Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Perfect practice for Tigers

Bangladesh made a confident start handing a nine-wicket defeat to Canada in their first lead-up match to the World Cup at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.
In front of a strong 12,000-plus crowd in the new-look stadium, the Tigers once again established their supremacy against the ICC associate nations and rubbished all the pre-match talk about a repeat of the 2003 World Cup setback as they simply toyed with their Northern American opponents by finishing the one-sided affair in one session.
The bowlers first did the job by wrapping up helpless Canada for 112 runs in 37.3 overs and then the Tigers achieved the brittle target in just 19.2 overs with the loss of one wicket. Local hero Tamim Iqbal entertained the jubilant crowd during his fiery knock of 69 from 50 deliveries with seven fours and three big sixes (two over long-on and the other a straight one).
But the question was whether it was a wise decision for Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan to bowl first after winning the toss rather than giving the batsmen enough opportunity as well as testing the bowlers under lights before the big matches.
Shakib’s deputy Tamim, however, defended their decision by saying that their main focus was to win the match first.
“Winning is a habit and our main target was to win the game first. We did well in the 2007 World Cup because we went into the tournament after winning some games. So, it’s nice that we began with a win. We are quite satisfied with our performance today (Saturday),” explained a confident Tamim in the post-match briefing.
“Spin bowling is our main strength and the dew factor could be an issue if we bowl in the second session. We are happy that everything has happened according to our plan but still we can improve a lot of things before the big challenge on February 19 (against India),” the dashing left-hander added.
He praised Shafiul Islam highly as the right-arm paceman set the tone by removing both openers. His new ball partner Rubel Hossain also claimed two scalps but was expensive while Nazmul Hossain also bowled four overs as a third pacer and conceded only ten runs in four overs without any success. The encouraging factor was that all three pacemen bowled in good line and length. And then it was the slow bowlers who, as expected, found the Canadian batsmen wanting. Captain Shakib Al Hasan was the most successful bowler with three wickets for five runs in 3.3 overs while Mahmudullah Riyad took two for nine and Naeem Islam captured the other wicket.
“Our planning was to give everybody a chance in the practice match. It was nice to see that the pacers executed the plans, especially Shafiul impressed everybody. The way he dismissed John Davison (with a slower delivery) was really fantastic. But still it can be much better,” said Tamim.
When Tamim showered praises on his team’s bowling performance, Canadian skipper Ashish Bagai, who top scored 30, gave a different opinion about his side’s batting debacle.
“I think it was not the good bowling by the Bangladesh pace bowlers rather our poor shot selection that caused the early damage. And definitely Bangladesh’s main strength is their spin bowlers. The score was not good enough. The wicket was little bit low but still we could have managed 220-225 runs,” said Ashish Bagai when asked about Bangladesh’s bowling performance.
It was a simple target for the Tigers to achieve and openers Tamim and Imrul Kayes, who was unbeaten on 39, played with the manner which was exactly required. And interestingly Bangladesh took the batting Powerplay, one of the areas the Tigers are desperate to improve, earlier (between 13-17 overs) than their common practice.
“We have a plan of taking the batting Powerplay early if I play well,” said Tamim, who expressed his disappointment at the way he was bowled after making the dazzling half-century.
“I always go for big shots which was not good. It was rubbish, the way I was dismissed. Actually there was some pain in my hips,” said Tamim, who was also dropped at mid-on after completing the fifty.
The Tigers will return to Dhaka today and play their last practice match against the formidable Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on February 15.
SCORES IN BRIEF
CANADA: 112 all out in 37.3 overs (Bagai 30, Hansra 22, Cheema 15; Shakib 3-5, Shafiul 2-5, Mahmudullah 2-9)
BANGLADESH: 113-1 in 19.2 overs (Tamim 69, Kayes 39 not out; Cheema 1-16)
Result: Bangladesh won by 9 wickets

 

Via: The Daily Star

Related News

BCB board shake-up: Rubaba Dowla takes a seat

Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com Corporate leader and sports organizer Rubaba Dowla has officially joined the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), stepping in for Isfak Ahsan, whose nomination was quietly pulled just hours after yesterday’s board election. The NSC has pulled back his nomination due to claims about his connections with the ousted Awami League government. As ... Read more

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