Tuesday, October 7, 2025

No respect in a loss

Bangladesh-West Indies 2nd ODI today
Thursday was exactly the sort of evening Bangladesh cricket had yearned for years.
Chasing a huge total, the Tigers fell 40 runs short making a respectable 250-plus score against the West Indies in the first ODI. Two batsmen got half-centuries; one sauntered and the other battled his way. The perennial underachiever made the opposition fast bowler look a few notches quicker while the other batsmen merely filled up the scorecard which generally told a run-of-the-mill story.
But Thursday came after a gutsy Twenty20 win on Tuesday, against the same opponents and at the same ground — the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. That victory came on the back of an effective hour and a half in the field followed by some late heroics from the new skipper.
The Tigers these days are evidently prepared, skilled and made to believe of more Tuesdays than Thursdays. The concept of a “respectable loss”, especially at home, is on its way to the museum, one is told.
But statistics tell a different story. In the course of Bangladesh’s ODI history, only thrice have they chased down a target of more than 250 and none of them have come in the last two years and never has it happened at home. At the Mirpur itself, India, Sri Lanka and England have won chasing 250-plus on six occasions out of which Bangladesh were at the receiving end five times.
Mushfiqur Rahim admitted an error in judging the wicket after he decided to bowl first having won the toss, but if a flat wicket is enough to make the Tigers give up that easily, the new men in charge have a lot of work in hand.
None of the fielders showed energy when Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons dominated the attack on the unresponsive pitch and they only roused from slumber when Keiron Pollard’s big-hitting was hurting their collective egos.
What also stood out was how rigid the Tigers were when their plans got altered slightly. Imrul Kayes hurt his ankle and had to bat at No 3. Hastily, Naeem Islam had to open but the all-rounder looked anything but ready.
Naeem has opened till his Under-19 days and has established himself as a No 4 for Rajshahi and the various Premier League clubs he’s played for but international cricket gave his ambitions of playing in the top-order a wake-up call. Batting out 82 deliveries for a half-century is not half as bad if the innings flourishes near the end but at no point did he look comfortable against Ravi Rampaul & Co.
With Tamim Iqbal hitting fielders more than the gaps and importantly missing out on strike, it was a disaster waiting to happen. The left-handed opener gave Devender Bishoo a bonus of a wicket, edging a long-hop. For the Chittagonian to flourish like he did in 2009 and 2010, Law must give him the freedom to express himself. Imrul too was effective but has to carry on, something he should aspire to do more often despite the shaky ground he’s standing on.
But the rest just faded away, like they have done so many times in the last decade.
Alok Kapali and Mohammad Ashraful, despite their age and international experience, and Nasir Hossain to some extent, should ask the team’s video analyst to show them Shakib Al Hasan’s innings because most would have missed out despite standing at the other end.
Shakib didn’t let any of the bowlers settle into a rhythm, picked 43 singles at every angle and hit only two boundaries and a six. It was a quintessential Shakib innings and this is the sort of knock that should be set on a pedestal.
More importantly, his effort should be copied unashamedly or one should be ready for more respectable losses, however respectable they are.

-With The Daily Star input

Related News

BCB elects Aminul as president, Faruque and Shakhawat vice-presidents

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Aminul Islam has been re-elected as the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board following the board of directors’ elections that took place at a city hotel in Dhaka on Monday. Faruque Ahmed, a former board president himself, along with Shakhawat Hossain, has been chosen as the new vice-presidents. Aminul, Faruque, and ... Read more

Bangladesh dominates Afghanistan with strong victory in final T20I

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh wrapped up a clean sweep against Afghanistan with an impressive six-wicket victory in the third and final T20 International at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday, clinching the series 3–0 in style. Chasing a target of 144, Bangladesh made it look easy, finishing the game with two overs to spare. Saif ... Read more

Bangladesh secures T20I series victory against Afghanistan

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has taken a strong 2-0 lead in the three-match series after pulling off an exciting two-wicket win against Afghanistan in the second T20I at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. Afghanistan set a target of 147 runs, losing 5 wickets in their 20 overs. Nasum Ahmed (2-25) and Rishad Hossain (2-45) ... Read more

ICC Women’s World Cup: Tigresses starts strong

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh began their ICC Women’s World Cup in style with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday. Opting to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 129 in 38.3 overs. Bangladesh then reached 131-3 in 31.1 overs, thanks to an unbeaten knock of ... Read more

Aminul, Fahim set to be elected unopposed

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com It looks like Aminul Islam Bulbul, the current president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and vice-president Nazmul Abedeen Fahim are on track to be elected without any opposition in the upcoming board of directors’ election. This comes after the Election Commission rejected three nomination papers on Monday. On Monday, the Election ... Read more

