It has been a long journey full of hard learnings for the national cricket team, which attained Test status in 2000. The underdogs have been toying with the biggest teams, stripping them of their home advantage. There have been batting stars in the team, but it is in the bowling department that the team has seen some tremendous Test victories, particularly on very difficult pitches.
Here are Bangladesh’s top five bowlers, based on the number of wickets taken, and let’s celebrate the history of Test cricket for Bangladesh by showing what they nation has achieved:
Bangladesh’s Leading Wicket-Takers in Test Cricket
1. Shakib Al Hasan – 246 wickets
Shakib, an erstwhile captain, heads this pack with 246 wickets from merely 71 matches. He boasts of the best average of all by a Bangladeshi bowler, having been over 50 wickets, at the position of 31.72. For getting 19 five-wicket hauls, he is set apart from all, including Taijul Islam, who comes next. Shakib had made his debut back in May 2007 against India when Bangladesh had not yet quite settled in Test cricket and has since gone on to establish himself as one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen.
2. Islam – 219 wickets
Taijul has produced 219 wickets from just 52 Test matches. He has also registered the second-highest five-wicket hauls with 15. His highest point in this game was during his match with Zimbabwe, where he claimed the record for the highest bowling figures by a Bangladeshi in Tests with 8 for 39. He also took seven wickets against Pakistan and claimed six wickets against New Zealand.
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3. Mehidy Hasan Miraz – 200 wickets
The bowler recently achieved the milestone of 200 Test wickets with a ten-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in April 2025. He made his Test debut in 2016 at the age of 19 and has played 52 matches since. Not only is he a handy bowler at a 32.42 average and 12 five-wicket hauls, but he has nearly contributed 2,000 runs with the bat as well.
4. Mohammad Rafique – 100 wickets
Particularly, Rafique was among the early stars of Bangladesh in the world of spin bowling, coming through as the first from his country to reach the milestone of 100 Test wickets. He ended his careers in Test cricket with 100 wickets from 33 Tests, maintaining an economical rate of 2.79 runs per over. Between 2000 and 2008, he took 7 five-wicket hauls, considerably against teams such as South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan.
5. Mashrafe Mortaza – 78 wickets
Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza got 78 wickets for 36 Tests from 2001 to 2009. He collected four four-wicket hauls against tough batting countries like India, England, and New Zealand. With an average bowling figure of 41.52, these numbers reflect the early struggle of the Bangladesh team in Test cricket.
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The foundation of these bowlers lays the growth of Test cricket for Bangladesh, and there are certainly footprints in international cricket.
