BCB
BCL Final: Farhad flourishes with ball after Zakir, Mithun smash ton
Farhad Reza grabbed four wickets inside just 14 runs in the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League between BCB South Zone and Walton Central Zone on Monday, probing once again his credentials as one of best all-rounders in domestic play.
Before his late outburst with the ball on day two, Zakir Hasan of BCB South Zone scored the fourth First-calls ton in his last five innings in the format.
He ended up on unbeaten 107, and riding on his century and fifties from Anamul Haque, Pinak Ghosh and Farhad Reza, South Zone amassed a challenging 387 in the first innings of the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Also read: Unfazed by names, I played deliveries, Mahmudul says after his maiden fifty vs NZ
Losing their last five wickets, South Zone added up 126 runs to their overnight total of 261. At the end of day one, Zakir and Farhad were unbeaten for 44 and 46 respectively.
While Zakir added 63 more to his innings, Farhad ended on 71 adding 25 more runs. In the sixth wicket stand, Zakir and Farhad added 119 runs to the board.
For Central Zone, left-arm spinner Hasan Murad scalped five wickets— his fifth five-wicket haul in the format. Shuvagata Hom and Abu Hider Rony bagged three and two wickets respectively.
Also read: Bangladesh hold firm after imperious batting display
While replying to South Zone’s first innings, Central Zone’s top order fell prey to Farhad. He bagged four wickets before Central Zone posted 20 runs on the board. But in the unbeaten fifth wicket, Mohammad Mithun and Shuvagata amassed 168 runs and helped the team score 184 for four at the end of day two. Central Zone are trailing by 203 runs.
Mithun remained unbeaten for 102, and Shuvagata for 67. It was the second century of Mithun in this year’s BCL. On both occasions, Mithun batted as an opener— his newest role in professional cricket.
Bangladesh’s aimless year in cricket
Dhaka, Dec 29 (UNB) — The year started on a hopeful note for Bangladesh as Shakib Al Hasan had returned to international cricket early this year after serving a ban imposed by the ICC for failing to report corrupt approaches by a known bookie. But by the time it ended, supporters of the Tigers were hoping they could forget 2021 as soon as possible.
Shakib was the most valuable player immediately upon his return, in the ODI series against the West Indies early this year. It was not the right indicator of what was in store for the remainder of the year. The downhill slide began in the Test series that followed the ODIs against the men from the Caribbean, who were severely depleted yet totally outplayed Bangladesh in both matches on the way to winning 2-0.
Bangladesh won 20 international matches across all three formats this year, out of 46 played. Although that makes it their second-best year in terms of matches won, this does not reflect the suffering that Bangladesh went through playing at home or abroad in 2021, and across all three formats really.
The poor show in Tests continued all through the year. At the end of the year, the Mominul Haque-led team suffered another 2-0 series defeat at home, this time against Pakistan.
Jamie Siddons to rejoin BCB after a decade
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have announced the return of the seasoned Australian cricket coach Jamie Siddons to Bangladesh setup as batting consultant. He was Bangladesh’s head coach after Dave Whatmore left after the 2007 World Cup.
Australian Siddons, 57, is thus set to rejoin BCB, a decade after his first stint that ended when his contract was not renewed following the ICC World Cup in 2011.
“Jamie is all set to join BCB again this February,” BCB president Nazmul Hasan announced Friday evening. “His role will be set later. He can work for any of our units— be it U-19 or HP or the national team. We will be working across our teams.”
Nazmul also said that the board will emphasize improving the quality of the players even during the off-season.
Read: New Zealand vs Bangladesh: Head-to-Head Record, Stats in Test Cricket
Jalal, who was the chair of BCB’s media and communication department, will now take over as head of the cricket operations department, replacing Akram Khan, who recently expressed his intention to step aside due to family commitments.
Tanvir Ahmed Titu, the newly elected director, will take on the role of chairing the media and communications committee, and Jalal will be the vice-chairman.
The details of the committees will be revealed soon, as Nazmul told the media.
Right before the T20 World Cup this year, the seventh general election of BCB took place, Nazmul became the president of the board for the third time.
Akram Khan set to resign from his BCB post, reveals family
Former Bangladesh captain and the current chairman of the cricket operation department of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Akram Khan, is set to resign from his post at BCB, according to his family.
Akram was ignored in some important decisions taken by the board after the Bangladesh team’s T20 World Cup debacle in Oman and UAE recently.
Despite being the chair of cricket operation, Akram was overlooked when the board appointed Khaled Mahmud as the director of the national team. Akram did not take this move of the board positively, a family source confirmed to the media.
Also read: If Shakib wants to play Tests, BCB may revoke NOC to play IPL: Akram Khan
2 members of Bangladesh women cricket team test positive for Covid-19
Two members of the Bangladesh women's cricket team have tested positive for Covid-19, Jalal Yunus, chief of the media department of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed UNB on Monday evening.
The women's team recently returned home from Zimbabwe after confirming their participation in the next 50-over World Cup, which will be Bangladesh’s maiden World Cup appearance as well.
He, however, did not disclose the names of the players. Both of them have been isolated under the supervision of the physicians.
“They were tested a few times after arriving in Dhaka,” Jalal told UNB. “Every time they returned negative before the latest test. Those who tested positive are isolated, they, along with the other members of the team, gave samples for another test on Monday.
