Bangladesh finished their 2023 World Cup journey with an eight-wicket loss to Australia in Pune on Saturday, November 11. They were already eliminated from the semi-finals competition and finished third position in the points table, and their chance for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is still shaky. Is it Bangladesh's worst-ever performance in a World Cup campaign? Let's see their overall performance and what went wrong.

Bangladesh's Overall Performance Analysis in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 

In this World Cup, Bangladesh has experienced more disappointments than victories. They began with a win against Afghanistan but lost six consecutive games. However, they won the eighth match against Sri Lanka but lost the last game by 8 wickets to Australia.

Bangladesh is currently in the 8th position in the points table, and they are still in danger of not getting the chance to participate in the eight-nation 50-over format tournament, which will take place in February 2025 in Pakistan. If the Netherlands beats India, Bangladesh will not have any chance to appear in the Champions Trophy.

Analyzing Bangladesh's Performance

To understand why Bangladesh hasn't been doing well in the 2023 World Cup, let's take a closer look at their matches against each opponent.

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan

In their ICC World Cup opening match on October 7, 2023, at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, Bangladesh managed to bowl out Afghanistan for 156 runs. Bangladesh secured a six-wicket victory, and they scored 158 runs for 4 wickets, with Shanto scoring 59 not out and Mehidy scoring 57. Afghans lost the toss and went for batting first. They managed to score 156 runs, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz being their top scorer with 47 runs. Shakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were the most successful bowlers for Bangladesh, each taking three wickets. They managed to wrap up the Afghan innings in 37.2 overs.

Read more: Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Showing Light of Hope

Bangladesh vs England 

This match took place on October 10, 2023, at HPCA Stadium. After losing the toss, England was sent to bat first, and they managed to score 364 runs while losing 9 wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Although Bangladesh couldn't put much pressure on the English team at the beginning of their innings, they managed to bowl well towards the end. Otherwise, England could have easily scored more than 400 runs. England added 70 runs in the last 65 balls of their innings, with Bangladesh taking seven wickets. Shariful Islam took 3 wickets, and Sheikh Mehdi Hasan, who replaced Mahmudullah, took 4 wickets for 71 runs.

But Bangladeshi top orders failed miserably while Liton Das scored 76 runs from 66 balls. In addition to Liton, Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 51 runs, and Towhid Hridoy scored 39 runs for Bangladesh. However, most of the other players only managed to score in the single digits or low double digits. 

Bangladesh vs New Zealand

Bangladesh batted first at MA Chidambaram Stadium on October 13 and scored 245 runs for nine wickets. In response, New Zealand successfully chased down this target with 43 balls to spare. Kane Williamson scored 78 runs, and Daryl Mitchell contributed 89 runs for the New Zealand team.

Bangladesh faced early trouble in the match, with Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson causing them to struggle at 56 runs for four wickets by the 13th over. Captain Shakib Al Hasan, who scored 40 runs off 51 balls, then built a partnership of 96 runs with his experienced teammate Mushfiqur Rahim, who made 66 runs off 75 balls. This partnership helped Bangladesh reach a total of 156 runs by the 30th over.

Bangladesh vs India

Bangladesh faced India on October 19 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Batting first, Bangladesh had a strong opening stand as two openers, Tanzid Hasan and Liton Das, made a 93 runs partnership. Tanzid scored 51 runs, achieved his first ODI fifty, and Liton Das scored 66 runs.

Later, Bangladesh lost four wickets in 137 runs, and after that, Mushfique scored 38 and Mahmudullah scored 46 runs. Bangladesh ended up scoring 256 runs from 8 wickets. However, this was not a fighting score, and India reached the victory in just 41.3 overs.

Bangladesh vs South Africa

Despite Mahmudullah's 111 runs from 111 balls, Bangladesh lost by a margin of 143 runs to South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on October 24. It was Bangladesh's fourth consecutive loss. South Africa batted first and scored a massive 382 runs for five wickets. For the Bangladesh team, Hasan Mahmud managed to take two wickets, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, and Shakib Al Hasan each secured one wicket. In batting, other than Mahmudullah, no Bangladeshi players had significant scores.

Netherlands vs Bangladesh

The Netherlands defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs at the Eden Gardens on October 28. While chasing a target of 230 runs, Bangladeshi batters struggled and kept losing wickets. The Dutch team displayed a strong all-around bowling performance and effectively controlled Bangladesh's batting. For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 35 runs from 40 balls, and Mustafiz and Mahmudullah contributed 20 runs each.

