Cricket

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bowl first in the third and final T20I against USA in Texas, a decision he had also made in the second game, which they lost by six runs. The series was already decided, with USA taking a 2-0 lead after their stunning wins earlier in the week.Bangladesh made two changes to their lineup, resting Jaker Ali and Shoriful Islam and bringing in Litton Das and Hasan Mahmud. USA made four changes, resting captain Monank Patel, Steven Taylor, Harmeet Singh, and Ali Khan. They were replaced by Shayan Jahangir, Nosthush Kenjige, Milind Kumar, and Nisarg Patel.Ali Khan was the hero of the last game, claiming three late wickets as Bangladesh lost their last five wickets for 14 runs in 15 balls. Harmeet Singh had starred in the first game, hitting three sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 33 off 13 balls when US needed 55 runs in the last four overs.The match began with USA winning the toss and electing to bat first. They got off to a solid start, with openers Andries Gous and Aaron Jones putting on a 50-run partnership. However, Bangladesh fought back, with Hasan Mahmud dismissing both openers in quick succession.Nitish Kumar and Corey Anderson then steadied the USA innings, putting on a 40-run partnership. But Bangladesh continued to take wickets at regular intervals, and USA eventually finished their innings on 144/9.Bangladesh's chase got off to a poor start, with Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto both falling cheaply. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy then put on a 50-run partnership, but both fell in quick succession.Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan then took control of the chase, putting on a 60-run partnership. However, Mahmudullah was dismissed for 36, and Shakib followed soon after for 32.With Bangladesh needing 20 runs off the last two overs, Rishad Hossain hit a six and a four to bring the equation down to 10 runs off the last over. However, he was dismissed off the first ball of the over, and Bangladesh eventually fell short by 10 runs.

USA vs Bangladesh 3rd T20I: USA Aims for Clean Sweep in Historic SeriesUSA will face Bangladesh in the third and final T20I of their three-match series on Saturday in Houston, Texas. The match marks a historic moment for USA cricket, as they have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.In the second T20I on Thursday, USA stunned Bangladesh, an ICC full member nation, by 33 runs. The victory was a testament to the growing strength of USA cricket, which is an associate cricketing nation.USA's success in the series has been built on a combination of strong batting and disciplined bowling. In the first T20I, they chased down Bangladesh's total of 153 with ease, thanks to a half-century from Aaron Jones. In the second T20I, they restricted Bangladesh to just 134 runs, with Nisarg Patel taking three wickets.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to salvage some pride in the third T20I. They have been outplayed by USA in both matches so far, and will need to find a way to turn things around.The third T20I will be a crucial match for both teams. For USA, it is a chance to complete a historic clean sweep and send a strong message ahead of the T20 World Cup. For Bangladesh, it is an opportunity to avoid a humiliating series defeat and regain some momentum.

Pakistan and England faced off in a highly anticipated T20I match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bowl first. The match marked the return of Jofra Archer to the England team after a lengthy absence due to an elbow injury.Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, welcomed the return of Shadab Khan to the lineup after he was rested for the final two T20Is against Ireland. Haris Rauf also made his comeback after recovering from a shoulder dislocation.England, on the other hand, opted to leave out Sam Curran, the player of the tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup, in favor of Chris Jordan and Liam Livingstone.The match began with England's openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, putting on a solid partnership. However, Pakistan's bowlers struck back with regular wickets, including the dismissal of Buttler for 31.Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook steadied the innings for England, but they were unable to accelerate the scoring rate. Pakistan's bowlers maintained a tight line and length, restricting England to 161/8 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, Pakistan's openers, Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, got off to a cautious start. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman provided the impetus with aggressive batting.Rizwan scored a quickfire 37, while Zaman played a crucial knock of 56. Shadab Khan also contributed with a valuable 34, guiding Pakistan to a comfortable victory with 10 balls to spare.

