Cricket

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh's star all-rounder, is poised to make a return to white-ball cricket next month in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain revealed that Shakib is expected to arrive in Dhaka at the end of April and could feature in a couple of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches before joining the national team."We have communicated with him," Ashraf said. "He is expected to arrive in Dhaka at the end of this month. He will possibly play one or two DPL matches. Afterwards, he will get involved with the team management. There he can do his training on cricketing skill as per the desire of team management. We will definitely want him to play a couple of matches in the series."Shakib has been on a break from white-ball cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an eye condition and a finger injury. He returned to international cricket in the Chattogram Test against Sri Lanka earlier this month.Bangladesh have announced a 17-man preparatory squad that will train for three days in Chattogram from April 26. The group doesn't include Shakib or Mustafizur Rahman, who is playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until May 1. Ashraf said that Mustafizur would also miss the first T20I against Zimbabwe on May 3 in Chattogram.The training squad includes Mohammad Saifuddin, who returns after a long injury layoff. He last played for Bangladesh shortly before the 2022 T20 World Cup and returned to action in this season's BPL, where he was part of Fortune Barishal's title-winning squad."Definitely (Mohammad) Saifuddin is a promising player and if he is not injured he could have more international experience," Ashraf said. "He is ahead with his batting but in bowling he has competitors. So it's a good opportunity for him to get back into his groove in the Zimbabwe series because we have a lot of interest in him."Bangladesh play the first three T20Is against Zimbabwe in Chattogram on May 3, 5, and 7, and the last two T20Is in Dhaka on May 10 and 12.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has extended Mustafizur Rahman's No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by one day, allowing him to participate in the team's match against Punjab Kings on May 1.Mustafizur's extended NOC means he will be available for CSK's back-to-back matches against Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 and 23, Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 28, and Punjab Kings on May 1. After these matches, he will return to Bangladesh for the home T20I series against Zimbabwe from May 3 to 12, followed by the T20I series against USA in Texas from May 21."We had given Mustafizur a leave to play in the IPL till April 30, but since Chennai has a match on May 1, we have extended his leave by a day upon receiving a request from Chennai and the BCCI," said Shahriar Nafees, BCB's deputy manager of cricket operations.Mustafizur has been in impressive form for CSK, taking ten wickets at an average of 18.30 in five matches, including his maiden four-wicket haul in the competition. This is his best performance in the IPL since the 2021 season when he played for the Rajasthan Royals.The wickets have come at a crucial time for the left-arm quick, who had lost his place in the Bangladesh ODI side after taking just two wickets in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. However, Mustafizur remains Bangladesh's most successful bowler in T20Is and has a confirmed place in the T20 World Cup squad.

India's women's cricket team has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on April 28. The squad features two notable inclusions in S Sajana and S Asha, who have earned their maiden India call-ups.Sajana, a hard-hitting batter, emerged as one of Mumbai's breakout stars in the recently concluded Women's Premier League (WPL). Her ability to accelerate the innings in the latter stages was instrumental in Mumbai's success. Asha, on the other hand, became the first Indian to claim a five-wicket haul in the WPL. She finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, showcasing her impressive bowling skills.The squad also includes the return of experienced all-rounder D Hemalatha and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. Hemalatha last played a T20I in September 2022, while Yadav's last appearance came at the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year.The composition of the squad aligns with captain Harmanpreet Kaur's stated goal of providing opportunities to top performers ahead of the T20 World Cup, scheduled for September-October in Bangladesh.Jemimah Rodrigues, a key member of the Indian team, will miss the Bangladesh tour due to a back niggle. She is currently undergoing treatment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The decision to rest Rodrigues is precautionary, considering the upcoming T20 World Cup.The squad is predominantly spin-heavy, reflecting the expected conditions in Bangladesh. Deepti Sharma will lead the spin attack, supported by Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Asha, and Radha Yadav. Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu are the two frontline pacers, with Pooja Vastrakar and Amanjot Kaur providing seam-bowling options.Richa Ghosh is expected to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Yastika Bhatia, who has impressed as a pure batter, is likely to serve as a backup.India will be aiming to continue their dominance over Bangladesh in T20Is. In their previous encounter in July 2022, India won the series 2-1.

