BD pace attack tops T20I economy charts as batters make big hitting gains
UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh’s fast bowlers have quietly built one of the sharpest records in T20I cricket this year – and their batters aren’t far behind either.
Once known as a spin-heavy team, Bangladesh have turned their pace attack into a consistent force. So far in 2025, Bangladeshi pacers have been the most economical among all Test-playing nations, conceding just 7.83 runs per over across 24 matches.
They have bowled more than 246 overs and taken 91 wickets – the second-highest tally after Pakistan’s 93. Only three Test nations – Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe – have managed to keep their pacers’ economy below eight this year.
New Zealand’s figure stands at 7.91, while Zimbabwe’s pacers have gone at 7.96. By contrast, teams like India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have all been above eight, and the West Indies have struggled badly, conceding more than 10 runs an over.
The numbers mark a clear change in Bangladesh’s bowling identity. The trio of Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have given the team control in the middle and at the death – an area that used to be their weakest link.
The improvement hasn’t been limited to the ball.
Bangladesh’s batters have already hit 171 sixes in 24 T20 internationals this year, the second-most among Test nations, behind only Pakistan’s 190.
The team broke its own record months ago – surpassing last year’s total of 122 sixes, which had been the highest in a calendar year.
Players like Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain have pushed the batting to be more adventurous, often taking on bowlers from the start rather than waiting for the final overs.
Only five Test teams have crossed 100 sixes this year – Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Australia and England – underlining how far Bangladesh have come in adapting to the modern T20 game.
The next target might not be far away. With three more T20Is scheduled against the West Indies later this month, Bangladesh have a chance to push past the 200-mark for sixes in a year – a number that would have sounded far-fetched not long ago.