Sport in Bangladesh is a popular form of entertainment as well as an essential part of Bangladeshi culture. Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh followed by football. Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the top 10 cricketing nations of the world and has regularly qualified for the Cricket World Cup since 1999, the country achieved arguably its greatest heights in Cricket, when it defeated three of the top-rated teams in 2015 Cricket World Cup to qualify for the quarterfinals. In 2015, they white-washed Pakistan and clinched the series by 3-0 and in another major achievement they won a series against India by 2-1 in the same year, they beat South Africa 2–1 in an ODI series and cemented their spot in Champions Trophy 2017.
In football, Bangladesh is only the second team from South Asia to have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup (1980). The country's greatest success in football was their 2003 SAFF Gold Cup triumph along with winning gold at the 1999 South Asian Games. The Shadhin Bangla football team was one of the first instances of a national sports team representing the country internationally, during their tour of India amidst the Bangladesh Liberation War.[1]
The National Sports Council (NSC) is the governing body to controls all the sports federations and councils in the country and is responsible to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. There are a total of 46 different sports federations affiliated with the NSC.[2] Bangladesh Games is the largest domestic multi-sport tournament in the country, where athletes and sports teams from all the districts participate.
Major leagues
Popular sports
Cricket
Cricket is arguably the most popular sport in the country. Its popularity rose after the national team won the ICC Trophy in 1997 and for the first time qualified for the Cricket World Cup in 1999. In 2000, Bangladesh became a full member of International Cricket Council which allowed it to play Test cricket. Bangladesh regularly hosts many international One Day matches, Test matches, and Twenty20 Internationals. In 2011, Bangladesh hosted the 2011 Cricket World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh was also elected to host the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. Bangladesh Cricket Board is the premier governing body to manage the development of the sport in the country.
In the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh beat England and reached the quarter-finals for the first time. However, they were knocked out in the quarter-final against India. Bangladesh also reached the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, held in England and Wales, but lost to India again in the semis. The Bangladesh women's team beat India in the 2018 Asia Cup Finals to become only the second team after six-time winners India to lift the trophy.
On 9 February 2020, the Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team won the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in South Africa after beating India in a nail-biting final. This was Bangladesh's first win in an ICC event at any level.
Football
Throughout history, football has been a major sport in Bangladesh.[3] The country's football legacy was even present during the Bangladesh Liberation War, through the rise of the Shadhin Bangla football team, who toured throughout India and played friendly matches to raise international awareness and economic support for the liberation war.[3] During the 70s and 80s, football was the most popular sport in the country, but ever since the downfall in results and cricket's rise in the late 90s, it is now considered to be the second most popular game in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is in charge of managing the sport in the country.
In 1976, Bangladesh became affiliated with FIFA. The mid-eighties saw a surge in support for the three traditional Dhaka League giants Dhaka Mohammedan, Abahani Limited Dhaka and Brothers Union, who established massive fan bases all over the country. The most anticipated game in Bangladeshi domestic football is the Dhaka Derby and during the majority of the 80s, the derby was seen as the biggest sporting event in the country.[4] Since independence, the country has hosted two major AFC tournaments, the 1978 AFC Youth Championship and the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup.[5][6]
The national team's only appearance in the AFC Asian Cup to date was during the 1980 edition when they became only the second South Asian team to qualify for the main tournament. In 1995, the national team won the 4-nation Tiger Trophy in Myanmar, which was their first ever major trophy.[7] Even after the decline of domestic football, there are more football tournaments organized in and outside Dhaka than any other sports, and football fever grips the nation during every FIFA World Cup.[8]
In 2022, the women's team created history by winning the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship, defeating Nepal in the final.[9]
Hockey
Hockey has been one of the most popular sports in Bangladesh. It comes right after Cricket and football considering their popularity. However, the lack of responsible officials and maladministration has led this sport to decline as well. Bangladesh, even though, regularly participates in the Hockey Asia Cup and also hosted its edition in 1985. The Bangladesh Hockey Federation, the national governing body for the sport, every year organizes some domestic competitions in the country, most notably the Premier Division Hockey League. In 2022 Bangladesh started its first-ever franchise hockey league Hockey Champions Trophy Bangladesh.
Ha-du-du
Ha-du-du is recognized as the national sport in Bangladesh.[10] The sport is played all through the country. Bangladesh has been regularly participating in Asian Games for Ha-du-du. However, the recent rise of other sports has led to a decline in their popularity. Bangladesh was once considered one of the top sides to play against in the world but has now been weakening due to a lack of funds and other reasons.
Chess
Chess is a popular indoor game in Bangladesh and the country has given birth to many talented chess players. Bangladeshi chess player Niaz Murshed is the first Grandmaster to emerge from South Asia in 1987.[11] The Bangladesh Chess Federation has become a member of the FIDE in 1979. Every year it arranges some 15 to 20 tournaments at the national and international levels. The Bangladeshi Chess Championship is the annual individual national chess championship in the country.