ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Bangladesh all 15 player profiles
Meet Bangladesh's 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
Published : May 28, 2019 15:27 IST
Bangladesh
Previous Apperances: 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain)
Bowler | Age: 35
Matches- 209 | Wickets- 265 | Best- 6-26 | Eco- 4.8
Debuting as a 17-year old in 2001, Mortaza possessed express speed with accuracy that could put any batsman in a fix. He was the chief architect of India’s group stage exit at the 2007 World Cup picking up 4-38 as Bangladesh won by five wickets. In 2015, he also led Bangladesh to bilateral series wins against Pakistan, India and South Africa, the most successful era in the country’s history. Multiple injuries to knee and ankle has forced the ‘Narail Express’ to say goodbye to T20Is and Tests to focus on ODIs. The Bangladesh squad have made it clear that they are motivated to give the veteran of five World Cups a deserving goodbye in his final tournament.
Tamim Iqbal
Batsman | Age: 30
Matches- 193 | Runs- 6636 | HS- 154 | Avg- 36.26 | 100s- 11 | 50s- 46
For Tamim Iqbal, cricket is an integral part of the family-- his elder brother Nafees Iqbal played 16 ODIs for Bangladesh, while his uncle Akram Khan captained the country between 1994-98. Iqbal was in the limelight after his 51 at the top of the order sealed India’s exit from the 2007 World Cup and has been one of the consistent batsman across all formats. The same consistency helped him become the first Bangaldeshi batsman to reach 10,000 international runs. He is also Bangladesh’s top run-getter across all formats. His ability to switch gears to up the scoring rate makes him a prized wicket for any opposition.
Liton Das
Batsman | Age: 24
Matches- 28 | Runs- 584 | HS- 121 | Avg- 21.62 | 100s- 1 | 50s- 2
The 24-year old could be a lethal weapon at the top of the order when on song, but inconsistency has plagued his development ever since making his debut in 2015. Just one hundred in four years of playing ODIs is a humble return, which could make the team send in-form Soumya Sarkar up the order alongside Tamim Iqbal. Bangladesh will be hoping for an encore of his 121 against India in the Asia Cup 2018 despite his recent underwhelming performances. His wicketkeeping abilities also provide Bangaldesh with a backup for Mushfiqur Rahim.
Soumya Sarkar
Batsman | Age: 26
Matches- 44 | Runs- 1467 | HS- 127* | Avg- 36.67 | 100s- 2 | 50s- 10
One of the surprise picks for the 2015 World Cup, Soumya Sarkar showed promise with some useful knocks against England and New Zealand as Bangladesh reached the quarterfinals. The southpaw played a big role in 2015 as Bangladesh won three consecutive ODI series at home by beating Pakistan, India and South Africa. His form has been a major worry for Bangladesh in the past few years. However, the Bengal Tigers can be optimistic about Sarkar going into the World Cup as he recently became the first ever Bangladeshi batsman to score a List-A double century in the Dhaka Premier League.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Wicket-keeper/Batsman | Age: 31
Matches- 205 | Runs- 5558 | HS- 144 | Avg- 34.95 | 100s- 6 | 50s- 33 | Catches- 169 | Stumpings- 42
Bangladesh’s third-highest run-getter across all formats, Mushfiqur Rahim will be playing in his fourth World Cup and will look to propel the side which has lost six multinational tournament finals. A fan-favorite in Bangladesh, Rahim’s knocks are full of power-hitting and emotional celebrations. After making his international debut just a week before turning 18, Rahim has proved to be the heir to Bangladeshi wicket-keeping great Khaled Mashud with his nifty glovework. He has done reasonably well batting all across the order, but is the most effective batting at No. 4 and No. 6.
Mahamudullah
All-rounder | Age: 33
Matches- 175 | Runs- 3757 | HS- 128* | Avg- 34.15 | 100s- 3 | 50s- 20 | Wickets- 76 | Best- 3-4 | Eco- 5.16
Mahamudullah was Bangladesh’s best batsman at the 2015 World Cup scoring back-to-back hundreds against England and New Zealand as his team reached the quarterfinals for the first time. His composure under pressure adds solidity to the middle-order which has witnessed dramatic collapses in crucial matches. He is also Bangladesh’s fourth highest run scorer across all formats. His form has been a worrying factor for Bangladesh going into the World Cup as he has scored just three fifties in 20 matches at an average of 32.23. Mahamudullah started off as a bowling all-rounder but his off-spin services have been called upon rarely in the past few years.
Shakib Al Hasan
All-rounder | Age: 32
Matches- 198 | Runs- 5717 | HS- 134* | Avg- 35.73 | 100s- 7 | 50s- 42 | Wickets- 249 | Best- 5-47 | Eco- 4.44
One of the finest all-rounders in world cricket right now, Shakib Al Hasan has been indispensable in Bangladesh’s setup for the past twelve years. He is the country’s second-highest run scorer and top wicket-taker, above Mashrafe Mortaza, across all formats. Lack of proper game time in the past six months – missing the New Zealand tour due to injury and playing just three matches in the IPL – had been a concern for team management, but a run-a-ball 61 against West Indies in the recent tri-series proved Shakib has no jitters when it comes to delivering on the big stage.
