While they do manage to comfortably qualify for the World Cup since the last few editions of the tournament, barring one or two inspired performances ever since they have become a regular team of the World Cups, Bangladesh haven't quite lived up to the promise that they have shown. They come into this edition of the tournament without the services of arguably their best-ever ODI batter Tamim Iqbal.
The Bangla Tigers, often a team that lets their emotions get the better of them, will feature in this edition of the competition with a public fallout between two of their greatest superstars- Tamim and their captain Shakib Al Hasan. While that might not auger well for the team, they do have a few resources available that could well make the difference and allow them to stay in the hunt especially in these Indian conditions on certain surfaces.
Let's dive deep into a SWOT Analysis of the Bangladesh team ahead of the World Cup.
Strengths
a) Spinners
A little bit of assistance for the spinners and Bangladesh are always in the game. The reason is simple: they have a capable spin-bowling attack at their disposal. Not only will Shakib Al Hasan be the all-rounder who provides the team with the perfect balance, given that his contributions with the bat will be extremely important but it his street-smartedness with the ball which will be of immense utility to the team. He will be assisted in the department by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the right-arm off break bowler to go with the left-arm spin of Shakib. The Bangladesh skipper will bring in years of experience into the team's spin bowling unit, also having bowled in many overs in Indian conditions, through rich experience of international cricket and playing in the IPL. He has a great record in World Cup cricket history which is a testimony to how effective he can be, come the crunch games in subcontinental conditions.
b) Well-Balanced side
On paper, Bangladesh looks a well-balanced side. They have the exuberance of youth as well as experience in their ranks which seems like the most perfect combination for a special campaign. However, they would expect more from their batters. If their batting unit can keep them in the match with a fighting score more often than not, trust their bowling to allow them to stitch a few wins together. One example that can be cited is their win over India in the Asia Cup Super Fours fixture. Bangladesh could use that victory as a template for what is to come ahead.
Weaknesses
a) Injuries
Several teams have been hit with injuries heading into the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and Bangladesh are also one of them. Their star pacer Ebadot Hossain has already been ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury which will be a massive blow. In addition, even though the Bangladesh team management wanted to include Tamim Iqbal in the squad, it was a persistent back injury that kept him out of the final squad.
b) History of not being able to cross the finish line
There have been several incidents when Bangladesh have come close to pulling off some extraordinary wins but they have fallen short each time. Each time they have found themselves in a position to upset a bigger team, quite often they have celebrated early or let their guards down before the match got over which is why they have ended up losing the match despite coming close to winning games.
Opportunity
a) Best-Ever Finish In World Cup
Another World Cup and another chance for Bangladesh to prove that they are no longer the minnows in World Cricket. They have the potential in them but can they perform consistently over the course of a round-robin stage is something that will determine whether they can go deeper in the competition. While teams like India, Australia, England among others would be aware that they cannot afford to take Bangladesh lightly, often it is they themselves who bring their downfall rather than opposition.
Threats
a) Emotional Outburst
Bangladesh players wear their hearts on their sleeves is a given but whether they can keep their emotions in check when that is the need of the hour will be crucial. They often find themselves attracting controversies whether it be their Naagin dance and other animated celebrations or unnecessary involvements with verbal exchanges with players/umpires.
b) Lack Of A Champion Mindset
Bangladesh sometimes lack the winning mentality which can best be explaind with Shakib Al Hasan's 'We aren’t here to win T20 World Cup' comment before the tournament last year. If a team enters this mentality, they will find a way to lose games. It is high time that Bangladesh believe that they are in India to win and can beat any opposition on a given day before they can execute it on the field.
Full Squad:
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Litton Kumer Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vice-captain), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Bangladesh ODI World Cup 2023 Full schedule
| FIXTURE | DATE | VENUE |
| Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | October 7 | Dharamsala |
| Bangladesh vs England | October 10 | Dharamsala |
| Bangladesh vs New Zealand | October 14 | Chennai |
| Bangladesh vs India | October 19 | Pune |
| Bangladesh vs South Africa | October 24 | Mumbai |
| Bangladesh vs Qualifier 1 | October 28 | Kolkata |
| Bangladesh vs Pakistan | October 31 | Kolkata |
| Bangladesh vs Qualifier 2 | November 6 | Delhi |
| Bangladesh vs Australia | November 12 | Pune |
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Prediction: Bangladesh will give a tough fight to some of the heavyweights but might just not be able to make the semifinals.