cricket
Sylhet Test: Dhananjaya, Kamindu Stage Remarkable Comeback with Centuries
Bangladesh failed to capitalize on their early advantage in the Sylhet Test against Sri Lanka, with the visitors managing to post a total of 280 runs in their first innings after finding themselves struggling at 57 for 5 on Friday.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis displayed exceptional resilience, forging a formidable partnership of 202 runs for the sixth wicket, with both batters notching up centuries.
Despite Bangladesh's initial dominance, Sri Lanka proved resilient, surviving numerous attempts to break the partnership. The early stages of the match hinted at Bangladesh's fortunes favoring them, especially with the overcast conditions providing assistance to their pacers.
Sri Lanka suffered early setbacks, losing their first wicket in the second over when Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a stunning catch at third slip. Even before posting 50 runs on the board, they lost four wickets. They lost the veteran Angelo Mathews before lunch too.
Sylhet Test: Bangladesh lose quick wickets after Dhananjaya, Kamindu help Sri Lanka post 280
However, the partnership between Dhananjaya and Kamindu thwarted Bangladesh's hopes of a swift conclusion to Sri Lanka's innings. The breakthrough eventually came from Nahid Rana, the debutant pacer, who dismissed both centurions with his pace and bounce.
Kamindu fell to a back-of-length delivery outside off, edging it to wicketkeeper Litton Das, while Dhananjaya's innings ended with a catch at square leg by Mehidy off short ball. Both batters scored 102 runs each before Nahid claimed his third wicket by removing Prabath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka finished their innings at 280 runs. Despite their recovery from a precarious position at 57 for 5, they might rue missed opportunities to score more, considering their score of 259 for 5.
Sylhet Test: Khaled takes three wickets as Bangladesh make impressive start
Khaled Ahmed and Nahid Rana were the standout performers for Bangladesh, claiming three wickets each, while Shoriful Islam and Taijul Islam contributed with two wickets apiece, with two dismissals coming from run-outs.
Sylhet Test: Khaled takes three wickets as Bangladesh make impressive start
Bangladesh made an impressive start to the Sylhet Test against Sri Lanka, claiming five wickets in the first session under slightly overcast conditions on Friday.
Sri Lanka's top and middle order struggled against Bangladesh's pace attack early in the innings.
Injury setback: Mushfiqur out of Sri Lanka Test series
Khaled Ahmed took three wickets, while Shoriful Islam got one. Another wicket fell due to a run-out. Debutant pacer Nahid Rana bowled with an average speed of over 140 km/h, causing trouble for the Sri Lankan batsmen.
Having won the toss, Bangladesh chose to bowl first, considering the conditions and the potential for their pacers to perform well.
Young blood injected as BCB announces squad for first Test against Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka lost their opener, Nishan Madushka, in the second over. Khaled bowled a delivery outside off, and Madushka's attempted drive resulted in a thick edge to the third slip, where Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a stunning catch.
Despite losing an early wicket, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis tried to settle in. However, Khaled continued to take wickets.
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In the 12th over, Khaled dismissed both Karunaratne and Mendis. Mendis faced a wide short ball with extra bounce, hesitated in his shot selection, and eventually gave a catch to Zakir Hasan at gully.
On the last ball of the 12th over, Khaled removed Karunaratne with a delivery shaping into the stumps. Karunaratne's attempted drive left a gap between bat and pad, allowing the ball to sneak through and shatter the stumps.
By the time Sri Lanka reached 50 runs, they had lost four wickets, with Angelo Mathews being run out by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Just before lunch on day one, they also lost Dinesh Chandimal to Shoriful Islam, caught in a leg slip by Mehidy.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis then formed a sixth-wicket partnership to stabilise Sri Lanka's innings. However, they still have a lot of work to do to post a decent total in the first innings of the Sylhet Test.
Bangladesh capitalised on the overcast conditions in Sylhet, with Khaled getting extra movement. Shoriful also found his rhythm, while Nahid Rana had an impressive debut, bowling faster than any other Bangladesh bowler in this innings, as expected. Nahid had played 15 first-class matches before his Test debut, claiming 63 wickets.
Women's cricket: Bangladesh suffers a heavy defeat to Australia in series opener
Bangladesh Women's Cricket Team suffered a big defeat to Australia on Thursday in the opening match of the three-match ODI series.
Chasing a target of 214, Bangladesh were all out for 95, resulting in an Australian victory by 118 runs.
Women's cricketer Nahida Akter receives ICC player of the month award
Despite a promising start at 70 for two wickets, Bangladesh's batting collapsed, losing their last eight wickets for just 25 runs.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field. Australia posted a challenging 213/7 in their 50 overs. Captain Alyssa Healy led early with 24, but two quick wickets kept the scoring in check.
