The Empty Spreadsheet: When Cricket Data Goes Silent

Suppose a match has ended. The scoreboard shows the result. But if you go looking for that match's xG model, pressing intensity, or line movement data, you will find the files empty. No numbers, no timestamps, no entries. This is the biggest crisis in cricket analysis today—not a lack of data, but an absence of it.

I am sitting at an odds desk in Dhaka. I have been involved in cricket for 52 years. In 2026, I began working at The Daily Star's sports desk. In 2026, at age 59, while watching Abahani Limited Dhaka versus Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, the xG was 0.9 to 2.4. I posted a Facebook thread analyzing PPDA and shot quality. It reached 40,000 views. Since then I have understood that data is a powerful medium for reaching people. But today I face a different problem.

The problem is that the data needed to analyze a match is often unavailable. Especially in Bangladesh's domestic cricket. Dhaka Premier League, or BPL—here the lack of data is acute. If you want to calculate a match's PPDA, you have to manually watch video and count. There is no automated system. Yet in England's County Championship, data for every ball is available.

When I was building the PPDA model for the 2026 Russia World Cup, Germany's pressing had fallen from 7.4 in 2026 to 11.2 in the qualifiers. I warned they would collapse. They lost 0-1 to Mexico and 0-2 to South Korea. That model worked because I had sufficient data.

But in Bangladesh cricket, that data does not exist. When I was commentating the Emerging Teams Asia Cup on T Sports in 2026, I saw coaches wanting to make data-driven decisions but lacking the necessary information. One example: what was the pressing intensity of the Bangladesh Under-23 team? No one has this information.

A fundamental question arises here: what is data? Data is a measurable record of every event in a match. But in Bangladesh, sometimes even match video footage is not preserved. So how do we analyze?

I speak from experience: in 2026 when the Bundesliga returned, I observed the home win rate falling from 43% to 29% over six rounds. I recalibrated my betting model to treat crowd absence as a core variable. In 2026 at Euro 2026, Italy's PPDA was 7.8, and they covered 113 km per match. I predicted their midfield control. Italy won Euro 2026. At the Tokyo Olympics too, in a fanless environment, I adjusted my home advantage model.

In all these cases, data existed. But in Bangladesh's domestic cricket, the lack of data is a systemic problem. Let us analyze the causes.

First, lack of infrastructure. Bangladesh has no automated data collection system for cricket matches. Every ball's speed, line, length, shot type—all must be recorded manually. This is time-consuming and error-prone.

Second, lack of data preservation. Many matches' video footage is not preserved. As a result, later analysis is impossible.

Third, lack of analysts. The number of cricket data analysts in Bangladesh is very small. Those who exist mainly work on international matches.

Fourth, budget constraints. The technology and manpower required for data collection and analysis are expensive.

What is the solution to these problems? I believe the first step is to build a centralized data collection system. At minimum, basic data—runs, wickets, overs, ball speed—should be preserved for every BPL and Dhaka Premier League match. Then advanced data—PPDA, xG, shot maps—can be added gradually.

But there is a reality here. Sitting at the Dhaka odds desk, I have seen that the lack of data directly affects the betting market. When data is absent, bookmakers rely on guesswork. As a result, betting volumes decline.

When I analyzed the PPDA of the Abahani versus Sheikh Russel match in 2026, I found Abahani's PPDA was 8.2 and Sheikh Russel's 12.5. But the scoreline was 2-1 in Abahani's favor. This analysis shows Abahani pressed more and created better chances. But this data was obtained because I was watching the match myself and counting manually.

If you wanted to rewatch that match today, the video footage would not be available. As a result, the analysis cannot be repeated.

A vital question here: is data only for international matches? No. Data is no less important in domestic cricket. Because international players emerge from domestic cricket. If we do not keep domestic cricket data, we cannot identify talent.

