Key Figures in Bangladesh Cricket: A Look at Top Players

Shakib Al Hasan is one of the top all-rounders in world cricket over the last 20 years. In Tests, Shakib has played 67 matches for Bangladesh and scored 4,505 runs with an average close to 39. He has hit five centuries and one double century. With the ball, he has taken 237 wickets in Test cricket.

In One Day Internationals, he has appeared in 247 matches, scoring 7,570 runs and hitting nine centuries. He has also taken 317 wickets in ODIs. In T20 Internationals, Shakib has played 117 games, scored 2,382 runs, and taken 140 wickets. Altogether, he has nearly 13,400 runs and more than 680 wickets across all international formats.

Tamim Iqbal ranks among Bangladesh’s finest batsmen, known for his steady run-scoring over many years. As a left-hander, he has played 70 Test matches, scoring 5,134 runs at an average close to 39. His Test record includes ten centuries and a double century.

In the ODI format, Tamim has appeared in 243 games and amassed 8,357 runs, including 14 centuries. He also played 78 T20 Internationals, scoring 1,758 runs. Across all international formats, Tamim’s total runs are near 13,700, with 25 hundreds to his name.

Mashrafe Mortaza is widely regarded as Bangladesh’s best fast bowler. He was often the one to take early wickets with the new ball. Over his career, he has served Bangladesh cricket with great dedication. In Test matches, Mashrafe played 36 games and took 78 wickets. In One Day Internationals, he appeared in 220 matches and claimed 270 wickets. He also took 42 wickets in 54 T20 Internationals. Altogether, Mashrafe has taken 390 wickets in international cricket.

Mushfiqur Rahim is one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in Bangladesh cricket history and a key figure for the team. He has played 88 Test matches, scoring 5,676 runs at an average just above 38. His Test record includes 10 centuries and 3 double centuries. In One Day Internationals, Mushfiqur has appeared in 271 matches and scored 7,792 runs, with 9 centuries to his name. He also played 102 T20 Internationals, scoring around 1,500 runs. Across all formats, he has made over 13,400 international runs.

Mohammad Rafique is one of Bangladesh’s early cricket stars and an important figure in the team’s rise. He played 33 Test matches, scoring 1,059 runs and taking 100 wickets, proving himself as a genuine all-rounder. In One Day Internationals, Rafique appeared in 125 games, scoring 1,191 runs and claiming 125 wickets. In total, he has taken 225 wickets and scored more than 2,200 runs in international cricket.

Mohammad Ashraful is one of Bangladesh’s most well-known captains and a talented batsman. He played a big role in making Bangladesh believe they could compete with top teams in world cricket. Over 61 Test matches, Ashraful scored 2,737 runs and made six centuries. In One Day Internationals, he played 177 games and scored 3,468 runs with an average around 22. He hit three centuries in ODIs. In total, he scored more than 6,000 runs at the international level.

Habibul Bashar was one of Bangladesh’s earliest captains and one of the first players to gain recognition worldwide. He stands as one of the country’s best cricketers of all time. In his career, he played 50 Test matches, scoring 3,026 runs at an average of just over 30. He made three centuries in Tests. In One Day Internationals, Habibul appeared in 111 games and scored 2,168 runs. Altogether, he scored more than 5,100 runs in international cricket.

Bangladesh has produced many skilled left-arm spinners, and Abdur Razzak carried forward that tradition. Known for his tall frame and high-arm action, he was a classic spinner who used flight and loop to trouble batsmen. Razzak was never afraid to attack the batsmen, regardless of their reputation. This aggressive style is rare today, as many spinners prefer to contain rather than challenge opponents.

Though his Test career did not reach great heights, Razzak made a strong impact in One Day Internationals. He took 207 wickets at an average of 29.29, making him one of Bangladesh’s most successful ODI bowlers.

Aminul Islam was among the early stars of Bangladesh cricket after the country became a full ICC member. He led the team as captain during the 1999 World Cup, where Bangladesh shocked many by beating Pakistan in the group stage—one of the biggest upsets in ODI history.

As a reliable middle-order batsman, Aminul played a key role for Bangladesh. He also holds the distinction of scoring the country’s first-ever Test century during their inaugural Test match against India. By the time he retired, Aminul had scored 1,324 runs across Tests and ODIs and was celebrated as one of Bangladesh’s biggest cricket heroes.

At number ten is Akram Khan, one of Bangladesh’s early cricket stars. While he scored 1,235 runs at the international level with five half-centuries, his impact went beyond numbers. Akram played a key role in Bangladesh’s rise through ICC Trophy tournaments and other competitions among associate nations, which helped the country gain ODI and Test status.

Throughout the 1990s, he was a vital part of Bangladesh’s team and played many important innings. His leadership as captain helped Bangladesh take significant steps forward in international cricket, eventually earning full membership in the ICC.