Category: CRICKET

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has arrived in Islamabad to join Lahore Qalandars for their must-win Pakistan Super League match against Peshawar Zalmi on May 18. The 37-year-old returns to competitive cricket after a six-month break, joining Sri Lankans Kusal Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa as late reinforcements. Shakib, replacing injured Daryl Mitchell, received an NOC from Bangladesh Cricket Board for this crucial playoff-determining match.READ FULL

Bangladesh will receive $720,000 for finishing seventh in the 2023-25 WTC cycle after recording their best performance with four wins. The ICC has significantly increased overall prize money, with the winner of the Australia vs South Africa final at Lord’s (June 11-15) collecting $3.6 million—more than double previous amounts. Finalists are looking forward to competing at cricket’s historic venue.READ FULL

Bangladesh ‘A’ defeated New Zealand ‘A’ by seven wickets in the first one-dayer at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Khaled Ahmed and Tanvir Islam claimed three wickets each as New Zealand was dismissed for 147, with five batters scoring ducks. Only Rhys Mariu (42) and Dean Foxcroft (72) reached double figures. Mahidul Islam Ankon (42*) led Bangladesh’s successful chase, reaching 149-3 in 27.2 overs. The second match is scheduled for Wednesday.READ FULL

Liton Das has been appointed Bangladesh T20I captain until T20 World Cup 2026, replacing Najmul Hossain Shanto who remains captain for other formats. The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who previously led Bangladesh to a 3-0 T20I series win against West Indies, will begin with upcoming UAE and Pakistan series. The BCB also named Mahedi Hasan as vice-captain in the 16-man squad for both series.READ FULL

Following a terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indians and injured 10, streaming platform Fancode has stopped broadcasting the Pakistan Super League in India. All PSL content has been removed from the platform. The BCCI and cricket stars Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with victims’ families.READ FULL

Former England cricket star Andrew Flintoff has revealed his ongoing mental health battles following a severe 2022 car accident on the Top Gear set. The 47-year-old described intense anxiety returning to public life, including struggling to leave his hotel room during his first day as England assistant coach. Despite continuing flashbacks and anxiety from facial injuries and broken ribs sustained in the crash, Flintoff says he’s now “accepting” his situation and serves as England Lions head coach.READ FULL

Harry Brook, newly-appointed England white-ball captain, faces a two-year IPL ban after withdrawing from Delhi Capitals’ Rs 6.2 crore contract. Despite not receiving formal communication about the ban, Brook remains committed to England cricket. “England is the priority. I enjoy playing for England more than anything else,” said the 26-year-old, who’s prepared to reduce franchise tournament participation to focus on his international career.READ FULL

The Dhaka Premier League faced multiple controversies as Partex Sporting players boycotted training and threatened to skip matches over unpaid salaries, with most players receiving only 10-20% of promised payments. Meanwhile, match-fixing allegations emerged after suspicious footage of Shinepukur Cricket Club batter Minhajul Abedin’s unusual dismissal against Gulshan Cricket Club went viral on social media, prompting outrage from former Bangladesh players.READ FULL

Mumbai Indians’ star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has rejoined the squad after completing rehabilitation for a back injury sustained during the January Sydney Test. Having missed MI’s first few games, Bumrah’s return boosts the struggling team that has won just one of four matches. While he might miss the April 7 clash against RCB, he could feature against SRH on April 17. Bumrah has taken 165 wickets in 133 IPL matches for MI since 2013.READ FULL

Stuart Law, former Australian batter, has been appointed as Nepal men’s cricket team head coach for two years. Law brings extensive international coaching experience, having previously worked with USA, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. He replaces Monty Desai, whose tenure ended in February. Law’s first assignment will be a tri-series against Scotland and Netherlands in June as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.READ FULL

India secured a commanding 295-run victory over Australia in the first Test match in Perth. Led by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, who took 8 wickets in the match, India bowled out Australia for 238 in their second innings. Despite Travis Head’s resilient 89 and Mitchell Marsh’s 47, Australia couldn’t chase the massive target of 534. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant 161 and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100 in India’s second innings set up the win.READ FULL

The ICC is in talks with several cricket boards that have not paid prize money from the 2022 T20 World Cup to players. The World Cricketers’ Association raised concerns over non-payment and “threatening” behavior by some boards. The ICC is working to ensure players receive their full prize money. The WCA also launched a Global Player Hardship Fund to support international cricketers in need.READ FULL

