Cricket

Bangladesh has announced its squad for the first three T20Is of the five-match series against Zimbabwe, with Mohammad Saifuddin making a comeback. The squad also includes left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, allrounder Afif Hossain, and opening batters Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain.Saifuddin, who last played T20Is for Bangladesh in October 2022, has recovered from a back injury that sidelined him for several months. He impressed during the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), taking 15 wickets in nine matches for Fortune Barishal, who won their maiden BPL title.Tanzid, a left-handed opener, has earned his maiden T20I call-up after playing 15 ODIs since his debut last year. He had a decent BPL campaign but was not part of the T20Is against Sri Lanka last month.Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan are notable absentees from the squad for the first three matches. Shakib is expected to return to Dhaka on April 30 and may play a Dhaka Premier League match before joining the squad for the remaining two matches. Mustafizur is set to arrive on May 2 after his IPL stint and will undergo a fitness assessment before being considered for the final two T20Is in Dhaka.Anamul Haque, Taijul Islam, and Mohammad Naim have been left out from the squad that played T20Is against Sri Lanka, while Soumya Sarkar is still recovering from a knee injury.The first three T20Is will be played in Chattogram on May 3, 5, and 7, before the action moves to Dhaka for the last two games on May 10 and 12.

Virat Kohli's performance in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has drawn criticism from legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. Despite Kohli's contribution of 51 runs, Gavaskar expressed concern over the pace at which he scored.Gavaskar highlighted the importance of strike rate in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket. While Kohli's runs were valuable, his slow accumulation of runs raised questions about his approach. Kohli scored 32 runs off the first 18 balls he faced, but his next 19 runs came from 25 deliveries."In the middle, he just seemed to have lost touch," Gavaskar said. "From 31-32 to the time he got out, he did not hit a boundary. When you face the strike in the first ball of the innings and get out in the 14th or 15th over, you have a strike rate of 118. That's not what your team expects from you."Gavaskar's criticism underscores the changing nature of T20 cricket, where strike rate has become a crucial factor. Teams are increasingly looking for players who can score runs quickly and keep the scoreboard ticking.In contrast to Kohli's measured approach, Rajat Patidar played an explosive innings for RCB. Patidar scored 50 runs off just 20 balls, showcasing the importance of aggressive batting in T20 cricket.Kohli's performance against SRH has raised questions about his role in the RCB team. While he remains a valuable player, his slow strike rate may become a concern for the team as the tournament progresses.

Virat Kohli's impressive run-scoring form in IPL 2024 has earned him the Orange Cap, but his team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has struggled to win matches. While Kohli's individual performance is commendable, it raises questions about the true measure of his contribution to RCB's success.In the modern era of T20 cricket, the ability to provide impactful knocks at a reasonable strike rate is crucial for winning matches. Kohli's strike rate of 150.39 this season is higher than his overall IPL strike rate of 130.63, but it remains a concern.Despite Kohli's three 50-plus scores in IPL 2024, RCB has lost two of those matches. His unbeaten knocks of 83 and 113 against Kolkata and Rajasthan, respectively, led to reasonable totals, but the bowlers failed to defend them.RCB's struggles highlight the need for a more holistic approach to batting in T20 cricket. While Kohli has anchored the team's batting unit, his knocks have not been enough to secure victories.Kohli's contribution to RCB's wins over the years has been significant, but it is important to recognize that cricket is a team sport. RCB's lack of success cannot be solely attributed to Kohli, but his role as the team's poster boy and constant presence since its inception in 2008 raises questions about his impact on the team's overall performance.The fast-paced nature of T20 cricket demands more from batters than just run accumulation. Strike rates have become increasingly important, and Kohli's 67-ball hundred against Rajasthan Royals this season was the slowest in IPL history.As RCB enters the final stretch of IPL 2024, Kohli must recognize the need to go beyond run accumulation and boast good averages. His contribution to the team must include a higher strike rate and the ability to provide match-winning knocks.

