Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been rated as the second Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 21st century in ODI cricket by world famous cricket monthly "Wisden".

Shakib, who has been banned for a year, is also ranked sixth in Tests, but did not get a place in the top 20 in T20 format.

Wisden has revealed the list of the most valuable players (MVP) of the modern century in their monthly edition 33, published in July.

In a statement on Saturday, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell congratulated Shakib for being selected as second most valuable player of the century in ODI cricket by Wisden.

"It's very good news for the countrymen during the deadly Covid-19 situations. It's a very big achievement for us. With this feat, our position in world cricket will further be strongthened and I do hope Shakib will bring more laurel for the country continuing his brilliant form in future," he added.

Also read: ICC bans Shakib from all forms of cricket for 2 years

Wisden has selected the ‘Most Valuable Players’ (MVP) in a joint study with cricket statistics organisation Cricviz and the MVP selection is decided on the equivalent of how much a player contributed to the match.

Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan has been named the most valuable player in Tests, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been named the best player in ODIs while Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan got the honour in T20 format.

Apart from Muralitharan, Shakib is followed by India’s Rabindra Jadeja, Australia’s Steve Smith, Glenn McGrath and South Africa’s Shaun Pollock.

The formula invented by Cricviz’s data scientist Sam Green, was used to select the MVPs. The formula calculates how much a player has done better or worse than others in a match for a team. The average is then added after adding points to all the matches played at the pointed time period.

However, Wisden Cricket Monthly has said that they have not selected the ‘best’ players, but have found the most influential cricketers of the time.

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has tested positive for COVID-19 again, confirmed sources close to his family.

Mashrafe had tested positive for the virus on June 20. He has been getting treatment at his home in Dhaka since then. He never complained about his health condition.

The former captain gave his sample for test again on June 30 and he tested positive. However, his health condition is stable.

Also read: Mashrafe infected with coronavirus

Mashrafe will take another test after a few days, confirmed sources.

After Mashrafe was tested positive, his younger brother, Morsalin Bin Mortaza, was also tested positive. He, however, is also doing well.

Not only Mashrafe, but also Nazmul Islam Apu, Nafis Iqbal had also been tested positive, but the latter duo has been tested negative last week.

Due to coronavirus, all cricketing activities are on hold in Bangladesh since mid-March. BCB, however, is planning to resume cricketing activities from the last of July or early August.

Minhajul Abedin, the chief selector of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), said starting domestic cricket is the first priority of the board in the post-COVID-19 era.

In a recent media release, BCB said they have prepared all the major cricketing venues so the cricketers can start preparation. However, the board is yet to give permission to start training.

“We're thinking to resume cricketing activities at the end of July or early August. If the coronavirus situation improves, there's a chance to resume training. We've prepared all the major venues of the country keeping this in mind,” Minhajul told the media.

“We can’t start international cricket right away after the COVID-19 situations. We've to play plenty of domestic cricket before going to play cricket on a bigger stage. So we are planning to start domestic cricket first,” he added.

Read Also: BCB to look to government for instruction regarding SL tour

The last cricket match in Bangladesh took place on March 16 in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. Since then, all cricketing activities are on hold.

Bangladesh played their last international match on March 11 this year against Zimbabwe. Since then, Bangladesh’s 14 international matches were postponed due to the pandemic, that includes six Tests (three against Sri Lanka, two against Australia, one against Pakistan), four ODIs (three against Ireland, one against Pakistan) and four T20Is (all against Ireland).

While BCB is trying to resume cricketing activities in the country, international cricket is also around the corner to resume as Pakistan will take on the Netherlands in the maiden ODI of the tri-nation series, that also includes England, on July 4 at Amstelveen.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday said they have prepared all major cricketing venues of the country to ensure practising facilities of the cricketers.

They also said more than a hundred groundsmen have been working hard to prepare these venues for the players.

Due to coronavirus, all cricketing activities are on hold in Bangladesh since March 16 this year. All cricketers have been passing time at home doing nothing. Top players have fitness training facilities at their home. But most cricketers depend on the practising facilities of the board.

“As part of the BCB’s continuing efforts at facilitating its exit strategy following the disruption to programmes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, major international and first-class venues such as the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Dhaka, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chattogram, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS) in Sylhet, Khan Shahaeb Osman Ali Stadium (KSOAS) in Fatullah, Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (SKICS) in Cox’s Bazar, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium (SANS) in Khulna, Shahid Chandu Stadium (SCS) in Bogra and Shahid Kamaruzzaman Stadium (SKS) in Rajshahi have been undergoing constant maintenance,” a recent BCB media release reads.

The groundsmen are following hygiene and safety standards as per the COVID-19 guideline of the board. BCB said, despite the challenges of ensuring adequate workforce during coronavirus, a sufficient number of cleaners have been assigned at the BCB facilities.

“Over 100 groundsmen and venue personnel have remained active with pitch, outfield and facilities maintenance at the stadiums which is an ongoing process. Regular work includes watering, trimming and cutting of the grass, administering fertilisers and insecticides, top dressing, planting of Bermuda grass, removal of weed, rolling and sand filling. In addition, checking and servicing of ground equipment and machinery is mandatory at all stadiums. Technicians for power supply and water substations are also on duty,” BCB release also reads.

Nizam Uddin Chowdury, the BCB CEO, said the board is eagerly waiting to see the cricket is backed to the field, and to ensure that, they are have been working hard.

“We are very mindful of the fact that we have to get our cricketers back on the field sooner rather than later. The process of resumption should start with training and for that, we have kept our grounds and practice facilities fully prepared and functional,” he said in the media release.

While BCB is trying to secure players’ return to the field, international cricket is also around the corner to resume as Pakistan will take on the Netherlands in the maiden ODI of the tri-nation series, that also includes England, on July 4 at Amstelveen.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF)  reappointed  Paul Smalley of England as the national Technical Director for two years on Wednesday (June 1)  for its technical department.

His tenure will start in the middle of August like the two other Englishmen -- national football team head coach Jamie Day and assistant coach Stuart Watkiss.

Paul Smalley was reappointed for the post as per the recommendation of BFF technical committee and as well as the written consent of majority BFF members.

Of the 21 member BFF Executive Committee, 15 members gave their consent in favour of Paul, four opposed his candidature and the rest two were refrained from giving their consent.

Paul Smalley left the BFF job on October 20 last year after completion of his three-year contract as the Federation  didn’t extend his contract due to his demand of a higher salary.

Smalley, who had later joined The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam after BFF, but was keen to return to his old workplace in Bangladesh.

"I am excited to be given the opportunity to join the Federation again as I really enjoyed my time previously. The president rekindled my desire by a passionate vision and plan to continue the development of football in Bangladesh" .Paul Smalley was quoted in a BFF media release.

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin also welcomed his return.

"We are excited and pleased to have Paul back with the Federation. Paul is an experienced and modern technical director and enjoyed a successful time previously with us."said BFF boss Kazi Salahuddin.

During his previous tenure, Smalley mostly worked with the women’s age-group teams and conducted some coaching courses but failed to make any notable contribution to the national team.