Tag: Bangladesh

KANPUR: Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 51 as India pulled off a remarkable seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a rain-hit second Test here on Tuesday.

The hosts bundled out Bangladesh for 146 before lunch on the fifth and final day and, needing 95 for victory, reached 98-3 in just 104 balls in the second session.

Yashasvi Jaiswal reached his second fifty of the match in 43 balls including eight fours and one six before falling to Taijul Islam, ending a 58-run stand with Virat Kohli.

Kohli hit an unbeaten 29 and was there at the end as Rishabh Pant hit the winning boundary.

Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz had earlier removed India captain Rohit Sharma, for eight, and Shubman Gill, for six.

The series victory extends India’s lead at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings ahead of Australia in second.

India rode on Jaiswal’s 72-run blitz in the first innings to force a result out of a match which saw no play on Saturday and Sunday because of rain and a wet outfield.

Bangladesh resumed their second innings on 26-2 on the final day, 26 runs behind, but the batting fell apart during the first session, with opener Shadman Islam top scoring on 50.

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Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets each.

Mushfiqur Rahim frustrated India as the lunch break was delayed for the final wicket. He was last man out when Bumrah bowled him for 37.

Off-spinner Ashwin broke through in the third over of the day when he had first-innings centurion Mominul Haque caught at leg slip by KL Rahul for two.

Left-arm spinner Jadeja, who had taken his 300th Test wicket on Monday, struck in his first over of the day when he bowled captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had made 19.

Shadman reached his fifty off 97 balls but fell almost immediately after to fast bowler Akash Deep.

Jadeja also picked up the wicket of veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, caught and bowled without scoring, in what could be the former captain’s last Test for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 233 when they resumed their first innings on Monday. India then batted at a blistering pace as they declared on 285-9 from just 34.4 overs.

The teams now head into a three-match T20 series starting on Sunday in Gwalior.

READ: BCCI VP clears air on possibility of India’s tour to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

KANPUR: Bad light followed by heavy rain ended play before tea on day one of the second Test between India and Bangladesh here on Friday.

The visitors were batting at 107-3 with Mominul Haque (40) and Mushfiqur Rahim (6) on the crease when dark clouds made visibility tough and umpires took the players off the ground after lunch.

Dim light turned into heavy rain and officials called off play after the covers were laid out, with more downpours forecast for Saturday in the northern Indian city.

India, who lead the two-match series 1-0, elected to field in overcast conditions and fast bowler Akash Deep vindicated captain Rohit Sharma’s decision with two wickets in the first hour of play.

He removed openers Zakir Hasan, caught out for a duck, and Shadman Islam, trapped lbw on 24, with his seaming deliveries to the left-handers.

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Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 31, put on 51 runs with Mominul to play out the remainder of the first session, but first-match hero Ravichandran Ashwin broke the stand after lunch.

Off-spinner Ashwin, who hit a century and took six wickets in India’s opening win, took down Najmul lbw with a turning delivery from around the wicket.

The hosts have come in unchanged with three seamers, who have regularly troubled the opposition batsmen with plenty of deliveries beating the bat.

Bangladesh ex-captain Shakib, 37, announced his international retirement on Thursday and said he could be playing his last Test match if he is unable to return home for a slated South Africa series.

Shakib is a former lawmaker for the party of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina and has stayed away from Bangladesh due to the threat of criminal charges levelled against him and dozens of her former allies.

India are favoured to sweep the two-match series after winning the opener in Chennai by 280 runs and extend their advantage at the top of the World Test Championship rankings.

READ: Mitchell Marsh on Rishabh Pant: “I wish he was Australian”

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has announced to retire from Test cricket in October after the Dhaka Test against South Africa.

The 37-year-old all-rounder made the announcement while talking to the media ahead of the Kanpur Test against India.

Shakib also bid farewell to the T20I cricket with immediate effect, revealing that he had played his final game in the format during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June.

