Four consecutive Test victories over Pakistan. Two straight series whitewashes. A batting unit learning to survive crises and a bowling attack capable of dominating in any condition.
What once sounded like an overstatement is now becoming a serious cricketing debate:
Is Bangladesh currently the second-best Test side in Asia after India?
The question was put directly to Bangladesh selector Habibul Bashar Sumon following the Tigers’ emphatic series sweep against Pakistan.
Bashar paused before answering cautiously:
“That is a big statement from Bangladesh cricket.”
Perhaps it still is. But Bangladesh’s recent transformation is becoming too significant to dismiss as emotion, hype or a short-term surge.
Historic Rise in ICC Rankings
Bangladesh sealed a commanding 2-0 whitewash over Pakistan with a 78-run victory in Sylhet, a triumph that propelled them to seventh place in the ICC Test rankings — the highest position in the nation’s history.
Having started the series ninth with 67 rating points, Bangladesh climbed to 78 points after victories in both Mirpur and Sylhet.
Pakistan, meanwhile, suffered a dramatic fall. Entering the series ranked sixth with 89 points, they dropped to eighth with 75 points after back-to-back defeats.
The reshuffle also lifted Sri Lanka to sixth, while the West Indies slipped to ninth.
For years Bangladesh hovered between eighth and tenth in the rankings after first breaking into the top eight in 2018. Reaching seventh now represents far more than numerical progress — it signals the emergence of a side capable of sustained competitiveness in the longest format.
Tigers Roaring in World Test Championship
Bangladesh’s resurgence is also reflected in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
For the first time, they now sit fifth in the table, collecting 28 points from four matches with a win percentage of 58.33 — currently above India, England, Pakistan and the West Indies in the ongoing cycle.
Yet inside the dressing room, there appears to be little room for celebration.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto used his post-series press conference not to bask in success, but to outline the team’s remaining weaknesses.
“There is a lot of praise for the bowlers, especially the pacers who bowled brilliantly. The spinners have always delivered for us, but I still think we can improve with the new ball,” Shanto said.
“Sometimes — in fact most of the time — we leak too many runs early on. If we can make life tougher for opposition batters from the start, it will help the team greatly.”
Shanto Demands Higher Standards
The Bangladesh captain also highlighted concerns over the top order’s performances in difficult red-ball conditions.
“The top order faces huge challenges in Test cricket, especially in difficult conditions. If we can build bigger partnerships and one of the top-order batters can convert starts into a truly big innings, it will put the team in a much stronger position,” he added.
Despite the historic triumph over Pakistan, Shanto’s focus has already shifted toward sterner challenges ahead, including upcoming Tests against Zimbabwe and Australia.
“Australia will be a much tougher challenge. No matter who we play, we want to make sure we can push teams hard for four or five days. If we can consistently create difficult moments for opponents, we will improve even more.”
Bangladesh Want the Big Boys
Shanto also made a strong appeal for Bangladesh to receive more regular opportunities against elite Test nations such as Australia, England and India.
“We want to play Test cricket regularly. We want to play against every team — both home and away,” he said.
“Only when we get more opportunities and new experiences will this team continue to grow. If you keep playing the same teams in the same conditions repeatedly, it becomes difficult to build a stronger side.”
The skipper specifically urged the ICC to schedule more Tests involving Bangladesh and the traditional powerhouses of the format.
“We definitely hope the ICC gives us more Test matches against all teams. Getting more matches is already positive, but playing more against Australia, England and India would be even better for our development.”
A New Era for Bangladesh Cricket?
Bangladesh are no longer speaking like underdogs grateful for occasional victories.
They are beginning to sound — and perform — like a team determined to establish itself permanently among Test cricket’s elite.