Bangladesh team returned home after the qualifying event, which took place in Zimbabwe recently, was called off abruptly after the surge of the newest variant of Covid-19 Omicron.
BCB approves Shakib’s application to skip NZ tour
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has approved Shakib Al Hasan’s application to skip the New Zealand tour for a two-match series starting early next month.
Nazmul Hasan, president of BCB, confirmed it this afternoon during a media interaction in Dhaka.
When asked if Shakib’s application was approved, Nazmul said: “Yes, of course”.
Also read: Shakib writes to BCB to skip NZ tour
Bangladesh are currently taking on Pakistan in the ongoing rain-disrupted Dhaka Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh recently announced an 18-member squad for the New Zealand tour including Shakib. Within a couple of hours after the announcement, Shakib submitted a letter to BCB asking for leave for “family duty”.
The first Test of the New Zealand tour will take place on January 1, and the second Test will be played from January 9.
Also read: Shakib joins national team ahead of Dhaka Test
Shakib’s inner child comes out on rain-soaked day
It was around 2:45pm on Sunday when the players of both Bangladesh and Pakistan were waiting in their dressing rooms for the rain to stop and allow resumption of play in the Dhaka Test.
But not Shakib Al Hasan.
Braving rain Bangladesh’s star all-rounder walked barefoot to the field sliding over the cover that was placed to protect the wickets.
Read:Dhaka Test: Persistent rain ends “nearly” cricketless 2nd day
It was enough to entertain a few hundred cheering spectators who were waiting at the gallery to watch some cricket to happen.
On day two of the Dhaka Test, there were only 6.2 overs of cricket, and in those overs, Pakistan scored 22 runs. As paly stands, Pakistan scored 188 runs for two in 63.2 overs.
Next season of Bangladesh Premier League T20 to begin Jan 20
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury on Thursday announced that the next season of Bangladesh Premier League T20 will begin on January 20.
This session will also be branded as Bangabandhu BPL, the board earlier confirmed it.
“As per the latest development, the new season of BPL will begin on January 20, and end on February 20,” Nizamuddin told the media on Thursday.
He also confirmed that the Bangladesh national team will fly for New Zealand on December 9 to play the two-match Test series against the Blackcaps.
Read: Shakib joins national team ahead of Dhaka Test
Bangladesh will have to maintain a three or four-day in-room quarantine after reaching New Zealand. Earlier, New Zealand Cricket had said Bangladesh will have to maintain a two-week in-room quarantine.
“The quarantine is relaxed for us,” Nizamuddin added. “We now got some opportunities. We can now play two two-day practise matches ahead of the first Test which will surely help us to prepare well.”
Khaled, Shohidul added to Test squad
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday added right-arm pacer-duo Khaled Ahmed and Shohidul Islam to the Bangladesh squad that will take on Pakistan in a two-match series.
The first Test is set to begin on Friday at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium while the second Test will be played in Dhaka from December 4.
Read: BAN vs PAK 1st Test 2021: Can Bangladesh Fight Back?
Bangladesh announced the squad for this series on November 22. Two days later, Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out of the squad due to a hamstring injury that he sustained during the T20 World Cup.
Khaled has played two Tests earlier but failed to take any wickets. He also played a total of 29 First-class matches and bagged 61 wickets with three four-wicket and three five-wicket hauls.
Shohidul has recently got his maiden T20I cap. He played 35 First-class matches and bagged a total of 93 wickets with four four-wicket and three five-wicket hauls.
Shohidul is the fourth uncapped player in Bangladesh squad after Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Rahman Raja.
Read: Mahmudullah retires from Test: Remembering the silent killer’s dazzling match-winning centuries
Bangladesh squad for first Test against Pakistan:
Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Jayed Rahi, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Khaled Ahmed and Shohdiul Islam.
Test Cricket: Mahmudullah finally says goodbye
A little hope was there that Mahmudullah Riyad would continue to play Test cricket despite announcing his retirement in an abrupt move in July this year, but the hope finally got dashed on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has issued an official statement of Mahmudullah ending his 12-year-long Test career.
Mahmudullah was upset when he was axed from the Test squad last year. His omission was mainly enforced by head coach of the Bangladesh team Russell Domingo.
Read: 'Heartbreaking': Mahmudullah on Tigers' T20I blowout v Pakistan
“Leaving a format of which I’ve been a part of for such a long time is not easy. I had always thought of going on a high and I believe this is the right time to end my Test career,” Mahmudullah was quoted as saying in a statement provided by the BCB.
The 35-year old played his 50th and last Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in July this year with Bangladesh recording a 220-run win. In his final innings, the right-hander made an unbeaten 150, his fifth hundred in Tests, and was adjudged the player of the match.
The all-rounder got his Test cap back in 2009 against West Indies. He scored a total of 2914 runs in Tests at an average of 33.49 and took 43 wickets with the five-wicket haul in his debut. He has also captained Bangladesh in six Test matches.
Read: Mahmudullah punts future as captain to BCB
“I want to extend my gratitude to the BCB president for supporting me when I returned to the Test team. I thank my teammates and the support staff for always encouraging me and believing in my ability. It has been an absolute honour and privilege to play Test cricket for Bangladesh and I will cherish the many memories,” Mahmudullah added.
However, the right-handed off-spinning all-rounder will continue to play limited-over cricket at the international level.