 performances were inconsistent, their growth in ODIs was evident through consistent results, improving skills, and a rising global stature.
But now, that reputation is crumbling. Their progress has stalled, and Bangladesh’s ODI performances have dipped significantly.
After crashing out of the 2023 World Cup with disastrous performances, Bangladesh endured a similar fate in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Their struggles extend to bilateral series as well, shattering the hopes that they would establish themselves as a dominant ODI side.
A glance at the statistics since 2023 paints a bleak picture. In 43 ODIs, Bangladesh has won only 14, lost 26, and seen three matches yield no results. No other full ICC member has lost as many matches in this period. Their win-loss ratio (0.538) is better than only Ireland (0.533).
Ironically, Bangladesh has fared better in Tests and T20Is during this period. They have won six of their 14 Tests, including a historic whitewash of Pakistan on their home soil and a victory in the West Indies. In T20Is, they have won 22 out of 38 matches.
But ODI cricket, where Bangladesh once excelled, has seen a dramatic decline. The team managed just two wins in the 2023 World Cup—against Afghanistan in their opener and Sri Lanka later in the tournament. They failed to compete against stronger teams and even suffered a shocking loss to the Netherlands. It was the first time since 2003 that Bangladesh finished a World Cup with fewer than three wins.
Heading into the Champions Trophy, Shanto boldly stated that Bangladesh’s goal was to be champions. Perhaps it was the format that fueled his confidence. However, reality proved harsh. Their campaign lasted just two matches, with heavy defeats to India and New Zealand crushing their dreams.
This marks the third consecutive ICC ODI tournament where Bangladesh has exited in the first round. In 2019, they were in contention for a semifinal spot until the final stages, securing wins over South Africa, West Indies, and Afghanistan. But in the last two editions, they have failed to even put up a fight.
Their struggles extend beyond ICC tournaments. Since 2023, Bangladesh has played nine bilateral ODI series and won only three—two of those against Ireland. They have suffered series defeats to Afghanistan and New Zealand both home and away, and their December tour of the West Indies ended in a humiliating whitewash.
Their performance graph in ODIs is on a downward spiral. In 43 matches, they have reached 300 runs just six times, with three of those instances coming against Ireland. Even when they managed high scores, their bowling often failed them, resulting in losses.
Beyond the numbers, their style of play lacks evolution. While modern ODI cricket is constantly evolving with higher scoring rates and innovative tactics influenced by T20 cricket, Bangladesh has struggled to adapt. They have neither kept pace with the changes nor maintained the consistency that once defined them.
Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar is cautious about drawing conclusions but acknowledges the growing concerns. Speaking to Bdnews24, he emphasized the need for immediate action.
“I wouldn’t say we are declining in ODIs just yet, but it’s time to be cautious. Planning for the 2027 World Cup should start now. We must focus on how we want to play in bilateral series. The thinking should begin right after the Champions Trophy.”
One glaring issue is the lack of centuries from Bangladesh’s batters. Since early 2023, they have managed just eight ODI centuries—only Zimbabwe and Ireland have fewer among full ICC members.
Out of those eight, only two have come from openers. Soumya Sarkar’s 169 against New Zealand in 2023 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 112 against Afghanistan while playing as a makeshift opener. Beyond that, openers like Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan, and others have failed to deliver. Even when opportunities arose, Anamul Haque and Mohammad Naim couldn’t capitalize. As a result, Liton was eventually dropped from the team. The opening combination remains an ongoing problem.
Habibul believes the inconsistency at the top has hurt Bangladesh’s ODI fortunes.
“We are going through a transition period with our openers. The lack of runs from them has been costly. Against New Zealand, the starts were decent, but there’s no consistency.”
“Tamim (Iqbal) used to score big runs regularly. Now, we don’t have an opener providing that kind of stability. Our top-order used to be reliable, but that’s no longer the case. That’s a big reason behind our struggles.”
However, captain Shanto does not single out any specific area for blame. Following Bangladesh’s elimination from the Champions Trophy, he pointed to an overall lack of cohesion.
“I believe that success in tournaments like this depends on collective performances. One day, the top order does well, another day, the middle order performs. Sometimes the fielding clicks… but it’s all disjointed. If we can put together a complete team effort, only then can we challenge top teams and win big tournaments.”
Bangladesh still has one last game in the Champions Trophy—a chance to salvage some pride when they face hosts Pakistan on Thursday. A win might not change their recent struggles, but it could offer a small spark of inspiration for the road ahead.