It’s worth noting that the Test series against South Africa is not officially confirmed as of now, owing to the security clearance from Cricket South Africa (CSA) considering the political unrest in Bangladesh.

“I am available for the South Africa series but since there’s a lot happening back home, naturally not everything depends on me,” Shakib said.

“I have discussed my plans about Test cricket with the BCB. Especially this series and the home series. I was thinking that it could be my last Test series.”

Shakib Al Hasan also expressed his desire to play his last Test in Mirpur.

“I have told [BCB president] Faruque [Ahmed] bhai and the selectors. If there’s a chance and if I can play, my last Test will be in Mirpur,” he added.

The star all-rounder also shared that the decision to step away from the game is not an emotional one, he rather thinks that it is the right time to move on to the next chapter of his life.

“I am not hurt or disappointed. I think it is the right time to move on and create a place for the new players,” Shakib said.

“It is the best chance to take a look at new players. It will be a good move to build the team towards the 2026 T20 World Cup. We have taken this as a collective decision.

“I am happy with the decision. I don’t have any regrets in my life. I have enjoyed my cricket career. I think it is the right time for me and Bangladesh cricket.”

READ: Pakistan head coach opens up on Sarfaraz Ahmed’s future

CHENNAI: Ravichandran Ashwin claimed six wickets after a first-innings century with the bat to inspire India to a 280-run thrashing of Bangladesh in the first Test here on Sunday.

The Bangladesh team arrived in India in a confident mood following a historic victory in Pakistan but they were no match for the hosts for whom Rishabh Pant celebrated a triumphant return from a serious car crash.

The visitors were bowled out for 234 in the first session of an overcast day four while chasing a victory target of 515.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 82 after he and overnight partner Shakib Al Hasan resisted in a 48-run partnership, Bangladesh having resumed the day on 158-4.

The hosts took an emphatic 1-0 lead in the two-match series as they look to extend their advantage at the top of the World Test Championship rankings.

“It was a great result looking at what lies ahead,” skipper Rohit Sharma said after India made an ominous start to a fresh Test season of 10 matches.

Hometown hero Ashwin struck first to end a stubborn overnight stand by getting Shakib caught at short-leg for 25.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets on day three, then dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for eight to bag his 37th five-wicket haul, equalling the late Shane Warne. Muttiah Muralitharan remains well out in front with 67.

The feat added to Ashwin’s heroics after his 113 guided the hosts to 376 in the first innings.

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja removed Litton Das for one after the wicketkeeper-batsman edged the ball to Rohit at first slip. Jadeja also ended Najmul’s valiant stand and took three wickets for the innings.

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For the unversed, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja had played a key batting role in the first innings when their 199-run seventh-wicket stand lifted India from a precarious 144-6 to a challenging total on the first day.

India declared their second innings at 287-4 on day three after centuries from Shubman Gill, who hit an unbeaten 119, and the returning Pant, who made 109, flattened the opposition.

Gill and the left-handed Pant, who was playing his first Test since a serious car crash in December 2022, put on 167 runs for the fourth wicket.

“I just enjoyed batting and got a little bit emotional,” Pant said of his celebration after his sixth Test ton. “But at the end of the day, being in the field gives me more pleasure than anything else.”

The Test was Virat Kohli’s first since the birth of his second child made him miss India’s 4-1 victory over England at home this year. Kohli scored just six and 17.

The home bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah handed India an early advantage after they bundled out Bangladesh for 149 in their first innings.

Bangladesh has to work on their first innings of batting ahead of the second test, said skipper Najmul.

“Top of the order we have to be careful and put some runs, that is one learning from this match. Going forward all the batters think that they can come back.”

Bangladesh pace bowler Hasan Mahmud claimed five wickets in the first innings and reduced India to 34-3 in the first hour of play.

The two teams now head to the northern Indian city of Kanpur for the second test, which will start on Friday.

