Bangladesh are on the verge of beginning yet another Asia Cup, a tournament that has been long etched in the country鈥檚 cricket history, as it produced much ecstasy and agony for the cricket lovers.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled next year in India and Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup is being held in T20 format this time, marking only the third time in this tournament鈥檚 history to do so.
Before gaining the ICC full member status, the Asia Cup was the only platform for Bangladesh to get a taste of international cricket.
Until July 1997, 13 of the 15 ODIs played by Bangladesh were in the Asia Cup; the other two came in the Austral-Asia Cup, a tournament where the teams from Asia and Oceania took part.
The first time Bangladesh participated in the Asia Cup was in 1986, during the tournament鈥檚 second edition, in Sri Lanka. On that occasion, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, who is now the chairman of the national selection panel, captained the team in their inaugural ODI against Pakistan in Moratuwa.
Bangladesh had to wait until 2004 to get their first win in the Asia Cup when they beat Hong Kong by 116 runs in Colombo. The Tigers will begin their Asia Cup in 2025 campaign against the same opposition on September 11.
The editions in 2008 and 2010 were forgettable in terms of the result for Bangladesh, as they managed only a win over the UAE in 2008.
However, some memorable performances were there, as Alok Kapali struck his only hundred in international cricket against India in 2008 on a losing cause.
The most memorable, yet the most heartbreaking, tournament for Bangladesh came in 2012 at home, where the Tigers beat India and Sri Lanka in the group stage to confirm their first-ever final of the tournament.
Bangladesh, chasing 236 in the final against Pakistan, held a strong position heading into the last 10 overs. However, a mini collapse dented their chances, only to be rescued by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza鈥檚 18 off 9.
They were somewhat favourites to clinch the trophy when nine runs were needed from the last six. But a tight over from Aizaz Cheema restricted Bangladesh, who lost by just two runs.
Cheema played 26 internationals for Pakistan, yet the name has been remembered by most of the Bangladeshi fans who watched that final.
After a dismal show in 2014 at home, Bangladesh got their chance to redeem themselves when they reached the final of the first-ever T20 Asia Cup in 2016.
But Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni stepped up for India in a 15-over shootout at Mirpur as Bangladesh lost by eight wickets.
Bangladesh reached yet another final in 2018. The tournament began with Tamim Iqbal playing with a broken hand in the first match against Sri Lanka, where Mushfiqur Rahim arguably played his best innings.
Shakib Al Hasan also left the tournament midway due to injury, as Bangladesh had to send Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open with Liton Das in the final against India.
Liton scored a hundred after adding 120 runs for the opening stand with Mehidy, yet Bangladesh managed only 222 runs. Mehidy couldn鈥檛 bowl more than four overs, and Bangladesh couldn鈥檛 prevent yet another heartbreak.
Bangladesh couldn鈥檛 topple the first hurdle in 2022, while only one win in the Super Four was not enough for them to go through to the final in 2023.
So the uncomfortable stat remains: Bangladesh are the only team in the Asia Cup without a trophy with this number of matches played.
It鈥檚 now up to Liton Das & co to change the history.
