Chattogram, Nov 18 (UNB) – Mentioning that West Indies are a tough opponent, Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes on Sunday said the Zimbabwe series has helped them prepare well for the upcoming home series against the visitors.

“I think in Sylhet and Mirpur, Zimbabwe made us fight all the way. Some people might be a little bit surprised at the 1-1 result and the hard-fought series. I think it will do us a lot of good going into a contest against West Indies who are obviously tough opposition. We needed to go there with some tough games under our belt,” he said.

The coach came up with the remarks while talking to journalists at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

However, the coach is hopeful and looking forward to better results in the series as he said, “We saw them in July, but the condition here in Bangladesh is very different and hopefully we’ll have a really good two games against them.”

The coach wants to make sure that game is his boys’ own game; rather than the opponent's strength. “You should make sure about your own game. If you play your own game, then you will go a long way.”

Having back skipper and world-famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the team, Rhodes expressed his excitement saying, “It's great having back [Shakib]. We know he [Shakib] is a much tactician. He is a really important cock for a successful Bangladesh team,” the coach continued.

Regarding the bowling strength of West Indies, he said, “The obvious thing is that West Indies get a couple of quicks, especially Shannon Gabriel with his eclectic pace and fires. He is a dangerous proposition. He could be a dangerous character. We need to get rid of him. You know we don’t worry too much about the opposition.”

Replying to a query about Bangladesh’s 1-1 draw in Test series against Zimbabwe, the head coach said, “Zimbabwe proved to be a very tough opposition. They have learnt a lot from the trip to South Africa and they came here and did extremely well. So, I’m very pleased to get these results.”

The first Test will begin at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on November 22 while the second one at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on November 30.
 

Chattogram, Nov 18 (UNB) – Bangladesh top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar wants to play long innings if he gets a spot in the best eleven in the first Test against West Indies, which is scheduled to begin at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here on November 22.
 
“I’ll try to play a good game. No matter in what position I play, I’ll try to survive at the crease for a long time. It’ll be possible for me to play long innings when I’m able to tackle bowlers at the beginning,” he said after the first day’s play of a two-day warm-up match against West Indies at MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday.  
 
Soumya, who played Test last in October 2017 and has got a call for the first Test against the visitors, thinks host bowlers will need to deliver more quality bowling in the main battle as the West Indies batsmen handled Bangladesh spinners quite well on the first day of the practice match. “If we can produce quality [spin] bowling in a good position continuously, they may fail to overcome,” Soumya said in reply to a query about the spin bowling strength.     
 
“Our spinners bowled well and they [West Indies batsmen] also handled those in a good manner. They played their last series against India, so they’ve become acquainted with the spin bowling than before. I think they’re well-prepared though there will be more pressure in the main game,” he added.
 
The southpaw feels that the Bangladesh team get stronger with the return of skipper Shakib Al Hasan recovering from his finger injury. “Shakib bhai is a big part of our game. All team members are happy with his return. In the last series, our team played good and we hope we’ll play better with his return,” Soumya concluded.
 
 

Chattogram, Nov 18 (UNB) – West Indies scored 303 for six wickets in the first innings against Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI in a two-day warm-up match at MA Aziz Stadium here on Sunday.

Raymon Reifer [14* off 25b; 2x4; 1x6] and Keemo Paul [18* off 19b; 4x4] were at the crease in the seventh stand when the bails were drawn for the first day’s play.   

Opting to bat first, the visitors amassed their total off 86.3 overs in three sessions. Top-scorer Shai Hope retired hurt after hammering an 88 off 112 balls, including 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Hope shared a partnership of 133 off 33.2 overs with Kieran Powell in the second wicket in rebuilding the side’s innings from 11/1 in 6.4 overs.

Powell scored the other half-century of the day, 72 off 142 balls, including six boundaries and one six before being caught by Zakir Hasan off Fazle Mahmud at 174/2 in 49.1 overs.

Roston Chase [35 off 97b; 4x4]; Shimron Hetmyer [24 off 35b; 3x4] Shane Dowrich [24 off 24b; 4x4] and Sunil Ambris [17 off 46b; 2x4] were other double-digit scorers for the visiting side.

Local boy Nyeem Hasan, who did not play any international match yet and has been included in the 13-man Bangladesh squad for the first Test against West Indies, grabbed two wickets for 104 runs.

Soumya Sarkar, Fazle Mahmud, Shafiul Islam, and skipper Rubel Hossain equally shared four wickets for BCB XI.

The first Test will begin at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on November 22 while the second match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on November 30.  

Dhaka, Nov 18 (UNB) – Asia Cup champions Bangladesh, which has already been eliminated from the 10-nation ICC Women’s World T20 after suffering three consecutive defeats, will play lowly South Africa Monday morning in the last Group A match only to complete formalities.

The match will kicks-off at 6:am Bangladesh time at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, West Indies.

The match between two lowly 4th and 5th ranked teams of the five-team Group A--South Africa (2 points from 3 matches) and Bangladesh (zero from 3 matches) --will carry no significance as both the teams were eliminated before the last match.

Two semifinalists --West Indies (6 points from 3 matches) and England (5 points from 3 outings) will meet each other Monday early hours to decide the Group A champions.

In the semifinals on Friday (Nov 23), the unbeaten Group B champions India will play Group A runners-up (England/West Indies) while Group B runners-up Australia will face Group A champions (West Indies/England).

