Published 18:07 IST, October 25th 2023
'They became Test playing nation 20 years ago': Chopra names 'one of the most underperforming teams'
Aakash Chopra turned to X to share his concerns. He bemoaned the fact that despite being a Test-playing nation for two decades, the team has failed to perform.
SA vs BAN: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra recently expressed his disappointment regarding Bangladesh's performance in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The Bangladeshi team faced a resounding defeat at the hands of South Africa on October 24, losing by a substantial margin of 149 runs. This match unfolded at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a venue renowned for its batsman-friendly pitches.
3 things you need to know
- Bangladesh lost to South Africa in their previous match by 149 runs
- They are currently placed at the bottom of the ODI World Cup points table
- Aakash Chopra has lashed out at Bangladesh for their lackluster show
Also Read: AFG vs PAK: Ajay Jadeja still hasn't stopped ruining Pakistan's World Cup, 23 years after retirement
SA vs BAN: Aakash Chopra lashes out at Bangladesh
Aakash Chopra, who is now well-known for his cricket analysis, turned to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his concerns. He bemoaned the fact that despite being a Test-playing nation for over two decades, Bangladesh continues to fall short on the international stage.
"Bangladesh remains one of the most ‘underperforming’ teams in the cricket world. Period. Admire the passion with which their fans follow the game…but the results are annoying pedestrian for a country that became a Test Playing nation two decades ago!!!," he noted, expressing his frustration with the team's lackluster performance.
In their match against South Africa, Bangladesh allowed their opponents to amass a substantial total of 382 for 5 after South Africa chose to bat first. Despite the match taking place in familiar subcontinental conditions, the Bengal Tigers were unable to put up a competitive fight, eventually being dismissed for a mere 233 runs.
Bangladesh continue to struggle in ODI World Cup
This defeat only served to underscore Chopra's critique of the team's performance in the tournament. With only one victory in their first five matches, Bangladesh's campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023 has been far from impressive. In fact, Bangladesh has never performed up to the mark in any international competition apart from the Asia Cup.
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As the tournament progresses, the Bangladeshi team will have to make significant improvements in their performance to silence critics like Chopra and live up to the expectations of their passionate fan base. Their upcoming match against the Netherlands, scheduled for October 28 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, will be a crucial test for them.
Bangladesh's presence in the Cricket World Cup has been consistent, featuring in every tournament since their debut appearance in the 1999 edition when they participated as an associate team. Among Bangladesh's notable achievements in the World Cup, they reached the Super Eight stage during the 2007 Cricket World Cup and advanced to the Quarter-Finals in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
- 1999 ODI World Cup: Group stage
- 2003 ODI World Cup: Group stage
- 2007 ODI World Cup: Super Eights
- 2011 ODI World Cup: Group stage
- 2015 ODI World Cup: Quarterfinal
- 2019 ODI World Cup: Group stage
Updated 18:07 IST, October 25th 2023