Taskin Ahmed

Taskin Ahmed Tazim is a prominent fast bowler for Bangladesh, renowned for his ability to bowl a heavy ball. Born on April 3, 1995, in Dhaka, he has represented Bangladesh across all formats of the game and is one of the leading fast bowlers in the country’s cricket history.

Taskin began his professional cricket journey in 2007 at the Abahani playground. He quickly rose through the ranks, representing Bangladesh at various youth levels before being selected for the U-19 team. His standout performances in youth cricket, including being the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in the 2012 ICC Under-19 World Cup, helped establish his reputation as a promising fast-bowling talent. In that tournament, he took 11 wickets, showcasing his potential.

In 2011, Taskin made his first-class debut for Dhaka Metropolis against Barisal Division. His performances at the domestic level continued to impress, and by 2014, he was included in Bangladesh's squad for the senior national team. On April 1, 2014, he made his T20I debut against Australia, taking the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell. Just a few months later, in June 2014, Taskin made his ODI debut against India, where he achieved an impressive feat by taking a five-wicket haul, the first-ever for a Bangladeshi bowler on debut in an ODI match.

Taskin's rise to prominence continued during the 2015 Cricket World Cup, where he played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s remarkable quarter-final run. He took vital wickets in the group stage, including three wickets against Scotland and two against England, finishing as Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

Following the World Cup, Taskin played a significant role in key series victories for Bangladesh, including the whitewash against Pakistan in 2015 and the ODI series win against India. However, his career took a setback in 2016 when he was suspended from bowling in international cricket due to an illegal action during the ICC World T20. He worked hard to remodel his action, and in 2017, he returned to international cricket, making his Test debut against New Zealand and claiming his first Test wicket by dismissing Kane Williamson.

Taskin’s performances continued to improve as he became a regular fixture in Bangladesh's line-ups across formats. In 2021, he achieved a milestone by scoring 75 runs in a Test match against Zimbabwe, which included a crucial partnership with Mahmudullah. This partnership of 191 runs became the second-highest ninth-wicket partnership in Test cricket at that time.

In addition to his Test career, Taskin made headlines for his speed in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups. During the 2022 World Cup, Taskin bowled a delivery clocked at 149.56 km/h, making him one of the fastest bowlers in Bangladesh’s history. He was also part of the 2023 ODI World Cup squad, where he played an essential role in Bangladesh's bowling attack.

Taskin’s impressive career further included a maiden five-wicket haul in Tests during Bangladesh's series against the West Indies in 2024. His performance helped Bangladesh win the series and capped a memorable year where he also played a key role in a T20I series sweep against the Windies.

Taskin Ahmed Tazim’s journey in international cricket has been marked by his resilience, raw pace, and ability to take crucial wickets across all formats, making him one of Bangladesh's premier fast bowlers.