The highlights of 2025 in Bangladesh sports

2025 is just about at a close and the calendar is set to flip to 2026. It was an eventful year for Bangladesh sports. During this year, we have seen successes and controversy in Bangladesh cricket, football and other sports. With the Bangladesh crazy cricket fans anxiously awaiting new stories for their favorite sporting event and superstars, it's time to look back the biggest moments of Bangladesh sports over the last 12 months.

It's hard to pick what the most important stories of Bangladesh sports were in 2025 because there are so many to choose from.

With 2025 just few hours away and the New Year fast approaching, Asian Age has come up to pinpoint the most memorable things of Bangladesh sports from the past 12 months for a special end-of-year list.

A Bittersweet Year for Bangladesh Cricket
2025 was an up and down year for the Bangladesh cricket team.The national team played a record number of matches in the shortest format, underlining a clear strategic shift in focus. Along the way, Bangladesh also registered its highest number of T20 victories in a single calendar year. However, the flip side of this busy schedule was equally stark-the number of defeats also climbed sharply.

Once again, Bangladesh struggled to translate bilateral success into performances on the bigger stage, reviving old questions about temperament, consistency, and adaptability under pressure.

The most worrying signs appeared in the ODI format. The decline that began earlier showed no sign of reversal in 2025, and repeated setbacks raised serious concerns about direction and balance in the 50-over game. Unless structural and strategic changes are made, there is a growing fear that this downward trend could extend into the coming year.

There is little doubt that 2025 was Bangladesh's year in T20 cricket. The Tigers played a record 31 matches, winning 15-also a new national record-losing 14, with one match abandoned.

Bangladesh's batting showed a dramatic shift in intent. After hitting 122 sixes in 2023, they smashed a staggering 206 sixes in 2025. Their overall strike rate climbed to 125.97, reflecting a faster, more aggressive approach.

Despite these gains, the middle order remains a concern. jaker Ali, ShamimHossain, TowhidHridoy and NurulHasan were rotated throughout the year, producing occasional performances but failing to establish consistency. With a World Cup approaching, this uncertainty could prove costly.

On the bowling front, leg-spinner RishadHossain was a major breakthrough, taking 33 wickets in 25 matches at an impressive strike rate of 8.25. Nasum Ahmed and MehediHasan also played crucial roles in spin-friendly conditions. MustafizurRahman led the pace attack with 26 wickets at an economy rate of 6.09, supported well by Taskin Ahmed, Shariful Islam and TanzimHasan.

In total, Bangladesh scored 4,229 runs in T20s (excluding extras), with 29 percent coming from sixes. They also hit a record 298 fours.

The Colourful Year of the Tigers in White
As Bangladesh marked 25 years in Test cricket, the year 2025 emerged as more than a symbolic milestone. Standing at the silver jubilee of their red-ball journey, the Tigers appeared to rediscover their identity in whites. What was once a format of struggle gradually turned into a platform of belief, planning and quiet confidence under the leadership of NazmulHossainShanto.

Although the year began with uncertainty, Bangladesh's Test team finished 2025 with renewed strength and purpose. Three wins in six Tests during this landmark year may not seem extraordinary at first glance, but in context, it represents a clear sign of evolution - a chapter of change in Bangladesh's Test cricket story.

Bangladesh's 2025 Test campaign opened with a three-wicket defeat against Zimbabwe in Sylhet. Losing at home to a comparatively weaker opponent revived familiar questions about consistency, mental toughness and the ability to close out matches. For a moment, it seemed the Tigers were slipping back into old patterns.

But Chattogram offered a different narrative. In the second Test, Bangladesh responded with authority. Powered by centuries from Sadman Islam and MehediHasanMiraj, Shanto's side crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 runs - the second-biggest victory in Bangladesh's Test history. More than levelling the series, the win restored belief and gave the team a renewed sense of direction.

The overseas tour of Sri Lanka further underlined this growing maturity. Though Bangladesh lost the opening Test, they showcased resilience in the drawn match, highlighted by Shanto's magnificent double century.

