Cricket

Afghanistan's remarkable journey in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2024 culminated in a historic triumph over Bangladesh, securing their first-ever berth in the semifinals. The match, played in Kingstown on June 24, witnessed a thrilling contest between the two sides.Chasing a modest target of 116 set by Afghanistan, Bangladesh's batting lineup crumbled under the guile of captain Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq. The openers, Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto, were dismissed cheaply, followed by the experienced Shakib Al Hasan. Litton Das, the lone warrior for Bangladesh, played a valiant knock of 54 not out, but his efforts proved futile as wickets fell around him.Rashid Khan, the Afghan spin wizard, was the tormentor-in-chief, claiming four wickets for just 23 runs in his 10-ball spell. Naveen-ul-Haq, the fast bowler, also chipped in with four wickets for 26 runs, strangling the Bangladesh middle and lower order.Earlier, Afghanistan's innings got off to a sedate start as openers Rahmanuttlah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran struggled to find their rhythm. The Bangladesh bowlers bowled with discipline, restricting the Afghan batsmen to 59 runs in the first 10.4 overs. However, Rashid Khan's late cameo of 19 runs off just 10 balls propelled Afghanistan to a respectable total of 115 for 5.With this victory, Afghanistan not only secured their place in the semifinals but also eliminated Australia from the tournament. It is a testament to the team's resilience and determination, having overcome several challenges throughout the competition.

Bangladesh's women's cricket team has recalled experienced duo Rumana Ahmed and Jahanara Alam for the upcoming Women's Asia Cup, scheduled to begin next month. The decision comes after Bangladesh suffered consecutive T20I series defeats to Australia (3-0) and India (5-0).Rumana, an all-rounder, and Jahanara, a seamer, have played 134 and 130 internationals, respectively. However, they had been omitted from the squad for over a year as the selectors focused on building a younger team.Their impressive performances in the Dhaka Premier Division Women's Cricket League (DPDWCL) have prompted their recall. Jahanara emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 25 scalps in nine matches, while Rumana claimed 17 wickets."Rumana and Jahanara were out of the team for 12 months. We have to keep in mind that there is very little training facilities for our female cricketers, so it is to their credit that they held on to their fitness," said women's chief selector Sajjad Ahmed. "They performed very well in the Premier League. It is a good news for us that we can get their experience in our squad, which allows us to have a balanced squad."The squad also includes call-ups for opener Ishma Tanjim and left-arm spinner Sabikun Nahar. Tanjim is known for her free-flowing batting style and high strike rate, while Nahar is expected to provide support to Nahida Akter in the spin department.Bangladesh have left out Habiba Islam, Fahima Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, and Fariha Trisna from the team that played against India in May."I think we have a great prospect in the Asia Cup this year," said Sajjad. "We open the tournament against Sri Lanka. If we win that game, we have a great chance of playing in the semi-final."Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka on July 20, followed by matches against Thailand and Malaysia on July 22 and 24, respectively.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has meticulously planned a series of seven red-ball matches for the Bangladesh Test team, signaling a shift in focus from T20Is to the World Test Championship (WTC) for the remainder of the year. Bangladesh has four crucial Test series remaining in their 2023-25 WTC cycle against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and West Indies.To prepare for these challenging encounters, the Test cricketers will engage in three four-day matches in Chattogram next month. These home matches will be followed by two four-day fixtures against Pakistan A in Darwin from July 19 to 29. The Bangladesh A team will then embark on a tour to Pakistan in August for two additional four-day matches against the same opponents. New Zealand A is also expected to tour Bangladesh in August or September.In addition to these matches, Bangladesh players have been diligently participating in training camps in Chattogram and Sylhet since May. BCB's cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Test players in these camps. He emphasized that the four-day games against formidable opponents will provide invaluable experience ahead of the WTC matches."We aim to provide the best possible preparation for our players before the demanding Test schedule in the coming months," Yunus stated. "The rest is up to the players. I have been closely monitoring the Bangladesh Tigers camp, and I am pleased with their progress."The Bangladesh senior men's team is expected to depart for Pakistan on August 17 for two Tests, with venues and dates yet to be announced. Following the Pakistan series, they will face India in two Tests in Chennai and Kanpur, accompanied by three T20Is.Bangladesh may potentially tour India twice in three months if the BCB accepts the Afghanistan Cricket Board's revised schedule for two white-ball series in late July. The ACB has proposed playing three ODIs and three T20Is in Greater Noida. This tour was initially postponed in March due to Bangladesh's busy schedule in 2024, but with the Champions Trophy now on their agenda, the BCB is considering the tour, given that they have only three ODIs scheduled between now and next February.Sources indicate that the series is still under discussion, as the BCB has reservations about playing in Noida during July due to unfavorable weather conditions.After the bilateral series in India in September, Bangladesh will host South Africa for two home Tests in October. They will then tour West Indies for a full series in November and December.

