![Bangladesh needs to work on a few critical areas before Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: @ICC/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1738827373597_Bangladesh.jpg?type=mq)
Bangladesh needs to work on a few critical areas before Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: @ICC/X.com]
As the Champions Trophy 2025 approaches, Bangladesh’s cricket team faces mounting pressure to improve their performance on the international stage. Despite a rich cricketing history, recent results have highlighted several weaknesses that must be addressed.
While they will be competing against the best of the world, they will need to up their game within the few days that are left. In particular, there are three critical areas that need Bangladesh's attention. So, let's take a look at them.
1. Fitness And Fielding
One major area of concern is fitness, especially given the age profile of some key players. Veterans like Mushfiqur Rahim who is of 37 years and 38-year-old Mahmudullah have been pillars of the team but are now prone to fatigue and injury.
The senior players' physical decline often results in slumps on the field and unnecessary run leakage. However, its not only about the senior cricketers, Bangladesh also has quite a nasty reputation about their fielding woes with critics pointing to a lack of consistency in catching, ground fielding, and missed run-out opportunities.
This is a heavy mistake that can cost Bangladesh matches and hence, should be looked after immediately before they set foot against exemplary countries like Australia, South Africa, and England who shine in fitness and fielding on the global stage.
2. Lack Of Explosive Batters
Bangladesh’s batting lineup has often struggled with a lack of power hitting, which is crucial in modern limited-overs cricket. Unlike other teams that boast dynamic, big-hitting batters, Bangladesh relies heavily on a few traditional stroke players. Tanzid Hasan and Soumya Sarkar are decent batters at the top but they lack the firepower that is needed to headstart the game.
| Players | Batting Strike Rate In ODIs |
|---|---|
| Najmul Hossain Shanto | 79.95 |
| Towhid Hridoy | 83.52 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | 79.73 |
| Mohammad Mahmudullah | 77.73 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 76.83 |
This deficiency in explosive batting where most of the batters have a strike rate below 100 in ODIs can make it difficult for the team to post or chase big totals, especially in high-pressure matches. Developing new talents and enhancing the skills of existing players to deliver quick-fire runs in crucial overs will be vital to shifting the team’s momentum and competitiveness.
3. Middle-Order Fragility
The middle order has emerged as another vulnerable link for Bangladesh. While the team features promising talents, the middle order lacks consistency and resilience. Players such as Jaker Ali and Parvez Hossain Emon show potential, but the overall support in this segment is fragile. Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy are supposed to be pillars of the team in the middle order but their recent form in ODIs and BPL 2024-25 has not been promising.
| Format/Tournament | Player | Matches | Runs | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPL 2024-25 | Najmul Hossain Shanto | 5 | 56 | 119.15 |
| ODI World Cup 2023 | Towhid Hridoy | 6 | 164 | 78.10 |
| ODI World Cup 2023 | Mushfiqur Rahim | 9 | 202 | 79.22 |
The middle order is expected to stabilize innings and bridge the gap between the top order and the finishing power of all-rounders. Strengthening this area through focused coaching and experience-sharing from senior players is critical. This would not only help in building bigger totals but also in managing pressure when games become tight.
 "Soumyajit Dutta")
