Cricket

Bangladesh's Test woes continue as they suffer a humiliating innings-and-273-run defeat against South Africa in Chattogram. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has identified the lack of top-order partnerships as the root cause of their batting struggles.The home side was bowled out twice in a total of 89 overs, with their match aggregate of 302 runs being the lowest by any team at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. South Africa, on the other hand, posted a mammoth 575 for 6 in the first two days.Bangladesh's batting implosion was evident on the third day, as they lost 14 wickets, including Mominul Haque's two dismissals in one session. The lower order has been providing some resistance, but Shanto believes it's not enough to compensate for the top-order failures."We have been batting like this for a long time," Shanto said. "If you don't get top-order partnerships, the rest of the batters will find it difficult in red-ball cricket. This was a good wicket. Even in Mirpur, we shouldn't have got out so quickly."Shanto acknowledged his own lack of runs as a contributing factor to the top-order collapses. He has scored just one fifty in his last 17 Test innings. "I have an important role as a top-order batter. I am supposed to score runs," he said. "It is not happening, and the worst thing is, I am getting out between 20 and 40."Despite the setbacks, Shanto remains optimistic about his captaincy. "I enjoy captaincy on the field," he said. "I never felt that I am the captain when I am batting."However, he admitted that distractions around the team, such as the discussions around his captaincy and the sacking of head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, may have contributed to their poor performance. "Players have to adjust with these things, even though it is difficult," he said. "Still, it shouldn't be this bad."

Shakib Al Hasan Protests Erupt Outside Bangladesh StadiumOn Sunday, the day before the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa, a clash erupted outside the Shere Bangla National Stadium between pro-Shakib Al Hasan and anti-Shakib Al Hasan groups.The "Shakibians" demanded the reinstatement of Shakib in the Test squad, while the opposing group, Mirpur Chhatra Janata, had earlier sent a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) demanding his removal.The clash occurred as the South African team trained inside the stadium. Security forces intervened to disperse the protesters, and one person was reportedly detained.Shakib's inclusion in the squad had sparked controversy due to his political affiliations with the Awami League party, which was overthrown in August. The BCB withdrew him from the team on Friday, citing security concerns.Shakib's fans have since staged protests outside the stadium, demanding his reinstatement. On Sunday, they were met with barricades and security forces.The BCB has not yet commented on the protests or Shakib's future with the national team. The first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed disappointment over the absence of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from the first Test against South Africa, which was expected to be Shakib's farewell match. However, Shanto emphasized the team's focus on the upcoming series.Shakib's absence stems from protests in Dhaka against his involvement in politics. The government advised against his arrival, citing security concerns. "It is unfortunate. It should have happened," said Shanto. "But we can't dwell on it. We have to concentrate on the two Tests."Shanto acknowledged the challenge of replacing Shakib, who has been a pivotal figure for Bangladesh. "It's tough to match him," he said. "He allowed us to play an extra batter or bowler. Now, the No. 7 spot becomes crucial."Mehidy Hasan Miraz is expected to step into Shakib's role. "Miraz has shown he can do it," said Shanto. "He's bowling and batting superbly. He's taking on more responsibility and has improved his batting."Uncapped left-arm spinner Hasan Murad has been called up to replace Shakib. Shanto praised Murad's first-class record and expressed confidence in his spin attack. "We have four quality spinners," he said. "Murad deserves his selection. Nayeem has also played well recently."Bangladesh enter the series after a 2-0 victory in Pakistan and a 2-0 defeat in India. Shanto believes the team can build on their recent performances. "We're confident," he said. "We have a good team and we're ready for the challenge."

Shakib Al Hasan's Absence Sparks Protests as Bangladesh Prepares for South Africa Test SeriesBangladeshi cricket fans gathered outside the Mirpur Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Friday to protest the exclusion of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from the national team ahead of the upcoming home test series against South Africa.Shakib, who is also a politician, had initially flown from the United States to join the Bangladesh team but abruptly canceled his trip while in Dubai, citing "security concerns." The development sent shockwaves through the cricket community, with hundreds of Shakib's supporters taking to the streets to express their outrage."Shakib is one of the best cricketers in the world. You can't exclude him from the team," said one fan wearing a Bangladesh jersey. "He didn't do anything wrong. Why is he being barred from coming home?"Another supporter added, "Shakib wants to say goodbye to cricket from Mirpur, not Kanpur. He will do it on his own terms."The fans fear that Bangladesh cricket will suffer without Shakib's presence. "The team is immobile without him," said one fan.Shakib's absence stems from his involvement in politics. He joined the ruling Awami League party in 2023 and won a parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election. However, the party has been accused of committing crimes during a recent uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Shakib is one of the accused in these cases.Despite the allegations, Shakib had expressed his desire to continue playing cricket and had sought security guarantees from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The BCB initially responded positively and announced his inclusion in the team. However, Shakib's decision to cancel his trip has raised questions about his safety concerns.The BCB has since appointed former West Indies batter Phil Simmons as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Chandika Hathurusinghe.

