Cricket

Shakib Al Hasan Announces Retirement from Test Cricket, Hints at Farewell in IndiaBangladesh's legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket, with his final match potentially being against South Africa in Mirpur or India in the upcoming second Test. The 35-year-old also confirmed his retirement from T20 cricket.Shakib made the announcement during a pre-match press conference in Kanpur ahead of the first Test against India. "I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur, if that won't happen, the second Test against India would be my last," he said.Shakib's Test career has been a remarkable one. In 70 matches, he has amassed 4600 runs at an average of 38.33, including five centuries and 31 half-centuries. With the ball, he has claimed 242 wickets, including 19 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket matches.His all-round abilities have made him an indispensable member of the Bangladesh team. He has often played match-winning innings and taken crucial wickets, guiding his side to memorable victories.Shakib's retirement from Test cricket will mark the end of an era for Bangladesh cricket. He has been a role model for aspiring cricketers and has played a pivotal role in the team's rise to prominence.While he may be stepping away from the longest format, Shakib is expected to continue playing One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He remains one of the most experienced and respected players in the world, and his contributions to Bangladesh cricket will continue to be invaluable.

Shakib Al Hasan's participation in the second Test between India and Bangladesh has been the subject of speculation, but head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe has confirmed that the all-rounder is "eligible for selection."Shakib's performance in the first Test in Chennai was below par, with the left-arm spinner bowling only 21 overs and conceding 129 runs without taking a wicket. He also scored 32 and 25 in Bangladesh's 280-run defeat.However, Hathurusinghe has dismissed any concerns about Shakib's fitness, stating that he has not received any official complaints or reports of an injury. "I haven't heard anything officially or any complaints (about Shakib)," he said. "There is no doubt about that at the moment. I haven't heard from my physio or from anyone. He's still eligible for selection."Bangladesh are in need of a better batting performance in the second Test, particularly in the first innings. Conditions in Kanpur may help, with the pitch expected to be less lively than the one in Chennai.Hathurusinghe said the players had talked about their shortcomings and it was about "whether we're able to do that in the middle. We have our KPIs, what we want, and we normally talk about if you make a start, make it big. That's the biggest concern, because some of the guys got 30 balls (and then got out). In cricket, it's the hardest thing to get in. But then, this team, India, has been posing different challenges, so we know that as well. So we have to be better for longer."Bangladesh had their left-hand heavy top-order picked apart by India's quicks in Chennai. They have the option of bringing in the right-hander Mahmudul Hasan Joy but that decision will not be a knee-jerk one."Just because of the left-handers, right-handers, is not the thing that we will take into consideration. If we are making a change, whether that batsman, whether Mahmudul Joy or whoever is coming in, what he can bring and who will miss out, and we look at it holistically like that, rather than left or right."

Bangladesh's Nigar Sultana is determined to lead her team to victory in their opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup against Scotland on October 3. A win would be a significant milestone for Bangladesh, who have not won a match in their last four World Cup appearances and have only one victory in five editions.Sultana emphasizes that Bangladesh is not underestimating Scotland. "We want to win the first match," she said. "It will be a huge achievement for the team. The team will get into a flow when that happens. We can then dream of something bigger. We are hungry for it."Scotland, however, is a formidable opponent. "They won't let you win easily. They don't give up without a fight. We are mentally prepared to face those challenges," Sultana said.Despite their past struggles, Sultana and Bangladesh have ambitious goals. They aim to challenge England, West Indies, and South Africa, the other teams in their group, and reach the semi-finals. "To play in the semi-final, we have to win against those three teams, too," Sultana said. "We have different plans against each team. If we can execute our gameplan, then it will good for us."Bangladesh's batting has been a concern in recent series, but Sultana is confident in the team's young players, such as Shathi Rani and Taj Nehar. "Batting is definitely a concern but we saw some improvements among the batters during the 'A' team tour [of Sri Lanka]," she said.Bangladesh's strength lies in their spin attack, led by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and 19-year-old legspinner Rabeya Khan. Sultana praised Rabeya's contributions, saying, "She has taken our team to a different level through her contributions in both formats. She is a great fielder. She is good with the bat too but doesn't take batting seriously. She is maturing slowly. If there's someone I rely with the ball in tough situations after Nahida, it is definitely Rabeya."