England vs Pakistan 2nd T20I: A Crucial Rehearsal for the T20 World CupEngland and Pakistan will lock horns in the second T20I of their four-match series on Saturday in Birmingham. This highly anticipated encounter holds immense significance as it serves as a crucial rehearsal for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.The first T20I between these two cricketing giants was unfortunately washed out due to persistent rain, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the second match. England and Pakistan have been in contrasting form in recent times. Pakistan has emerged victorious in three of their last five T20Is, while England has managed to secure two wins and suffered three defeats.England will be keen to bounce back from their disappointing performance in the first T20I. They will be led by their experienced captain, Jos Buttler, who will be looking to set the tone for the series. The English batting lineup boasts a wealth of talent, including the likes of Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Stokes.Pakistan, on the other hand, will be aiming to continue their winning momentum. They will be led by the enigmatic Babar Azam, who is currently ranked as the world's number one T20I batsman. The Pakistani batting lineup also features the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Asif Ali.The bowling departments of both teams will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the match. England will rely on the experience of Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid, while Pakistan will look to their pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.This second T20I promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Both England and Pakistan will be eager to secure a victory to gain an early advantage in the series and boost their confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, opted to field first after winning the toss in the second T20I against USA at Prairie View in Texas on Thursday. The decision came after Bangladesh's disappointing five-wicket loss in the first game.To bolster their lineup, Bangladesh made two changes to their XI. Litton Das and Mahedi Hasan were replaced by opening batter Tanzid Hasan and medium pacer Tanzim Hasan. Meanwhile, USA, co-hosts of the upcoming T20 World Cup, brought in allrounder Shadley van Schalkwyk for left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige.USA's historic victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday marked their first triumph against a top-ten side in the ICC T20I team rankings. The match also saw Bangladesh concede a record-breaking 54 runs in the last four overs.Harmeet Singh played a pivotal role in USA's victory, smashing an unbeaten 33 off just 13 balls, including three sixes and two fours.

USA Stuns Bangladesh in Historic T20I VictoryIn a major upset, the United States of America (USA) defeated full member Bangladesh by five wickets in the first T20I at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Texas on Tuesday. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Associate Nation, which has never defeated a full member in a T20I before.Chasing a modest target of 154, the USA lost half of their team for just 94 runs. However, former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson (34 not out) and former Mumbai and India U-19 player Harmeet Singh (33 not out) came to the rescue with a crucial 62-run partnership for the sixth wicket.Anderson played cautiously before hitting Mustafizur Rahman and Mahmudullah for a six each. Harmeet hammered back-to-back sixes off Mustafizur Rahman in the 17th over before hitting Shoriful Islam for a six in the 18th over and followed it up with a boundary off the last ball of the over. He sealed victory for the USA with a four off Mahmudullah off the third ball of the 19th over.Earlier, Bangladesh elected to field first and restricted the USA to just 153/6 in 20 overs. Middle-order batter Tawhid Hridoy top-scored for Bangladesh with 58 off 47 balls, while Mahmudullah contributed 31 and Soumya Sarkar added 20.The USA's victory sparked a meme fest on social media, with many users highlighting the fact that the team is largely composed of players of Indian origin. The win also raised questions about the future of Associate Nations in international cricket and the need for more opportunities for them to compete against full members.

England and Pakistan Set for T20I Series Ahead of World CupEngland and Pakistan will face off in a three-match T20I series at Headingley on Wednesday, marking their first encounter since the thrilling 2022 T20 World Cup final. While the stakes may not be as high this time, both teams are eager to prove their credentials as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup in Australia.Despite their World Cup success, both England and Pakistan have struggled in T20I cricket since then. England has won only two of their nine T20I series, while Pakistan has a similar record. Both teams were also eliminated from the ODI World Cup in the first round.However, this series serves as a crucial warm-up for the T20 World Cup, and both teams are taking it seriously. England has recalled Jofra Archer, who is making his first T20I appearance in over a year, while Pakistan is expected to field a strong bowling attack led by Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.England captain Jos Buttler is keen to avoid a repeat of their disappointing ODI World Cup performance. "We're presented with a new opportunity, a different format," he said. "We want to give a better account of ourselves."Pakistan captain Babar Azam is also looking forward to the series. "We're excited to play against [Archer]," he said. "We have that pace of bowlers in Haris Rauf and Shaheen, so I wouldn't say we're fearful, but we are excited."The weather forecast for Headingley is overcast, which could impact the game. However, both teams are determined to put on a good show and prepare for the World Cup.