Shaheen Afridi Hails Mohammad Rizwan as the "Bradman of T20 Cricket"Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has heaped praise on batter Mohammad Rizwan, calling him the "Bradman of T20 cricket" after he crossed the remarkable milestone of 3000 T20I runs.Rizwan achieved this feat during the third T20I match against New Zealand, where he scored 22 off 21 deliveries before an unfortunate hamstring injury cut short his innings. Afridi's heartfelt tribute to Rizwan on social media underscored the batsman's transformative influence on the sport and his ability to silence doubters."Cheers to Muhammad Rizwan - the Bradman of T20 cricket and Pakistan's SuperMan for hitting 3,000 T20I runs! Your impact has transformed the game and silenced the skeptics. Keep soaring, champion! You're an inspiration to many," Afridi's post read.Rizwan's milestone not only marked a significant personal achievement but also saw him surpassing Indian cricketing stalwart Virat Kohli in reaching 3000 T20I runs. Rizwan achieved this feat in 92 matches and 79 innings, outpacing Kohli's record of 87 matches and 81 innings.Since his T20I debut against Bangladesh in 2015, Rizwan has been a linchpin in Pakistan's batting lineup, featuring in 93 matches and 80 innings. With a strike rate of 127.42, he has amassed a total of 3048 runs, cementing his status as one of Pakistan's premier batters in the shortest format of the game.Rizwan's success is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in his abilities. Despite facing criticism and skepticism early in his career, he has proven his mettle time and again, becoming one of the most consistent and reliable batters in T20 cricket.His ability to adapt to different conditions and situations, coupled with his exceptional shot-making skills, has made him a formidable force in the shortest format of the game. Rizwan's contributions have been instrumental in Pakistan's recent success in T20 cricket, including their triumph in the 2022 Asia Cup.As Rizwan continues to scale new heights, he is sure to inspire a generation of young cricketers and leave an indelible mark on the sport. His achievements serve as a reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Pakistan's star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi sparked controversy on social media after labeling teammate Mohammad Rizwan as the "Don Bradman of T20 cricket." The comment came after Rizwan reached the milestone of 3000 runs in T20 international cricket, becoming the fastest player to achieve the feat in just 79 innings.Afridi's tweet, which read, "Cheers to Muhammad Rizwan - the Bradman of T20 cricket and Pakistan's SuperMan for hitting 3,000 T20I runs! Your impact has transformed the game and silenced the skeptics. Keep soaring, champion! You're an inspiration to many," drew criticism from fans who questioned the comparison to the legendary Australian batsman.Bradman, widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, dominated Test cricket with an astonishing batting average of 99.94. His dominance in the longer format of the game stands in stark contrast to Rizwan's achievements in T20 cricket, a shorter and more explosive format.Fans took to Twitter to express their disapproval of Afridi's comparison. "Is this a sarcastic post, or do you really mean it?" asked one user. Another commented, "Bradman hit a total of 6 sixes in his entire career and he played test matches only. Rizwan is definitely the Bradman of T20."Despite the controversy, Rizwan's achievement remains a significant milestone in his career. He has established himself as one of the most consistent and prolific batters in T20 cricket, with an impressive average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 130.While Pakistan celebrated Rizwan's achievement, they suffered a disappointing defeat in the third T20I against New Zealand. The Kiwis secured a comfortable 7-wicket victory, leaving Pakistan with a 1-2 deficit in the series.Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, saying, "We were 10 runs short unfortunately. I think Shadab recovered well and built a good partnership. I think 180-190 was a par score according to me. We tried to play according to the situation."Pakistan will look to bounce back in the fourth T20I on April 24th as they aim to level the series and avoid a series defeat.

IPL 2024: Sunil Gavaskar Raises Concerns Over Bowlers' Plight, Calls for Boundary ExpansionLegendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his concerns over the dominance of batters in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, calling for measures to protect bowlers from the relentless onslaught.Speaking on the official broadcaster, Gavaskar proposed increasing the size of the boundary at every ground as a solution to address the imbalance between bat and ball in T20 cricket. He emphasized the importance of extending the boundary ropes, especially at smaller venues, to provide bowlers with a fair chance against power-hitting batters."I wouldn't suggest any changes to a cricket bat because they are all within regulations, but I have been saying this for a long time, increase the size of the boundary at every ground," Gavaskar said.He highlighted the space between the advertisement boards and the fence where the stands begin, stating that pushing the boundary back by a few meters could significantly impact the outcome of matches and provide bowlers with a much-needed respite."Look at this ground today, there is enough space to take it back a little more by a couple of metres. It can often prove to be the difference between a catch and a sixer," Gavaskar explained.Expressing his frustration with the current state of affairs in T20 cricket, Gavaskar criticized the prevalent trend of power-hitting, likening it to a final net session."What we have been seeing in T20 cricket over the last few days is that this is batting like the coach tells in the nets, 'This is the last round,' and everybody starts swinging their bat around bang, bang whether they get out or not," he said.Gavaskar underscored the diminishing excitement beyond a certain point, stressing the need for a more balanced contest between bat and ball."It's not exciting anymore. It's like a final net session. You know, you're just going to hit every ball for a six. There's no excitement in that," he added.Gavaskar's concerns highlight the growing need to address the imbalance between bat and ball in T20 cricket, ensuring that bowlers have a fair chance to compete and that matches remain exciting and competitive.

