Bangladesh

History

Although cricket was introduced to Bangladesh under British rule two centuries ago, it was not until independence in 1971 that the game took hold with the masses. It became an Associate Member of the ICC in 1977 and quickly rose to prominence thanks to its results in ACC tournaments. Bangladesh qualified for its first ICC Cricket World Cup (England 1999) on the back of winning the ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997. It followed that up soon after by becoming the 10th Test nation in June 2000 (playing its first match five months later).

International Competition

Bangladesh's first participation in the World Cup, in 1999, was a great success when it shocked Pakistan in its last group match before making a creditable exit. Although its 2003 campaign went winless it bounced back in 2007 to achieve significant victories over India and South Africa. It also claimed a memorable scalp during the first ICC World Twenty20, when it beat West Indies to reach the Super Eights. Test progress has been slow, with its first win coming four years after its November 2000 bow against India - a victory over Zimbabwe in Chittagong. Its first overseas Test victory was quickly followed by a second as it completed a series triumph in West Indies in 2009. 

Domestic Cricket

First-class cricket only began in Bangladesh after it was awarded Test status, with the National Cricket League making its debut in 2000-01 (although the competition was actually set up the previous season on a non-first class basis). The National Cricket League features six teams (Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet). A national one-day league also began in 2000-01 - the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea One-Day League - which is played by the same teams on a home and away basis. A Twenty20 competition started up in 2005 and there is a competitive club-based Dhaka Premier League.

All-time Great

Bangladesh's international cricket history is still short so there are many more deeds to be done before it establishes itselves at the top level. Nonetheless, Shakib Al Hasan has emerged as its first world-class cricketer since his international debut in 2006. The left-handed batsman and slow left-armer has already filled the number one spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship Rankings in both the all-rounder and bowler categories. In terms of Test cricket, Shakib has put in some fine performances against all-comers, recording several five-wicket bowling performances and making his first century against New Zealand in 2010. The all-rounder's finest moment to date came in 2009 when he stood in as captain for Mashrafe Mortaze and led his side to its first-ever overseas Test victories and series win against West Indies.

Women's Cricket

International women's cricket in Bangladesh owes its existence to hockey as, in 1982, it was 14 female hockey players who decided to switch to cricket, although at first they only had males as opposition. The following year, the group went to India to represent their country in women's cricket, and eventually they came to play cricket against women back home. Some of those dedicated pioneers now work in women's cricket for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, an organisation which has already provided financial assistance since taking the game on board in 2005. In 2008 and 2009 it has shown its potential, recording wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka.