ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025: BANGLADESH HAVE A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

Bangladesh face a tough task in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The Tigers are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, India and New Zealand. Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh will open their Champions Trophy campaign against India in Dubai.

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Bangladesh face a tough task in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The Tigers are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, India and New Zealand. Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh will open their Champions Trophy campaign against India in Dubai. Their next two games are set to be held in Pakistan. Can Bangladesh spring a surprise against the big teams? Well, going by their trend of late, this looks highly unlikely. If Bangladesh are to flex their muscles, they need their experienced figures to come good and deliver. The Bangladesh management made a big call earlier by removing veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from the team. Shakib, who is battling off-field issues, is suspended from bowling due to illegal action. The think tank made a bold call in not having him as a pure batter. Bangladesh’s last outing in a major 50-over tournament saw them finish 8th in the ODI World Cup in India (2023). Since then, they played four bilateral ODI series, losing 2-1 to New Zealand away, winning 2-1 against Sri Lanka at home before losing to Afghanistan 2-1 in the UAE and 3-0 against West Indies in the Caribbean.

As per ESPNcricinfo, across 284 matches in Asia, Bangladesh have won 104 in addition to losing 174 (NR 6). Bangladesh have been dominated by the likes of India, Pakistan and New Zealand in ODIs. Each team has beaten the Tigers on 30-plus occasions.

Ahead of a cracking ICC Champions Trophy, here we present the strengths, weaknesses and analysis of Bangladesh’s squad.

BANGLADESH SQUAD: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

STRENGTHS OF BANGLADESH