With the T20 World Cup looming, Bangladesh’s batsmen are battling form issues that could cast a shadow over their campaign. Saif Hassan, the national team’s vice-captain in T20 cricket, was spotted on the outer field of Sylhet International Stadium the day before yesterday. Accompanied by a thrower, he spent nearly two hours in batting practice, running laps alone, determined to fine-tune his game. Having missed the playing XI in the previous match, Saif seems intent on rectifying his performance deficiencies.
He returned to the XI against Sylhet Titans in the evening, batting at number five and scoring 22 runs off 14 balls. Yet, his previous four matches reveal a string of underwhelming scores: 1, 9, 1, and 15. Saif’s extra efforts on the practice field underline his determination, but he is far from the only batsman struggling in the ongoing BPL.
Across the board, Bangladesh’s regular national team batsmen have failed to shine. With the team’s participation in the World Cup still unconfirmed, the current form of these players offers little reassurance. During the nearly two-month hiatus from international cricket, only Parvez Hossain has ranked among the top 10 run-scorers in this year’s BPL.
Tanzid Hasan, last year’s most successful T20 batsman for Bangladesh, renowned for his six-hitting ability, has been inconsistent for Rajshahi Warriors despite a direct contract. His scores across six matches—10, 20, 29, 2, 21, and 5—mirror the wider batting slump.
| Player | Matches | Scores (Runs) | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saif Hassan | 5 | 1, 9, 1, 15, 22 | – |
| Tanzid Hasan | 6 | 10, 20, 29, 2, 21, 5 | 109.27 |
| Liton Das | 6 | 47, … (total 129 runs) | – |
| Towhid Hridoy | 6 | 106 | 109.27 |
| Nurul Hasan | 4 | 20 | – |
| Parvez Hossain | 8 | 236 | 140 |
Liton Das, Bangladesh’s T20 captain, has also been struggling. Traditionally a number three batsman, he has opened the innings for Rangpur Riders in the BPL, starting brightly with 47 off 31 balls against Chattogram Royals, but inconsistency has followed, leaving him with 129 runs from six matches.
Middle-order concerns compound the problem. Following the omission of Zaker Ali, the team’s reliance has shifted to Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, and Nurul Hasan. Of these, only Shamim has delivered a notable innings—81 runs off 43 balls—though it came in a losing cause. Towhid’s six-match tally stands at 106 runs, while Nurul has managed just 20 from four innings.
In contrast, Parvez Hossain has been a rare beacon of form, scoring 236 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 140. His consistency in the middle order offers some solace, yet Bangladesh’s batting remains a major concern ahead of the World Cup—if the team ultimately participates.
With key batsmen struggling for form, Bangladesh faces a critical test in ensuring their lineup can deliver under the global spotlight. The upcoming weeks of preparation may well define their World Cup fortunes.