And it happens again. Only the harshest of hearts would not have broken a little at the sight of Shakib Al Hasan standing with shoulders slumped by his shattered stumps, a defeated man after trying so hard to yet again pull off a victory single-handedly. What happened at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday in the ... Read more
Cricket
Tamim makes his point
Tamim Iqbal successfully drowned out the noise that was surrounding him like a traffic jam on a busy weekday in Dhaka. He figured a way out of the rut through the 20th ODI half-century, though the Tigers lost the game to Pakistan by 21 runs in the Asia Cup opener yesterday. The left-handed opener was ... Read more
Tigers’ chance to prove
Misbah counts Shakib as ‘main man’ in Asia Cup opener today Regardless of all the controversies and the high-profile arrivals, the focus has returned to the field and a largely dry win column, as Bangladesh have the Asia Cup opener today against an opponent they haven’t conquered in almost thirteen years. The hosts take on ... Read more
When it was everything
Once it was a dream for the cricketers in the country to play the Asia Cup but obviously those days are well and truly gone. In those days, the country’s cricketers hardly got the opportunity of getting international exposure and this tournament was the only platform for them to show what they’ve got. International cricket ... Read more
Tamim’s date with destiny
When Tamim Iqbal walks out to bat at the centre of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today, he will be a marked man by a lot of people, many of whom are not going to be Pakistanis. The screeching sound of many a sharpening knife will buzz in his ears but it will be his prerogative ... Read more
Akram returns as the boss
Akram Khan withdrew his resignation letter yesterday to continue as the chief selector. The former captain, who submitted his resignation letter three days back in protest of interference from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president AHM Mustafa Kamal regarding selection of the Asia Cup squad, explained the reasons behind the withdrawal during a press conference ... Read more
Akram’s heroic decision
Akram Khan doesn’t have to look too far for support after taking such a bold decision. As he submitted the resignation letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday morning, messages from former teammates poured in; his family and friends have backed him fully. More importantly, Akram has won the respect of almost everyone ... Read more
Cloud over cricket
Chief selector resigns over interference Akram Khan quit as chief selector yesterday, thirty-six hours after Bangladesh Cricket Board president AHM Mustafa Kamal dropped Tamim Iqbal from the Asia Cup squad. The resignation of the former national captain is being hailed by the cricket community as the meddling in team selection is rapidly outgrowing the national ... Read more
‘Kamal drops Tamim’
BCB announces 14-man squad The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday named a 14-member Bangladesh team for the forthcoming Asia Cup, leaving out Tamim Iqbal. Chief selector Akram Khan said last night that BCB chief AHM Mustafa Kamal cut Tamim from the national team. “Tamim Iqbal was dropped by [BCB president] Mustafa Kamal. He was in ... Read more
BPL – promised lot, produced little
The recently-concluded first edition of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 had many controversies, yet to be cleared, and though it was widely believed the cricketing circle that the tournament will be a big stage for the local cricketers, little did it happen. The tournament began with the Dhaka Gladiators skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza claiming to
Dhaka clinch BPL title
Opener Imran Nazir smashed a superb half-century to help Dhaka Gladiators lift the first ever Bangladesh Premier League title outplaying Barisal Burners by eight wickets in the final on Wednesday. Chasing a modest target of 141 runs, Gladiators raced to 144-2 in 15.4 overs riding on Nazir’s 75 from 43 balls, his fourth half-century in ... Read more
Late night drama breaks Kings’ hearts
The entire Bangladesh Premier League was made into a farce on Tuesday when the tournament’s governing body, in a late night meeting, ruled Barisal Burners as the fourth semi-finalist instead of Chittagong Kings. The decision was a complete reverse from the governing council’s previous clarification that said the Kings qualified as semi-finalist by virtue of ... Read more
Shehzad steers Barisal to final
Ahmed Shehzad made the most of two drop catches to score an unbeaten century leading Barisal Burners into the final of Bangladesh Premier League with an eight-wicket win over Duronto Rajshahi on Tuesday. Barisal, who were controversially given an entry in the semi-final, rode on Shehzad’s 113 off 49 balls to reach 189-2 in just ... Read more
Gladiators move into final
Khulna Royal Bengals skipper Sakib al Hasan’s valiant 41-ball 86 could not prevent his side’s 9-run defeat to Dhaka Gladiators in the second semi-final of the Bangladesh Premier League as the latter booked their place in today’s final on Tuesday. Dhaka was pumped up with the presence of Shahid Afridi, the most expensive player of ... Read more
‘A big shame’
Mushfiqur Rahim yesterday blasted the organising capacity of the BPL after the fiasco over the semifinal opponents of Duronto Rajshahi emerged only few hours before the game. The captain of the franchise that lost the first semifinal against Barisal Burners by eight wickets was understandably miffed but boldly criticised the overall mishap that has become ... Read more
Drama over BPL semi-final line-up
Heartbreak for Barisal, Chittagong sneak through The Bangladesh Premier League stoked up a major controversy on Monday when the semi-final line up was announced devoid of Barisal Burners, who thought to be qualified a day earlier. Duronto Rajshahi, Khulna Royal Bengals, Dhaka Gladiators and Chittagong Kings have completed the semi-final line up despite the last ... Read more
Fixing arrest takes BPL by storm
The arrest of a suspected Pakistani bookie took the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 tournament by a storm on Monday as players, officials were seen busy discussing the issue. The Bangladesh Cricket Board captured Karachi resident Sajid Khan during a match on Sunday and took him to the visiting Anti-Corruption and Security Unit official before
Rajshahi finish top in group phase
Dhaka Gladiators are through to the semi-final in the Bangladesh Premier League despite a three-wicket loss to Duronto Rajshahi in their last round robin league match in Dhaka on Monday. Mohammad Sami became the first bowler to claim five wickets in BPL when he finished with a figure of 5-6 helping Rajshahi dismiss Gladiators for ... Read more
Ton-up Smith leads Khulna to big win
Dwayne Smith smashed an unbeaten century to lead Khulna Royal Bengals to a 69-run win over Sylhet Royals in the last round robin match of the Bangladesh Premier League on Monday. With the semi-final line-up already decided, the match bore little significance as Khulna had secured their berth in the knockout phase before taking the ... Read more
Afridi to join Gladiators today
Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are set to join Dhaka Gladiators today for their semi-final match in the Bangladesh Premier League, said the franchise on Monday. The duo are expected to land at 8:00am at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, hours before Dhaka Gladiators are scheduled to take on Khulna Royal Bengals in the ... Read more