Tag: Bangladesh

MIRPUR: Copper Connolly’s sublime 149 triumphed Shoriful Islam’s six-wicket haul to seal a nail-biting victory in the final ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing 275, Australia got off to a flying start, with skipper Josh Inglis and Connolly racing to 40 inside four overs.

However, Shoriful’s two in an over dented the visitors’ progress. He first removed Inglis, who made 12 before dismissing Renshaw for a duck.

With Australia two wickets down, Alex Carey (8) and Connolly provided brief resistance, adding a 30-run partnership that culminated with the former’s wicket.

Bangladesh continued to chip through Australia’s middle order, but left-handed Connoly remained firm and reached his half-century.

Bangladesh continued to chip away at Australia’s middle order, but left-handed Connolly remained firm and reached his half-century.

He stringed three half-century stands alongside Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Oliver Peake to keep his side in the hunt. In doing so, he notched up his maiden century.

It was Shoriful again who struck thrice in the 46th and 48th over to lift Bangladesh. Connoly was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over after scoring 149 off 134, striking six maximums and 13 fours.

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With the visitors needing just three runs and only one wicket in hand, Adam Zampa struck a boundary off the third ball to seal an emphatic win.

For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam bowled wonderfully and picked up six wickets in his 10 overs.

Earlier, Towhid Hridoy struck a composed 83 to anchor Bangladesh’s innings of 274-5 after a nervous start against Australia in the final ODI match in Mirpur on Sunday.

Litton Das (58 off 78 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (56 off 51) also contributed unbeaten half-centuries to give the hosts a competitive total in the dead rubber, with Bangladesh having already clinched the three-match series.

Bangladesh, missing regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz due to concussion, had a torrid start when Xavier Bartlett bowled opener Soumya Sarkar for two in the first over.

Tanzid Hasan and stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the innings with a 51-run second-wicket stand before Matt Renshaw struck twice in quick succession to leave Bangladesh reeling at 61-3.

Tanzid fell for 19, caught by Riley Meredith at mid-on after top-edging a sweep off Renshaw, who then trapped Shanto lbw for 24.

Hridoy held Bangladesh together through the middle overs with his 88-ball innings.

He shared a 92-run fourth-wicket partnership with Litton before the wicketkeeper-batter retired hurt with cramp on 48.

Hridoy went on to reach his 13th ODI half-century in an innings that included eight fours.

Litton returned to bring up his first ODI fifty at Mirpur, finishing with 58 off 78 balls and striking four fours and two sixes.

Mosaddek provided a late flourish and was unbeaten on 56 off 51 deliveries, including five fours and a six, his fourth ODI half-century in ODI cricket.

Bartlett and Renshaw picked up two wickets apiece for Australia.

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Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal became the country’s youngest cricket chief on Sunday, weeks after he was appointed interim president and vowed to repair the sport’s damaged reputation in the country.

Cricket and politics are intertwined in Bangladesh, and the game was affected by turmoil after the 2024 uprising that ousted long-term ruler Sheikh Hasina.

A new government elected in February dissolved the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over alleged “gross irregularities” and appointed an interim board led by 37-year-old Tamim, who retired from international cricket in 2023.

Tamim was elected after topping a board election with 73 votes from 75 councillors, and led a 16-candidate field competing for 12 director positions.

Fahim Sinha, who received 66 votes, was named vice-president at the board’s first meeting.

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“We all have to keep one thing in mind, which is that the reputation damage that Bangladesh cricket has suffered worldwide, I alone cannot fix this,” Tamim told reporters after the first meeting.

“I will need everyone’s support here,” he added.

Under the previous board, Bangladesh refused to play in India at this year’s T20 World Cup, citing security concerns after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dumped by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The International Cricket Council (ICC) refused a Bangladesh request to play their matches in Sri Lanka and kicked them out of the tournament.

Notably, as a player, Tamim Iqbal scored more than 15,000 runs for Bangladesh in a career spanning 15 years and remains the only Bangladeshi to make centuries in all three formats of international cricket.

