It was almost inevitable in some stages of Sakib al Hasan’s career. He created at least four opportunities in the past, came close on two occasions and missed it agonisingly. But anyone with the slightest idea of his capability as an all-rounder knew Sakib would get a five-for in an innings and a century in ... Read more
mirpur
It’s just not part of game
In cricket, the common phrase is that catches win matches but Bangladesh provided an example in the ongoing second Test of how catches can also cost a side a match too. The joy of the home side of taking all 10 Pakistani wickets was short-lived as they lost five wickets for 114 runs in the ... Read more
Pakistan had full faith in bowlers
Pakistan had little doubt that bowlers could take them to an winning position if they could get a sizeable total with the bat, all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez said after fourth day’s play in the second Test on Tuesday. Two wickets each from Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema ripped the heart out of Bangladesh’s batting order as ... Read more
Tigers let Pakistan off the hook
Bangladesh paid the price for poor fielding by allowing Pakistan to claw their way back in the second Test as the visitors closed in on a first innings lead reaching 292-3 on the third day on Monday. Taufiq Umar made the most of Bangladesh’s sloppy fielding to score his seventh Test century which took Pakistan ... Read more
Win still an option for Pakistan
Pakistan opener Taufiq Umar did not rule out the chance of a win in the second Test match against Bangladesh after his seventh Test century brought them close to a first innings lead on Monday. The left-hander scored 130 from 256 balls to help Pakistan reach 292-3 at the end of fog-shortened third day in ... Read more
Nazmul can’t wait for another seven years
Bangladesh paceman Nazmul Hossain said it would be too much of a pain for him if he is needed another seven years to play a Test again after he was made to wait that long by the selectors for his second Test. Nazmul was by far the best among the three pace bowlers Bangladesh picked ... Read more
Shakib brings respectability
Shakib Al Hasan helped Bangladesh expand upon their strong base during the second day’s play of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The day ended with Pakistan on 87-1 after bad light stopped play. In all, 26 overs were lost on the day after the morning session began ... Read more
The sign of a complete all-rounder
Sakib al Hasan proudly announced himself as a complete all-rounder after his 144 runs in the first innings that guided Bangladesh to a respectable 338 against Pakistan on Sunday. Sakib had started his career as a batsman who could bowl but gradually turned into Bangladesh’s main strike bowler with his left-arm spin that often turned ... Read more
Sakib, Shahriar lift Tigers
Sakib al Hasan and Shahriar Nafees defied a chilly weather and a strong Pakistani attack to lift Bangladesh to a respectable 234-5 with a record 180-run partnership on the opening day of second Test in Dhaka on Saturday. Sakib got his second Test century along the way to stay 108 not out while Nafees missed ... Read more
Ashraful axed finally for second Test
Shafiul replaces Rubel Mohammad Ashraful has finally been axed from the Bangladesh squad for the second Test match against Pakistan beginning in Dhaka on Saturday. The news came from the man himself who told reporters about his omission on the eve of his transfer to Old DOHS from CCS for the forthcoming
Is Ashraful dropped?
BCB yet to name 2nd Test squad Mohammad Ashraful is going to face the music again for his poor batting in the first Test against Pakistan in Chittagong. The national selectors have decided on the 14-member squad without Ashraful for the second and final Test to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur ... 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
Mushfiq a captain’s dream
Scarcely had the ball sailed over the thirty-yard circle did Mushfiqur Rahim let out a war cry signalling victory, that too in his first match as captain of the Tigers. It all seemed to be slipping away just as it had in that heartbreaking third ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare in mid-August, when Mushfiq had ... Read more