Bangladesh's young batting lineup is facing a steep learning curve in Test cricket, and assistant coach Nic Pothas urges patience from fans and observers. The team's inexperience was evident in their heavy defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka, where they were bowled out for under 200 in both innings."We have a very young and inexperienced group of batters," Pothas said. "There was a very elite group before this. Now we have to rebuild. The only thing that we request is that people are patient. These are very good young players, but they are young and they are playing against an experienced team and it will take time to learn lessons."Pothas emphasized that the young players have a solid foundation and a positive dressing room environment. "From a hunger point of view, they want to do really well in the Test. They always really want to do well. They are a fantastic group. They get on very, very well. You can just see by smiles on their faces."The return of Shakib Al Hasan, who missed the first Test due to an eye condition, is a major boost for Bangladesh. "I think any team that has Shakib in it is very fortunate," Pothas said. "We welcome him back. It is always great to have him in the change room. His energy is very infectious. He has a lot of experience for the guys to learn from and whenever Shakib is back, he's a giver. So we really enjoy having him around the group."Pothas also addressed the criticism of Litton Das's performance in the first Test. "We have had conversations. Litton is in a good space," Pothas said. "The trouble that we generally have is that the pressure on Litton comes from the outside. If we just leave Litton to be Litton, I think he'll show you the best of him.""If we keep jumping on his back in the media and on social media, we forget that just because these guys are very able cricketers and they appear on television, at the root they're still human beings. If we treat them like human beings and allow him to do what's best for him, I promise you he'll show you results."

Bangladesh's T20I Squad for Australia Series Undergoes ChangesBangladesh's T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia has undergone three changes from the ODI series, which the visitors won convincingly 3-0. Fargana Hoque, Disha Biswas, and Nishita Akter have been replaced by Dilara Akter, Fariha Trisna, and Shorifa Khatun.Fargana, who had scores of 0, 7, and 5 in the three ODIs, has been omitted from the squad. Dilara Akter, a wicketkeeper-batter, has been brought in as her replacement. Chief selector Sajjad Ahmed believes that Dilara has the talent to succeed in the T20 format.Fariha Trisna, a left-arm pacer, has been included in the squad to add variety to the bowling attack. She replaces Disha Biswas, who was part of the ODI squad. Shorifa Khatun, an all-rounder who bowls off-spin and bats in the late order, has also been added to the squad. She is seen as a potential T20 specialist.The three T20Is will be held at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 31, April 2, and April 4. All three matches will start at 12:00pm local time.

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe will miss the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, starting in Chattogram on Saturday, due to personal reasons. Assistant coach Nic Pothas will take charge in his absence.Hathurusinghe's departure comes after Bangladesh's heavy 328-run defeat in the first Test in Sylhet. The team had previously won the ODI series but lost the T20I series to Sri Lanka by identical 2-1 margins.Shakib Al Hasan, who has been out of action since April 2023 due to an eye condition, has been recalled to the Test squad as a replacement for Towhid Hridoy. Hasan Mahmud has also been included in the squad in place of the injured Musfik Hasan, who has a left ankle injury.Hathurusinghe, who is in his second stint as Bangladesh head coach, has been in charge since February 2023. He previously coached Sri Lanka and served as batting coach for New South Wales in Australia.Pothas, who joined Bangladesh in April 2023, has previously worked as interim head coach for West Indies and Sri Lanka.Bangladesh will be hoping to bounce back from their first Test defeat and level the series in Chattogram. The match will be crucial for both teams, as it could determine the outcome of the series.

