Bangladesh’s cricket team will participate in 12 matches in the new WTC cycle from 2025 to 2027, beginning with a series against Sri Lanka. Following a mixed record in the previous cycle, they aim to improve their standing in this upcoming phase. Their schedule includes matches at home and abroad against teams like Pakistan, West Indies, and Australia. The final of this cycle is set for June 2027 at Lord’s.
Bangladesh’s cricket team is set for a busy schedule in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle that spans from 2025 to 2027. The previous WTC cycle concluded recently, with South Africa claiming victory and shaking off their long-standing reputation as ‘Chokers’. In contrast, Bangladesh finished seventh after securing four wins out of twelve matches played, quite a mixed bag, really.
Just like in the previous cycle, Bangladesh will participate in 12 matches during this one, with their opening series against Sri Lanka kicking off on June 17. This will mark the start of the fourth WTC cycle, showcasing Bangladesh’s journey as they take on familiar foes on both home and away grounds.
The schedule includes six matches on home turf and six away. At home, fans can expect to see matches against Pakistan, West Indies, and England, while the team is set to visit Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Australia. Notably, each series will consist of two matches—a format that has become standard throughout the WTC.
Bangladesh’s performance in the last WTC cycle was considered their best so far, with four victories. To put things in perspective, during the inaugural cycle from 2019-2021, they played seven matches and went winless. Their second cycle was not much better, as they managed only one win in twelve outings.
They enter this new cycle with the Sri Lanka series, a nation where Bangladesh has fond memories, particularly of achieving their 100th Test win. The first Test will take place in Galle, with the second on June 25 in Colombo. Though Bangladesh has been competing in Test cricket for nearly 25 years, their track record has not been stellar. However, improvements have been noted since the inception of the WTC.
Across three cycles, Bangladesh has played a total of 31 Test matches, with stats showing five wins, two draws, and 24 losses—a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead. Like before, nine teams are participating, and each squad will engage in six series: three at home and three away. They will continue using the established points system, where a win earns 12 points and draws contribute four.
Interestingly, the number of matches in this cycle has been increased from previous years by one, bringing the total to 71 matches across 27 series, a neat expansion. Each series will comprise at least two matches, up to five. Excitingly, the final is set to take place at Lord’s in June 2027.
As for match numbers, Australia leads with 22 matches, while England follows with 21. In contrast, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will play the least, with just twelve matches, beginning their journey this cycle. For Bangladesh, this will be the only Test series in 2025, with the remainder of their matches slated for 2026 and 2027.
Their second series kicks off in March 2026 against Pakistan, and they will then travel to Australia for their first series on Australian soil since 2003. Following the home series against West Indies in October 2026, they are set to tour South Africa in November, wrapping up with a home series against England in February 2027.
Despite the struggles over the years, a statistic might lift the spirits of the Bangladeshi side: they have remained unbeaten in their recent series against four of the six opponents in this upcoming cycle. They drew series against both England and Australia and dominated Pakistan with a clean sweep. Unfortunately, the team faced setbacks against Sri Lanka and South Africa, the defending champions. It is a mixed bag that will require careful navigation as they embark on this new chapter of the WTC.
Bangladesh’s cricket team is embarking on a new journey in the World Test Championship cycle from 2025 to 2027, facing 12 matches. With warm memories of past wins and a mixed record overall, the team seems poised to tackle new challenges ahead. As they play home and away series, their performance against previous opponents will be crucial in building momentum. This cycle presents both challenges and opportunities for the team, especially as they approach their encounters with established cricketing nations.
Original Source: www.bssnews.net