Jos Buttler, England's T20I captain, has defended the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to withdraw players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan. However, he believes that international cricket should not overlap with the IPL, the world's premier franchise league.Buttler, along with seven other members of England's provisional T20 World Cup squad, left the IPL before the end of the group stage. Four of these players, including Buttler, represented franchises that qualified for the knockouts. England's players returned to Leeds on Saturday night ahead of Wednesday's opening T20I.Rob Key, the managing director of England men's cricket, stated that Buttler had driven the decision to bring players home from India. He emphasized the importance of the squad spending time together before traveling to the Caribbean.Buttler explained his reasoning, saying, "As an England captain, my main priority is to be playing for England. I think that these games have been in the calendar for a long time. Of course, leading into a World Cup, your No. 1 priority is playing for England and performing for England. I feel like this is the best preparation."Buttler's absence has left a significant void in his franchise, Rajasthan Royals. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was brought in for the final two group games but has struggled to make an impact.Other national boards have taken a different approach. West Indies and South Africa have both missed players for their T20I series due to IPL commitments. Ireland allowed Josh Little to remain in India during their recent series against Pakistan.Key has stated that the ECB tried to keep the situation fluid with players before deciding to bring them home. However, there has been some criticism in India about the early return of English players.Sanjay Bangar, the head of cricket development at Punjab Kings, claimed that the ECB had assured them that all players would be available before the December auction. However, as ESPNcricinfo reported, this was always subject to fitness, international duty, and any periods of unavailability submitted by players on their auction applications.The dates for England's T20I series against Pakistan were announced in July 2023 and have been in the ICC's Future Tours Programme since August 2022. In contrast, the BCCI only finalized the IPL's fixture list for the 2024 season after the tournament had started.Sam Curran, who captained Punjab in eight of his 13 appearances this season, believes the ECB's decision was justified. He said, "It was a decision that was made, that it was probably the right thing for us all to come back. It was only fair for all franchise to lose a player each or so… it would have been quite harsh if some franchises got to keep a couple of players and then some didn't."The Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA) will hold a global scheduling symposium for members later this year. CEO Tom Moffat revealed that a recent player survey showed widespread support for international and franchise 'windows', as proposed by Buttler.

Bangladesh and the United States will engage in a three-match T20I series from May 21, providing both teams with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This series marks the first time these two nations will face off in a T20I encounter.Tuning Up for the T20 World CupThe series will serve as a valuable warm-up for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh will begin their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Grand Prairie on June 7, while the USA will play their first two matches in the same venue against Canada and Pakistan.Bangladesh Batting in FocusBangladesh's batting performance against Zimbabwe earlier this month raised concerns, with Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto blaming the pitches in Chattogram and Dhaka. The team's highest score while batting first was 165, and they will be eager to improve their batting in Texas.Stuart Law's ImpactStuart Law, the former Bangladesh head coach, will be in the opposing camp as the USA head coach. Law's experience and knowledge of Bangladesh's players could prove valuable for the USA.Catching ConcernsBangladesh will also be looking to address their catching issues. They have dropped eight out of 42 chances in bilateral series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe this year. Improving their catching will be crucial for their success in the T20 World Cup.A Familiar FoeAlthough Bangladesh will face the USA for the first time in international cricket, they are familiar with Corey Anderson, who made his USA debut last month. Anderson's destructive batting against Bangladesh in 2015 will be a concern for the Tigers.