Shakib Al Hasan, the star all-rounder for Bangladesh, has expressed his reluctance to travel to Dhaka for the upcoming first Test against South Africa due to ongoing protests against him in the city. Shakib's inclusion in the Bangladesh squad for the Test, which was set to be his final appearance in the format, has sparked controversy.Shakib's concerns stem from the recent arrests of several Awami League leaders, including himself, who was named in an FIR for an alleged murder during unrest in his hometown of Magura. The all-rounder had previously expressed fears for his safety if he returned to Bangladesh.Despite assurances from selectors that he would be granted safe passage, students began protesting Shakib's imminent arrival on Wednesday evening. A group known as "Mirpur Chhatro Janata" informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of their intention to protest Shakib's appearance at the stadium.As a result, Shakib was reportedly advised to remain in Dubai, where he was transiting from New York. Although his flight to Dhaka is scheduled for Thursday evening, it is highly unlikely that he will make the trip.Shakib's absence from the first Test would be a significant blow to Bangladesh's hopes of a positive start to the series. The all-rounder is one of the team's most experienced and influential players, and his presence would have been crucial in the absence of several other senior players.The BCB is facing a difficult situation, as they must balance the safety of their players with the demands of the protesters. It remains to be seen whether Shakib will eventually travel to Dhaka or if he will be forced to miss the Test altogether.

Andrew Flintoff, the newly appointed England Lions head coach, will lead a 19-man squad to South Africa next month for a training camp and an unofficial four-day Test against South Africa A. The tour, scheduled from November 20 to December 14, aims to replicate the training methods of the senior men's squad, who will be playing a Test series in New Zealand during the same period.The squad includes six new inclusions, including Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner who recently earned his first senior white-ball call-up. Chohan, the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy to be named in an England squad, will have a limited role due to prior Big Bash League commitments.Other notable inclusions are Josh Hull, who withdrew from the ongoing Test tour of Pakistan with a quad injury, and Matt Hurst, the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batter making his first Lions tour. The squad also features several recent graduates from England's Under-19 set-up, such as Harry Moore, a highly-rated 17-year-old Derbyshire fast bowler, and Freddie McCann, the Nottinghamshire opener who played a crucial role in preserving his team's top-flight status in the County Championship.Flintoff expressed his excitement about the potential of the squad, stating, "We're delighted to have such a high-potential group of players heading to South Africa. We have a mix of well-established performers who've been in the England setup and excelled in the domestic game, through to some of the most exciting young talent coming through."England Men's performance director, Ed Barney, emphasized the alignment of the selection with England's short and long-term needs across all formats, particularly in supporting pace bowlers. He added, "We are also excited about the competitive match opportunities, with a four-day fixture against South Africa A offering the opportunity for the squad to enjoy putting their skills on show against strong opposition."The full coaching and support staff for the tour will be announced shortly.

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.

Ireland's cricket team is undergoing a strategic shift in its T20I squad, with the selectors opting to drop Test captain Andy Balbirnie in favor of a "new dynamic" at the top of the order. Balbirnie, Ireland's second-highest T20I run-scorer, has struggled for form this year, averaging a modest 24.83 and striking at a rate of only 113.74.National selector Andrew White explained the decision, stating that the team is exploring new options in the T20I format. Lorcan Tucker, who opened the batting in Balbirnie's absence in Leinster Lightning's recent T20 match, is a potential candidate to replace him as Paul Stirling's opening partner.While Balbirnie will sit out the T20Is, he remains a key figure in the ODI squad and will continue to open the batting alongside Stirling in that format. Josh Little, who is currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League, is not included in either squad.The upcoming series against South Africa marks the start of a new cycle for Ireland's white-ball teams, with the 2026 and 2027 T20 and 50-over World Cups on the horizon. The selectors are looking to deepen the pool of international cricketers and provide opportunities for players like Gavin Hoey, an uncapped legspinner, to gain experience.Ireland will host South Africa's tour in Abu Dhabi due to infrastructure constraints, but they hope to overcome these challenges with the development of a new national stadium. South Africa has already announced its squads for the series, with many of their first-choice players rested.

England's women cricketers will miss the latter stages of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) due to a clash with their tour of South Africa. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has informed players that they are expected to join the national team in South Africa on specific dates, regardless of any overlap with WBBL games.This decision aims to avoid a repeat of the situation earlier this year, when the end of the Women's Premier League (WPL) overlapped with England's arrival in New Zealand for a bilateral series. Players were forced to choose between club and country.The ECB notified players and their agents of the requirements before the WBBL draft. England is scheduled to play three T20Is in South Africa starting November 24, followed by three ODIs from December 4 and a Test starting on December 15.Seven England players were signed in the WBBL draft, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, and Heather Knight. The ECB took a similar stance last year, with Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson missing the WBBL final to join England's squad in India.The WPL announced its 2024 fixtures in January, with the final falling two days before England's first T20I in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket declined an ECB request to move the dates.Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket, emphasized the need for better coordination between tournaments. He said the ECB is working on aligning the Women's Future Tours Program to avoid future clashes.Finch acknowledged the financial implications for players who may miss out on lucrative WPL contracts. However, he stressed that players signing central contracts with England are expected to prioritize international commitments.The ECB is also considering introducing multi-year central contracts to provide players with greater security. Finch believes this will reduce the need for case-by-case discussions about player availability.