Shafiul Islam

Shafiul Islam was one of Bangladesh's most promising fast bowlers of the 2010s. His celebrations upon taking a wicket won him many fans, but Shafiul never quite reached the potential that many felt he possessed. He had his big moments with the ball in his ten-year career, and an important contribution with the bat when he and Mahmudullah gave Bangladesh a famous win against England in the 2011 World Cup.

Shafiul, born and brought up in Bogra, is one of the rare cricketers in Bangladesh's modern era, not to play in the Under-19 team before making it to the senior team. Coaches found him in a pace bowling hunt conducted across the country, around 2006-07. Within three years, he made his ODI and Test debuts. A month into his international career, Shafiul took 4 for 68 against New Zealand in Napier. His seven wickets in the series remains the most by a Bangladeshi bowler in the country.

Shafiul would see the other side of the coin within five months, becoming the first ODI bowler to concede 90 runs on two occasions. Shafiul made small contributions during the 4-0 series win against New Zealand, before his four-wicket haul against Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, helping them to a face-saving win.

Slowly however, Bangladesh saw less of Shafiul in the three formats. He played 54 matches in his first two years, but another 37 in the following eight years. He played his last international match shortly before the pandemic in 2020.