#CricketInNumbers: Key statistics, records of Bangladesh in the World Cup
The ICC World Cup 2019 will start from May 30 onwards, in England and Wales. Before the coveted tournament, Bangladesh have plenty of work to do and need to find some rhythm. Notably, the Tigers had suffered a defeat in the quarter-final of the 2015 edition. Bangladesh will face a stiff task this time around. We look at Bangladesh's statistics, records in this event.
How have Bangladesh fared in ICC World Cup events?
Bangladesh weren't an ICC member in 1975 and therefore, not eligible to participate in the first World Cup. The Tigers couldn't qualify for the next five World Cups from 1979 to 1996. Bangladesh have crashed out of the group stage on three occasions (1999, 2003 and 2011). They reached the Super Eights in 2007. The 2015 edition saw them reach the quarters.
Bangladesh's highest and lowest World Cup scores
Bangladesh's highest ever innings score in the World Cup came in 2015, when they amassed 322/4 against Scotland at Nelson. Their lowest total came against West Indies in Dhaka during the 2011 edition (58).
Mahmudullah and Shafiul hold individual records
Mahmudullah (128* versus New Zealand, 2015) has the highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batsman. Interestingly, he is the only player from Bangladesh with centuries under his belt, in the World Cup (2). Shafiul Islam (4/21 versus Ireland) produced the best bowling performance in 2011. Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan and Rubel Hossain are the other bowlers to bag four scalps in a match.
Shakib Al Hasan is Bangladesh's most successful World Cup player
Senior all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been the leading performer for Bangladesh in the World Cup. The left-arm spinner has featured in 21 World Cup matches for Bangladesh. He has picked up a total of 23 wickets with a best of 4/55. He has a sound economy of 4.99. The southpaw has 540 runs with the bat including five fifties.
Some other records held by Bangladesh cricketers
Mushfiqur Rahim is the only other batsman besides Shakib to score 500-plus runs in the World Cup for Bangladesh. He has also hit the most sixes for Bangladesh in the event (8). Tamim Iqbal has smashed the most fours (58). He has also taken nine catches for the Tigers. Mahmudullah and Rahim's 141-run stand versus England in 2015 is the side's best partnership.
Key issues facing Bangladesh and our prediction
Bangladesh have to find an able opening partner to support Tamim. They need to lay a strong foundation for the middle-order, whose task would be to post competitive totals. Further, the lack of depth in bowling is also worrisome. Inconsistency could hurt the Tigers. We feel that they won't be able to make it to the semi-finals.