Check out all the bios, stats of 150 World Cup players at one place
Mohammad Mithun
Batsman | Age: 28
Matches- 18 | Runs- 420 | HS- 63 | Avg- 32.30 | 50s- 4
Despite making his List-A debut at the age of 15 and highly rated by coaches in the domestic circles, Mithun’s ODI career never took off as Bangladesh’s has been overcrowded in the keeper-batsman department. After making his debut in the home series against India in 2014, Mithun did not play another ODI until 2018 Asia Cup where off-field controversies freed up space for a technically sound lower-order batsman. Ever since, the right-hander has been playing as a specialist batsman despite being overlooked for the role of an opener and wicket-keeper. He will look to make the most of his maiden World Cup after landing a place in the squad with two back-to-back fifties in the New Zealand series.
Sabbir Rahman
Batsman | Age: 27
Matches- 61 | Runs- 1219 | HS- 102 | Avg- 25.93 | 100s- 1 | 50s- 5
The pressure of performing well at the World Cup will weigh heavily on this explosive middle-order batsman after enduring a rough nine months. He was slapped with a six-month ban and TK 20 Lakh in September, 2018 by the BCB for allegedly abusing fans on social media and getting into a feud with his teammate, posing questions over his international career. But with team captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s backing, he was selected for the New Zealand series in February. He paid back the skipper’s trust with a maiden ODI hundred in Dunedin and will back his power-hitting to churn up another big performance at the World Cup.
Mosaddek Hossain
Batsman | Age: 23
Matches- 26 | Runs- 407 | HS- 52* | Avg- 33.91 | 50s- 2
A smart player of spin bowling with his nifty footwork and comfortable against pace, Mosaddek Hossain scored three double centuries and 1000 plus runs in his 12 first-class matches. His performances in the Bangladesh Premier League earned him high praise from Tamim Iqbal, who described the youngster as a player with “45-year old brain”. Hossain’s diminishing performances over the past three years and disciplinary issues have been criticised by former Bangladesh coaches and with no top-order promotion in sight, Hossain will be under pressure to deliver in his maiden World Cup.
Mohammad Saifuddin
All-rounder | Age: 22
Matches- 13 | Runs- 175 | HS- 50 | 50s- 1 | Wickets- 11 | Best- 3-45 | Eco- 5.23
“My mother used to say that a baby may fall, while taking his first steps but does that mean he will not walk? I will get hit but I will learn from it,” Saifuddin spoke philosophically, referring to the 2017 T20I in South Africa where he was hit for five sixers by David Miller in his first over. However, the rookie pacer gave away 22 runs in his next 18 balls, proving that he has the temperament to succeed on the big stage. The youngster underplays his batting abilities despite having two 40-plus scores and a fifty in ODIs – a factor that could prove crucial for Bangladesh. He has enough variations in his arsenal that could trouble batsmen in the World Cup.
Mehidy Hasan
Bowler | Age: 21
Matches- 28 | Wickets- 29 | Best- 4-29 | Eco- 4.38
A gifted off-spinner, Hasan has captained Bangladesh twice in Under 19 World Cup after being named the side’s captain at the age of 16. He was named Player of the Tournament in the 2016 Under 19 World Cup after helping his team finish third which earned him his maiden Test call up against visiting England. He finished with figures of 6/80 in his first ever innings and won the Man of the Series with three six-wicket hauls in the series. He is highly effective on flat surfaces with his unerring accuracy and could prove to be a crucial in the foreseen hot English summer.
Rubel Hossain
Bowler | Age: 29
Matches- 97 | Wickets- 123 | Best- 6-26 | Eco- 5.62
Scarily quick with a slightly-slinging action, emotional, controversial – Hossain ticks all the boxes that makes pace bowling an exciting watch. Said to have pioneered the non-swinging glider he calls ‘Butterfly’, Hossain has played a crucial part in Bangladesh’s 4-0 ODI series sweep of New Zealand in 2010 and was instrumental in Bangladesh reaching the quarters for the first time in the 2015 World Cup by knocking out England. Despite his poor numbers in Tests, Hossain’s impact in the limited-overs remains undoubted. Fans could be set for an encore of his famous victory lap at the Adelaide Oval from the previous World Cup if his team makes it far in 2019.
Mustafizur Rahman
Bowler | Age: 23
Matches- 46 | Wickets- 83 | Best- 6-43 | Eco- 4.88
One of the exciting pacers in world cricket right now, the left-armer turned into a superstar when he paved the path for Bangladesh’s first bilateral ODI series win against India in 2015 with 13 wickets from three matches. Mustafizur makes up for his lack of express pace with intelligent variations, particularly the slow off-cutter which has now become his signature move. Injuries have curtailed his ascension to the top echelon, but with good performances in the tri-series against West Indies and Ireland, Mustafizur will look to make a lasting impact on the big stage.
Abu Jayed
Bowler | Age: 25
Matches- 2 | Wickets- 5 | Best- 5-58 | Eco- 6.33
Medium-pacer Abu Jayed’s has been surprise pick for Bangladesh’s World Cup squad as the management decided to drop the experienced Taskin Ahmed for the 25-year old. He has played five Tests and 3 T20Is since making his debut in February 2018, and made ODI debut was against the West Indies on May 13, 2019. With a James Anderson-esque jump-release action, Jayed has the ability to swing the ball both ways and can pose batsmen problems in overcast conditions during the English summer. He might not be the fourth pacer in all Bangaldesh’s matches, but is a good backup to have.