Before the start of the Asia Cup 2025 journey of the Tigers, former Indian spinner Murali Kartik spoke about Bangladesh’s performance. He compared the Tigers with Afghanistan.
“Compared to Afghanistan, when did Bangladesh start playing? Look at how far Afghanistan has come,” Kartik said. “Bangladesh has no shortage of passion and excitement, but can they turn that into consistent performance at the international level? That has not happened.”
He added during a discussion with Harsha Bhogle on Cricbuzz, “If you or I say anything against a Bangladeshi player, people will attack us. Fans are very emotional about their players.”
Kartik praised Afghanistan’s rise despite limited resources. “Afghanistan has achieved so much, even with their history and challenges. I think Bangladesh can learn from Afghanistan. At the end of the day, having talented players is not enough. Collective performance at this level is what matters.”
Bangladesh’s struggle against Afghanistan has been evident in recent tournaments. In the T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh were defeated and knocked out by Afghanistan. Afghanistan went on to reach the semi-finals, a stage Bangladesh has never reached.
Kartik’s comments highlight a wider issue for Bangladesh cricket. Talent is present, but turning it into team success remains a challenge. Learning from Afghanistan’s rise could help Bangladesh improve in future tournaments.