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh's talismanic all-rounder, has made a triumphant return to the Test squad after a year-long absence. He has been included in the team for the second Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled to commence on March 30 in Chattogram.Shakib's last Test appearance was in April 2023 against Ireland. An eye condition subsequently sidelined him from the longest format, although he has remained active in white-ball cricket. His return to the Test arena is a significant boost for Bangladesh, who are seeking to level the series after losing the first Test by a hefty margin.To accommodate Shakib, Towhid Hridoy has been omitted from the squad. Hridoy failed to make the playing XI for the first Test. Another change sees pace bowler Hasan Mahmud replace the injured Musfik Hasan. Mahmud, who has yet to make his Test debut, has featured in 39 white-ball internationals.Shakib's inclusion brings a wealth of experience to the Bangladesh Test side. He has played 66 Tests, amassing over 4000 runs and claiming 235 wickets. His last international outing was the ODI World Cup in India in late 2023. Since then, he has participated in the Bangladesh Premier League and the Dhaka Premier Division League.The eye condition that kept Shakib out of the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka has now subsided. He is fully fit and eager to contribute to Bangladesh's Test fortunes.

Sri Lanka's pace trio of Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and Kasun Rajitha etched their names in history by capturing all 20 wickets in the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet. This feat, last achieved by Sri Lanka in 1986, was made possible by the green tinge of the pitch, which provided ample pace and bounce.Captain Dhananjaya de Silva's decision to field three pacers proved to be a masterstroke, as they exploited the conditions to the fullest. The visitors completed a comprehensive 328-run victory with a day and a half to spare, giving the pace trio much-needed rest ahead of the second Test in Chattogram.De Silva praised his bowlers for their exceptional use of the new ball and their ability to maintain their shape despite the pitch slowing down. He emphasized the importance of pace bowlers in extracting wickets, especially when the conditions favor them.The Test also marked a memorable milestone for De Silva himself, who became the first Sri Lankan captain to score twin hundreds in a Test. He and newcomer Kamindu Mendis formed crucial partnerships in both innings, showcasing their patience and skill.De Silva expressed his satisfaction with Mendis's performance, highlighting his determination and suitability for the No. 7 role. He also acknowledged the support he receives from experienced leaders in the team, which helps him navigate the challenges of captaincy.Despite Sri Lanka's impressive victory, De Silva remains focused on the present and is not preoccupied with the World Test Championship points table. He believes in taking one match at a time and addressing areas for improvement, such as the top-order batting, before the next Test.

The Sylhet pitch has proven to be a refreshing change for Bangladesh, where fast bowlers have traditionally struggled. The presence of live grass on the surface has provided a rare opportunity for pacers to excel, while also allowing batters to play their shots freely.Sri Lanka's fast bowlers capitalized on these conditions, claiming all ten Bangladesh wickets in the first innings of the first Test. This marked the first time Sri Lanka's quicks had achieved this feat since Johannesburg 2021.Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and Kasun Rajitha showcased their skills, consistently bowling on and outside the off stump. Fernando claimed four wickets, including the crucial dismissals of Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Rajitha removed Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam, while Kumara accounted for Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shahadat Hossain.Sri Lanka's fast-bowling coach, Dharshana Gamage, praised his bowlers' discipline and execution. "They bowled really well to get all ten wickets," he said. "There was a bit of help from the wicket as well, but they stuck to their basics and bowled in the right areas."Gamage emphasized the importance of discipline and bowling partnerships. "Our basic plan was to bowl on top of off-stump all day," he said. "We developed good bowling partnerships from both ends, and that's what ultimately led to our success."Gamage also highlighted the efforts of Vishwa, who has been working hard to maintain his fitness and rhythm for Test cricket. "We've worked very hard to bring and keep him at this level," Gamage said. "He works extremely hard to stay sharp and keep his rhythm."Kumara, who was playing his first Test in 12 months, also impressed with his endurance and accuracy. "He has had some injuries in the last few years, but we've worked hard on his workload," Gamage said. "He is in good shape at the moment and showed that he could bowl consistently in the right areas."With Chris Silverwood at the helm, Sri Lanka's fast bowlers have shown a renewed focus on discipline and consistency. While Asitha Fernando is absent, Kumara has staked his claim for a place in the first-choice pace attack alongside Vishwa and Rajitha. The trio will need to continue their impressive performances to help Sri Lanka secure victory in the ongoing Test.