This was an eventful year in the sports arena as there were success stories, history makings, suspensions, farewells, and records. Dhaka Tribune sports picked top 10 moments of local sports in the year 2022.
Winning Test away in New Zealand
Bangladesh cricket had started the year with the big milestone after securing arguably their finest ever Test win, defeating reigning World Test champions New Zealand at the Bay Oval by eight wickets breaking the hosts' 17-match unbeaten streak at home.
It was the first occasion when Bangladesh defeated the Kiwis in the long format. This was also the first time Bangladesh have beaten New Zealand in any format in New Zealand and it was Bangladesh's sixth overseas Test win - anywhere. Right arm fast bowler Ebadot Hossain had started the game with the poorest average for a minimum of 10 Test wickets but had emerged as the hero for Bangladesh.
Racer Avik creating history in Malaysia
Avik Anwar became the first ever Bangladeshi racer to win an international motorsport championship in March to make history.
He finished champion in the NGK Pro Car Championship in Dubai, UAE beating racers from all over the world including second-placed Scott Dimeler by 119 points.
Avik won the multiclass racing competition with Bangladesh Motorsports, the first racing team in the country's history.
The championship that started in November 2021 had six rounds covering 12 races in four months and took place at Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina F1 Track circuits.
Winning ODI series in South Africa
Bangladesh's success overseas continued when they stroked to their maiden ODI series win in South Africa, sealing it by 2-1. Bangladesh defeated the Proteas by nine wickets in the third ODI of the series at the back of right-arm fast bowler Taskin Ahmed's first five-wicket haul in eight years, bowling South Africa out for 154.
This was followed by Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal's unbeaten 87 which ensured the side's biggest overseas win in terms of balls remaining. Before this tour, South Africa had never lost to Bangladesh at home in 20 years.
Saif Sporting bidding farewell
It may seem a bit early to see corporate outfits Saif Sporting Club bidding goodbye to professional football within only five years of its journey.
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) side let the BFF know its decision officially in the first week of August and are not taking part in the ongoing domestic season despite finishing third in 2021-22 league.
The club, owned by Saif Powertec Limited, stated that it was because of the loss caused by then situation of global trade and commerce that made them unable to focus on football.
Girls triumphing SAFF in Nepal
The maiden SAFF Women's Championship title finally arrived on September 19, 2022 after Sabina Khatun and Co beat hosts Nepal 3-1 in the final held in Kathmandu.
Krishna Rani Sarkar scored a brace in the final following Shamsunnahar Jr's lead while Sabina finished as top scorers with eight goals.
The supremacy in South Asia came through a dominating display throughout the tournament from a squad most of the members of which are young but energetic and skillful.
The whole country celebrated the victory, and the girls were given a heroic welcome upon their return amid massive fan gatherings.
Kings 14-0 Fakirerpool
It was the highest margin of victory by a side in men's domestic football, since the introduction of the professional league in the country when Bashundhara Kings ran riot against second-tier team Fakirerpool Young Men's Club with a 14-0 win in their opening group match of Independence Cup 2022 in Cumilla on November 14.
The one-sided affair saw Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomez netted a double hat-trick on his club debut while his compatriot Robson Robinho also slammed a treble.
Oscar Bruzon's side eventually went on to become unbeaten champions of the curtain-raiser tournament.
Archer Ruman getting banned for hitting teammate
One of the country's most successful sportsperson in recent years, Ruman Shana came up with an appalling headline at the middle of November after the premier archer received a two-year suspension for beating up a teammate at the residential training camp in Tongi, Gazipur.
Bangladesh Archery Federation (BAF) show-caused him earlier for similar behavior but the Asia Cup gold-medalist didn't seem to have taken the lesson and got punished eventually.
In his absence next month, Bangladesh won only bronze medals (3) in the latest Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament Stage 3 held in UAE.
Ironman's dream coming true
It was dream coming true for Bangladesh's premier triathlete Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Arafat who directly qualified for the Ironman World Championship after winning his country's first medal in the Ironman Malaysia held in the first week of November.
Arafat took 10 hours 31 minutes and 31 seconds to complete his running, swimming and cycling parts - comprising in a triathlon event - to achieve the feat.
He emerged runners-up in the age category (male 30-34) and finished 11th overall out of 427 participants to record the country's highest achievement in the competition.
Winning ODI series against India
Bangladesh cricket finished ODI format in the year on high note after they secured 2-1 series win against India at home. Bangladesh won the first two games of the series to clinch only their second ODI series win against the neighbors.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the hero with the bat as the right-handed batter pulled Bangladesh out from the drench and inspired to win the first two games of the series.
In the first game, he scored an unbeaten 38 runs innings at the end to snatch win from India's hand and then came better in the second by pulling off another remarkable effort with the bat in another see-saw match.
The allrounder scored his maiden ODI century off just 83 balls to take his team out of trouble and post a challenging 271 for 7 that proved to be just beyond India's reach in the end. India lost early wickets and were reduced to 207 for 8.
Bodybuilder Jahid's lifetime ban for kicking prize
It made headlines everywhere at the eve of new year. Former champion Jahid Hasan Shuvo kicked off his runner-up prize, a boxed blender machine, twice on the stage of a national competition and then got suspended for life time by bodybuilding federation.
The video went viral along with the bodybuilder's interview of justifying his action as a protest against alleged biasedness of organizers but apologized for the way he did it.
Sports Minister Zahid Ahsan Russel said that they would investigate the issue as Jahid also complained that the result was fixed, and he deserved to be champion.