BCB Polls: Razzak set for uncontested win

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Abdur Razzak, the former national team off-spinner and selector, is poised to be elected as a BCB director without any opposition in the upcoming elections, as reported by the Election Commission on Sunday. On Sunday, a total of 51 nomination papers were submitted, from the 60 that had been collected the ... Read more

Liton’s injury sidelines him from Afghan T20I series

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on Sunday the national team for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan, set to take place in Sharjah, UAE on October 2, 3, and 5. Jaker Ali Anik will continue to captain the team in the absence of regular skipper Liton Das, who is ... Read more

Razzak steps down as selector, joins BCB election run

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has stepped down from his role on the national selection panel after more than four years of dedicated service. He aims to contribute to the country’s cricket in a more impactful way. Razzak, who joined the selection panel in January 2021, confirmed his decision yesterday ... Read more

Batting failures keep Bangladesh out of Asia Cup final

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh’s hopes of making it to the Asia Cup final were dashed by a poor batting display, as they lost to Pakistan by 11 runs in their final Super Four match at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. In this virtual semi-final, Bangladesh needed to chase down a target of 136 ... Read more

Umpiring legend Dickie Bird dies aged 92

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com The cricket world is mourning the news that one of the most popular and famous figures in the sport, Harold “Dickie” Bird, has passed away in his home, aged 92. Former first-class English cricketer Bird officiated his first test match in 1973, and went on to umpire 66 tests and 76 ... Read more

Bangladesh fixtures for ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh women’s cricket team will embark on their second-ever ICC Women’s World Cup journey as they depart for Colombo on Tuesday. After making their debut in 2022 in New Zealand, where they recorded a historic maiden victory against Pakistan, the Tigresses will be eager to build on that experience. The 2025 ... Read more

Bangladesh triumphs over Sri Lanka in Asia Cup Super Four Clash

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh opened their Super Four campaign in the Asia Cup with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Chasing 169, Bangladesh reached the target with one ball remaining, thanks to strong batting performances from Saif Hassan and Tawhid Hridoy. Sri Lanka, asked to bat ... Read more

Hasibul and Salma join BCB selection panel

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Saturday appointed former national team pacer Hasibul Hossain Shanto as a men’s team selector and former women’s team captain Salma Khatun as a women’s selector. With the appointment, Salma became the first woman cricketer of the country to take such a role, which was remarked as ... Read more

BCB’s move to appoint first ever female selector for national women’s team

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Cricket Board is set to appoint a woman selector for the national women’s team, stated board president Aminul Islam Bulbul on Friday. Currently the national selection panel for the men’s team comprises former captain Gazi Ashraf Hossain as the chairman and Abdur Razzak as the member. Hannan Sarkar stepped ... Read more

Bulbul acknowledges Tigresses’ World Cup readiness not ideal

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam believes that the preparation of the Bangladesh national women’s cricket team for the forthcoming ICC Women’s World Cup was not up to the mark. The Nigar Sultana Joty-led team is currently in a camp at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur before going to the ... Read more

Mushfiq on the verge of reaching 100 Test appearances

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s talented wicketkeeper-batter, is on the verge of making history as the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach 100 Test appearances. This milestone is within reach following Cricket Ireland’s decision to take part in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on November 10. Ireland will tour Bangladesh between November ... Read more

Tigers leave for Dubai

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh cricket team left for Dubai in the early hours of Friday for the Champions Trophy, which begins in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19. Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh team will play a warm-up match against the Mohammad Haris-led Pakistan Shaheens at the ICC Cricket Academy ground in Dubai on ... Read more

Simmons discusses Champions Trophy preparation Issues

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons acknowledged that the team’s preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy has not been ideal, but he remains hopeful that his players will quickly regain their ODI form before the tournament starts. “I agree that it is not the best preparation. However, they have been playing white-ball ... Read more

Toffee brings free live streaming of ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Cricket enthusiasts across Bangladesh can now catch every thrilling moment of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup live, as Toffee, the nation’s leading digital entertainment platform, streams the tournament for free. The World Cup, hosted in Malaysia, kicks off today, 18 January 2025, and runs until 2 February. Fans can ... Read more

BCB to launch BPL for women

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Cricket Board is set to organize a women’s Bangladesh Premier League immediately following the conclusion of the current men’s edition, as confirmed by board director and BPL member secretary Nazmul Abedin Fahim. Speaking to reporters in Chattogram on Friday, Fahim revealed that the tournament will feature three teams in ... Read more