Earlier, Bangladesh Women’s team eliminated from the ICC Women’s World T20 with 3rd successive defeat losing to Sri Lanka by 25 runs last Thursday to remain at bottom of the five-team group with empty hand.

Touring Bangladesh conceded seven-wicket losses against England in a rain-interrupted 2nd match after a humiliating 60-run defeat against hosts West Indies in the opening match.

Bangladesh women’s team, which regained confidence in 2018 after passing a frustrating 2017, clinching the their maiden Asia Cup crown shocking their giant South Asian rivals India and  Pakistan and emerged champions in World T20 Qualifiers, came down to earth losing to Pakistan 0-3 in home series, also failed to recover their off form in the ongoing T20 World meet.

Standings of Women’s World T20:

If ODI series white wash was a business as usual achievement , drawn test series answered few questions and created few puzzles . Bangladesh won the ODI series against 3-0 dominating in all matches .

Following that losing the first test miserably at Sylhet came as bolt from the blue . With back to wall no option was left but bouncing back and redeeming . Bangladesh did that in grand fashion winning the test by 217 runs . Once a tough competitor Zimbabwe cricket team is now a shadow of its past . Bangladesh is way ahead of them in all formats of the game . Taking nothing away from the resolute performance of Zimbabwe in the Sylhet test , it was very unfortunate performance of Bangladesh . That was the fourth loss in four consecutive tests against Sri Lanka at home , West Indies on tour and Zimbabwe in Sylhet . In none of the 8 innings of four test Bangladesh could even reach even 200. With West Indies home series knocking on the door let us look back in retrospect what went wrong and what needs doing?

There is no denial that limited over formats especially ODI is the strongest forte of Bangladesh. Team tiger can beat any team of world anywhere in ODI on their day. In tests also in not too distant past Bangladesh beat stronger teams England and Australia at home and Srilanka on tour. But Bangladesh is yet forming a good enough team competitive against any team excepting slow low turning home surface . Batsmen excepting tried and tested Tamim, Shakib , Mushfique and Mahmudullah rarely perform . Pace bowling is very ordinary. Spinners succeed only on turning tracks .  In absence of injured Tamim and Shakib Bangladesh took  a gamble in Sylhet test fielding an unbalanced team . Losing the gamble Bangladesh was in deep water . They had no options left but winning the only other test at Dhaka for squaring the series . Great that nightmare was turned around and Bangladesh won big . Some significant milestones were established . But did Dhaka test settled all ifs and buts ? Perhaps did , perhaps not.

In both innings  Bangladesh top order crumbled . Four top batsmen in either innings were blown away by steady and accurate pace bowling of Kyle Jarvis , Chattara and Tirpano . Mominul, Mushfique played two extraordinary innings in the first innings achieving  some individual and partnership  milestones . Mahmudullah (101*) and Mithun ( 67)  rescued Bangladesh from embracing situation in the second innings .  But the puzzles of top order batting remained unresolved . With terrific Tamim still not fit for playing who would open the innings against much more fearsome West Indian pacers ? Even Mominul only played one great innings of the four , Mushfique also did that as well as Mahmudullah . Batting against quality bowling still remains an issue at least in test . It was good sign that Mehedy Miraj has started batting sensibly and Mithun looked good in the second innings . But with Tamim not available , Shakib also iffy Bangladesh must be very careful in selecting the test squad against West Indies . The nightmare of test white wash against West Indies still haunts many. One or two tried and tested experienced top order batsmen from domestic cricket must come under serious consideration. Why top order batsmen can not handle swings and seam movement of new ball on batting friendly wicket ? Why they have to get out playing ordinary strokes all the time ? Soumya is waiting in the wings . Mosaddeq , Shariar Nafis , Tushar Imarn must be under the radar .

Other aspect is very ordinary fielding, poor catching . This is an aspect which has no explanation . The team has so many young legs, still  why so many catches were dropped ? Ground fielding and catching needs huge improvement ?

I think even in the absence of Shakib Bangladesh spinners performed extraordinary . Taijul was superb and Mehedy Miraj also produced a match winning 5 wicket haul in the final innings . Bangladesh played with a lone rookie seam bowler in first test . In the second Kahled and even Mustafiz failed the exploit the situation. Hope legendary Courtney Walsh is equally concerned . Bangladesh must reassess its pace bowling options . Rubel may partner with Mustafiz . Khaled looked pacey and possess a good bouncer . But lacks control of line and length. Perhaps had debutants nerve .

Winning the test at Dhaka Bangladesh escaped total embarrassment . But series against West Indies would be very different . They are much stromger test team and higher in the ranking . Catching them on spinning track may or may not work.

Bangladesh must not worry much for ODI where it has a settled team. None should worry about Charismatic Mashrafee joining politics and the election campaigning schedule clashing with ODI series . The much I know Mash he will appear in full shape for the series come what may and lead the team with exemplary own performance also.  Bangladesh even after losing test series badly against West Indies won ODI and T20 series. But we must remember West Indies has some potential match winners in ODI and T20. We must not be complacent at all.  We must remember this will be last chance at home to work on possible Bangladesh team for ICC world 2019 .

The nation is now in the grip of election fever. Wins in tests, ODI and T20s against West Indies will add additional spices. Hope Cricket think tank learned lessons from the Zimbabwe series.