Shadman Islam

For left-hand batter Shadman Islam, his father Shahidul's long career as a BCB scout meant extra scrutiny every time he stepped out onto the field. But the late bloomer came into his own halfway through 2024, establishing himself as a Test opener.

Shadman debuted for the national side in 2018, scoring 76 in an innings win against West Indies at home. But over the next six years, outside of his maiden hundred, against Zimbabwe in 2021, he scored just one other fifty in 25 innings. The turning point in his career came in the second half of 2024, when he scored a patient 93 in Bangladesh's maiden Test win against Pakistan. Four more fifties followed in the next ten months, in India, West Indies and Sri Lanka, including yet another century against Zimbabwe.

Growing up in a sporting household meant Shadman got into cricket early, working his way through the age-group levels. He was the highest run-getter in the Under-19 World Cup in 2014 - he made 406 runs at an average of 101.50, with a century and two fifties. Even so, the batters who trailed in his wake in the competition - including Imam-ul-Haq, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, and Liton Das - debuted internationally before him. However he led the National Cricket League run charts with 648 runs at 64.80 in the 2018-19 season, which led to his Test call-up.

Shadman has built a strong technique with a high backlift, and his precision in leaving the balls outside off stump has served him particularly well. He is prone to the odd soft dismissal, but has grown to be a safe bet in the top order.