West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has received a two-match suspension after walking off the field during Wednesday’s ODI victory over England in Barbados. The incident occurred after he disagreed with captain Shai Hope’s field placement. Cricket West Indies sanctioned Joseph for unprofessional conduct, and the 27-year-old has since apologized to his captain, team, and fans.READ FULL

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE, starting November 6, BCB president Faruque Ahmed confirmed. The decision came due to Shakib’s lack of practice, though he might return for the West Indies tour beginning November 22. This announcement reverses Faruque’s earlier statement from Wednesday when he had indicated Shakib would be available for the Afghanistan series.READ FULL

Stuart Law has stepped down as USA cricket team’s head coach after a brief but impactful tenure that began in April 2024. Under his leadership, USA reached the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup and notably defeated Pakistan. USA Cricket CEO Johnathan Atkeison confirmed Law’s departure, stating that despite his contributions, a change was needed for future competitive preparation as the team aims to qualify for their first 50-over World Cup.READ FULL

The ICC World Test Championship standings remain tight with just 15% separating the top five teams. India leads with 62.82% of possible points, followed closely by Australia at 62.50%. Sri Lanka (55.56%), New Zealand (50%), and South Africa (47.62%) are still in contention for a spot in the 2025 final at Lord’s. India faces crucial matches against New Zealand and Australia, while Australia has remaining series against India and Sri Lanka.READ FULL

The 11th Bangladesh Premier League players’ draft is set for today at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. Seven franchises will select from 198 local and 439 overseas players. Eighteen local players have already been signed. Star players like Najmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Das are available in Category ‘A’, with a new auction provision for unsold players in this category. Teams can have unlimited overseas players but a maximum of 14 local players. The event starts at 11:00 am and will be broadcast live.READ FULL

The 26th National Cricket League (NCL) 2024-25 in Bangladesh has been postponed by five days due to rainy weather, now starting on October 19. The tournament will feature eight teams playing at eight different venues across the country. This year, the NCL adopts a single round-robin format, replacing the previous two-tier system. However, the competition faces sponsorship challenges for the third consecutive year, with organizers unable to secure a title sponsor due to economic difficulties.READ FULL

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan due to an ongoing hamstring injury. Ollie Pope will continue as stand-in captain, leading a team that includes debutant pace bowler Brydon Carse. Stokes, who has been sidelined since August with a hamstring tear, remains uncertain for the second Test on October 15. England will field three pacers and two spinners, with Zak Crawley returning to the squad after recovering from a finger injury.READ FULL

West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at age 40. Bravo, the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket with 631 wickets, had already retired from international cricket in 2021 and the IPL in 2023. His farewell Caribbean Premier League season was cut short due to injury. Bravo leaves the game as one of its most decorated players, having won five CPL titles. He cited his body’s inability to endure the physical demands of cricket as the reason for retirement.READ FULL

Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has announced his retirement from Test and T20 cricket. The former captain made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday, ahead of the Kanpur Test against India. Shakib will play his final Test match at home against South Africa in October. His last T20 appearance was during the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The cricketer’s decision marks the end of an era for Bangladesh cricket.READ FULL

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been fined Tk50 lakh by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission for manipulating shares of Paramount Insurance Company. The decision was made at BSEC’s 993rd commission meeting. Six other individuals and companies were also fined, with total penalties amounting to Tk1.63 crore. The BSEC press release did not provide details on when or how the manipulation took place. This action demonstrates regulatory efforts to maintain integrity in Bangladesh’s stock market.READ FULL

A four-member delegation from Cricket South Africa (CSA) conducted a routine inspection of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. This inspection is in preparation for the upcoming two-match Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh, set to take place next month. The delegation included three CSA officials and Farhaan Behardien, a former South African all-rounder who now works as cricket operations and player engagement manager at the South African Cricketers Association (SACA).READ FULL

Bangladesh cricket head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is returning to Dhaka tonight after a brief absence. The team is set to depart for India on Sunday for a Test and T20I series. Other coaching staff, including pace bowling coach Andre Adams, have already arrived. The BCB has scheduled a ceremony today to award bonuses for the recent series win against Pakistan. The team’s visas are ready for their upcoming tour to India.READ FULL

Australia beat England by 28 runs in the first T20 international at Southampton. Travis Head’s quick 59 helped Australia post 179 all out. Adam Zampa’s economical bowling (2-20) restricted England to 151. England’s spinners also impressed, but their batting collapsed to 52-4 early on. Phil Salt led England in Jos Buttler’s absence. Australia’s Xavier Bartlett suffered a thigh injury. The three-match series continues in Cardiff on Friday. READ FULL

