Cricket

Bangladesh and the United States will engage in a three-match T20I series in May as part of their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This will be the first-ever T20I encounter between the two nations.The series will serve as a crucial warm-up for both teams ahead of the global tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. Bangladesh has previously played two T20Is in the USA, both against the West Indies in 2018."This tour provides an ideal opportunity for the Bangladesh team to acclimatize to the conditions before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024," said Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. "We recognize the importance of this preparatory phase and are committed to making the most of this invaluable experience."Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka and South Africa in Dallas and New York, respectively, in the first two matches of their World Cup campaign. The series against the USA will help them adjust to the conditions and fine-tune their strategies.Meanwhile, the USA will also host Canada for a five-match T20I series in April. All games will be played at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Houston, Texas."Ahead of the important Men's T20 World Cup, these games will be vital for our team to get their working combinations, build team cohesion, and fine-tune strategies," said Mr. Venu Pisike, Chairman of USA Cricket.Both the USA and Canada will make their T20 World Cup debuts in the tournament. They are placed in Group A alongside India, Ireland, and Pakistan. Bangladesh is in Group D and will face Nepal and the Netherlands in Kingstown, West Indies.

Bangladesh's fast bowlers continue to shine, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib emerging as the latest star in their ODI triumph over Sri Lanka. The 21-year-old pacer played a pivotal role in the team's victory, claiming three crucial wickets in his opening spell.Tanzim's early strikes, which included the dismissals of Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, and Sadeera Samarawickrama, halted Sri Lanka's momentum and set the tone for Bangladesh's dominance. Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed also contributed with three wickets each, marking only the third time in Bangladesh's ODI history that their fast bowlers have combined for nine or more wickets in an innings.This impressive performance is a testament to Bangladesh's ongoing pace revolution, which has seen the emergence of several talented fast bowlers in recent years. Taskin and Shoriful have established themselves as key members of the team, while Tanzim's emergence provides further depth to the bowling attack.Tanzim's success is particularly noteworthy as he was replacing Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh's most experienced fast bowler. However, Tanzim has shown maturity beyond his years, impressing with his discipline, fitness, and unwavering determination.Mushfiqur Rahim, who witnessed Tanzim's performance firsthand, praised the young bowler's attitude and work ethic. He believes that Tanzim's positive mindset and commitment to excellence will inspire his teammates and contribute to Bangladesh's success in the future.The rise of Bangladesh's fast bowlers has been a major factor in their recent ODI victories, including their historic series win in South Africa in 2022. The team's bowling coach, Allan Donald, has played a significant role in transforming the attitude and fitness of the fast-bowling group, leading to improved performances.While Tanzim may not be a regular starter in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, he will be eager to maintain his discipline and performance in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup later this year. Bangladesh's fast-bowling stocks are at an all-time high, and Tanzim is determined to prove that he belongs among the best.

Najmul Hossain Shanto's second century as Bangladesh captain, a pivotal moment in his career, has earned him the admiration of his teammates and coach. Shanto's leadership has brought out the best in him as a batter, according to Mushfiqur Rahim, who witnessed Shanto's transformation firsthand.Mushfiqur praised Shanto's ability to make the most of good starts, noting his impressive innings after reaching the century. He highlighted Shanto's calm demeanor and strategic thinking, which allowed him to guide Bangladesh to victory.Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe's support has also been instrumental in Shanto's growth. The senior cricketers in the team have embraced Shanto's leadership, creating a positive atmosphere that fosters success.Mushfiqur credited Mahmudullah's contribution in setting the tone for Bangladesh's chase. He emphasized the importance of experience in handling pressure situations, particularly against top bowlers like Wanindu Hasaranga.Mushfiqur's own performance against Hasaranga was crucial in neutralizing Sri Lanka's main threat. He explained his strategy of using the sweep shot to put pressure on the legspinner.Shanto's century and the team's overall performance reflect the positive changes taking place in Bangladesh cricket. The team's focus on process and atmosphere, rather than immediate results, is paying dividends.

Sri Lanka's ODI ambitions remain undeterred despite missing out on the Super League and the Champions Trophy. Head coach Chris Silverwood emphasizes that representing the country is motivation enough for the team, especially against a competitive Bangladesh side.The rivalry between the two teams intensified during the recent T20I series, with gestures and verbal exchanges adding fuel to the fire. However, Silverwood acknowledges that the rivalry has fostered a healthy competitive edge.Sri Lanka is in the early stages of a new ODI cycle and has made a promising start with series wins against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. Silverwood aims to build on this momentum and establish a distinct style of play leading up to the next World Cup.The return of Pathum Nissanka, who recently became the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI double century, is a major boost for the team. Silverwood praises Nissanka's exceptional contributions and consistency.Another player to watch is Kamindu Mendis, who has impressed with his ambidextrous batting and ambitious stroke play. Mendis has seized his opportunities and is now vying for a permanent berth in the team.Silverwood highlights the importance of individual contributions and the team's collective effort in putting up big scores and executing their skills effectively.

