Bishwajit Roy

This performance in Monterrey suggested something different. It was not merely a win. It was a statement.

Sometimes football's most powerful stories emerge far from the spotlight

Is this truly an elected leadership -- or an institution reflecting itself, then calling that reflection democracy?

The 2015 ICC World Cup in Adelaide served as his professional zenith.

Failure to build strong institutions continues to undermine many sectors in Bangladesh, preventing them from achieving their desired goals.

The spark that lit this wildfire wasn’t a war, a border clash, or even a match. It was the quiet exclusion of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from an Indian Premier League franchise in early January -- a decision that, at the time, felt like just another cricketing call.

Few understand Bangladesh’s persistent batting woes better than Ashraful.

If entertainment value and visibility are benchmarks for attracting sponsors and club interest, then our women footballers have already made a strong case.

There are games that thrill, and then there are Test matches that sear themselves into memory.

Players have spoken publicly about the need for proper nutrition, functioning gyms, better training grounds, and a stable domestic league.

Yet, despite the individual brilliance, murmurs of doubt persisted over Bangladesh’s approach, particularly their intent, or the lack thereof, in pursuing a win.

If there were still doubters of Test cricket's enduring magic in the age of T20 fireworks, South Africa’s thrilling five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia offered the most poetic rebuttal.

Faruque Ahmed ascended to the presidency of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the July uprising, with the onus of reforming the board from the inside. But his tenure ended in a little over nine months before the reform initiative could even begin.

“If we can’t stick to our planning even against lower-ranked sides, how can we expect growth in Test cricket? I’m not against offering spin-friendly conditions, but why against Zimbabwe? Why did we lose confidence after one loss?”

Facing a must-win Test in Chattogram, Bangladesh and Mushfiqur battle to revive their struggling campaign.

The situation, both on and off the field, is disheartening. The national team’s struggles, coupled with ongoing match-fixing allegations and administrative chaos in the domestic arena, mirror the dysfunction of the previous regime Faruque promised to reform.

He is five Tests away from becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the 100-Test milestone — a landmark achievement. But milestones alone cannot justify selection if current form continues to deteriorate. 

The latest slip-up came courtesy of Zimbabwe, who secured a gripping three-wicket win in fading light -- an outcome that, in truth, should never have been on the cards.

Will the success against Pakistan put Faruque in a difficult position regarding the decision to remove Hathurusingha from his role?

“By far, this is our best Test series victory and Test performance,” said an excited Bashar soon after Bangladesh recorded a historic first-ever series win over Pakistan with a six-wicket victory in the second Test in Rawalpindi today.