Bangladesh vs Pakistan

On October 31 at Eden Gardens, Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 205 runs, losing 3 wickets, and defeated Bangladesh by 7 wickets. Choosing to bat first, Mahmudullah scored 56 runs off 70 balls, but Bangladesh struggled to build momentum as they kept losing wickets consistently. Litton Das contributed 45 runs, Shakib Al Hasan added 43, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 25, with these three being the only batters to reach double figures. In the bowling department, Miraz took all three wickets and joined the 100-wicket club.

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh

Sri Lanka scored 279 runs, with Charith Asalanka contributing a notable 108. In response, Bangladesh achieved victory, reaching 282/7 in 41.1 overs, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto's 90 and Shakib Al Hasan's 82. Bangladesh won by 3 wickets with an effective batting performance.

Bangladesh vs Australia

Bangladesh scored a total of 306/8 in 50 overs. Towhid Hridoy, with 74 runs and Najmul Hossain Shanto, with 45 runs, made significant contributions. But Australia successfully chased the target, reaching 307/2 in 44.4 overs. Mitchell Marsh played a key role with an impressive score of 177. Australia won by 8 wickets and earned the third spot in the points table.

Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Magnificent Marsh leads Australia's charge as Tigers get one last thrashing before coming home

What Went Wrong with Bangladesh in World Cup 2023?

According to experts, the issue lies with team management, overconfidence, and a lack of clear planning. Players like Miraz and Mahmudullah were uncertain about their batting positions. For example, Miraz batted at a different spot against the Netherlands and then a different one against Pakistan. Shakib, the captain, used to bat at number 5 under coach Chandika Hathurusingha's guidance initially but later found success at number 3. However, the batting order kept changing. Shakib dropped to number 5 against the Dutch and number 6 against Pakistan. Mahmudullah went from number 7 to 5.

Further, Bangladesh team management has shown trust in players like Mehidy Hasan Miraz, whose unexpected success with the bat has resulted in him being moved around in the batting order. While this strategy might have its advantages in unsettling the opposition, it has led to other well-established players batting in unfamiliar positions. Additionally, it's not an ideal situation when a bowler who can also bat is given so much flexibility while more proficient run-scorers like Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah find themselves at numbers 6 and 7 in the batting order.

It's okay to adjust the batting order based on the situation, but why the constant experimentation in almost every World Cup match? 

Some Notable Performers throughout the Tournament

If we want to mention the outstanding performers for the Bangladesh team, Mahmudullah's name will come first. He scored 328 runs from 7 innings. Mahmudullah achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score a century in the 2023 World Cup. He scored a century against South Africa. This remarkable feat marks his third century in the history of Bangladesh's World Cup appearances. Shakib Al Hasan has two centuries to his name, while Mushfiqur Rahim has one. No other player scored a century on the world stage in the Bangladesh team.

After that, we must mention Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who fought well with bat and bowl. Miraz took ten wickets from 9 innings with 3/25 best bowling figures against Pakistan. And he is the top wicket-taker for Bangladesh in this World Cup. He is also Bangladesh's fifth top run scorer, with 201 runs from 9 innings.

With the exception of these two Bangladeshi cricketers, all the other players delivered poor performances.

What Strategies should be taken to Improve Bangladesh Men's Cricket Team's Performance?
A comprehensive approach is necessary to improve the performance of the Bangladesh Men's Cricket Team. First and foremost, ensuring consistent team selection will enable players to build partnerships and gain experience together, developing team cohesion. Investing in top-quality coaching staff is crucial for enhancing player skills, fitness, and strategic insight. In addition to that, mental conditioning programs should be implemented to develop mental flexibility and equip players with effective stress management techniques for handling high-pressure situations.

Performance analysis tools, including data and video analysis, should be utilized to identify weaknesses and strengths, allowing players to make decisions on the field. Also, a strong focus on youth development, supported by strong grassroots programs, is essential for nurturing young talent and ensuring a pipeline of skilled players for the future. Improving the quality and competitiveness of domestic cricket leagues is crucial to better prepare players for international cricket. Respected local coach Nazmul Abedin Fahim has suggested that Bangladesh should revamp its domestic cricket structure to establish a more competitive environment for players.

Physical fitness and conditioning should be emphasized, as they play a significant role in top-level performance. Developing a clear and adaptable game plan, along with strong, stable leadership within the team, is necessary to motivate and guide players effectively. 

Further, encouraging mentorship from senior players to younger talents can be invaluable in their development. Additionally, playing more series and matches against strong teams abroad will provide valuable international exposure and experience. By addressing these aspects, Bangladesh can enhance its cricketing performance and become a competitive force in the international arena.

Final Words

There were great expectations last year when Bangladesh secured an automatic qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023. They ended up in the third position in the ICC ODI Super League. As the World Cup approached, Bangladesh appeared to lose its momentum, suffering consecutive defeats. Ended at number eight in the points table, Bangladesh must analyze the team and make necessary improvements accordingly.

Read more: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team