Sports
Islamic Solidarity Games: Bangladesh earn one silver, two bronze medals in archery
Bangladesh earned one silver and two bronze medals in archery competition of the ongoing 5th Islamic Solidarity Games in Turkish city Konya on Wednesday.
Bangladesh archery team comprising Roxana Akter, Shymoli Roy and Puspita Zaman clinched the silver medal in the women's compound team event losing to hosts Turkey by 229-222 points in the event's final on Wednesday.
This was the first silver medal for Bangladesh in the ongoing Islamic games that came easily from women's compound team event, participated by only two countries--Bangladesh and host Turkey.
Read: Islamic Solidarity Games: Bangladesh's prospective event archery begins Monday
Bangladesh men's and women's recurve teams also clinched two bronze medals on the day.
Bangladesh men's team consisting of Hakim Ahmed Rubel, Ruman Shana and Sagar Islam won the bronze medal in the men's recurve team event beating Saudi Arabia by 6-0 sets points in a bronze medal deciding match.
Earlier, Bangladesh men's recurve team beat Sudan in the pre quarter final, beat Iran in the quarterfinal and lost to Indonesia in the semifinal.
In the women's recurve team event, Bangladesh team comprising Diya Siddiqui, Nasrin Akter and Beauty Roy won the bronze medal beating Uzbekistan by 6-2 sets points
Earlier, Bangladesh women's recurve team defeated Malaysia in pre quarter final, beat Iran in the quarter final and lost to Indonesia by tie breaker in the semifinal.
Besides, Bangladeshi swimmer Mahmudun Nabi Nahid reached the semifinals of the men's 50-meter butterfly with a timing of 26.22 seconds.
In Karate, Al Amin of Bangladesh advanced to the quarter final of the men's under-60 kgs Kumi competition beating his rival from Yemen .
Asia Cup 2022: 12 Key Players to Watch in the Tournament
The second edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament in the twenty20 format will get underway on August 27 in the UAE. The final game in Dubai on September 11 will mark the end of the 16-day Asia Cup 2022 competition. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the winner of the qualifier tournament will compete in the main event. Let's take a look at the players who can have a significant influence on their teams during the Asia Cup 2022 competition.
12 players to keep an eye on at the 2022 Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2022 will feature some of the top cricketers in the world competing for their respective countries. These players have the power to alter a game's scenario on their own. Here are the top 12 players to keep an eye on during the fifteenth Asian Cup of cricket.
Mustafizur Rahman
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 28 | Wkts: 33 | BBI: 4/12 | Ave: 20.75 | Econ: 7.32
Left-arm medium pacer Mustafizur Rahman will lead Bangladesh’s bowling attack in the Asia Cup 2022. So, there is an added expectation for Mustafizur to unleash his true potential during the tournament. He is a very effective pacer in Asian conditions as his cutter delivery works really well in this part of the world. Besides, Mustafizur has been Bangladesh’s most successful T20 bowler since 2021. Will he be able to live up to the hype in the upcoming competition?
Read Shakib Al Hasan: Expectations from Bangladesh’s T20 captain in Asia Cup 2022
Mohammad Nabi
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 17 | Runs: 306 | HS: 43* | Ave: 27.81 | SR: 127.50
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 17 | Wkts: 11 | BBI: 2/15 | Ave: 30.09 | Econ: 8.07
Afghanistan’s veteran cricketer, Mohammad Nabi, is currently the world's No. 1 all-rounder in the T20 format. He is a genuine breakthrough bowler and a very dangerous power hitter in the middle-order. Nabi hasn’t been in his best form lately. The Afghan team wants Nabi to find his rhythm during the Asia Cup main event.
Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 25 | Runs: 259 | HS: 71 | Ave: 13.63 | SR: 122.16
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 25 | Wkts: 46 | BBI: 4/9 | Ave: 12.67 | Econ: 6.13
One of the exciting young talents in the world is Sri Lanka’s spin bowling all-rounder, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva. He is the second highest wicket-taker (46) in the Twenty20 format since January 2021, with an economy rate of 6.13. This stat speaks for itself about how lethal Wanindu Hasaranga is with his leg spin. Hasaranga also has power hitting ability and can accelerate the run rates lower down the order. This highly talented Lankan has the potential to be one of the most valuable players in the tournament.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
Rashid Khan
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 17 | Wkts: 22 | BBI: 4/9 | Ave: 18.40 | Econ: 6.39
Arguably the best T20 bowler in the world is Afghanistan’s leg-spin wizard, Rashid Khan. He is currently the best-ranked Asian bowler and overall third in the ICC’ rankings. Rashid will definitely be one of the most important players in the upcoming fifteenth edition of the Asia Cup. If he is in his best form, Afghanistan can surprise the big teams in their quest for the final.
