One team is a two-time T20 World Cup champion, while the other has never managed to cross the semifinal stage in the T20 World Cup. These two teams, Bangladesh and the West Indies—polar opposites in T20 history—are now battling for an unwanted record: the most losses in international T20 cricket.  

Bangladesh took the field for the first T20 against the West Indies in Saint Vincent already carrying the weight of this record. However, with a 7-run victory, Bangladesh not only took the lead in the series but also received some relief—they no longer hold the record alone. With the loss, the West Indies have matched Bangladesh’s tally of 107 defeats in T20 internationals. This means the second T20, scheduled for Wednesday morning Bangladesh time, will offer one team the ‘opportunity’ to gift the record to the other. Whichever team loses the three-match series will end the year burdened with the unwanted distinction of holding the record for the most losses.  

At the start of 2024, the West Indies were the record holders with 97 defeats in international T20s. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka trailed closely with 95 losses each. On February 11, the West Indies’ defeat to Australia increased their tally to 99, while Bangladesh remained at 95, having not played any matches. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, climbed to second place with 96 losses.  

However, things quickly spiraled for Bangladesh. While the West Indies enjoyed a winning streak of eight consecutive matches from February to June, Bangladesh’s losing record accelerated. On May 23, Bangladesh became the first team in history to register 100 T20 defeats after losing back-to-back matches to cricketing underdogs, the United States, in Texas.  

On June 7, Sri Lanka joined the 100-loss club after losing to Bangladesh in Dallas. Just three days later, Bangladesh once again claimed the unwanted record outright. But yesterday, by defeating the West Indies, Bangladesh lost their sole ownership of the record.