After I moved into TV commentary in 2026, I saw many talented players who performed well in domestic cricket but failed at the international level. Because they were not properly evaluated. Without data, their weaknesses could not be identified.

For example, looking only at a batsman's strike rate is not enough; one must see their shot selection, footwork, and performance against bowlers. This information cannot be obtained without data.

When I hosted the Bangabandhu BPL draft in 2026, I saw that franchises did not use data in player selection. They relied mainly on coaches' opinions and players' reputations. As a result, wrong players were sometimes selected.

Here is an interesting fact: in the 2026 BPL, one team picked a foreign player whose T20 strike rate was 130. But that player had a 140+ strike rate in domestic leagues. Without data, they could not understand that his performance was inconsistent.

So what is the solution? I believe a data cell should be formed at the Bangladesh Cricket Board. This cell would collect, preserve, and analyze domestic match data. This would require:

1. Automated data collection software—such as Hawk-Eye or pixel-based tracking systems.
2. Cloud storage for data preservation.
3. Trained data analysts.

But there is a challenge: cost. A Hawk-Eye system costs around $50,000. Such investment is difficult in Bangladesh's domestic cricket.

As an alternative, manual data collection can be done. For example, appoint 2-3 scorers per match to record the outcome of every ball. This is cheap but laborious.

I believe the most realistic step is to create a mobile app where scorers can easily enter data. This app could be open source.

Now let us consider a contrarian view. Some may argue that the lack of data is not actually a problem. Cricket has traditionally relied on players' skills and coaches' judgment. Data is a Western concept unnecessary for Bangladesh cricket.

This argument is incorrect. Because data is just a tool. It does not replace a coach's judgment; it enriches it. For example, a bowler conceded 20 runs in 4 overs. But data reveals his economy rate was good because batsmen were only defending against him. The real test was in the death overs, where he conceded 12 runs. This subtle difference cannot be understood without data.

My prediction of Italy's midfield control at Euro 2026 in 2026 was based on data. Italy's PPDA was 7.8, far better than Turkey's 12.3. Without this data, I might not have identified Italy as favorites.

So how can Bangladesh cricket overcome the lack of data? I suggest working on three levels:

Short-term: Preserve basic data (runs, wickets, overs, strike rate) for every domestic match. Medium-term: Introduce manual data collection and build a central database. Long-term: Implement automated data collection and train data analysts.

But a caution here: data is only valuable when it is accurate. A lack of data is better than incorrect data analysis. So alongside data collection, data quality must be ensured.

My prediction based on analyzing Germany's pressing data in 2026 proved correct because the data was reliable. But if the data had been wrong, my analysis would have been wrong.

Now a question: is data only for the betting market? No. Data is also needed for coaching decisions, player selection, and talent development.

When I started at The Daily Star in 2026, cricket analysis was mainly descriptive. Who scored how many runs, who took how many wickets—that information was enough. But today's cricket requires much more.

I believe the time for a data revolution in Bangladesh cricket has come. It is an investment that will pay dividends in the future.

In the end, one thing must be said: cricket analysis without data is incomplete. And if there is no data, what will analysts do? They will guess. And guesses are never right.

So, if you see a lack of data in Bangladesh's domestic cricket next season, understand that it is not just a technical problem, but a systemic failure.

My advice: start today. Open a spreadsheet and begin recording a match's data. Small steps mark the beginning of big change.

Another point: data collection requires cooperation between the board and the media. Media can provide match video footage; the board can arrange data collection and preservation.

While working at T Sports in 2026, I saw that the channel's video footage was not preserved. As a result, later analysis was impossible. This is a great loss.

Therefore, I urge the board: preserve video footage of every domestic match. This is an investment for the future.

Now, a final word. Data is a language. Teams that understand this language will stay ahead. Teams that do not will fall behind. To take Bangladesh cricket forward, data must be prioritized.

This is a competition. And to win in competition, accurate information is needed.

So, no more empty spreadsheets. It is time to fill them with data.