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had a mixed performance in Surrey’s County Division One match against Somerset. After a disappointing batting display, scoring only 12 runs, Shakib shone with the ball. He took four wickets in Somerset’s second innings, matching his first-innings haul. This brought his total wicket count for the match to eight. Despite his batting struggles, Shakib’s bowling prowess helped Surrey gain an advantage, with Somerset ending Day 3 at 194 for nine.READ FULL

District cricketers in Bangladesh presented a 17-point demand to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), including financial assurances and more playing opportunities. About 300 cricketers from various divisions met with BCB director Nazmul Abedin Fahim, who assured them the board would try to meet their demands within its capabilities. Key demands include fixed schedules for domestic leagues, a second-tier team for NCL teams, and improvements in umpiring quality. Fahim emphasized the board’s commitment to enhancing cricket at all levels and evaluating players based on merit.READ FULL

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the World Test Championship final will be held at Lord’s cricket ground in London from June 11-15, 2025. This marks the first time Lord’s will host the championship match between the two top-ranked Test teams. A reserve day is set for June 16 if needed. Currently, India leads the standings, followed by defending champions Australia. The two teams are scheduled to play a five-Test series in Australia between November 2024 and January 2025.READ FULL

Mehidy Hasan Miraz dedicated his ‘Man of the Series’ award from Bangladesh’s 2-0 sweep over Pakistan to those who died during anti-discrimination protests. He gifted the award money to the family of a rickshaw puller who died from protest-related injuries. Miraz scored 155 runs and took 10 wickets, including crucial innings of 77 and 78, and a five-wicket haul. His performance at No. 8 and with the ball suggests he could potentially fill the void left by Shakib Al Hasan in the future.READ FULL

Bangladesh made history by winning their first Test series against Pakistan, claiming a 2-0 victory in Rawalpindi. The Tigers won the first match by 10 wickets and the second by six wickets. Key contributors included Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud with five-wicket hauls, and Litton Das with a century. Despite some challenges, Bangladesh outperformed Pakistan in all departments. This marks Bangladesh’s ninth Test series win overall and their first against Pakistan, previously only achieving multi-match Test series wins against Zimbabwe and West Indies. READ FULL

Ahmed Shehzad, a former Pakistan cricketer, criticized his national team’s poor performance against Bangladesh in the ongoing Test series. Bangladesh is on the verge of a historic series win, having already secured their first Test victory against Pakistan. Shehzad pointed out Pakistan’s inconsistent bowling, allowing a record 165-run partnership after reducing Bangladesh to 26-6. He sarcastically remarked that Bangladesh seems to be in Pakistan “just to break records.” The series outcome marks a significant achievement for Bangladesh cricket.READ FULL

Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has been selected by Hobart Hurricanes for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL|14). He will be the second Bangladeshi player to feature in the BBL, after Shakib Al Hasan. The 14th edition of the tournament will run from December 15 to January 27. Rishad gained attention after taking 14 wickets in the recent T20 World Cup. He was among 10 Bangladeshi cricketers who entered the draft.READ FULL

The opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was cancelled due to heavy rain and wet outfield. The toss couldn’t take place, and players remained in the dressing room. Weather forecasts suggest rain may also affect the second day’s play. Bangladesh leads the series 1-0 after their historic 10-wicket win in the first Test. The Tigers are aiming for their first-ever Test series victory against Pakistan as they enter this final match of the series.READ FULL

Mushfiqur Rahim is approaching two milestones in the upcoming second Test against Pakistan. He needs 133 runs to become the first Bangladeshi to reach 6000 Test runs, and 34 runs to surpass Tamim Iqbal as Bangladesh’s highest scorer across all formats. Mushfiqur’s recent 191-run innings in the first Test was crucial in Bangladesh’s 10-wicket victory and helped him achieve his career-best ICC Test batting ranking. The series-deciding match is set for tomorrow in Rawalpindi. READ FULL

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to provide legal assistance to Shakib Al Hasan, who is named in a murder case. BCB President Faruque Ahmed confirmed that Shakib will continue playing for the national team until proven guilty. The board responded to a legal notice demanding Shakib’s return from Pakistan. After the Pakistan tour, Shakib will play county cricket in England before joining the team for their India tour. READ FULL

England has announced their T20 and ODI squads for the upcoming series against Australia. Five uncapped players – Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, Josh Hull, and John Turner – are included in the T20 squad. Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Matthew Potts, and Jamie Smith join the ODI squad. Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali are notably absent from both squads. Brydon Carse returns after serving a suspension. Jos Buttler will captain both teams. The T20 series begins on September 11, followed by the ODI series on September 19. AFP