Bangladesh’s T20 struggles have taken a farcical turn, as they now find themselves drawing uncomfortable comparisons to Hazi Mohsin — the legendary philanthropist known for his boundless generosity. Once lauded for his noble intent but sometimes criticised for giving without scrutiny, Hazi Mohsin’s metaphor fits Bangladesh cricket like a glove: a team rich in potential, yet oddly charitable in gifting victories — particularly to teams that have no business winning.
Exactly a year after losing a T20I series to the USA on 21 May 2024, Bangladesh repeated history — or tragedy — on 21 May 2025 by succumbing to the UAE in Sharjah. With these defeats, Bangladesh have earned the dubious distinction of being the only Full Member nation to lose bilateral T20I series to two associate sides.
The 2024 loss to the USA in Texas shocked the cricketing world. Despite setting respectable targets, Bangladesh were outplayed by Steven Taylor and Corey Anderson, while their bowlers failed to defend in two of the three games. The USA’s confident chase and Bangladesh’s lack of bite raised eyebrows about the Tigers’ tactical direction and their dependence on fading stars.
Fast forward to 2025, and the UAE needed no second invitation to pull off a similar upset. After chasing down a mammoth 206 in the second T20I, led by a blazing 82 from Muhammad Waseem, they sealed the series in style. In the final match, Alishan Sharafu’s unbeaten 68 and Haider Ali’s 3 for 7 made a mockery of Bangladesh’s 162 for 9. The Tigers looked like a team with no compass, fumbling under pressure and appearing clueless against opponents they once dominated.
As fans groaned, memes and reactions flooded social media. “Bangladesh is the Hazi Mohsin of world cricket,” one user posted on X. “Always ready to donate wins to teams looking for confidence.”
The absence of Mustafizur Rahman — away on IPL duty — didn’t help, exposing a lacklustre bowling unit that lacked venom or variation. But deeper questions remain: why does this keep happening? Coach Chandika Hathurusingha is under mounting pressure as the T20 Asia Cup looms, with critics questioning team selection, tactical nous, and player development.
Meanwhile, associate nations like the USA and UAE deserve applause for seizing their moment. Their wins weren’t flukes — they were calculated, aggressive, and fearless. They’ve proven that the so-called “minnows” aren’t here to play catch-up anymore.
For Bangladesh, however, the symbolism is stark. Just like Hazi Mohsin, they’re rich in talent and history, yet bafflingly careless with their gifts. Until the Tigers learn to guard their treasure — victories, momentum, and self-belief — their roar will remain muted, their generosity infamous.