The Bangladeshi cricket team, also known as "The Tigers", is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. It is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status. It played its first Test match in 2000 (against India at Dhaka), becoming the tenth Test cricket playing nation.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (known then as the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board) was established in 1972. Soon after, a cricket league commenced in Dhaka and Chittagong. A national level cricket tournament begun in the country in 1974-75. During this time the cricket league started at the district (regional) level. Other tournaments that were organised were aimed school, college, youth and university level.
Bangladesh's first official foray into international cricket came in the 1979 ICC Trophy in England, leaving the tournament with 2 wins and 2 defeats. Seven years later, on March 31 1986, Bangladesh played in its first One Day International match against Pakistan in the 1986 Asia Cup. Cricket has gradually become very popular in urban areas of the country. Although football was the most popular game for a long time, cricket gained a momentum and soon surpassed football, especially after Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997. By winning the ICC trophy, the Tigers had qualified for the 1999 Cricket World Cup for the first time. Bangladesh performed admirably in the 7th World Cup and caused an upset by defeating Pakistan in a group phase match. In 1997, Bangladesh became a regular ICC member with the right to play one-day internationals. It attained the status of a test playing country on 26 June 2000.
At the end of 2007, Bangladesh had played in 49 Tests, winning only once against a Zimbabwe team crippled by the exodus of its senior players. They have lost 43 of their matches, and 29 of these by an innings. Cricinfo Statsguru - Bangladesh - Test matches - Team analysis Bangladesh's performance has led to repeated calls for them to lose their Test status.
