Cricket

Bangladesh's cricket team has rallied around star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is facing a murder allegation stemming from recent political unrest in the country. The accusation, made by Rafiqul Islam, alleges that Shakib's actions during the protests led to the death of Islam's son.Despite the allegations, Shakib played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's historic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The win marked Bangladesh's first-ever Test victory over Pakistan.Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dedicated the victory to those who lost their lives in the protests. "He's been raising the name of Bangladesh in the world for 17 long years," Shanto wrote on Facebook. "Such a case against Shakib bhai is unexpected. In the new Bangladesh, we all want to see something new. I hope all the darkness will pass off and new light will come."Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also expressed solidarity with Shakib. "As a teammate and a brother, I will be there during his tough times, and I do not support the false allegations made against him because I know he would never engage in inhumane actions," Rahim stated.Shakib has yet to publicly address the murder allegation. The team's morale remains high following their maiden Test win over Pakistan, achieved under challenging conditions on a flat Rawalpindi pitch.The second and final Test of the series will also be played in Rawalpindi, starting Friday.

Shakib Al Hasan Accused of Murder, Faces Legal Notice and Potential Cricket BanFormer Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan has been embroiled in a shocking murder case, leaving cricket fans worldwide in disbelief. The case stems from the ongoing protests in Bangladesh, during which Rubel, the son of Rafiqul Islam, was killed on August 7.A case has been filed with the Adabor police station in Dhaka, naming Shakib as the 28th accused among 154 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rafiqul Islam's lawyers have demanded Shakib's immediate removal from the ongoing Test series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.A legal notice has been sent to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), requesting a ban on Shakib from all forms of cricket. BCB president Faruque Ahmed has stated that a decision regarding Shakib will be made after the conclusion of the first Test."We are yet to receive any legal notice. The case is under investigation, and we will take a decision after the game is over," Ahmed said. "We have a Test match to play, and we are focused on that. We will address the legal notice and make a decision during the gap between the first and second Tests."Ahmed emphasized that the BCB's relationship with Shakib is contractual, and they cannot withdraw him from the Test match in progress. However, he indicated that the board will consider the legal notice and make a decision during the break between the Tests.The murder accusation against Shakib has sent shockwaves through the cricket world. Shakib is one of Bangladesh's most celebrated cricketers, having captained the national team in all three formats. He is also a renowned all-rounder, known for his exceptional batting and bowling skills.The case has raised questions about Shakib's involvement in the protests and the circumstances surrounding Rubel's death. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be.

Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, has defended his team's decision to field four fast bowlers and no specialist spinner in their opening Test match against Bangladesh, despite suffering a humiliating 10-wicket defeat.Masood's decision raised eyebrows, especially after Bangladesh's spinners, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, combined to take seven wickets on the final day, dismissing Pakistan for a paltry 146 runs. However, Masood insisted that the pitch was expected to offer more assistance to the seamers."We had anticipated the pitch to offer more assistance to the seamers. Looking at the pitch, we expected it to do more," Masood said at the post-match conference. "If we played 3 fast bowlers, we would be pushing them to the limit and the spinner would be bowling 25-30 overs a day, which we wanted to avoid."Masood also explained that the decision to declare their first innings at 448 for six was made with the intention of pursuing a decisive outcome in the match."We wanted to go for a win in the match and thus felt we had enough runs on the board to declare. But the Bangladesh batters showed a lot of discipline and intent in their first innings. Mushfiq and Miraz batted really well," he added. "We felt that with 448 runs we could get a crack at them in the fourth innings."However, Pakistan's bowlers failed to make any inroads into Bangladesh's batting lineup, and the visitors chased down the modest target of 30 runs without losing a wicket.Masood acknowledged that the defeat was a disappointing start to Pakistan's home season, which includes seven home Tests and two away matches in South Africa."We just have to now get everything right and try to level the series in the world test championship," he said.Sunday's defeat was Shan's fourth straight defeat as captain after Pakistan's 0-3 whitewash at the hands of Australia last winter.

Shakib Al Hasan Implicated in Murder Case Amidst Bangladesh Political TurmoilBangladesh cricket all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been named as an accused in a murder case stemming from the ongoing protests in the country. The case was filed by Rafiqul Islam, whose son Rubel was killed during a rally on August 7. Rubel was reportedly shot in the chest and abdomen and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.The case, filed at the Adabor police station in Dhaka, lists Shakib as the 28th accused and popular Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed as the 55th accused. Both Shakib and Ahmed are former Awami League MPs in the parliament. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 154 others are also named in the case, along with around 400-500 unidentified persons.The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed former skipper Faruque Ahmed as its new president following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan, a close ally of Hasina. Hassan, who also served as sports minister during Hasina's 15-year rule, resigned from his BCB post.The protests in Bangladesh erupted over student-led demonstrations against Hasina's rule. Over 450 people were killed during the month-long unrest, leading to Hasina's resignation and subsequent departure from the country.Faruque, who briefly captained Bangladesh in the 1994 ICC Trophy and played seven ODIs, has been elected by the BCB's directors and has taken charge immediately. He previously held the position of national chief selector from 2005 to 2014.The murder case against Shakib and the political turmoil in Bangladesh have cast a shadow over the country's cricket scene. The BCB is yet to comment on the allegations against Shakib, who is one of the most prominent cricketers in the world.