READ: Travis Head to miss Bangladesh tour as Australia announce multiple squad changes

DHAKA: Australia’s men’s cricket team were denied entry to a Dhaka Golf Course due to a logistical communication failure ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh. 

After concluding the Pakistan tour, Australia arrived in Bangladesh on 5 June for a white-ball series comprising three ODIs and the same number of T20Is. The tour will kick off with an ODI, scheduled on 9 June at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Following the 50-over series, the squad will head to Chattogram for T20Is, which will run from 17 to 21 June.

However, things turned awkward for the visitors when several members of the touring party were denied entry into the golf course on their scheduled rest day.

According to the Daily Star, initially only a handful of players planned to play golf, but later several other squad members also expressed interest in joining the outing. Permission was arranged earlier with the golf course authorities. For this reason, the organisers arranged transport accordingly.

But the inclusion of additional members required a change to the original plan that had already been submitted for approval, and players whose names were not included in the initial clearance request were denied entry upon arrival at the venue.

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Earlier, the rumours suggested that the touring party faced restrictions linked to security concerns, a development that left the visitors displeased.

It is worth mentioning that the golf course is located in a restricted military zone, and advance permissions are required for vehicle entry.

The report quoted a BCB official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noting that initially only a small group was expected to play, so permission was secured for a single microbus.

“Initially, only a small group was expected to play, so we secured permission for a single microbus,” the report quoted the source.

“However, when more players decided to join, a large team bus was required instead. We did not have the necessary clearance to bring a vehicle of that size through the cantonment area, meaning they could not proceed.”

“We are fully prepared to accommodate all of their logistical requests, but we require timely and clear communication from their management to ensure clearances,” the official added.

Australia squads for Bangladesh series:

ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott and Adam Zampa.

T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw and Adam Zampa.

READ: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to travel with parents on India tours

Former Australian pacer Shaun Tait has stepped down as Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach ahead of the multi-format series against Australia. 

According to the Daily Star, former pacer Talha Jubair has replaced him as the interim coach with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) operations chairman Shahreer Nafees confirming the appointment.

Earlier, the board confirmed Tait’s departure from his position in a press release statement.

“Since informing the BCB of his circumstances, Shaun had expressed his willingness to continue in the role with a shortened time. However, it was ultimately agreed that stepping down from the position was the most appropriate course of action. The decision has been reached amicably and with mutual understanding,” the BCB said in its statement.

Tait played a key role in nurturing several fast bowlers, notably Nahid Rana, who has caught the eye with his raw pace in recent times.

Shaun Tait described the decision as difficult and lauded Bangladesh players for their commitment.

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“It has been a privilege to work with the Bangladesh National Team and to be part of a talented and committed group of players and support staff This was not an easy decision, and I sincerely appreciate the understanding and support shown by the BCB throughout our discussions,” Tait was quoted as saying in the BCB statement.

“I am proud of what the pace bowlers have achieved, and I believe they have an exciting future ahead. I wish the team every success going forward,” he added.

For the unversed, Tait took charge of the position in May 2025, with his contract running until the ICC World Cup 2027.

Bangladesh will begin their preparation camp for the Australia series on June 6. Australia are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Friday afternoon for a tour featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.

Bangladesh are set to play three ODIs and T20Is against Australia from 9 to 21 June for a six-match white-ball series.

The ODI series will commence at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka with the T20I series commencing on 17 June in Chattogram.

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SYLHET: Pakistan captain Shan Masood admitted that his side paid the price for repeated mistakes after Bangladesh completed a historic 2-0 Test series whitewash with a 78-run victory in the second Test at Sylhet on Wednesday.

Despite a spirited fightback led by Mohammad Rizwan, who scored a fighting 94 in the fourth innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 358 while chasing a daunting 437-run target at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

The defeat marked Bangladesh’s first-ever home Test series whitewash over Pakistan and came after their landmark clean sweep during Pakistan’s tour in 2024.

