Cricket

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is urging his team to remain focused on the present and not dwell on their recent series victory over Pakistan as they prepare to face a formidable Indian side in the opening Test starting Thursday.Despite their impressive 2-0 away win against Pakistan, Shanto emphasized the importance of adaptability and process in order to overcome a quality team like India. "We played very good cricket against Pakistan, but that's in the past," he said. "We're here to play a new series, and we believe we can play very good cricket. We're not thinking about the outcome, but just trying to follow our processes."While conditions may vary, Shanto believes that facing a team like India, with its world-class players, requires a focus on their own strengths rather than external factors. "They're a very quality side," he said. "We're not thinking about the condition or the opponents. We're just thinking about ourselves."One of Bangladesh's key players to watch will be pacer Nahid Rana, who impressed with a match-haul of five wickets in the second Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan. However, Shanto stressed that he will not rely solely on any individual player. "He's very exciting, but I won't put my entire focus on any individual player," he said. "All the fast bowlers did a great job in Pakistan, and I hope they'll do something good here."Bangladesh has often found themselves in winning positions in white-ball cricket and even in Test matches against India, but have failed to close out games. Shanto believes that the team has gained experience and emotional control in recent years. "We're not getting too emotional," he said. "We're thinking about our game, not what will happen if we lose or win. We're just trying to give 100% every single match."Despite the potential dominance of spin on the Chepauk pitch, Shanto expressed confidence in Bangladesh's spin and pace attack. "We have a very experienced spin-bowling attack," he said. "But we also have very good pace bowlers. I'm not thinking too much about spin or pace bowling."Ultimately, Shanto believes that adaptability will be key to success. "As far as the wicket is concerned, it will be a good wicket," he said. "We will try to adapt to the wicket as soon as possible."

Bangladesh's historic Test series sweep over Pakistan has been celebrated with a heartwarming gesture by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. Following in the footsteps of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Shanto shared a photo on social media of himself asleep beside the series trophy, accompanied by the caption "Good morning."This light-hearted moment has drawn comparisons to Rohit Sharma's iconic post after India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory, where he was seen sleeping next to the trophy in a hotel room in Barbados. Both posts symbolize the immense joy and relief after hard-fought victories.Bangladesh's 2-0 triumph over Pakistan marks their first-ever Test series win against their South Asian rivals. It also ends a 12-match winless streak against Pakistan and is only their fourth-ever series whitewash in Test history. More significantly, it is their first against a top-tier cricketing nation like Pakistan, making them only the second team after England to achieve a clean sweep in a Test series in Pakistan.The Bangladesh team's victory was hard-earned, especially after being reduced to 26/6 in the second Test. However, led by centurion Litton Das and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was instrumental with both bat and ball, Bangladesh staged an incredible comeback. Miraz's five-wicket haul in the second Test was pivotal in dismantling Pakistan's batting lineup, paving the way for this momentous win.Bangladesh's success is a testament to their growing strength in Test cricket. They have now won four of their last six Test series, including victories over New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. This series sweep over Pakistan is a major milestone for Bangladesh cricket and will undoubtedly boost their confidence going forward.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup semi-final hopes were dashed after a disappointing chase against Afghanistan in Kingstown. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto revealed that the team initially aimed to win within 12.1 overs to qualify for the semi-finals but abandoned the plan after losing three early wickets.Despite restricting Afghanistan to 115 for 5, Bangladesh's chase faltered with a slow start, losing three wickets in the first three overs. Shanto admitted that the middle-order failed to make sound decisions, leading to their eventual defeat.Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza criticized Bangladesh's lack of clarity and urgency, stating that the team should have focused solely on winning within 12.1 overs. He emphasized that the opportunity to make history was missed due to poor decision-making.Bangladesh's tactical blunder of holding back Towhid Hridoy, their most consistent batter, to No. 6 also proved costly. Shanto explained that the team aimed for a left-right combination, but the move backfired.Shanto acknowledged that Bangladesh's net run rate situation could have been better if they had shown more urgency in their previous match against India. He expressed regret for the team's performance and apologized to the fans for letting them down.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has expressed concern over his team's batting performance in the T20 World Cup, acknowledging that they have underperformed in the Super Eights stage. Despite their impressive group stage showing, Bangladesh suffered a 28-run DLS defeat to Australia in their opening Super Eight fixture."The next two matches are crucial," Shanto said at the post-match press conference. "We have a lot to gain from them. If we can win them, we will be in a better position. We will play to win every match."Bangladesh's batting woes continued against Australia, as they managed only 140/8 in their 20 overs. Shanto admitted that the team's batting has been a major concern."Yes, there was a big difference in the conditions because last match there was a lot of spin and also seam, but today the wicket looked flat... a very good wicket to bat on," Shanto said. "I think we didn't bat well. We should have targeted 160 to 170.""As a player, we had to adjust, but we couldn't execute with that new ball, especially in the power play," he added. "We couldn't finish the last five-six overs, and we lost too many wickets. If we had ended well, we could have scored a proper 160 or 170."Despite their struggles, Bangladesh remains hopeful of turning things around. They face India in their next Super Eight match, a crucial encounter that could determine their chances of reaching the semi-finals."Everyone has the capability, and people have played well in different places in the past," Shanto said. "But I do not have an answer to why this is not happening. Everyone has the freedom to play their natural game, but somehow it is not happening."