India's emphatic 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai has sparked discussions about Virat Kohli's recent form. Despite India's dominance, Kohli's scores of 6 and 17 in the two innings have raised concerns.However, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes Kohli will regain his form in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. "Kohli will start performing against Australia," Ali said. "He likes the pacy wickets there. Big players often lose focus against weaker teams but excel against tougher opponents."Ali also expressed confidence in India's ability to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "India won't let Australia win this year either," he said.Meanwhile, Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal has hailed the importance of Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian team. "Ashwin is equally important as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma," Iqbal said. "We only talk about them when they perform well, but their contribution is immense."Ashwin's batting prowess was on display in the first Test, where he scored a crucial 58 in the second innings. His all-round performance has earned him praise from experts and fans alike.As India prepares for the New Zealand series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli's form and Ashwin's continued brilliance will be key factors in their success.

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh's star cricketer, is expected to return home for the upcoming Test series against South Africa despite being named in a murder case. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed confidence that Shakib will not face any legal hurdles upon his arrival.The case stems from the death of Mohammed Rubel, who was fatally wounded during anti-government protests in Dhaka on August 5. Shakib, who was a member of parliament at the time, was among 147 people named in the murder case.However, the BCB's cricket operations chief, Shahriar Nafees, stated that the caretaker government has clarified that Shakib will not be "harassed." He cited statements from the chief adviser, law adviser, and sports adviser, who have emphasized that no one will be unfairly targeted in the cases filed."We believe the interim government has made its position very clear on Shakib," Nafees said. "Unless there is an injury problem or a selection-related issue, I personally don't see any reason as of now why Shakib Al Hasan should not play in Bangladesh in the home series."Shakib's return to Bangladesh has been a topic of speculation since the murder case was filed. Last month, Bangladesh's law adviser, Asif Nazrul, expressed hope that Shakib would not be arrested.Despite the legal concerns, Shakib has received support from his Bangladesh teammates. However, his silence during the student-led protests has also drawn criticism.Bangladesh is currently in India for a series of Tests and T20Is. They are scheduled to play two home Tests against South Africa in October. CSA's security team has completed its evaluation of Dhaka and Chattogram, where the Tests will be played, and is expected to inform the BCB about its decision later this week.

Shakib Al Hasan, the enigmatic Bangladesh all-rounder, has devised an unconventional method to correct his head position while batting. During the Chennai Test against India, Shakib was spotted biting down on a black strap wrapped around his neck. This peculiar technique stems from an eye condition that has plagued him since last year.Ophthalmologists have diagnosed Shakib with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC), a condition that causes fluid buildup under the retina, distorting vision. To compensate for this, Shakib has been working tirelessly to find a way to position his head optimally for sighting the ball.Previously, Shakib experimented with a neck brace to correct his head position. However, he has now come up with the strap mechanism, which he believes provides better stability. "He has come up with this strap. It is completely his idea," said Dr. Debashish Chowdhury, BCB's chief physician. "He is working on a way to hold his head position while batting."Shakib's mentor, Mohammad Salahuddin, praised his ingenuity. "I think it is good for him," Salahuddin said. "He ties it up around his neck, and biting down on it allows him to keep his neck and head steady. When the head and neck moves, the eyes also move, which is not ideal for a batter."Dr. Chowdhury emphasized that only Shakib can determine the effectiveness of this latest experiment. "It is personal thing from him. He will understand if it is working for him or not," he said.Shakib's eye condition has impacted his playing time this year, forcing him to miss matches during the BPL and Bangladesh's white-ball series against Sri Lanka. However, he has returned to international cricket and played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's recent Test series win against Pakistan.Despite his struggles in the Chennai Test, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence in Shakib's abilities. "I look at how much hard work a player is putting into his game," Shanto said. "I am happy with the way that every member of this Test squad has prepared and has been willing to give to the team."Shakib's innovative approach to overcoming his eye condition highlights his determination and resilience. As he continues to experiment with different techniques, it remains to be seen whether the strap mechanism will become a permanent fixture in his batting arsenal.

