Bangladesh, the most emerging team of recent times, has firmly established itself in the cricketing world. The team has progressed tremendously on the world stage after becoming a full-time member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on June 26, 2000. The tremendous upsurge of Bangladesh cricket would not have been possible without the leadership of the captains that Bangladesh had. Here, in this article, we look at some of the most successful captains for Bangladesh in international cricket.
1. Mashrafe Mortaza
An honest servant of his nation and a leader par excellence, Mortaza is hands down Bangladesh’s most successful captain ever. Fifty wins in 88 ODIs, ten wins in 28 T20Is, and a victory in the only test he captained; his numbers are testimony to his stature as a leader. He is the only Bangladeshi captain with 50 wins in any format. His contribution to Bangladesh's cricket is valued by one and all.
2. Shakib al Hasan
A name synonymous with Bangladesh cricket, Shakib al Hasan, is next on the list. With a win percentage of 38, he is one of the best Bangladeshi captains. He has led the team in 14 test matches, 50 ODIs, and 21 T20Is. He was the captain of the team from 2009 to 2011 but was sacked multiple times after that. However, in May 2022, after Mominul Haque quit his captaincy role, Shakib was again appointed as the test captain.
3. Habibul Bashar
The first test win for Bangladesh came under the captaincy of Habibul Bashar in 2005 against Zimbabwe. He represented Bangladesh from 1995 to 2008, achieving some incredible milestones. His most fantastic game as captain was the five-wicket win over Australia in an ODI in Cardiff in 2005. He was the captain when Bangladesh defeated India and South Africa in the 2007 50-over World Cup. With 29 wins in 69 ODIs as a captain, he has one of the best records as Bangladesh’s ODI captain.
4. Mahmudullah
Mahmudullah is the current T20 captain of Bangladesh and a handy all-rounder. He had also led the Test team in six matches, winning and drawing one and losing four. He has captained Bangladesh in 40 T20Is so far, winning 16 of them. With a win percentage of 40 in the shortest format, he has also become the most successful T20I captain for Bangladesh.
5. Mushfiqur Rahim
A brilliant batsman, an exceptional wicketkeeper, and a fantastic leader, Mushfiqur Rahim is a true veteran of Bangladesh cricket. He is still a vital part of the Bangladesh side and adds significant value with his experience. He was named test captain in 2011 and led the team in 34 test matches, winning seven of them, the highest for any Bangladesh captain. He has also led the team in 37 ODIs and 23 T20Is, winning 11 and 8 matches, respectively.
6. Tamim Iqbal
Bangladesh’s most successful opening batsman, Tamim Iqbal, has also been able to captain his national side. He is currently the captain of Bangladesh’s ODI team. Besides being the most reliable batsman in the Bangladesh side, he is also a brilliant captain. Under his captaincy, Bangladesh won its first bilateral series against Sri Lanka in May 2021. With twelve wins in 21 ODIs that he has captained, he has shown and proved his leadership skills.
7. Mominul Haque
Mominul Haque, a former captain of the Bangladesh Test team, has been an influential figure for the team in recent times. He replaced Shakib Al Hasan as the test captain and so had a big responsibility on his shoulders to take the team forward. Mominul has captained Bangladesh in 17 Test matches, having won three. However, he gave up his captaincy in May 2022 to focus on his batting. The most notable moment under his captaincy came in January 2022, when Bangladesh defeated New Zealand on their home soil. This victory demonstrated Bangladesh’s ability to win overseas.
8. Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful made his debut in 2001 and served his nation for 13 years before retiring in 2013. He is the youngest man to score an international test hundred. He captained Bangladesh in 13 Tests and 38 ODIs, of which Bangladesh won eight. He was also the captain of the T20 side for 11 matches, winning two of them.
9. Khaled Mashad
Khaled Mashad, a wicketkeeper and a middle-order batsman, was Bangladesh’s second test captain. He is known as a pioneer of Bangladesh cricket because of his optimistic and hardworking approach. In 1995, he made his international debut and played until 2007, captaining Bangladesh in 12 tests and 30 ODIs. The team won 12 ODIs under his captaincy, which gave a kick-start to Bangladesh’s journey in international cricket.
10. Aminul Islam
Aminul Islam is Bangladesh’s first Test centurion. He scored a blistering 145 in his and Bangladesh’s test debut against India. The 1999 World Cup team of Bangladesh, which defeated Scotland and Pakistan, was led by Aminul. In total, he captained Bangladesh in 16 ODIs. Apart from batting, he used to bowl part-time off-spin and thus proved to be a helpful player considering his other skills.
