Shoriful performed exceptionally well in the Bangladesh-New Zealand series, taking six wickets in three matches and earning the best player award. Mustafizur Rahman, ranked 22 among Bangladeshi players, improved by five spots, giving 4.88 runs per over with 2 wickets in New Zealand. Other notable bowlers include Shakib Al Hasan (28), Mehidy Hasan (29), Taskin Ahmed (33), Nasum Ahmed (35), and Hasan Mahmud (43). However, there were no significant improvements in batting, with Litton Das leading at 23 (falling two steps) and Nazmul Hossain at number 32.

Bangladesh’s pacer, Shoriful Islam, expressed satisfaction with his individual performances across all three formats for the Tigers throughout 2023. However, he couldn’t help but feel disappointment over the team’s overall results in the past 12 months.

Returning to Dhaka after the New Zealand tour, Shoriful shared his thoughts with the media, stating,

“Alhamdulillah, I had a very good year. But if we could’ve done a bit better as a team, that would’ve felt even better.”

In a year where the Tigers faced setbacks, losing three home ODI series and finishing eighth in the ICC World Cup in India, there was a somewhat positive conclusion with their maiden ODI and T20 win over the Kiwis in December. Shoriful played a pivotal role in these victories, emerging as the highest wicket-taker in both the ODI and T20 series. He was also honored with the player-of-the-series award in the T20s, marking his first such recognition in international cricket.

Despite Shoriful’s standout performances, Bangladesh faced a 2-1 loss in the ODI series and a drawn 1-1 result in the T20 series, with the second match being washed out due to rain. Shoriful strongly believes that had the rain not intervened during the second T20, where Bangladesh had a strong position with New Zealand at 72-2 after 11 overs, they would have secured a victory and taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Reflecting on the missed opportunity, he stated,

“It was a good series. The T20 series was going our way. If it hadn’t rained, we would’ve won the second match.”

In a gripping second T20I clash between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, Bangladeshi pacer Shoriful Islam showcased exceptional sportsmanship that transcended the intensity of the match.

During his opening over, Shoriful faced a pivotal moment when New Zealand’s Tim Seifert found himself on the ground and out of his crease. Despite the opportunity for a run-out dismissal, Shoriful chose not to capitalise on the situation, opting for sportsmanship over a potential wicket. The umpire deemed it a dead ball due to concussion, and Shoriful’s display of integrity became a notable chapter in the match.

Three deliveries earlier, Shoriful had already made an impact by claiming the wicket of Finn Allen, showcasing his cricketing prowess. Although the rain interrupted the game with New Zealand at 72 for two in 11 overs, Shoriful’s sportsmanship and key contributions added an extra layer of significance to the encounter. Bangladesh holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, secured through a historic five-wicket triumph in Napier.