Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has been recognised for producing the standout bowling performance of the year after his record-breaking spell in the Bangladesh Premier League.
The award was given by ESPNcricinfo as part of its annual honours celebrating the best performances in world cricket in 2025. Taskin’s extraordinary display in the T20 format was chosen as the year’s best bowling performance.
The achievement came during the 2025 BPL at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, where Taskin produced a devastating spell for Durbar Rajshahi against Dhaka Capitals. On a cool afternoon in Mirpur, the Bangladesh pacer tore through the opposition batting line-up, finishing with remarkable figures of 7 wickets for 19 runs in four overs.
The spell remains the best bowling performance in BPL history. Taskin dismantled Dhaka Capitals by dismissing seven batters — Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Chaturanga de Silva, Alauddin Babu, Mukidul Islam Mugdha and Shubham Ranjane — and was also named player of the match.
The second-best bowling figures in the tournament belong to Mohammad Amir, who claimed 6 for 17 for Khulna Tigers against Rajshahi Royals during the 2020 BPL.
In the history of the tournament, a seven-wicket haul and a six-wicket haul have each occurred only once. Five-wicket performances have been recorded 24 times, with Taskin achieving five or more wickets in an innings on two occasions.
In the same set of annual awards, Temba Bavuma was named men’s captain of the year after guiding South Africa national cricket team to the 2023–25 World Test Championship title at Lord’s Cricket Ground, where they defeated Australia national cricket team. The triumph ended South Africa’s 27-year wait for an ICC trophy.
India’s Harmanpreet Kaur was named women’s captain of the year after leading India women’s national cricket team to their first Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025.
Meanwhile, Aiden Markram earned recognition for the year’s best Test batting performance. Despite being dismissed for a duck in the first innings of the World Test Championship final, Markram played a decisive knock of 136 from 207 balls in the second innings, helping South Africa secure the title and earning the player of the match award.