Bangladesh's top-order collapse in the first innings proved costly in their 280-run defeat to India in the first Test in Chennai, according to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.Despite an improved second-innings performance, Bangladesh's 234 all out was not enough to overcome their first-innings deficit of 285. Shanto believes the team's inability to form a substantial partnership in the first innings was crucial."We didn't bat well in the first innings," Shanto said. "It was a very important phase of the game. We could have been in a better position if we had at least one [big] top-order partnership."The top order showed some improvement in the second innings, with openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam adding 62 runs. However, Shanto believes they need to spend more time at the crease."It is important to spend the time in the wicket but it wasn't enough [today]," Shanto said. "Still, it will help for the second Test. It was very important for the openers to put on 62 runs. That's one thing we can look forward to in the next Test match."Shanto scored his first Test fifty in 11 innings, but he believes he could have done better."I think everyone has a different plan. I hope they (India) will plan differently in the next match," he said.Despite a nervous start in the first innings, Shanto adjusted well in the second, attacking R Ashwin and reaching his half-century off 55 balls. However, he struggled against Mohammed Siraj on the fourth day."The morning session was tough today. The way Siraj was bowling. They were all bowling really well," Shanto said.Bangladesh's openers showed promise on the third day, but their inability to convert starts into substantial scores remains a concern."It goes without saying that you need to start well and once you have faced 20 or 30 balls, you get a bit of idea of what's happening," batting coach David Hemp said. "You want to go on from that, especially when you scored 30 or 40 runs."While the openers' mini-fightback and Shanto's knock provide some confidence, Bangladesh's top-order failure in the first innings will continue to haunt them until they find a solution.

India Retains Squad for Second Test Against BangladeshThe Indian cricket team will field the same squad for the second and final Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin in Kanpur on Friday, September 27th. The decision was made by the selection committee, as announced by BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah.The squad remains unchanged from the first Test in Chennai, where India secured a dominant 280-run victory within four days. Ravichandran Ashwin was the star performer, claiming 6-88 and leading the Indian bowling attack to dismiss Bangladesh for 234. Ravindra Jadeja also contributed with figures of 3-58.India's squad for the second Test against Bangladesh:* Rohit Sharma (C)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Shubman Gill* Virat Kohli* KL Rahul* Sarfaraz Khan* Rishabh Pant (WK)* Dhruv Jurel (WK)* R Ashwin* R Jadeja* Axar Patel* Kuldeep Yadav* Mohd. Siraj* Akash Deep* Jasprit Bumrah* Yash DayalBangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat in Chennai. Shanto showed some fight in the first Test with an innings of 82, but the Indian bowlers proved too strong.The second Test in Kanpur will be crucial for both teams. India will be looking to seal the series victory, while Bangladesh will be desperate to level the scores. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched sides.

Former Indian spinner Murali Kartik has shed light on the struggles faced by Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, revealing that he is battling discomfort in his spinning finger and shoulder. This revelation comes after Shakib's underwhelming performance in the ongoing Test match against India, where he conceded 64 runs in just seven overs.Kartik, who is currently involved in broadcasting duties for the match, stated that Shakib has undergone finger surgery on his bowling finger. The injury has caused swelling and rigidity, affecting his grip and feel for the ball. Additionally, Shakib is also experiencing shoulder issues, further hindering his bowling ability."He has had a finger surgery on his bowling finger, which is the point of his finger of his left hand. It is swollen, it is rigid, there is no movement, no suppleness to it. So he feels he is not getting any feeling out of it. As a spinner, you need the feeling," Kartik explained.Shakib's finger injury dates back to the 50-over World Cup last year, where he sustained a left index finger injury against Sri Lanka. This injury kept him out of action for several months. He also faced an eye problem that delayed his return to the Bangladesh team.Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal expressed concern over Shakib's injuries, stating that if he is playing despite these issues, Bangladesh is effectively playing with one bowler short. He questioned whether the team management was aware of Shakib's injuries.However, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Dr. Debashish denied any knowledge of Shakib experiencing discomfort due to an injury. He acknowledged that Shakib had a fractured finger from the World Cup but stated that he had not recently complained about any finger or shoulder injuries.Despite the BCB's denial, Kartik's revelation raises questions about Shakib's fitness and the team's decision to field him in the Test match. With Bangladesh struggling to contain India's batting lineup, Shakib's absence as a frontline bowler could prove costly.