WATCH: Rishabh Pant sets fielding for Bangladesh

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has backed Shan Masood as captain despite the humiliating series loss against Bangladesh.

The visitors defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the second Test match to complete the clean sweep and win their first-ever series against the Green Shirts.

Pakistan dropped pace bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the line-up for the second Test and Gillespie defended the decision, calling it a strategic call considering the conditions.

“We felt that the attack we put on the park would be able to do the job. We could argue they did when we had the opposition 26/6 but they [Bangladesh] fought themselves back into the game,” said Gillespie.

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“We looked at the conditions, saw the surface here, and thought this was the best make-up of the bowling attack to take wickets on this surface,” he added.

Jason Gillespie also threw his weight behind Shan Masood, however, he acknowledged that the team failed to perform as a unit.

“Shan I feel has led the side very well. We just haven’t played well as a team and that’s the reality,” he stated. “We need to sharpen up on certain areas, and we will sharpen up.”

“I really want to back and believe in these players, they are good enough and have shown glimpses of how good we are. We just need to do it more often and consistently,” he added.

READ: Zaka Ashraf refutes rumours of rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi

RAWALPINDI: The glittering trophy for the Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh was unveiled at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

The two-match series part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) will run from August 21 to September 4 with both matches to be played at the same venue.

The first Test match will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21 August, while the second Test match will be played from 30 August to 3 September.

Pakistan are currently ranked sixth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. They have played two away series in the championship, winning 2-0 against Sri Lanka and losing 3-0 to Australia.

Pakistan are scheduled to play nine Test matches this season, their busiest Test season since 1998-99.

Seven of these Test matches will be played at home, including two against Bangladesh, three against England in October and two against West Indies in January next year.

The two away Test matches are against South Africa, which will be played in December/January.

The first Test match against Bangladesh marks Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s first international assignment since his appointment in April this year.

It will also be Shan Masood’s first Test match as captain on home soil, embarking on a new era in red-ball cricket for the team.

Previewing the Test series, Pakistan captain Shan Masood shared his excitement for the upcoming matches, with the hope to kick off the busy season at high.

“Fans always want the cricket team to do well and win matches for them. We are all excited about the series and the great season ahead,” said Shan.

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“We have a talented group of cricketers who are eager to perform well in the series. Our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets and helping the team win matches.

“The series against Bangladesh is very important for us as we prepare for a busy season ahead, and we are determined to perform well.

“We had some good training sessions leading up to the series, and the coaching staff has worked hard with the players.

“It is an honour and a privilege to lead the side at home. With captaincy comes great responsibility, and I will do my best to take this team forward.”

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed gratitude towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and acknowledged the importance of the series for both teams.

“We are grateful to the PCB for helping us get some practice here in Lahore. We had a couple of sessions there and I am hopeful the players will do well in the series,” said Shanto.

“The series against Pakistan is very important and we know that Pakistan has great potential. The series is part of the ICC Championship and we know every game is very important.

“The series between Bangladesh ‘A’ and Pakistan Shaheens have helped our players to assess the conditions well.”

Pakistan Playing XI for the first Bangladesh Test: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Hasan Mahmud, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nahid Rana, Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Taijul Islam and Zakir Hasan

READ: Shan Masood reveals the reason for dropping Mir Hamza

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced to move the second of the two-match Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh from Karachi to Rawalpindi.

The cricket board took this decision owing to the ongoing construction work in the National Bank Stadium in Karachi to prepare for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.

“Due to the deployment of heavy construction equipment and the need to adhere to tight redevelopment schedules for the National Bank Stadium, which is being prepared for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has decided to move the second ICC World Test Championship fixture to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” the PCB stated in a press release.

“This decision allows cricket spectators and fans to watch the live action of both the Tests, which serve as a preview of a busy and hectic international season for Pakistan cricket. During this period, the national side will play a total of nine Tests, 14 T20Is, and at least 17 ODIs from 21 August to 5 April.