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed mixed emotions after his team's qualification for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup. While delighted with the achievement, he voiced concerns over the team's underwhelming batting performance.Despite securing a 21-run victory over Nepal, Bangladesh's batting woes continued, with the team being dismissed for a mere 106. Shanto acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, "Our batting is not up to the mark."The skipper dismissed suggestions that slow pitches were a contributing factor, emphasizing that the team should have been able to score at least 140-150 runs on the given wicket. He stressed the importance of a strong start and lamented the team's inability to capitalize on opportunities."The start is very important. We are not getting the start, and the lower-order batsmen are not finishing it well," Shanto pointed out. "We have to come out of this and think about how to come out of this."Despite their batting struggles, Bangladesh has managed to win three games, with their only defeat coming against South Africa. Shanto attributed this success to the team's bowlers, who have performed exceptionally well."The way our bowlers bowled in the last three-four matches, really happy," Shanto said. "I hope they will continue their form."Looking ahead to the Super Eights, Shanto acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. Bangladesh has been grouped with India, Australia, and Afghanistan, all formidable opponents."All 20 teams are here to win. So now, we are going to play Super Eights. All matches will be competitive," Shanto stated. "There are no big teams or big names, I hope we'll have a good Super Eights."Bangladesh will face Australia in their Super Eight opener on Thursday, followed by India two days later. They will conclude their group stage campaign against Afghanistan on June 24.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed his disappointment after his team narrowly lost to South Africa by 4 runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup encounter at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. The match, which took place on Monday, saw South Africa prevail in a final-ball thriller, moving a step closer to qualifying for the Super 8 stage.Shanto was confident in his team's chances with Jaker Ali at the crease in the final over, needing 11 runs to win. However, the South African bowlers, particularly spinner Keshav Maharaj, held their nerve to secure a dramatic victory."Everyone was nervous but was confident when Jaker was there. It didn't happen but that's okay. Tanzid really worked hard in the last couple of games, we needed new-ball wickets and he showed his character. This is the match we should have won, we nearly did but in the last couple of overs they bowled well," Shanto said during the post-match presentation.Reflecting on the performance of Rishad Hossain, Shanto praised the bowler's dedication and skill. "He is very good, the way he bowled the last couple of series, he practiced very hard. We've struggled with leg-spinners over the last 10-15 years so we're lucky we got one. Hopefully, he can continue. Thanks to all the supporters, hopefully, they'll come to the West Indies as well," Shanto added.The match's decisive moment came in the final over when South Africa captain Aiden Markram took a gamble by entrusting Maharaj with the ball on a pitch that had favored pacers. Maharaj's experience shone through as he dismissed both Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah, with Markram making crucial catches near the boundary to seal the win.Markram's tactical decision paid off, demonstrating the high stakes and fine margins that often characterize T20 cricket.Bangladesh will now face India in their next match on Wednesday, while South Africa will take on Pakistan on Tuesday.

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 batting woes have been a concern for captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, but they have opted against making any last-minute changes to their T20 World Cup squad. Despite Litton Das's recent struggles, scoring only 79 runs in his last six T20Is, he has retained his place in the team.Hathurusinghe acknowledged that the top and middle order did not perform as expected against Zimbabwe, but he believes they have the potential to improve. He emphasized the importance of the top order scoring consistently to relieve pressure on the other batters.Shanto expressed confidence in the team's bowling attack, led by vice-captain Taskin Ahmed, who is recovering from a side strain. He believes the bowlers can win them games at the World Cup, especially in conditions that may favor spin.Both Shanto and Hathurusinghe highlighted the importance of senior players Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan, who are expected to share their experience with the younger players. Mahmudullah has been in good form lately, while Shakib remains a key figure in the team.Hathurusinghe is cautiously optimistic about Bangladesh's chances at the World Cup. He recognizes the challenges of their group, which includes South Africa and Sri Lanka, but believes they can qualify for the Super 12 stage.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bowl first in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, on the other hand, expressed his team's willingness to bat.Zimbabwe made two changes to their lineup, with Joylord Gumbie making his T20I debut. Tony Munyonga and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, who featured in Zimbabwe's previous T20I against Sri Lanka, were replaced by Gumbie and Ryan Burl.Bangladesh also handed a T20I debut to Tanzid Hasan, filling the void left by the injured Soumya Sarkar. Mustafizur Rahman was absent from the squad as he continues to rest after his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. Mohammad Saifuddin returned to the international fold for the first time since October 2022, having recovered from a back injury.Bangladesh Playing XI:1. Litton Das (wk)2. Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt)3. Tanzid Hasan4. Towhid Hridoy5. Mahmudullah6. Mahedi Hasan7. Jaker Ali8. Mohammad Saifuddin9. Rishad Hossain10. Taskin Ahmed11. Shoriful IslamZimbabwe Playing XI:1. Joylord Gumbie2. Craig Ervine3. Brian Bennet4. Sean Williams5. Sikandar Raza (capt)6. Ryan Burl7. Clive Madande (wk)8. Luke Jongwe9. Wellington Masakadza10. Richard Ngarava11. Blessing Muzarabani