Mushfiqur Rahim's landmark Test
The year ended emphatically at home. Against Ireland, Bangladesh enjoyed complete dominance. An innings and 47-run victory in Sylhet was followed by a commanding 217-run win in Mirpur. What stood out was not just the results, but the control - in planning, execution and intensity. Ireland were never allowed a way back into the contest.

That series also carried emotional significance as Mushfiqur Rahim, playing his 100th Test, marked the occasion with a memorable century, further cementing his place among Bangladesh's greats.

Individually, 2025 was a productive year for the batsmen. Bangladesh scored nine Test centuries, shared among six players. Captain NazmulHossainShanto led from the front with three centuries, strengthening his credentials as a Test leader. Mushfiqur Rahim delivered multiple centuries, once again proving his value in pressure situations.

The bowling unit matched the batsmen's impact. Taijul Islam, the leading wicket-taker of the year, finished with 33 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, emerging as Bangladesh's spearhead in whites. All-rounder Miraj played a vital supporting role, claiming 20 wickets, often providing breakthroughs at crucial moments.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)'s elections, a boycott of Dhaka league cricket by a large section of clubs, recurring suspicions of match-fixing and serious allegations of sexual harassment in women's cricket dominated headlines throughout the year.

The year began with explosive allegations of match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a controversy that refused to fade. One investigation committee followed another, and as the BCB moved towards launching a new season by sidelining suspects, responsibility for the irregularities fell on then-president Faruque Ahmed. Accused of financial misconduct, he eventually lost his position.

Following Faruque Ahmed's removal, former national captain Aminul Islam Bulbul took charge as interim BCB president. Upon assuming responsibility, Bulbul famously remarked, "I came to play T20." But what began as a short-format assignment soon turned into a long Test match.

Bulbul contested the BCB election held on October 6, an election that would later be marred by controversy. Ahead of the polls, the BCB Election Commission cancelled the councilorship of 15 clubs that had passed the third-division qualifiers. In protest, those clubs boycotted the election. The fallout was significant-16 candidates, including TamimIqbal, withdrew from the race. With the field cleared, Bulbul was elected BCB president unopposed. In a twist that raised eyebrows across cricketing circles, Faruque Ahmed-who had earlier been ousted through a no-confidence motion-returned to the board through the club quota and was subsequently appointed vice-president.

Bangladesh Football 2025: A Year That Revolved Around Hamza, Hope and History
The year 2025 marked a turning point for Bangladeshi football. From intense battles on the pitch to long-overdue administrative reforms off it, signs of renewal were visible everywhere. The excitement of the Asian Cup qualifiers, historic results against traditional arch-rivals and the arrival of expatriate players gave the game a fresh narrative. Above all, the presence of HamzaChowdhury lifted Bangladesh football to an unprecedented spotlight.

The biggest talking point of the year was undoubtedly HamzaChowdhury donning the red-and-green jersey. The Leicester City midfielder made his much-awaited debut against India in March, instantly breathing new life into the national side.

Hamza quickly justified the hype-scoring twice in a friendly against Nepal and playing decisive roles with goals and assists against Bhutan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India. His leadership, composure, and work rate transformed Bangladesh's midfield.

The two matches against India defined the year. The first leg in Shillong on March 25 ended in a goalless draw, but it showcased a fearless Bangladesh. The return leg in November was historic-Bangladesh defeated India 1-0 at the Dhaka National Stadium, securing their first win over the neighbors in 23 years.

One of the most iconic moments of the year was Hamza's stunning bicycle-kick goal against Nepal in a home friendly-already etched into Bangladesh football folklore.

However, controversies also surfaced. Italian expatriate Fahmidul Islam's exclusion after being named in the preliminary squad sparked fan protests. Criticism of head coach Javier Cabrera intensified following defeats to Singapore and Azerbaijan. Players questioned tactical decisions, and even BFF executive member Sakhwat Hossain Bhuiyan Shaheen publicly called for Cabrera's resignation. Fan movements demanding change reflected the growing expectations around the national team.

In domestic football, Mohammedan Sporting Club finally ended their 22-year wait for a league title by winning the 2024-25 Bangladesh Premier League. The triumph restored one of the country's most historic clubs to its rightful place at the top.