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“We have been guided by the construction experts on the timelines for the readiness of the venue. They advised that while construction could continue during playing hours, the resulting noise pollution would disturb the cricketers.

“Additionally, the dust from the construction work could also affect the health and well-being of the players, officials, broadcasters, and media.

“Given that construction must continue uninterrupted to ensure the venue is operationally ready for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB, after consulting all stakeholders and reviewing operational and logistical matters, has decided to hold both Tests in Rawalpindi.

“At this stage, we will not like to speculate on the hosting of the second Test in Karachi from 15-19 October and will continue to work closely with the architects and construction experts on the safe and secure hosting of the match, while keeping the England and Wales Cricket Board updated.”

The Test series will commence in Rawalpindi, with the first Test scheduled to begin on 21 August. Meanwhile, the second Test match is scheduled to be played from 30 August to 3 September.

READ: Pakistan set for rare feat after 28 years in Rawalpindi Test against Bangladesh

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, announced the star-studded commentary panel for the upcoming two-match Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Aamir Sohail, Athar Ali Khan, Bazid Khan, Nick Compton and Urooj Mumtaz will be on the commentary panel, while Sikander Bakht will be the presenter.

The commentary panel features renowned voices including Aamir Sohail, Athar Ali Khan, Bazid Khan, Nick Compton and Urooj Mumtaz. Meanwhile, Sikander Bakht will be the presenter during the course of the two-match Test series.

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The series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, with the first Test commencing at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August.

Following that, the action will shift to the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, where the second Test match will be held from 30 August to 3 September.

Squads

Pakistan

Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Bangladesh

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed

READ: Champions Trophy 2025: National Stadium Karachi’s new design unveiled

LAHORE: Mushtaq Ahmed has expressed his support for the spin bowlers of the Bangladesh cricket team, highlighting their potential as match-winners ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan.

The Test series will commence in Rawalpindi, with the first Test scheduled to begin on 21 August. Following that, the action will shift to the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, where the second Test match will be held from 30 August to 3 September.

During a press conference here on Thursday, Mushtaq, who is the spin-bowling consultant of Bangladesh, shared that the team combination will be decided after assessing the conditions in Rawalpindi.

“We will decide the combination after going to Rawalpindi and assessing the conditions there,” said Mushtaq Ahmed.

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“Spinners have an important role in Test cricket, their importance cannot be denied.”

The former Pakistan leg-spinner heaped high praise on Bangladesh’s spinners and the country’s overall bowling talent.

“Bangladesh’s spinners are a vital cog in their lineup and they are genuine match-winners. The good thing is that the country is producing good bowlers,” he added.

“If the condition is favourable for fast bowlers, we have good pacers too.”

He also expressed gratitude towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for extending an invitation to the visiting team to arrive early and engage in practice sessions ahead of the series, especially in light of the political turmoil in Bangladesh.

READ: Jay Shah breaks silence on India visiting Pakistan for Champions Trophy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rejected the offer by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to host the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 amid political unrest in Bangladesh.

The upcoming tournament is originally scheduled to be played in Bangladesh in October, but due to the ongoing unrest in the country, the ICC is considering relocating the tournament.

Due to travel advisories from multiple countries advising against travel to Bangladesh, the ICC asked India to host the tournament. However, the request was declined by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.

“They [ICC] have asked us if we would conduct the [Women’s T20] World Cup. I have categorically said no,” Shah told the Times of India.

“We’re in the monsoon and on top of that we will host the Women’s ODI World Cup next year. I don’t want to give any kind of signals that I want to hold consecutive World Cups.”

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After India rejected the offer, ICC is considering  Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the potential alternative hosts.

For the unversed, the unrest in Bangladesh led to the dethroning of the Sheikh Hasina government.

The new interim government is making an effort to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as per schedule, but the governments of participating teams are reluctant to send their teams to Bangladesh.

“The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB], their security agencies and our own independent security consultants,” an ICC statement said. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants.”

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