Mushfiqur Rahim remarked after the five-wicket loss to Pakistan yesterday that he hadn’t seen much “home advantage” since October. But the more telling comment was that the Tigers are not entirely sure what score is good on the surfaces they are being served at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The Bangladesh captain’s confusion on what is ... Read more
cricket
If you can’t win, then compete
There has been something missing in the Tigers’ tent this time. It may be a lack of self-belief. Prior to all their previous home series, regardless of the opposition’s strength, Bangladesh have never looked as submerged as they do now in the early exchanges of the home challenge against an in-form Pakistan team. It seems ... Read more
What’s eating Tamim?
On this day last year, it was happy tidings for Tamim Iqbal. He was returning to the national team after wrist surgery during the 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand which he had missed. Having played much of 2010 with pain, the first ODI series against Zimbabwe was the icing on his run-laden
Tigers falter at the start
Bangladesh’s batting frailties were exposed against a sublime bowling attack as Pakistan’s tour got off to a flying start with a comfortable 50-run victory in the one-off T20 International at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The home side’s spinners, led by Shakib Al Hasan, did an excellent job to create a chance as
Demon in the pitch or minds?
The Tigers’ 50-run defeat to Pakistan in yesterday’s Twenty20 could be a recurring theme (nightmare, whatever you want to call it) for the next three weeks but the nature of capitulation must be less frustrating if the home side are to end 2011 with a smile on their face. To be on top of the ... Read more
Cautious favourites
There would be nothing wrong if Pakistan declared themselves clear favourites against hosts Bangladesh in all three formats of the game in the series which will kick off with the one-off T20 International at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today. But things do not always unfold as expected. In their approach Bangladesh have ... Read more
Tigers’ first attempt at Goliath
Though he considers the opponents as favourites, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim deemed that the country’s cricket has passed the phase where a respectable defeat is good enough. Notwithstanding the difference of Twenty20 experience with Pakistan, the 23-year-old didn’t rule out a positive Tuesday for the home side who, last month, beat West Indies in a ... Read more
Tigers’ novel training
The national cricketers took part in a unique exercise in training yesterday by pedalling rickshaws around the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. On the fifth day of their scheduled six-day training camp, Tigers captain Mushfiqur Rahim led the way after the support staff got hold of the four rickshaws from the nearby Pahartali
Tamim injury not serious
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has not suffered any serious injury in his right knee, said the physician of Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday. Tamim returned to Dhaka on Monday from Chittagong where the national cricketers are currently going through a conditioning programme to have an MRI after he was feeling pain in
Shakib, Kamal make BCB look silly
Another needless controversy has struck the Tigers after Shakib Al Hasan’s flimsy demand was met by the Bangladesh Cricket Board boss, ignoring the entire chain of command existing for the national team. BCB president AHM Mustafa Kamal gave in to the national cricketer’s wish to stay in a separate single room rather than with a ... Read more
Fifteen called up
National camp for Pak series starts tomorrow The national selection committee called up fifteen cricketers including injured paceman Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to attend a training camp that has been arranged ahead of the coming home series against Pakistan. The training camp will be held in Chittagong from November 18 to November 24. “There has been ... Read more
Seeking a turnaround
Rain threatens final ODI The Tigers’ shift to Chittagong is sure to bring back memories of the turnaround during the World Cup. And if that thought passes them by, a glance from the bus window would surely help them remember what happened here seven months ago. The road towards the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, and ... Read more
The one-legged climb
When Bangladesh reached 200 in the 47th over yesterday after having slipped to 1/3 by the first ten minutes, it was akin to a highly strung mountaineer having climbed Mount Everest on one leg and with a busted oxygen tank, but in favourable overhead conditions. The proverbial leg came off when the openers Tamim Iqbal ... Read more
Disaster Avoided, Humiliation Not
WI take unbeatable 2-0 lead The Tigers threatened a repeat of their dismal World Cup show in the early stages, losing three wickets for one run, but the home team rode on two half centuries from captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Nasir Hossain to put up a decent total of 220 runs on the board. In ... Read more
Mushfiqur blames careless approach
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim has held the top-order responsible for their careless approach, describing it as an instance when he even forgot it was his 100th ODI yesterday. Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful and after three boundaries, Shakib Al Hasan all fell in a heap as the Tigers crumpled to 18 for four by the ... Read more
Tigers fight for their lives
Mushfiqur’s 100th ODI today On the eve of today’s crucial second day-night one-day match, the pitch has become the centre of discussion following Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s disappointment over the surface of the first game which the home team lost by 40 runs. The Tigers go into the second one-day match against West Indies today ... Read more
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 ... Read more
Splendid Simmons keeps Tigers at bay
Expectations got the better of the Tigers yesterday in the first one-dayer against the West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. A defeat of 40 runs was a justifiable result as Bangladesh was erratic with the ball, slack in the field while ultimately the batsmen too flattered to deceive. The energy and smartness of Tuesday’s ... Read more
Wicket’s faulty: Mushfiq
Smart cricket was found nowhere in Bangladesh’s approach as West Indies bounced back in the series with a comfortable 40-run victory in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. On a batting track, the home side’s bowling attack that included the slow bowlers, the main
Smartness in all facets
In the end, it was a matter of choice. With his side needing four runs from two balls, Mushfiqur Rahim was presented with a shorter length ball from Ravi Rampaul. He swung from the hips, a sort of swat-pull that landed over their dressing-room and bounced into the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Grandstand. In a similar ... Read more