Speaking after the match, Masood acknowledged that Pakistan failed to capitalise on key moments despite repeatedly putting themselves in competitive positions throughout the series.

“We made a lot of mistakes, and when you make 360 runs in the fourth innings of the game, you kinda expect to be on the right side of it, but I think in the three innings we had quite a lot to reflect on,” Masood said during the post-match presentation.

The Pakistan skipper pointed towards crucial phases where the visitors allowed Bangladesh back into the contest, particularly after reducing them to a vulnerable position in the first innings.

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“When they were 116 for 6, the last four wickets ended up scoring a lot of runs, and even when we got to 142 for 4, the set batters in Test cricket have to go big,” he added.

“There were things we didn’t do well enough in the first three innings and that’s why the effort on the fourth and fifth day didn’t really materialise into a win.”

Shan Masood further stressed the demanding nature of Test cricket and said Pakistan must improve their consistency if they want to compete with the top sides in the format.

“Test cricket, you’re going to be punished for any mistake you make, it’s unforgiving and Test cricket is always played by the best of the best. You’re not going to get any easy games, you have to grind results out, and that’s what you have to do as a side,” he said.

The left-handed batter also insisted that Pakistan have often managed to stay in contests but failed to finish strongly when it mattered most.

“We’ve put ourselves into position, I can only count a couple of Tests where we’ve been completely outplayed, but in every other Test we’ve been in positions where we didn’t finish well,” he concluded.

READ: How did the Bangladesh series defeat affected Pakistan in WTC 2025-27?

SYLHET: ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings took a significant turn after Bangladesh completed a historic 2-0 Test series whitewash over Pakistan here on Wednesday.

Bangladesh sealed a 78-run victory in the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, bowling Pakistan out for 358 while defending a challenging 437-run target.

The result lifted Bangladesh to fifth place in the latest WTC standings, moving above India after collecting 28 points from four matches.

Bangladesh registered two wins, one defeat and one draw in the ongoing WTC cycle, giving them a points percentage of 58.33.

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India, meanwhile, slipped to sixth place despite having played more matches. They currently hold 52 points from nine Tests, with four wins, four defeats and one draw, translating into a points percentage of 48.15.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are currently placed eighth in WTC 2025-27 standings with just one win and three defeats from four matches. The Shan Masood-led side have accumulated only four points so far and hold a win percentage of 8.33 in the current cycle.

At the top of the standings, Australia continue to lead the table with seven wins from eight matches and a points percentage of 87.50. New Zealand and South Africa currently occupy second and third place, respectively, in the WTC 2025–27 standings.

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SYLHET: Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana dismissed well-set Pakistan batter Babar Azam to lift Bangladesh during the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Babar was caught at mid on in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings. He looked in fine touch, scoring 68 off 84 balls,  including 10 fours. However, Rana was brought back by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto in a decisive move that got the prized wicket of Babar.

Babar arrived at the crease early on the second day’s morning with his side in deep trouble at 26-2. Despite losing wickets around him, the 31-year-old remained firm and played fluently for his 68.

Pakistan lost their opening wicket in just the second over of the day as Taskin Ahmed removed promoted Abdullah Fazal. The left-hander only managed nine after impressive outings in the first Test.

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The home side tightened their grip on the match when Taskin struck again to remove Azan Awais for 13. After the early blows, Pakistan captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam rebuilt the innings with a brief 38-run partnership.

The scorecard read 61 when Shan (21) departed off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s bowling. The visitors’ woes compounded when they lost Saud Shakeel as well, leaving them 79 for four before Salman Ali Agha and Babar stitched a 63-run partnership to steady the innings.

But once Babar was removed, Pakistan lost their way in the middle. Salman Ali Agha threw his wicket away, trying to slog sweep Taijul Islam and ended up being caught on the boundary. He made 21 with the help of two fours.

Soon after, Mohammad Rizwan was cleaned up by Taijul to leave Pakistan reeling at 174-7. He made 13 from 27 deliveries.

