Islamabad, Aug 7 (AP/UNB) — The Pakistan Cricket Board is set to change the entire coaching staff of the national team after deciding not to renew the contracts of Mickey Arthur and Grant Flower.

The major overhaul was recommended by the PCB's cricket committee which met in Lahore last Friday and approved by board chairman Ehsan Mani on Wednesday.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board ... will be immediately undertaking a robust recruitment process after it decided not to renew the contracts of head coach Mickey Arthur, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, batting coach Grant Flower and trainer Grant Luden," the PCB said in a statement.

The cricket committee is headed by PCB managing director Wasim Khan and also includes former test captains Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq, who met with Arthur, former chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed before recommending change in the coaching setup.

Arthur played first-class cricket in South Africa before going into coaching and taking charge of the national team from 2005-10. He became the first foreign coach of Australia's national cricket team before being replaced by Darren Lehmann in 2013.

Arthur took over as Pakistan head coach three years ago and during his tenure guided the team to the Champions Trophy title in England in 2017. However, Pakistan missed the semifinals of the Cricket World Cup last month after being edged by New Zealand on superior net run-rate through the tournament.

Former Zimbabwe batsman Flower and South Africa-born Luden, who also had worked with Bangladesh team as trainer, have been working with the Pakistan team since 2014. Mahmood, a former Pakistan all-rounder, was appointed as bowling coach in 2016.

"I want to sincerely thank Mickey Arthur, Grant Flower, Grant Luden and Azhar Mahmood for their hard work and unwavering commitment during their tenures with the national men's team," Mani said. "The PCB remains committed to its fans and followers and we will do our utmost to ensure that we make decisions that continue to move Pakistan cricket forward in all formats."

Dhaka, Aug 6 (UNB) — Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, one of the most popular sportspersons the country has ever produced, is close to retirement after an 18-year career frequently plagued by injuries.

Talks about his departure from cricket grew after a dismal show in the World Cup where he managed to take only one wicket. It is believed that he played the tournament with a hamstring injury.

Poor individual and team performance prompted Mashrafe’s critics to call for his retirement.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also aware of the matter but said it is yet to finalise a plan to bid farewell to one of the best Bangladeshi cricketers of all time.

“We’re yet to get a final instruction (from the board). As far as I know (Mashrafe’s last match will be held) in the proposed tri-series,” Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, BCB’s Chief Executive Officer, told the media on Tuesday.

During the World Cup, BCB boss Nazmul Hasan also said the board is planning to organise an ODI series to set the platform for Masrhafe’s farewell. He said Mashrafe deserves a big farewell as he is one of the most celebrated cricketers of the country.

Mashrafe also joined politics recently. He contested the last national election from the ruling Awami League and won by a big margin from his constituency.

The right-arm pacer kicked off his career in 2001 against Zimbabwe in a Test match. In the same series, he got his ODI cap as well.

The 36-year-old played his last Test back in 2009 against West Indies at Kingstown. He never returned to Tests due to injuries.

Mashrafe played 36 Tests in which he took 78 wickets. In his 217 ODIs till date, he took 266 wickets.

Dhaka, Aug 6 (UNB) - Touring Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team tied with hosts England on Monday in their seventh match of the ongoing tri-nation youth ODI series. With this tie, England got out of the race for the final.

Along with Bangladesh and England, India are also playing in the event.

Bangladesh won the toss at Beckenham and opted to field first. They restricted England to 256 for seven in 50 overs.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib removed English opener Ben Charlesworth for a duck in the first over of the match. But England recovered in the second wicket stand scoring 49 runs.

The other opener and wicketkeeper-batsman, Jordan Cox, hit a ton (122). He was the most successful batsman of England.

Along with him, captain George Balderson scored 56 to propel England to a challenging score.

For Bangladesh, Rakibul Hasan bagged three wickets while Sakib took two.

In reply, Bangladesh ended on 256 for six in 50 overs and the match ended in a tie.

Bangladesh lost three wickets in 61 runs, and they looked vulnerable at that stage of the game.

But in the fourth wicket stand, Towhid Hridoy and Shahadat Hossain added 160 runs to recover the innings.

While Towhid struck a century (104*), Shahadat fell for 76. Bangladesh needed 9 runs in the last over. But they managed eight and fell short of one run.

In the first three balls, Towhid and Avishek Das scored two runs. In the last three balls, they scored six.

After seven matches in the event, Bangladesh secured 10 points to secure a place at the top of the table. Bangladesh already booked a place in the final where they will face India on August 11 at Brighton.

Dhaka, Aug 6 (UNB) — Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), on Tuesday said they are still optimistic about Zimbabwe’s participation in the proposed tri-series which is scheduled in September.

“We have a series against Afghanistan in September-October. Zimbabwe requested us to include them in the limited-overs part of that series. But now there is a doubt about their participation as ICC had imposed a suspension on them,” Nizam Uddin told the media on Tuesday.

“We are still optimistic about Zimbabwe’s participation in this series. At the same time, we are in discussion win Afghanistan as well. If Zimbabwe fails to make it to Bangladesh, we will continue only with Afghanistan,” BCB CEO added.

In early July this year, ICC suspended Zimbabwe with immediate effect due to failing to fulfill their obligation to provide a process for free and democratic elections and to ensure that there is no government interference in its administration for cricket.

“There is no restriction for Zimbabwe to participate in any international game. But they will not be able to play in any ICC event due to the suspension,” Nizam Uddin added.

Nizam further said “Zimbabwe cricket authority is talking to their government to keep the series on. We hope that they will come up with a final decision within two-three days.”

BCB’s CEO said also that Zimbabwe were Bangladesh’s regular opposition during early cricketing days of the Tigers. Keeping this truth in mind, BCB is trying to stand beside Zimbabwe cricket.

“We are waiting for Zimbabwe’s move for the series. We will finalise the schedule of the event only after getting their decision,” he said.

Dhaka, Aug 6 (UNB) - Touring Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team tied with hosts England on Monday in their seventh match of the ongoing tri-nation youth ODI series. With this tie, England got out of the race for the final. 

Along with Bangladesh and England, India are also playing in the event. 

Bangladesh won the toss at Beckenham and opted to field first. They restricted England to 256 for seven in 50 overs. 

Tanzim Hasan Sakib removed English opener Ben Charlesworth for a duck in the first over of the match. But England recovered in the second wicket stand scoring 49 runs. 

The other opener and wicketkeeper-batsman, Jordan Cox, hit a ton (122). He was the most successful batsman of England. 

Along with him, captain George Balderson scored 56 to propel England to a challenging score. 

For Bangladesh, Rakibul Hasan bagged three wickets while Sakib took two. 

In reply, Bangladesh ended on 256 for six in 50 overs and the match ended in a tie. 

Bangladesh lost three wickets in 61 runs, and they looked vulnerable at that stage of the game. 

But in the fourth wicket stand, Towhid Hridoy and Shahadat Hossain added 160 runs to recover the innings. 

While Towhid struck a century (104*), Shahadat fell for 76. Bangladesh needed 9 runs in the last over. But they managed eight and fell short of one run. 

In the first three balls, Towhid and Avishek Das scored two runs. In the last three balls, they scored six. 

After seven matches in the event, Bangladesh secured 10 points to secure a place at the top of the table. Bangladesh already booked a place in the final where they will face India on August 11 at Brighton.