Cricket

Mongolia's cricket team has endured a humiliating milestone, being bowled out for a mere 12 runs in a T20 International match against Japan. This ignominious score marks the second-lowest total in T20I history, surpassed only by Isle of Man's 10 all out against Spain in 2023.The match, held at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan, saw Japan post an imposing 217 for 7 after electing to bat. In response, Mongolia's batting lineup collapsed spectacularly, with 17-year-old left-arm seamer Kazuma Kato-Stafford wreaking havoc. Kato-Stafford claimed an astonishing 5 for 7 from his 3.2 overs, while Abdul Samad (2/4) and Makoto Taniyama (2/0) also chipped in with wickets.Tur Sumaya (4 off 11) was the only Mongolian batsman to reach double figures, while opener Namsrai Bat-yalalt faced the most deliveries (12). This was the second T20I of a seven-match series, with the third match later in the day being abandoned without a result.In the first T20I, Mongolia had been bowled out for 33 in reply to Japan's 199 for 5, suffering a 166-run defeat. This was Mongolia's fifth T20I appearance, having made their international debut at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they lost both their group stage matches.Despite these setbacks, Mongolia's cricket development has made strides in recent years. Battulga Gombo, known as the "man behind cricket" in the country, has played a pivotal role in establishing the sport. With the support of the Mongolian Cricket Seed Appeal, the schools' program has expanded, and indoor and outdoor tournaments are now held throughout the year.

Shakib Al Hasan, the talismanic all-rounder, makes a much-anticipated return to Bangladesh's T20I squad after an absence of nearly a year. The 36-year-old has been named in the team for the final two matches of the series against Zimbabwe in Dhaka, scheduled for May 11 and 12.Shakib's inclusion is a major boost for Bangladesh, who have taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The veteran all-rounder, who last played a T20I in July 2023, will provide much-needed experience and leadership to the side.Also returning to the squad are Soumya Sarkar and Mustafizur Rahman. Sarkar, a hard-hitting opener, has been out with a knee injury since March, while Rahman, a pace bowler, has been rested after a busy IPL campaign with Chennai Super Kings.The trio of Shakib, Sarkar, and Rahman replace Parvez Hossain Emon, Afif Hossain, and Shoriful Islam. Emon and Afif missed all three games of the series, while Shoriful played the first two matches.Shakib's return is particularly significant as he was Bangladesh's captain when he last played T20Is. He was instrumental in building the team towards this year's T20 World Cup, but injuries hampered his progress. Najmul Hossain Shanto has since taken over the captaincy in all formats.Mustafizur's return will also bolster Bangladesh's bowling attack. The left-arm pacer has been in impressive form in the IPL, taking 10 wickets in 11 matches.Soumya's inclusion adds depth to the batting lineup. The left-handed opener is known for his aggressive style of play and will be looking to make a strong impact on his return from injury.The final two T20Is against Zimbabwe will provide Bangladesh with an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the T20 World Cup. The squad for the tournament is expected to be announced on May 13, the day after the last T20I in Dhaka.

Mohammad Amir's absence from Pakistan's tour of Ireland has raised concerns about his participation in the upcoming T20I series. The left-arm pacer, who holds permanent residency in the United Kingdom, applied for an Ireland visa alongside his teammates. However, while the rest of the squad received their visas before departing for Dublin on Tuesday, Amir's application remained pending.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been in contact with Cricket Ireland regarding the issue, emphasizing that it is the host board's responsibility to facilitate and provide visas for the visiting team in a timely manner. Given the short duration of the tour, with Pakistan scheduled to play three T20Is from May 10 to 14, Amir's involvement in the series is now in jeopardy.As of now, there is no information on when Amir's visa is expected to be approved. Mohammad Yousaf, a member of Pakistan's management team, also experienced a delay in his visa approval but managed to receive it just in time to join the squad. It is unclear whether Amir's visa delay is related to the timing of his application, although the PCB maintains that he applied simultaneously with the rest of the team.Amir has previously visited Ireland as part of Pakistan's squad for the country's inaugural Test match in Malahide in 2018. After retiring from international cricket in 2020, he reversed his decision earlier this year and made his return in the recently concluded home series against New Zealand.The Pakistan squad is expected to arrive in Dublin on Wednesday morning, with all three T20Is scheduled to be played at the same venue. Following the Ireland tour, Pakistan will travel to the UK for four T20Is ahead of the World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

Zimbabwe's captain, Sikandar Raza, opted to field first in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Chattogram. This decision mirrored that of his Bangladeshi counterpart, Najmul Hossain Shanto, in the previous two matches.Zimbabwe made two changes to their lineup. Richard Ngarava was ruled out due to injury, with Faraz Akram taking his place. Wellington Masakadza returned from concussion concerns, replacing Ainsley Ndlovu.Bangladesh also made alterations, resting Shoriful Islam and Mahedi Hasan. Tanzim Hasan and Tanvir Islam were brought in as replacements. These changes resulted in a shorter batting lineup for Bangladesh, with Rishad Hossain likely to bat at number seven.Zimbabwe, on the other hand, boasts a strong batting order with seven batters before their all-rounders.

