Who are the seniors in Bangladesh cricket?

Ask any avid Bangladesh cricket fan or expert this question at this moment, and the answer will likely include Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Tamim Iqbal.

Interestingly, these three, alongside Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza -- all part of Bangladesh's 'Big Five' -- have been the senior figures in Bangladesh cricket for decades. This raises a debate: Why hasn't the batch that followed them been considered seniors, even after nearly a decade of international experience?

The answer lies in how this group was managed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), particularly in ODIs.

When Mushfiqur started his career, his record was far from what it is today, with 7,795 ODI runs before retiring from the format. With 274 ODIs played, it may seem like there was no incubation period for him. However, the reality is that players like Mushfiqur, who have long held the senior tag, were given time to develop early on.

This raises the question: Did the next generation receive the same patience from selectors?

In his first two years of ODIs, Mushfiqur averaged just above 20 in 29 innings, scoring 476 runs at a strike rate of 56.06. Comparatively, Towhid Hridoy, who debuted in 2023, accumulated 984 runs in two years at an average of 35.14 in 31 innings.

Even accounting for differences in eras and opposition strength, Mushfiqur required patience before his numbers improved. Three years into his ODI career, his stats surged. Between 2009 and 2011, he scored 1,270 runs in 36 innings at an average of over 35 and a strike rate of 94.5, with more significant contributions.

Soumya Sarkar, who debuted in 2014, made match-winning contributions early on. However, in 11 years, he has played only 76 ODIs -- having been dropped mostly due to inconsistency. In his first two years, Soumya scored 723 runs at an average of 42.52 and a strike rate of 100.4. Among top-order batters (positions 1-3) who played at least 10 matches in that period, Soumya had the sixth-best strike rate globally. His average was better than Chris Gayle and Quinton de Kock, who had superior strike rates in that category.

In the case of Tamim, he played 53 innings during his initial years, scoring 1,370 runs at an average of just over 25. Tamim, Mushfiqur, and Shakib belonged to a transformative era in Bangladesh cricket, where the team was shedding its 'minnows' tag and competing against stronger sides. ODI cricket was also evolving, and Bangladesh's current veterans grew with it with plenty of patience provided by selectors.

However, Bangladesh cricket did not afford the same caution or planning to the next batch, including Soumya, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Liton Das.

Recently, Soumya remarked that, despite 11 years in international cricket, they haven't been recognised as seniors. As ODI cricket continues to evolve, this mixed batch of seniors and 'to-be seniors' has struggled to find consistency -- one reason Bangladesh are yet to secure a major title.

Two days ago, Miraz stated that they are ready to take the next step, acknowledging that many of them have "7-8 years in international cricket." However, it is not the first time that similar statements were made by Miraz, Taskin, Liton, and Soumya, indicating that they have yet to truly step up -- a transition that, in an ideal cricketing culture, should have already occurred.

This failure could be attributed to the board's inability to facilitate a seamless transition to seniority, as it did for the previous generation, and also to the way the likes of Miraz, Taskin, Liton, and Soumya failed to make the most of the chances they received.

Now, with Bangladesh cricket moving forward without most of its established seniors, will experienced players like Taskin, Miraz, and Soumya finally take the next step?