Faruque Ahmed, the newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, has reiterated his stance that Chandika Hathurusinghe should no longer continue as the head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team. Ahmed had previously expressed this view before taking up the BCB job."I have not moved from my previous stance," Ahmed said. "I have to see some stuff officially, but I have to speak to my colleagues over the next two or three days and see if we can find someone better than him."Ahmed had resigned as the chief selector in 2016 after then-BCB president Nazmul Hassan put in place a two-tier selection panel, reportedly at Hathurusinghe's request. Hathurusinghe's current contract as the head coach runs till the end of February 2025.Ahmed questioned Hathurusinghe's credibility and background, stating that there was no reason for him to stay as Bangladesh's coach. He believes that Hathurusinghe's presence is causing greater damage to the team.When Hathurusinghe was brought back for a second stint in 2023, Ahmed was one of those who had questioned his return. Despite the BCB showing confidence in Hathurusinghe, Bangladesh's performance has not improved.Within a few months of Hathurusinghe's appointment, there was instability in the dressing room, with Tamim Iqbal retiring and Shakib Al Hasan lashing out at Tamim in the media. Allan Donald soon left his role as fast-bowling coach. Bangladesh's T20 World Cup performance was also sub-par, with many questioning Hathurusinghe's decision-making.Ahmed believes that it was a blunder to bring back Hathurusinghe for a second stint. He feels that Hathurusinghe had left Bangladesh in trouble when he left the job in 2017 and that Bangladesh was merely a stepping stone for him.Ahmed also expressed his desire to understand if Shakib Al Hasan is willing to play in Bangladesh this year. Shakib was an Awami League member of parliament until the government fell on August 5.Ahmed is hopeful of Tamim Iqbal's return to international cricket. He believes that Tamim can still play for two or three more years and that he has leadership qualities.

Bangladesh's political turmoil has subsided, with a caretaker government now in charge. However, the unrest has raised concerns about the country's ability to host the Women's T20 World Cup in October.Despite the political upheaval, Bangladesh's men's cricket team is set to embark on a tour of Pakistan, their first fixture in two months. The two Tests form part of the World Test Championship, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is determined to put the political turmoil behind them.One of the key players for Bangladesh is Shakib Al Hasan, whose stint as a member of parliament ended with the government's collapse. However, Shakib has remained focused on his cricket, and Shanto expects him to continue to perform at his best."Shakib bhai is in a good shape - in practice and preparation. He has the desire to do well," Shanto said. "He has showed his commitment in every practice session. He is a professional cricketer. We all treat him as a cricketer. He [has] played this game for so long that he knows his role; he knows how to prepare himself."Bangladesh will also rely on Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is a respectable batter in the lower order. Mehidy is likely to be included in the XI to prevent Bangladesh from having a long tail. Batting him at No. 8 might allow Bangladesh to play three fast bowlers and two spinners, including both Shakib and Mehidy.Shanto hinted that one of those quicks could be Nahid Rana, considered Bangladesh's fastest bowler with speeds up to 150kph."There's a chance of him playing. He is in good shape," Shanto said. "We will have our normal combination, it seems. Pacers will have an extra advantage on this wicket, so we will look at that when thinking about our XI. [Shadman Islam] is batting very well. He is preparing well. He made runs [recently against Pakistan A] in Australia."Bangladesh are in dire need of a batting revival. The understanding that Rawalpindi could be a favourable pitch for batters is giving them encouragement. Shanto said that they have done enough preparation to get better, which also includes his own form, as both Shanto and Litton Das have been in the headlines after playing poorly in the T20 World Cup a few months back."We are not looking to do anything extra, but it is true that we haven't been batting well in the last few months," he said. "We didn't go well in our last Test series [against Sri Lanka, in March-April]. Having said that, I think we are well prepared for this Test series. The players have used the opportunities to prepare properly. They believe that we can do better with the bat.""I have always looked to develop my skills as a batter. Every practice session has been about improving in those areas where I lack. I am hopeful that it will help me in the matches [against Pakistan]."Shanto remained positive that Bangladesh have enough reason to be confident for the series opener in Rawalpindi, especially with their fast-bowling unit."Records can change. It won't be easy [for Pakistan]," he said. "We have a balanced side. We believe we can do special things this time. We are excited to play here. We have developed a good pace-bowling unit, we have four quality spinners, [and] we covered all the bases that will help us make the team tomorrow. The seamers get a bit of benefit here, so they are excited to do well in this condition."