India vs Bangladesh: Toss Bangladesh Chose to Bowl vs IndiaIn the fourth T20I match between India and Bangladesh, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and elected to bowl first on a cloudy day in Sylhet. India had already secured the five-match series 3-0.Both teams made debuts in this match. Bangladesh introduced 14-year-old medium pacer Habiba Islam, left-hand batter Rubya Haider, and legspinner Shorna Akter. India, on the other hand, handed a debut to 33-year-old legspinner S Asha and rested offspinner Shreyanka Patil. Seamer Titas Sadhu also made her first appearance in the series, replacing Renuka Singh.Asha, who became the first Indian to claim a five-wicket haul in the Women's Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore, is now the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 12 scalps. This match also marked Harmanpreet Kaur's 300th international appearance.Bangladesh Playing XI:1. Dilara Akter2. Murshida Khatun3. Rubya Haider4. Nigar Sultana (capt & wk)5. Ritu Moni6. Habiba Islam7. Rabeya Khan8. Nahida Akter9. Shorifa Khatun10. Marufa Akter11. Shorna AkterIndia Playing XI:1. Shafali Verma2. Smriti Mandhana3. D Hemalatha4. Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)5. Richa Ghosh (wk)6. Deepti Sharma7. S Sajana8. Pooja Vastrakar9. Titas Sadhu10. S Asha11. Radha Yadav

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, opted to field first after winning the toss in the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Chattogram. The hosts fielded an unchanged XI from their eight-wicket victory in the series opener.Zimbabwe, on the other hand, made two alterations to their lineup. Johnathan Campbell, the son of former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, made his T20I debut, while Ainsley Ndlovu replaced Sean Williams. Wellington Masakadza was ruled out due to concussion symptoms sustained in the first match.The third T20I will be played in Chattogram on May 7, followed by the final two matches in Dhaka on May 10 and 12.Bangladesh XI:1. Tanzid Hasan2. Litton Das3. Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)4. Towhid Hridoy5. Mahmudullah6. Jaker Ali (wk)7. Mahedi Hasan8. Rishad Hossain9. Mohammad Saifuddin10. Taskin Ahmed11. Shoriful IslamZimbabwe XI:1. Joylord Gumbie (wk)2. Craig Ervine3. Brian Bennett4. Sikandar Raza (c)5. Clive Madande6. Johnathan Campbell7. Ryan Burl8. Luke Jongwe9. Ainsley Ndlovu10. Richard Ngarava11. Blessing Muzarabani

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

Pakistan's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England has undergone significant changes, with the return of experienced players and the omission of some key figures.Usama Mir and Zaman Khan have been dropped from the squad, while Hasan Ali, who last played a T20I in 2022, has been recalled. Haris Rauf, who was injured during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has also been included, along with Agha Salman.The squad announcement, made by three members of the selection panel, also sees the return of Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, and Irfan Khan, who were ruled out of last month's series against New Zealand due to injuries. However, their fitness remains a concern, with selector Wahab Riaz expressing cautious optimism."Rizwan, Haris, Irfan, and Azam are being assessed," Riaz said. "There is a significant improvement in their fitness. They're part of the squad because we hope they will be fit for the Ireland series."Pakistan's squad largely resembles the one that played against New Zealand, with Usman Khan, Mohammad Amir, and Imad Wasim retaining their places. Despite speculation about the potential return of Aamer Jamal, the all-rounder was not selected, while Mohammad Haris continues to be overlooked.Hasan Ali's selection has been attributed to his experience and ICC tournament pedigree, rather than his current form. He had a stellar PSL season with Karachi Kings, taking 14 wickets at an economy of 8.26, but was not selected for the New Zealand series.His inclusion appears to be based on the belief in his ability beyond just hard numbers, and an opportunity to assess him in Ireland and England before the squad is whittled down to 15 for the T20 World Cup.Pakistan will play three T20Is against Ireland starting May 10, followed by four games against England. The deadline to announce the squad for the T20 World Cup (May 24) is after they play the first T20I against England (May 22).

India, buoyed by their dominant performances in the first two matches, will aim to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against Bangladesh when they face off in the third encounter on Thursday.The Indian team has been firing on all cylinders, with their bowling unit restricting Bangladesh to modest totals. Spinners Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil have been economical, while pacer Renuka Singh Thakur has starred with the ball in the opener. Pooja Vastrakar has also been a handy contributor.In the batting department, Dayalan Hemalatha has impressed with her explosive batting during the powerplay, crafting an unbeaten 24-ball 41 in the last game. Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Richa Ghosh have also contributed runs. However, star opener Smriti Mandhana will be eager to find form.India's collective team effort has been a key factor in their success so far, and they will be looking for more of the same in the remaining games. The series holds added significance as the T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh later this year.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be desperate to improve their performance in all three departments. Their batters have struggled to post big totals, while the bowlers have been unable to contain the Indian batters. The fielding has also been found wanting.