Women's Cricket: BCB Announces Schedule for Bangladesh-Australia Series
Annabel Sutherland's unbeaten 58 and contributions from Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King propelled Australia to a competitive total.
In reply, Bangladesh struggled against Australia's disciplined bowling. Megan Schutt and Kim Garth caused early damage, and wickets fell regularly. Despite a fighting 27 from captain Nigar Sultana, Bangladesh couldn't forge significant partnerships and were bowled out for 95 in 36 overs.
Bangladesh Women's Cricket team due to fly South Africa Saturday
The second and third matches of the series will take place on March 24 and 27, respectively, at the same venue.
Tawhid enters Test squad to replace injured Mushfiqur
Bangladesh has announced a change to their squad for the opening Test against Sri Lanka starting on Friday, with batsman Tawhid Hridoy receiving his first Test call-up as a replacement for the injured Mushfiqur Rahim, confimred the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Mushfiqur was ruled out of the two-match Test series after sustaining a thumb injury during the final ODI against Sri Lanka last Monday.
The experienced wicketkeeper-batter’s absence creates an opportunity for the young Tawhid to make his Test debut.
The 23-year-old Tawhid, a regular in Bangladesh's ODI and T20I squads, has impressed in domestic cricket. He boasts a first-class average of 48.05 after 20 matches, showcasing his potential at the highest level.
Bangladesh will be hoping Tawhid can seamlessly fill the void left by Mushfiqur’s experience, as they aim for a strong start to the series.
Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mominul Haque Showrab, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Mushfik Hasan, Nahid Rana, Tawhid Hridoy.
Rising Stars vs. World Champions: Bangladesh women aim to shine in historic series against Australia
After becoming captain of the Bangladesh women's team, Nigar Sultana has attended countless press conferences. But Wednesday's one will surely stand out in her memory for a long time.
She arrived with a broad smile, ready with her team to face the world champions—Australia, in their first-ever full series. The number of attending media personnel was unlike anything she had experienced before. More importantly, none of the questions thrown at her doubted Bangladesh's ability to challenge Australia.
“The biggest thing is, when we played the series against India, the journalists' questions were different. They were asking whether we could win, what could happen... Today, we are playing against Australia, and no one has asked me that question. They are asking, 'It will be even better if you win.' This is a big achievement,” Nigar said, her face beaming.
“Thank you all for that,” she added emotionally.
This series marks a historic moment for the Bangladesh team, an opportunity to test their mettle against the world champions and showcase their growing strength on the international stage. Under Nigar Sultana's leadership, Bangladesh has achieved some big successes in recent years, including an ODI win over South Africa, winning a series against Pakistan, and a tied series against India, which has solidified their rising trajectory in international cricket.
These achievements have instilled a sense of confidence and belief within the team, making them an opponent for any team in the world who cannot be taken lightly. Their rise hasn't gone unnoticed. Australian captain Alyssa Healy acknowledges Bangladesh as a "real threat" and praises their inclusion in the ICC Women's Championship. This recognition from the world champions is a testament to the hard work of the Bangladeshi players and a sign of their growing respect on the international stage.
The Australian captain anticipates a lot of spin bowling from Bangladesh, calling it "challenging for the team that is not from the subcontinent."
What you need to keep in mind during Bangladesh-Australia Women’s cricket series
The Australian women's cricket team has arrived in Dhaka, ready to take on the Bangladesh women's team in a historic series starting on March 21.
This marks Australia's first full tour of Bangladesh. Their previous visit was in 2014 for the ICC T20I World Cup, and they have never played an ODI in Bangladesh.
While the first ODI is on March 21, the other two are on March 24 and 27, respectively. After the ODI series, the teams will take on each other in a three-match T20I series, too, on March 31, April 2, and 4. All the matches will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
The first match of the three-match ODI series will be Australia's first ODI in Bangladesh. In their only previous ODI encounter two years ago, Australia won by 65 runs.
Women's cricketer Nahida Akter receives ICC player of the month award
Bangladesh's inclusion in the ICC Women's Championship has created the opportunity for this series against Australia. Bangladesh recently won an ODI against South Africa, boosting their confidence for the upcoming challenge.
Their recent home success, including a win against Pakistan and a tied series with India, further strengthens Bangladesh's confidence.
Bangladesh's conditions may offer a unique challenge to the Australian players, many of whom are playing in Bangladesh for the first time. Only Captain Alyssa Healy and veteran Ellyse Perry have previous experience in Bangladesh, and that was a decade ago.