Bangladesh's preparations for their two-Test series in Pakistan have been severely disrupted by political turmoil in their home country. The unrest, which led to the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has kept the team's foreign coaches indoors and prevented them from assembling for practice sessions.The make-up of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also up in the air, after president Nazmul Hassan fled the country due to his association with Hasina. Despite the challenges, the interim government has allowed ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, a member of the now-dissolved parliament for Hasina's party, to feature in the Pakistan series."Because of the situation, it was not possible to practice," said spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.The tourists have received some reprieve after the Pakistan Cricket Board invited them to arrive four days early to make up for their lack of preparations. A second-string Bangladesh team, with six players included from the national team, has already been playing practice games in Islamabad since August 10.To add to Bangladesh's problems, in-form opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has been ruled out of the first Test with a groin strain, but senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim is expected to recover in time from a finger injury.Bangladesh will be hoping to overturn their no-win record against Pakistan, having lost 12 of the 13 Tests, with just one draw. The two-match Test series is part of the World Test Championship's third cycle, with Pakistan sixth in the current nine-team table and Bangladesh eighth.The second Test, both matches moved to Rawalpindi because of construction work at Karachi stadium, will be played from August 30.Following a 3-0 rout in Australia earlier this year, Pakistan brought in former Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie as Test coach, while Adelaide groundsman Damien Hough was hired to improve the standard of pitches.Having released their only spinner, Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan will enter the Test with an all-pace attack, a ploy they last used five years ago against Sri Lanka at the same venue.Bangladesh, however, will rely on spin with Shakib (237 wickets), Taijul Islam (195), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (164) all included.Pakistan captain Shan Masood refused to accept that the Bangladesh team is under-prepared."You expect all international Test sides to come into a series well prepared and trying to play their best cricket," he told AFP."Bangladesh is a side that has quality players in all departments and we highly respect the challenges they bring as a side to us."Masood also hopes Pakistan will show improvement under the new coach."We are excited to see how they (coaches) help us to be better people, better cricketers and, most importantly, be among the top teams in the world."

Bangladesh's spin-bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed has expressed optimism ahead of the Test series against Pakistan, citing the positive influence of senior players Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim."The players are excited for the first Test," said Mushtaq. "Shakib and Mushfiqur are playing a crucial role in boosting morale. They are experienced and providing guidance to the younger players."Shakib's arrival in Lahore on Wednesday has further energized the team. Despite a tumultuous week in Canada, where he faced political backlash and controversy, Shakib has remained focused on cricket.Mushfiqur, meanwhile, is gaining valuable match practice in a four-day game against Pakistan A in Islamabad. This tour provides a rare opportunity for the Bangladesh A team to connect with the senior team.Mushtaq believes Bangladesh has the potential to succeed in Test matches away from home. "They have the basics and the belief," he said. "We will instill in them the confidence that they can beat anyone."He praised the Bangladesh spinners, particularly Rishad Hossain, who has made significant progress under his guidance. "The spinners are eager to learn and receptive to my suggestions," said Mushtaq. "Taijul [Islam] and [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz are match-winners. They are coachable and good listeners."Mushtaq's focus is on providing tactical and technical advice to the spinners. "You have to remind them of the basics, even with their experience," he said. "I am honored to work with them and hope to make a difference."

Shakib Al Hasan, the former Bangladesh captain and lawmaker, has been granted permission to remain with the national cricket team in Pakistan by the interim government that replaced his former boss, Sheikh Hasina. Shakib, who was elected to parliament in January as a member of Hasina's Awami League party, lost his seat when parliament was dissolved after Hasina resigned and fled to India.The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has appointed Asif Mahmud, a student leader who played a key role in the protests that ousted Hasina, as the de facto sports minister. Mahmud has granted Shakib permission to remain with the team despite his ties to Hasina and the Awami League."We presented the team before the sports adviser," said Iftekhar Ahmed, a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). "He did not oppose the inclusion of Shakib. He said that the team should be formed on merit."Shakib, 37, was seen training at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. He had not been seen since Hasina's resignation and joined the Bangladeshi squad in Pakistan straight from Canada, where he was playing in a Twenty20 competition.Some critics have questioned Shakib's decision to remain with the team, arguing that he should have returned home to explain his silence during the protests that led to Hasina's ouster."Shakib cannot avoid the responsibility of mass killings as a lawmaker," said Rafiqul Islam, a former BCB board member. "When students were being killed, he never protested. Many of these students considered him an icon. He should have come home first and gave an explanation why he was silent."Rafiqul joined a protest on Tuesday outside the BCB's headquarters at Bangladesh's main cricket venue, the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. He and other sports administrators demanded the ouster of cricket board members they accused of being Hasina loyalists."Mismanagement, autocratic behavior, and unbridled corruption put Bangladesh lagging behind in world cricket," the group said in a statement on Monday.Hasina's party offices have been looted and torched since she fled on August 5, and many members of her Awami League have gone into hiding, fearing violence. Bangladesh's courts, central bank, and other government institutions have been purged of Hasina loyalists since Yunus' interim government took power.