Jasprit Bumrah, the Mumbai Indians' bowling spearhead, has expressed his desire to make an early impact in T20 matches. While he is often deployed as a trump card in the latter stages of the innings, Bumrah believes he can contribute significantly in the powerplay overs."Of course, you want to make an impact early on when the ball does something," Bumrah said. "In this format, the ball does swing for the first two overs, and I want to make an impact when the opportunity comes."Despite the high-scoring nature of this year's IPL, Bumrah has maintained his miserly economy rate of 5.96 and has taken 13 wickets in seven matches. He acknowledges the challenges bowlers face in the current T20 landscape, but emphasizes the importance of preparation and self-belief."This format is a little difficult for the bowlers because the batsmanship is going up," Bumrah said. "But I feel like all of those things are not in your control. What you can do is try to prepare to the best of your ability and back yourself in any situation."Bumrah also plays a leadership role within the Mumbai Indians team, providing guidance to his fellow bowlers."Whenever there's an opportunity, I do relay a message from wherever I am," Bumrah said. "But sometimes in the heat of the moment, it's difficult to pass on a lot of message. But yes, I am always there if anybody needs help."Bumrah's versatility and leadership qualities make him a crucial asset for the Mumbai Indians as they aim to defend their IPL title.

Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling performance propelled Mumbai Indians to a thrilling 9-run victory over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Bumrah's three-wicket haul proved decisive in restricting Punjab to 182/9 in pursuit of Mumbai's 192/4.Bumrah's impact was evident from the outset as he dismissed Rilee Rossouw and Sam Curran in his opening over. The right-arm pacer's ability to swing the new ball effectively put Punjab on the back foot. He returned in the middle overs to remove Shashank Singh, who had threatened to take the game away from Mumbai.In the latter stages of the chase, Bumrah's tight bowling in the 17th over, conceding just three runs, proved crucial in stifling Punjab's momentum. Ashutosh Sharma's valiant 61 was not enough to prevent Mumbai from securing their third win of the season.After the match, Bumrah acknowledged the challenges bowlers face in the T20 format due to restrictions and deeper batting line-ups. "This format is a little difficult for bowlers, with time restrictions and impact player rules. Batting lineup becomes deeper and deeper," he said.As a senior player, Bumrah emphasized the importance of guiding his younger teammates. "I do relay the message to the bowlers whenever I can. But you also don't want to deliver too many messages in the heat of the moment," he added.Mumbai's victory lifted them to seventh place in the points table, while Punjab slipped to ninth after another close defeat.

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma recently shared his experience of a fan entering the field during their match against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. Sharma revealed that he was initially startled by the incident but handled it calmly."I was setting up the field at the slips when this guy suddenly stood up next to me," Sharma said. "I was a little scared honestly."The fan, who identified himself as a big fan, asked for a hug. Sharma obliged but warned him against such behavior in the future.Sharma also spoke about his admiration for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, calling him "one crazy guy.""He's the person who makes me laugh the most," Sharma said. "He's got his way of doing things which is what I like about him."Sharma praised Pant's resilience after recovering from a serious accident last year."I was disappointed for him when he missed a year and a half because of that incident," Sharma said. "But I'm glad he's back on the field."In the match against Chennai Super Kings, Sharma became the first Indian to smash 500 sixes in T20 cricket. He is now fourth on the all-time list behind Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, and Andre Russell.In six matches this IPL season, Sharma has scored 261 runs at an average of 52.20 and a strike rate of over 167, including a century.