How well did we play in 2023?
In the world of sports, Bangladeshi women's and men's teams for cricket and football have had an eventful year. Amid many challenges in both sports, women have persevered and maintained an admirable level of dedication to their respective sports, while men have shown glimmers of promise.
SAFF U-20 Women's Championship Victory
In February, the women's U-20 football team secured a historic win in the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship. The team displayed exceptional skill and teamwork, clinching the title with a 3-0 victory against Nepal. This achievement marked a significant milestone in the development of women's football in the country, as the Bangladesh women's team now boast SAFF championships in three categories: U-17, U-19, and Senior.
SAFF U-17 Women's Championship Runners-up
In March this year, Bangladesh's Under-17 women's team put up a commendable performance and finished as runners-up in the SAFF U-17 Women's Championship. Despite facing a formidable Russian side in the final, the team showcased resilience and talent throughout the tournament, which earned them the admiration of fans and experts alike.
Withdrawal from AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
But the mood around women's football in the country took a turn for the worse when, on March 29, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) decided to withdraw the women's team from the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament—just six days before the event started. This decision was attributed to financial constraints and led to a protest by players. The incident highlighted the challenges faced by women footballers in the country, and raised questions about support and infrastructure. It makes for a particularly sad picture when the women's football team's resources are contextualised with the success the team has portrayed in recent years, which have shown promise of steady improvement.
Men's football
The Bangladesh men's football team qualified for the semi-finals in the SAFF championship. The award for best goalkeeper of the tournament was given to Anisur Rahman Zico. While they failed to qualify for the AFC Cup, the men's team managed to secure their best performance till date in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Although they were beaten heavily by Australia, proceeding to the second round remains a landmark moment for the team.
Triumphs in women's cricket
Bangladesh women's cricket team shone brightly in 2023, securing notable victories against formidable opponents. Even though, in February, Bangladesh women finished at the bottom of their group in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, they managed to turn things around from there onwards. Against a threatening Indian attack, Bangladesh managed to draw the ODI series after losing the T20 series.
Bangladesh women also participated in the Asian Games 2023 in China, where cricket was included for the first time since 2014. There, they qualified for the semi-finals but lost to India. However, they did end the tournament on a sweet note by winning the bronze medal. Bangladesh restricted opponent Pakistan to a meagre 64-9 in the 20-over game and chased it with five wickets remaining.
Bangladesh then hosted a T20 series and an ODI series against Pakistan, both of which they won 2-1. The women's team just concluded their tour of South Africa, where they won the T20 series 1-1 but lost the ODI series 1-2.
At every level this year, Bangladesh women's cricket team has shown competitiveness and determination. The team has developed to be high in self-confidence and are able to present themselves as a side to be taken seriously at nearly all outings. Unsurprisingly however, much like the women's football team, the women's cricket team has also been highlighted as lacking adequate resources dedicated to them, especially in a manner which matches their yields of success. In November, it was reported that the contracted women's team players had not been paid their salaries for five months.
U-19 men's cricket team conquering Asia Cup
The U-19 men's cricket team added to our cricketing successes by winning the Asia Cup. The young talents displayed a hunger for victory, bringing hope for the future of Bangladesh cricket. In the past, the Bangladesh under-19 men's cricket team won the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2020, some of whom now represent the Bangladesh men's national cricket team. This shows that Bangladesh is capable of producing talents, but needs to nurture the youth so that their skills remain competitive at the more challenging levels of the game.
Setbacks for the men's cricket team
However, the year in sports was not without disappointments for Bangladesh. The men's cricket team faced a setback in the World Cup, failing to advance as far as anticipated. The team spirit seemed to reflect the dramatic unfoldings that happened off-field. Many had predicted that the Bangladesh men were poised to make their mark in this World Cup with their combination of experience and talent, but the team completely failed against that expectation. The men's team played reasonably well in their last ODI series of the year in New Zealand, losing 1-2 to the Kiwis.
The successes in women's football and cricket showcased the country's potential and growing prowess on the global stage. Simultaneously, the challenges faced by the women's teams amplify their need for sustained support and investment.
As the nation looks ahead to 2024, the lessons learned in 2023 will ideally shape the future of sports in Bangladesh. With continued dedication, investment, and a focus on nurturing talent, the country can build on its successes and overcome challenges to make its mark on the map of international sports.
Madiha Athar Khan is a technical writer at Optimizely, and an art enthusiast leading the Art for Soul movement. She can be reached at madiha1923@gmail.com.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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