Despite internal turmoil and off-field challenges, 2025 will be remembered as a historic year for Bangladesh women's football. Rising above a much-discussed rift between senior players and the coaching staff, the national team achieved an unprecedented feat by qualifying for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup for the first time.

Bangladesh topped their qualifying group in emphatic fashion, defeating hosts Myanmar, along with Bahrain and Turkmenistan. The campaign featured two dominant 7-0 victories over Bahrain and Turkmenistan, while the 2-1 win against higher-ranked Myanmar stood out as a defining moment in the team's history. The remarkable run propelled Bangladesh from 128th to 104th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, marking the biggest ranking jump by any team at the start of August and underlining a breakthrough year for women's football in the country.

New Leadership, New Direction at BFF
Under the leadership of TabithAwal, the Bangladesh Football Federation took several bold initiatives in 2025.

The most significant was a landmark 10-year development agreement with BSRM-the first long-term sponsorship deal in the history of Bangladesh football. This move signaled a shift toward stability, planning, and professionalism.

New Hockey Star Amirul Stole the Spotlight

Bangladesh hockey may still be searching for consistency on the international stage, but in Amirul Islam it has found belief, hunger and a forward-looking vision. Calm in his words yet ambitious in intent, the young drag-flicker represents a generation determined to push the game beyond its familiar limitations.

The Bangladesh Under-21 hockey team exceeded expectations in its maiden appearance at the recently concluded Junior Hockey World Cup led by their goal-scoring machine Amirul Islam, finishing 17th among 24 teams and clinching the Challenger Cup in the tournament held in Chennai and Madurai, India.

Bangladesh star Amirul Islam, known for his explosive penalty corner skills, recorded an incredible 5 hat-tricks in 6 matches, becoming the highest goal scorer of the tournament with 18 goals. His only hat-trick miss came in the match against France. The rising star in Bangladeshi hockey, Idolizing India's Harmanpreet Singh and Australia's Blake Govers, stole the limelight at the FIH Junior World Cup with his phenomenal drag-flicking skills throughout the tournament.

Beyond football and cricket, Bangladesh's sports arena
Beyond youth success, however, Bangladesh hockey endured a largely forgettable year. Domestic leagues and tournaments once again failed to take place, leaving players without competitive match practice. On the international stage, performances were equally underwhelming.

In the AHF Cup, where Bangladesh had previously tasted glory, the team failed to reach the final. Selection controversies overshadowed the campaign, particularly the exclusion of star forward Russell Mahmud Jimmy. Despite being fully fit, the 37-year-old was omitted due to a federation-imposed age cap of 32, sparking widespread criticism.

Kabaddi Queens Shine Bright
Kabaddi, the national sport, shone for Bangladesh in 2025. The women's team won bronze in both the Asian Women's Kabaddi Championship and the Women's Kabaddi World Cup. In youth categories at the Asian Youth Games, both boys' and girls' teams also secured bronze medals. Bangladesh successfully hosted the Kabaddi World Cup, marking a major milestone for the sport.

Meanwhile, Archery continues to rise under KaziRajibuddin Ahmed Chapal, who became President of Asian Archery this year, shifting its office to Dhaka. Bangladesh secured two medals in Asian competitions, including gold by AbdurRahmanAlif in the Asia Cup. Chapal's leadership has helped Bangladeshi archery qualify for the Olympics twice consecutively.

Bangladesh badminton also rewrote history in 2025. At the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge, the mixed doubles pair of Al Amin Jumar and UrmiAkhtar reached the final, winning silver-the country's best-ever result at an international tournament. Momentum continued as Abdul ZahirTanvir and GaurabSingha captured Bangladesh's first-ever international gold medal in men's doubles, marking a watershed moment for the sport.

Table Tennis glory and Solidarity Games Success

Star paddlers Javed Ahmed and KhoiKhoiMarma clinched the silver medal in the mixed doubles event of the at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia where 41 countries took part, surpassing the country's previous best performances of bronze medals in team events at the South Asian Games.
In the 53-year history of the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation, no pair had ever climbed this high on the international stage. Recognizing the moment, the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) recently held a press conference at BOA Auditorium held a formal reception for KhoiKhoiMarma recently, celebrating what officials described as a "turning point" for the sport.