5 records created by Bangladesh across formats in 2021

It was a year to forget for Bangladesh as apart from their T20I series victories against Australia and New Zealand at home they couldn’t perform better in any format. The Tigers started the year 2021 with a home series of ODIs and Tests against the West Indies. The hosts won all the three ODIs but lost both Tests mainly due to the heroics of Kyle Mayers in the first Test.

They visited New Zealand next only to get whitewashed in both limited-overs series as the Blackcaps won 6-0 with three wins in ODIs and T20Is. A short visit to Sri Lanka for two Tests ended in the Island nation’s favour as the hosts won the series 1-0. Bangladesh won the ODI series 2-1 this time when Sri Lanka toured them immediately.

The Tigers then visited the African country Zimbabwe and they defeated the hosts comprehensively 3-0 in 50-overs format, 1-0 in Tests, and 2-1 in T20Is. The Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand both toured Bangladesh for T20Is and both lost it by 4-1 and 3-2 margins.

The biggest disappointment for the Asian team came in the T20 World Cup as they lost all the five matches they played. Their bad form after the disastrous WC campaign continued as they got thumped by Pakistan 5-0 in the Test and T20I series at home.

Meanwhile, here are some of the records created by Bangladesh across formats in 2021:

1. Shakib Al Hasan is the highest wicket-taker in T20Is

During the T20 World Cup, the Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan overtook Lasith Malinga’s tally of 107 T20I wickets as he became the bowler with most scalps in T20Is. With 117 wickets, Shakib is first while New Zealand’s experienced pace bowler, Tim Southee, who also surpassed Malinga’s number, is second in the list with 111 scalps. The Bangladeshi talisman has an impressive average of 19.79 and economy rate of 6.66 as compared to Southee’s 24.58 and 8.19 respectively. Apart from these three, only Afghanistan’s premier bowler Rashid Khan has 100 wickets in the T20Is.

2.Most wins for Bangladesh in T20Is in a calendar year

With 11 wins, the Tigers recorded their most T20I wins in a calendar year. They previously won seven T20 internationals five years back in 2016. This year the team has been in great form in home conditions as they defeated Australia and New Zealand in back-to-back series. They had also beaten Zimbabwe by a 2-1 margin in Zimbabwe. Though Bangladesh got blanked 3-0 against New Zealand and Pakistan, they still managed to win most games in a calendar year.

3.Mahmudullah became the most successful T20I captain for the Tigers

With series victories over Australia and New Zealand at home, Mahmudullah became the Bangladesh captain with most wins in the shortest international format. With 15 wins under his belt now, Mahmudullah went past Mashrafe Mortaza’s number of 10 wins. Bangladesh has played 38 matches under Mahmudullah’s captaincy with victories coming on 15 occasions and 23 times they were on the losing side.

4. Mohammad Naim has scored most runs for Bangladesh in T20Is in a calendar year

With 575 runs, Mohammad Naim has recorded the most T20I runs by any Bangladesh player in a calendar year. Naim has scored three half-centuries in 2021 and was also the highest run-getter for the Asian team in the T20 World Cup as he notched up 174 runs. Mahmudullah, with 496 runs, is second in the list. Also, captain Mahmudullah was second highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in the mega event with 169 runs.

5. Shakib Al Hasan became the only Bangladeshi player to score 4000 runs and take 200 wickets in Tests

With 4029 runs and 215 wickets, the ever-reliable and ever-consistent all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is now the only Bangladesh player to achieve the feat. He reached the milestone of 4000 runs against Pakistan in the recently concluded Test series at home. The nearest bowler to Shakib is Taijul Islam who has 144 wickets to his name and is way behind the former.