In cricket, the Legends Series will introduce Bangladesh’s All-Time Greatest cricketers. Three decades ago, Bangladesh made its debut in international cricket. They frequently set new standards on the international stage for the wrong reasons thus, their early years were anything but a love tale. The team waited five years and 35 test matches after receiving Test status to record its first victory, and most commentators questioned its hasty ascent to the top tier. While they occasionally pulled off significant upsets in ODIs, their record wasn’t particularly impressive until a few years ago. However, the team has developed a reputation for producing impressive performances and defeating the finest in the industry since the 2015 World Cup.
Who ranks among the finest cricketers from Bangladesh in history? We will now find out.
Here are the Top Cricket Legends of Bangladesh:
5. Mohammad Rafique
Mohammad Rafique. (Photo Source: Facebook)
Long before the Shakibs and the Mehedi Hassan ignited a spin bowling craze that gripped the entire cricket world, Mohammad Rafique was the man who maintained Bangladesh’s spin bowling unit operating throughout their early years in international cricket. Rafique, a conventional left-arm spinner, oversaw Bangladesh’s spin division for more than ten years.
His ODI and Test bowling averages were 40.76 and 37.91, respectively. The spinner’s five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in 2005 helped the nation of the subcontinent win its maiden Test, and he concluded his career with 225 wickets in other countries.
4. Mashrafe Mortaza
Mashrafe Mortaza. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The impact Mashrafe Mortaza has had on the Bangladesh one-day international team goes beyond the 351 international wickets he has collected at an astounding average of 33.45.
Mortaza is a symbol of Bangladesh’s difficulties and the recent, significant transition the nation has endured. The pace bowler maintained to bowl rapidly and accurately despite being hindered by injuries and other issues, leading the nation’s bowling department on numerous occasions.
In 2006, he established a new record by going 6 for 26 against Kenya in Nairobi.
Currently, he is also responsible for finding and developing new talent, and many young individuals credit Mortaza with creating a professional and organised atmosphere in Bangladesh’s locker room for their success.
3. Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Both behind the wickets and in the middle order, Mushfiqur Rahim is a trustworthy performer. His averages in Tests and ODIs are 35.65 and 32.10, respectively, for a batsman who normally bats farther down the order and mostly with the tail-enders.
He made his debut on the world stage when he was 16 years old, and ever since then, he has played a significant role for his side. His 44 international fifties and 266 innings of play speak highly of his capacity to patch up issues and bat cohesively.
He has gathered more than 4000 runs in ODIs and more than 3000 runs in Tests, making him one of Bangladesh’s mainstays in the batting department right now.
He scored an aggressive hundred in a loss versus India in an ODI for the Asia Cup in 2014. In the 2015 World Cup, he amassed 298 runs, the second-highest total by a Bangladeshi batsman with a strike rate over 100.
Also Read: 5 legendary cricketers who retired from the sport while being in their prime
2. Tamim Iqbal
Tamim Iqbal. (Photo Source: ICC)
The only Bangladeshi to have amassed more than 10,000 runs in international play is Tamim Iqbal, the finest batsman in the nation’s history. In ODIs, he has scored 5743 runs, and in tests, 3847 runs.
Although the left-handed opening batsman made his debut ten years ago, his career has only recently begun to really take off. He has amassed a sizable number of runs across all formats, and as a result, Bangladesh’s batting order is solid.
His heroic 50 against India in an ODI at the 2007 World Cup handed Bangladesh an exciting and historic win. Bangladesh has won thanks to his ascents to the top in recent years.
Tamim contributed significantly to Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory against Australia in 2017, scoring half centuries in both innings, and his 104-run effort against England in 2016 was a major reason for that triumph. His double-hundred saved the match against Pakistan in the Khulna Test in 2015.
He achieved the most international hundreds (18) and fifty-sixes (66) for the nation.
1. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In all three formats, Bangladesh’s team relies heavily on Shakib Al Hasan, who is undoubtedly the country’s best all-rounder and biggest match-winner.
Despite playing for more than ten years, he has only participated in 51 Tests. But with 188 wickets and 3594 runs, he ranks among the finest all-rounders in the world. His left-arm bowling is quite effective; he has more than 200 ODI wickets. His middle-order batting has saved the team on countless occasions. In ODIs, he has amassed close to 5,000 runs.
Bangladesh’s team leans significantly on Shakib Al Hasan in all three formats because he is without a doubt the nation’s top all-arounder and biggest match-winner.
He has only taken part in 51 Tests despite playing for more than ten years. He still ranks among the best all-rounders in the world with 188 wickets and 3594 runs. More than 200 ODI wickets attest to the effectiveness of his left-arm bowling. Numerous times, his middle-order batting has kept the squad from losing. He has amassed around 5,000 runs in ODIs.