The year 2025 proved to be a rollercoaster for Bangladesh cricket, marked by moments of brilliance as well as deep disappointment. While the T20 format saw record victories and some unexpected losses, One Day Internationals (ODIs) continued to frustrate, and Test cricket provided both milestones and successes. From start to finish, the year kept fans on edge, with controversies off the field and tragedies on it, reflecting a challenging period for the nation’s cricketing fraternity.
On the Field: Performance Overview
Bangladesh played a record 30 T20 matches this year, securing 15 wins and enduring 14 losses. While bilateral series provided some relief, the team’s struggles in multinational tournaments persisted. Batting inconsistencies, particularly in the middle order, and frequent reshuffles in batting positions offered no solution to long-standing issues.
Key Individual Performances:
| Format | Most Runs | Most Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Test | Najmul Hossain – 532 | Taijul Islam – 33 |
| ODI | Towhid Hridoy – 388 | Rishad Hossain – 17 |
| T20 | Tanzid Hasan – 775 | Rishad Hossain – 33 |
In T20 cricket, Liton Das emerged as the highest run-scorer with 2,665 runs, surpassing all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Bangladesh’s batsmen struck 206 sixes in this format alone. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain dominated bowling charts across both limited-overs formats.
ODIs remained a sore point, with Bangladesh losing seven of eleven matches and dropping to tenth in the rankings. A lacklustre performance in the Champions Trophy and the unsettled batting lineup added to concerns.
Test cricket offered some respite, with three wins in six matches. Milestones included Mushfiqur Rahim playing his 100th Test and scoring a century, while Taijul Islam became the first Bangladeshi bowler to reach 250 Test wickets.
Off the Field: Controversy and Tragedy
Administrative upheavals continued following the 2024 political shift. Former captain and chief selector Faruk Ahmed was replaced by Aminul Islam Bulbul as BCB president. Controversial elections in November were marred by legal disputes, club boycotts, and candidate withdrawals.
Club cricket also faced turbulence. Forty-three clubs, citing illegitimate elections, refused to participate, including eight teams in the Dhaka First Division Cricket League.
Women’s cricket faced serious allegations. In November, pacer Jahanara Alam accused former team manager Manjurul Islam of sexual harassment, claiming it affected her mental health and career opportunities. Several other female cricketers echoed concerns, prompting the BCB to form a five-member investigative committee, whose report remains pending.
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) saw ongoing controversies over corruption and player suspensions. Former ICC anti-corruption chief Alex Marshall was appointed to ensure integrity, but team ownership withdrawals, particularly in Chittagong, complicated the tournament.
Tragedy struck the cricketing family on multiple occasions. Dhaka Capitals’ assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki and Barisal team physio Hasan Ahmed died after sudden collapses on the field. National captain Tamim Iqbal also suffered a heart-related scare during a DPL match but recovered after treatment in Dhaka and Singapore.
Conclusion
Bangladesh cricket in 2025 was a year of stark contrasts: remarkable individual achievements, significant milestones, and unforgettable victories were overshadowed by administrative chaos, off-field controversies, and tragic incidents. As the team looks to 2026, the challenge remains to consolidate talent, resolve structural issues, and restore stability both on and off the field.