DHAKA, Dec 29, 2023 (BSS)-While there was big success to cherish, Bangladesh

Cricket left the fans distressed also, giving them some big disappointment in
2023. World Cup flop show, stained relationship between country's two biggest
stars Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal forced cricket to hit lowest ebb. With
an expectation to seal the semifinal spot in the cricket's biggest
extravaganza for the first time, Bangladesh finished eighth and narrowly made
it to the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.

 They ended with just two wins, their worst return in World Cup since 2003.
But there was success, which showed Bangladesh are on right track despite the
hiccups. Men's team regrouped well by winning their maiden ODI and T20
victory against New Zealand at their own den at the end of this year.
 
Bangladesh in Test cricket

Statistically, Bangladesh had a good outing in 2023 as they registered three
victories in four matches including one against New Zealand. They beat
Ireland by seven wickets before crushing Afghanistan by 546 runs. This was
the third largest victory in Test cricket's history and Bangladesh's largest
against any team.

Najmul Hossain Shanto scored centuries in both innings to become second
Bangladeshi batter after Mominul Haque to hit centuries in both innings of a
Test. Bangladesh then beat New Zealand by 150 runs in Sylhet on a good pitch.
But when it looked that they would be unbeaten in Test format in 2023, they
fell in their own trap in Mirpur to concede a four wickets defeat. Unlike the
Sylhet pitch, they prepared a rank turner in Miprur which went against them
and denied them the first ever Test series victory against New Zealand.

Bangladesh's ODI pride tarnished

From 2015 to 2022, Bangladesh lost only one series at home to make the home
venue a fortress for them in ODI format. But the fortress was severely
breached in 2023, tarnishing Bangladesh's pride completely. In 2023 itself,
they lost three ODI series at home -England, Afghanistan and New Zealand were
the teams which thrived in Bangladesh's slow pitch to stun them. Bangladesh
however won series against Ireland at both home and away.

In between, they had a forgettable World Cup journey. However when it looked
they would have had a disappointing year in ODI format, they found success in
New Zealand, though it was in dead rubber. After conceding the series,
following New Zealand's victory in the first two matches, Bangladesh routed
the Kiwis by nine wickets in the third and final game and that too by
wrapping them up for just 98 runs.
 That victory was Bangladesh's first on New Zealand soil against the Kiwis
and it ended the Black Caps' 17-match winning streak at home. Overall they
played 32 ODIs in this year-won 11 and lost 18 while three matches ended in a
no result.

No longer a vulnerable side in T20 format

After a disappointing T20 World Cup outing in 2022, Bangladesh turned fortune
in this format under the shrewd leadership of Shakib Al Hasan. The captain
however vowed to make Bangladesh a force in this format like ODI and so far
he kept his word. Bangladesh are now no longer vulnerable side in T20 format.
They played seven matches (excluding three-match T20 series against New
Zealand which is going on) and won six of it, while lost just one.

The landmark incident was that they whitewashed current T20 World Cup
champions England in a three-match series at home. The Tigers beat Ireland by
2-1 and swept two-match series against old foes Afghanistan.

Tamim's retirement and captaincy saga

During the Afghanistan series in July, Tamim Iqbal suddenly retired from the
cricket. However at the intervention of Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina he
reversed the decision within 28 hours. Later it was revealed that the
relations between him and the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was tainted
somehow. Also he had cold relations with Shakib Al Hasan. However as he had
injury concerns, he relinquished ODI captaincy, paving the way for Shakib Al
Hasan to become the all format captain.
Tamim vs Shakib

The year will be remembered due to an unwanted saga between country's two
celebrated cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Ahead of the World
Cup, Tamim posted a video in his facebook where he revealed that he is tired
by the dirty game played by some people around him and also there was injury
concern which led him to skip the World Cup. Just hours after his video post,
Shakib in an interview with a private TV channel lambasted Tamim for his
childish behaviour. It is believed that the spat between the two stars just
ahead of the World Cup was instrumental in Bangladesh's flop World Cup show.
Asian Games flop show

Bangladesh were seeking a gold in Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in China but
left satisfied with bronze. The team was formed with the players, most of
which played in the national team and they won all of the matches in the
group phase against associated nations. When the real test came in semifinal,
they lost the match to eventual Champions India by nine wickets. However they
beat Pakistan to clinch bronze at least.