READ: Pakistan make steady start after Litton Das’ century in Sylhet Test

SYLHET: Pakistan’s red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has confirmed that star batter Babar Azam is available for selection ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled from May 16 to 20.

Babar had missed the series opener in Mirpur due to a knee injury, a match Pakistan lost by 104 runs.

However, speaking during the pre-match press conference in Sylhet, Sarfaraz confirmed that the right-handed batter has now fully recovered and is fit for selection.

“Babar Azam is available for the second Test. We will confirm the playing XI at the toss after assessing the conditions,” Sarfaraz said.

The Pakistan head coach also reflected on his side’s disappointing performance in the first Test but stressed that the team remains focused on a response in the second match of the series.

“After the first Test we are very disappointed as a unit, but remain confident of a comeback in the next game,” he added.

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Sarfaraz also addressed external criticism following Pakistan’s defeat, stating that the dressing room remains unaffected by outside noise.

“Criticism is nothing new for us when performances go wrong, and remarks from former players do not impact us,” he said.

“We are also not focused on social media talk; our attention is fully on the next match. I expect senior players to take responsibility, and we will have discussions after the game as planned.”

The former Pakistan captain also expressed confidence in Babar’s recent form, highlighting his performances in the Pakistan Super League.

“Babar Azam looked technically strong and mentally fresh during the PSL, which is positive for the team, and we are pleased to have him with us,” he said.

READ: Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in first Bangladesh Test

DUBAI: Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has bagged the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for April 2026 after his impressive performances in the ODI series against New Zealand.

The young pacer emerged as one of the standout performers of the month after playing a decisive role in Bangladesh’s 2-1 ODI series triumph over the Black Caps.

Rana claimed eight wickets in three matches at an average of 16.75 while maintaining an economy rate of 4.46.

His most memorable performance came in the second ODI in Mirpur, where he ripped through New Zealand’s batting order with exceptional figures of 5-32. He also picked up one wicket in the opening match before adding two more in the final ODI, eventually earning the Player of the Series award.

This is the first time Rana has received the ICC monthly award, becoming the second Bangladesh men’s player to win the accolade after Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who bagged last year.

Rana competed alongside Oman Jatinder Singh and UAE pacer Ajay Kumar for the award.

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Following the achievement, Rana expressed pride after outstanding performances against top-class New Zealand.

“It’s a great feeling to be named ICC Player of the Month after performing well against a world-class side like New Zealand,” Rana said.

“To deliver on home soil made the series even more special, and it is one I will always cherish. I am grateful to my teammates for their constant support and belief in me throughout.”

“I hope to keep contributing to more victories and memorable moments for my team,” he concluded.

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Bangladesh’s cricket board announced on Sunday that star batter Taj Nehar was back in the squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, with Nigar Sultana leading the 15-member team.

Bangladesh depart for Edinburgh on May 25 for a tri-series against Scotland and then the Netherlands before travelling to Loughborough for the official warm-up matches.

Pacer Sharmin Sultana, who featured in the last home T20I series against Sri Lanka, has been left out of the team, with Nehar taking her spot.

The side includes two specialist pacers in Marufa Akter and Fariha Islam Trisna, with Ritu Moni as part-time medium bowler.

Chief selector Sajjad Ahmed set a target of three wins from five group stage matches.

“In the World Cup, we have five matches, excluding the two practice matches. Among those five, we hope to win three,” Sajjad told reporters after the announcement.

“Our targets are Netherlands, then Pakistan, South Africa — we are working very hard on those three.”

The chief selector also acknowledged a lack of pace bowling depth.

“We don’t have many pacers in our pipeline. Most of the time, the important ones get injured at crucial moments. We have two pace bowlers — Fariha Islam, Trisna and Marufa Akter — with Ritu Moni as our third pacer,” he said.

Bangladesh T20 World Cup Squad

Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Nahida Akter (vice captain), Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam Trisna, Marufa Akter, Sanjida Akter Meghla, Sultana Khatun, Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Taj Nehar.

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