With the 2024 T20 World Cup approaching, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe is meticulously gathering information about the pitches in the USA and Caribbean, particularly in Dallas. The team will also play in New York and Kingstown, where they have limited knowledge of the playing conditions.To prepare for the tournament, Bangladesh has been playing on batting-friendly surfaces in Sylhet during the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka. Hathurusinghe expects the New York venue to have drop-in pitches similar to those in Adelaide, but there is uncertainty about the conditions in Dallas and Kingstown."We are looking at a combination for the World Cup, [especially] how the individuals are fitting in and understanding the game plan and be comfortable with that," Hathurusinghe said. "We wanted to play on good wickets here. We don't know about the wickets in America. We play two important games in America. Nobody has any clue [about the pitches]. There's not much data behind it."Hathurusinghe emphasized the need for bowlers to adapt to the expected batting-friendly pitches. In the ongoing series, Sri Lanka scored over 200 runs in the first T20I, but Bangladesh's bowlers have shown improvement in the second game."We know what we can do. We are continually working on [death bowling]. We are playing on different kinds of pitches now. There's more grass and carry," Hathurusinghe said. "We wanted to play on wickets that are conducive for high scoring, to get us to understand what areas we need to improve in bowling."Bangladesh's batting has also been impressive, with Soumya Sarkar contributing despite his tendency to get out after getting starts. The Sarkar-Litton Das opening pairing has been Bangladesh's 16th in T20Is since the start of 2022."We were 63 [68] for no loss. You don't see how many hundreds you made in T20s. As long as they are playing for the team, that's what we want," Hathurusinghe said. "[Sarkar] is contributing at the moment. He got [Kusal] Mendis' wicket. He was crucial for them in both games. [Litton and Sarkar] put their hands up after the first game, [saying that] their approach was wrong. They owned it, and went and played really good cricket."

Bangladesh's Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto led his team to a resounding eight-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the second T20 international, leveling the three-match series. Shanto's unbeaten half-century and a solid partnership with Towhid Hridoy proved decisive in the chase.After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 165-5. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis provided a solid foundation with a 66-run partnership, but Bangladesh's bowlers fought back to restrict the visitors. Soumya Sarkar dismissed Kusal for 36, while Kamindu was run out after making 37.In response, Bangladesh's openers Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar gave their team a strong start, adding 68 runs in just 6.5 overs. However, Matheesha Pathirana broke the partnership by dismissing Sarkar for 26 and Das for 36.Hridoy and Shanto then took control of the chase, adding an unbeaten 87-run stand for the third wicket. Shanto played a captain's knock, hitting a 38-ball 53 with four fours and two sixes. Hridoy contributed with a 25-ball 32, including two fours and a six.Bangladesh's bowlers also played a crucial role in the victory. Taskin Ahmed removed Avishka Fernando for a duck, while Soumya Sarkar dismissed Kusal. Mustafizur Rahman got the better of Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had scored a half-century in the previous match.Sri Lanka stand-in captain Charith Asalanka admitted that his team fell short of runs and that Kamindu's run-out was a turning point in the game. He emphasized the need for his batters to make big runs in challenging conditions.Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka added 53 runs for the sixth wicket, but it was not enough to prevent Bangladesh from leveling the series.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are set to face off in a highly anticipated series that has historically been marked by intense rivalry. However, both teams' captains and coaches have emphasized their desire to put the past behind them and focus on a competitive and respectful series.Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his belief that the series will be a good one, with both teams aiming for victory. He acknowledged the pressure that comes with international competition but emphasized the team's focus on their own performance. Shanto also highlighted the depth of Bangladesh's bowling attack, stating that all of their bowlers have the potential to be match-winners.Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood echoed Shanto's sentiments, stating that he wants to forget the past and concentrate on the future, particularly Sri Lanka's preparation for the T20 World Cup. Silverwood acknowledged that Sri Lanka will be the favorites but emphasized that both teams will be pushing hard for victory.Despite the absence of key players Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka, Silverwood expressed confidence that others will step up and take advantage of the opportunity. He praised Nissanka's recent performances and expressed hope that he will return soon.Shanto, who is leading Bangladesh for the first time in all three formats, spoke about the challenges of his new role. He emphasized the importance of building relationships with his players and coaching staff and expressed his belief that the responsibility will not hinder his performance as a batter.The series is expected to be a competitive one, with both teams looking to build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh has performed well in T20Is in recent months, while Sri Lanka will be eager to prove their credentials as one of the favorites for the World Cup.