Young blood injected as BCB announces squad for first Test against Sri Lanka
However, some Australian players have recently participated in the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India, where they experienced conditions similar to those in Bangladesh.
Australia squad for Bangladesh tour 2024: Alyssa Healy (captain), Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vice captain), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck
Bangladesh squad against Australia series 2024: Nigar Sultana (captain), Nahida Akter (vice captain), Fargana Hoque, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Disha Biswas, Sumaiya Akter, Nishita Akter Nishi, Farzana Akter, Rabeya Khan
Mustafizur Rahman departs for IPL
Mustafizur Rahman has left Dhaka for India to participate in the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This year, he will represent the Chennai Super Kings.
“Excited and looking forward to my new assignment. Heading to Chennai for IPL 2024. Keep me in your prayers so that I can deliver my best,” Mustafizur wrote on his social media page before departing Dhaka.
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Mustafizur previously played for four different IPL teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mustafizur updated his social media to announce his safe arrival in India.
This year's IPL will kick off on Friday with a match between the Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mustafizur is the only Bangladeshi cricketer participating in this year's IPL.
Injury setback: Mushfiqur out of Sri Lanka Test series
Bangladesh's experienced batsman Mushfiqur Rahim will miss the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after sustaining a thumb injury during the third ODI, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Tuesday.
Mushfiqur, the country's most prolific run-scorer in Tests, suffered the injury while wicketkeeping during Monday's ODI match in Chattogram. A subsequent X-ray examination revealed an avulsion fracture on the MIP joint of his right thumb.
“After the match, Mushfiqur underwent an X-ray examination in Dhaka, which revealed an avulsion fracture on the MIP joint of his right thumb,” said national team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan.
“He is currently undergoing conservative management for his injury and is expected to be sidelined for around three to four weeks, consequently ruling him out of participation in the Test series against Sri Lanka,” he added.
The loss of Mushfiqur is a significant blow to Bangladesh. The veteran batsman is a key figure in the side's Test lineup. The BCB's National Selection Panel is expected to announce a replacement of Mushfiqur shortly.
Women's cricketer Nahida Akter receives ICC player of the month award
Bangladeshi women's national crickter Nahida Akter officialy received the ICC women's player of the award here on Tuesday.
Nahida emerged as the first Bangladeshi women's cricketer to adjudge the ICC women's player for the month of November 2023, beating Fargana Haque of Bangladesh and Sadia Iqbal of Pakistan.
BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury handed over glorious ICC award to Nahida Akter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mipur on Tuesday.
Young blood injected as BCB announces squad for first Test against Sri Lanka
Chief of the BCB Women's Cricket Habibul Bashar Sumon was also present on the occassion.
Bangladesh women's cricket team created history beating Pakistan in T20 series last August.
Bangladesh women's team also beat Pakistan 2-1 in the ODI series too in last November where Nahida emergerd as the player of the series grabbing seven wickets.
Rampant Rishad helps Bangladesh clinch ODI series against Sri Lanka
Young blood injected as BCB announces squad for first Test against Sri Lanka
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday unveiled the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, featuring a maiden call-up for the exciting young pacer, Nahid Rana.
The 21-year-old has impressed selectors with his raw pace and bounce, claiming 63 wickets in just 15 first-class matches since his debut in November 2021.
Rampant Rishad helps Bangladesh clinch ODI series against Sri Lanka
The 15-man squad also sees the return of Litton Das, who missed the previous Test series. The first Test, a part of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle, begins on March 22 in Sylhet, followed by the second Test in Chattogram on March 30.
Commenting on the squad selection, Abdur Razzak, member of the National Selection Panel, expressed confidence in the team's balance and adaptability.
Third ODI: Sri Lanka opt to bat first; Bangladesh make three changes
“We feel that the squad picked for the first Test has a very nice balance,” Razzak said. “Our Test side is fairly settled, with Nahid Rana being the only newcomer. Litton's return bolsters the batting, and we have backups in all departments.”
Razzak further elaborated on Rana's inclusion, highlighting his potential and the opportunity presented by the absence of other pace bowlers.
Third ODI: Bangladesh eye a series win vs Sri Lanka
“Rana is a very exciting prospect. He is probably the quickest bowler in Bangladesh at the moment and can also extract steep bounce,” Razzak explained. “This is the right time for him and Mushfik Hasan to gain experience with Ebadot Hossain injured, and Taskin Ahmed, not playing Tests currently.”
Bangladesh squad for first Test vs Sri Lanka: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Mushfik Hasan, Nahid Rana.