Bangladesh's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight game against India has drawn criticism from two of the team's most prominent players, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Shakib expressed frustration over the team's lack of intent and fighting spirit, while Tamim questioned some of the tactical decisions made by the management.Shakib, who scored only 11 runs off seven balls, lamented the team's inability to chase down India's total of 196. He pointed out that Bangladesh's top order has consistently underperformed throughout the tournament, failing to capitalize on the favorable batting conditions in Antigua."We couldn't even show our intent of wanting to chase India's runs," Shakib said. "We are short of runs as a batting unit. We made 140 in the last game, 146 today. We should have done better today since we had a target in front of us."Tamim, who was commentating on the match for ESPNcricinfo, echoed Shakib's concerns. He expressed surprise at Bangladesh's lack of intent with the bat and questioned the decision to leave out Taskin Ahmed in favor of an extra batter."Bangladesh's batting has disappointed in this whole tournament," Tamim said. "The think-tank really needs to think about how they will go from here on."Tamim also criticized the decision to not give the new ball to Mustafizur Rahman, who has a reputation for troubling Rohit Sharma with his left-arm pace. He suggested that Bangladesh missed an opportunity to exploit Sharma's weakness.Shakib and Tamim both acknowledged that Bangladesh's batting struggles are not new. They pointed out that the team tends to perform better on tricky wickets than on good batting surfaces."We don't really do well when we play on flat wickets that produce 180-200 runs," Shakib said. "We play better on wickets that produce 130-150 runs."Tamim added that Bangladesh's batters are not accustomed to playing on good batting wickets, which has hindered their development. He suggested that the team needs to prioritize playing on better surfaces to improve their batting skills."Bangladesh [usually] play in difficult wicket for batters," Tamim said. "They also can't start scoring runs freely when you put them in a very good wicket."

Former Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes has strongly condemned Virender Sehwag's recent criticism of Shakib Al Hasan, calling it disrespectful and unwarranted. Sehwag had criticized Shakib's performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, suggesting that he should retire and remember his Bangladeshi identity.Kayes, in an interview with CricFrenzy, expressed his disappointment with Sehwag's comments. He pointed out that legendary cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid would never make such disrespectful remarks. Kayes believes that Sehwag's lack of respect stems from his own experiences during his playing career."I don't know how a legendary cricketer like him thinks when he says such things," Kayes said. "You won't see Sachin-Dravid talking like this because they give that respect to players. Since he didn't get that respect in his career, he doesn't know how to give that respect to other players."Kayes also criticized Sehwag's previous comments about Bangladesh cricket, saying that he has consistently made disparaging remarks about the country's cricket environment and ability. However, Kayes pointed out that Bangladesh has proven Sehwag wrong by taking 20 wickets in Test cricket.Kayes praised Shakib Al Hasan for his achievements, emphasizing that he is a respected and accomplished cricketer. He believes that such players deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their recent form."Shakib did not become Shakib Al Hasan in one or two days," Kayes said. "If you look at his career, you will see many achievements. He has been the number one all-rounder in all three formats for a long time. I think such cricketers should be spoken about with respect."Kayes' comments highlight the importance of respect and sportsmanship in cricket. He believes that legendary players should set a positive example for younger generations and avoid making disrespectful remarks about other players.

Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has revealed that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan's comments ignited the rift between himself and Tamim Iqbal. The revelation came in a documentary aired by Bongo, a leading OTT platform in Bangladesh.Shakib stated that Hasan's remarks created a lot of problems in their relationship and made it a focal point of discussion rather than the cricketing side. He emphasized that the rift was not as severe as portrayed and that their professional relationship remained intact."We were not talking a lot, but it's not right that we were not on talking terms," Shakib said. "We used to be together all the time, but that relationship was not there for quite some time."Shakib attributed the distance to their marriages and separate living arrangements. However, he stressed that they spoke whenever necessary on the field and that their interactions were sufficient for their roles in the team."There is nothing like making it good or bad," Shakib asserted. "We tried to contribute whether we were talking or not; there was no kind of problem inside the field or in the dressing room."Regarding a controversial interview ahead of last year's World Cup, where he accused Tamim of being irresponsible, Shakib clarified that he intended to clear the air before the tournament."I felt that before going to the World Cup, I should clear everything so that people know what actually happened and why this kind of situation is created," he said.Shakib's revelation sheds light on the dynamics between the two senior players and highlights the impact of external factors on team relationships.

Shakib Al Hasan's Sarcastic Response to Virender Sehwag's CriticismBangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has made headlines with his sarcastic response to former India opener Virender Sehwag's criticism of his batting performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup.After Bangladesh's victory over the Netherlands, a video clip of Shakib's post-match press conference went viral. When asked about Sehwag's comments, Shakib interrupted the journalist and asked, "Who?" The clip, which ends abruptly, has sparked amusement and speculation.However, Shakib later completed his response, stating that players should focus on contributing to their team rather than responding to criticism. "A player doesn't play to answer (the critics). His job is to contribute to the team. If he is not able to do that, there will be a lot of talk. I think it's not such a bad thing," he said.Sehwag had criticized Shakib for his poor performance in Bangladesh's first two matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa. He had questioned Shakib's inclusion in the squad for his experience, saying that he had not shown it on the field.Shakib's response has been interpreted as a sarcastic dig at Sehwag, who is known for his outspoken and often controversial comments. It has also highlighted the growing rivalry between India and Bangladesh in cricket, with both teams vying for supremacy in the subcontinent.Despite Sehwag's criticism, Shakib has rediscovered his batting form in Bangladesh's recent matches. He scored an unbeaten 64 off 46 deliveries against the Netherlands, helping his team secure a 25-run victory.Bangladesh are now on the verge of qualifying for the Super 8s stage of the T20 World Cup, having won two of their three matches in Group D. Their remaining match is against South Africa on Sunday, which will determine their final standing in the group.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup struggles have been attributed to a lack of quality pitches at home, according to newly appointed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Despite being one of nine nations to have participated in every T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007, Bangladesh has never advanced to the knockout stage.Shanto believes that the team's poor performance is due to the low-scoring pitches in Bangladesh, which are not conducive to the high-scoring matches typically seen in the 20-over format. He emphasized the need for better wickets to improve the team's strike rates and overall performance.Despite their struggles, Bangladesh has shown signs of improvement in recent years, with series wins against Australia, England, and New Zealand at home. However, the team suffered a setback in a warm-up series against the USA, losing 2-1.Shanto remains optimistic about the team's chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on June 1. He believes that if the team can execute their plans and make sound decisions, they can achieve positive results.The tournament is likely to be a farewell for some of Bangladesh's most experienced players, including Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad. Shanto expressed his desire for them to play in the World Cup and share their experience with the younger players.Bangladesh faces a challenging group in the tournament, with South Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Netherlands as their opponents. They will begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on June 7 in Dallas.

Bangladesh's chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, has expressed confidence in the 15-member squad selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite their recent series loss to the United States. The team has been finalized ahead of the ICC's May 25 deadline for submitting final squads.After consulting with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, Hossain stated, "We are hoping they do well in the T20 World Cup. We are keeping faith in the existing squad." He acknowledged the team's disappointing start to the tour but emphasized the need to move forward.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also called up 21 players for the Bangladesh Tigers' training camp from May 26. Six of these players are designated as T20 World Cup reserves, including Mohammad Saifuddin, who has opted out for the first two weeks due to a family emergency.Hossain explained that the camp aims to prepare players for white-ball cricket and provide replacements in case of emergencies. He highlighted the importance of having specialists for opening batting, stating that "facing the new ball is a challenge everywhere."Regarding the team's opening batting combination, Hossain expressed confidence in finding suitable options from those who performed well in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He also provided an update on Taskin Ahmed's recovery from a side strain, indicating that he could resume full training by June 5.Bangladesh's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 7 against Sri Lanka in Dallas. They will also face South Africa, Netherlands, and Nepal in the group stage. Prior to the main tournament, they will play warm-up matches against the United States and India.