Bangladesh: Taking steps in right direction

Team Bangladesh is one of the relatively new and emerging teams in the world of cricket. The Bangla Tigers have been performing well in bilateral series and have been giving some tough competition to their rivals in both the Test as well as ODI matches off late.

According to current ICC ODI ranking, the young Bangladeshi side is seventh on the list and have secured a place for the ICC Champion trophy. Since October 1 2014 to September 30, the team has played 17 ODI matches and won 12, while losing five.

Mashrafe Mortaza, the skipper of the ODI team has united the whole team together and the Tigers are ready to roar at major tournaments. Along with the skipper other young players also performed brilliantly in the series against Pakistan, India and South Africa and in the 2015 World Cup.

The brilliant performance by the young Bangladeshi team in the last one year have secured them a berth in the upcoming ICC Champion trophy 2017, which will held in England. It was 2006 when this team played the ICC Champions trophy last. However, they could not move into the second round. They lost two matches in that series and won a single match against Zimbabwe by 101 runs.

Meanwhile, Pakistan somehow managed to secure its place in ICC Champion Trophy. Paskistan was on the eighth place on the current ICC ranking on the final day of deadline 

On the other hand, two times (1975, 1979) World Cup Champion West Indies, who were once the indisputable champions of cricket, failed to make it to the top eight teams and is out of the upcoming ICC Champion trophy. It is the first time when Caribbean country will not be the part of ICC Champion trophy since its first Edition 1998.

The Champions Trophy 2017 will have 15 matches and all teams have been split into two groups. The top two teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals. The groups and the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy will be announced in due course.

Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri lanka, England, Bangladesh and Pakistan will play ICC Champion Trophy 2017.