Suryakumar Yadav
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 23 | Runs: 672 | HS: 117 | Ave: 37.33 | SR: 175.45
India’s present T20 batting sensation is middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav. He is in the second position in the ICC’s T20 batting rankings and is only 13 rating points shy of No. 1 Babar Azam. Suryakumar Yadav will be a vital player for the Indian side to construct important partnerships in the innings. He is one of the favourites to be the leading run scorer of the tournament.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 22 | Wkts: 25 | BBI: 3/26 | Ave: 24.80 | Econ: 7.73
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's left-arm pacer, is one of the top bowlers in the world right now. His ability to give early breakthroughs will be crucial for the Pakistan team during the competition. Shaheen will lead the Pakistan bowling attack during the competition. A lot will depend on Afridi in the case of Pakistan’s chances in the 2022 Asia Cup competition.
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Hardik Pandya
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 24 | Runs: 446 | HS: 51 | Ave: 29.73 | SR: 139.81
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 24 | Wkts: 12 | BBI: 4/33 | Ave: 34.50 | Econ: 8.11
Hardik Pandya is probably the most effective lower middle-order batter from Asia. In other words, he is the best No. 7 batter at the moment in the sub-continent. Therefore, Hardik has a lot of importance in the Indian team as a power-hitter in the death overs. Pandya is also a very effective medium pacer, especially in the middle overs.
Mohammad Rizwan
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 30 | Runs: 1349 | HS: 104* | Ave: 71.00 | SR: 134.63
Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is currently ranked no. 3 in the ICC’s batting rankings. He tops the list of most run scorers in the T20 format with 1,349 since January 2021. The Rizwan-Babar opening pair is arguably the best in the world in the Twenty20 format at the moment. The rest of the opponents will have a difficult time competing against Pakistan if this pair can get into their finest form.
Dasun Shanaka
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 28 | Runs: 532 | HS: 74* | Ave: 29.55 | SR: 122.29
Pathum Nissanka is probably the most reliable batter for the Lankan side. However, the way Dasun Shanaka has batted this year is just simply outstanding. He has made 308 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate of 145.28 this year. Sri Lanka would have a better chance of winning the championship if he could maintain his strong batting performance in the forthcoming tournament.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
Rohit Sharma
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 24 | Runs: 714 | HS: 74 | Ave: 31.04 | SR: 146.31
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, is yet to lose a series after being appointed as a permanent captain of the format earlier this year. Rohit has a good reputation as a captain and his batting can be destructive at times. If Rohit shines with the bat, then the rest of the teams will surely find it difficult to stop India. The charismatic Indian captain is more than capable of leading his team to victory on his own and is committed to bringing home the eighth Asia Cup title for his nation.
Babar Azam
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 30 | Runs: 1005 | HS: 122 | Ave: 38.65 | SR: 128.51
Arguably the best batter in the world across all formats, Pakistan’s Babar Azam is currently ranked no. 1 in the ICC’s batting rankings. He is in the form of his life with the bat and can be a nightmare for the opposition during the competition. Babar’s commanding batting display could help Pakistan win this year’s Asia Cup tournament.
Shakib Al Hasan
T20I batting stats since January 2021:
M: 23 | Runs: 443 | HS: 68* | Ave: 21.09 | SR: 111.58
T20I bowling stats since January 2021:
M: 23 | Wkts: 29 | BBI: 4/9 | Ave: 17.93 | Econ: 6.29
Bangladesh’s newly appointed Twenty20 captain and world No. 2 all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be determined to do well in the competition. Though Shakib’s recent form hasn’t been so impressive, there is no doubt about his ability as a player. Who can forget Shakib’s magnificent outing in the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup? If he can repeat that performance all through the competition, Bangladesh will have a decent chance of making it to the Asia Cup final.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Bottom Line
The top teams in the subcontinent will give it their all to win the Asia Cup 2022 event. Therefore, each team's prominent players will be very important during the major event. The above mentioned players have the potential to have an impact on their teams. These renowned cricketers are also serious candidates for the player of the tournament award. In addition to them, each squad has other key players who have the potential to step up and play vital roles for their respective teams. The team with the right balance and strength in each department is likely to advance to the competition's final.
West Indies A beat Bangladesh in 1st one-day
In the first unofficial one-day, the West Indies A beat Bangladesh A by four wickets on Tuesday at Gros Islet.
Bangladesh suffered a heavy batting collapse, dismissed just for 80 runs while batting first. Only three batters were able to reach a double-digit score, and the highest individual total was 25 scored by Jaker Ali.
Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Sabbir Rahman failed to impress with the bat on a track with some grasses on it.
Read:Bangladesh to take on all ICC full members in next FTP
Right-arm medium pacer Justin Greaves bagged four wickets for the hosts while Anderson Phillip and Shermon Lewis took two wickets each.
In reply, West Indian batters also had a tough time on the crease. They lost six wickets to chase down a below-par total of 80 runs.
Bangladesh A’s pace-bowling duo, Mukidul Islam and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, bagged two wickets each.
The remaining matches of the one-dayers will be played on August 18 and 20. All the matches will take place at the same venue.
Bangladesh to take on all ICC full members in next FTP
In the next cycle of the ICC Men’s Future Tour Programme (FTP), Bangladesh will take on all full members of the ICC, the new FTP published by the ICC revealed.
The next FTP will start in 2023 and end in 2027.
The announcement of the FTP, a result of a collective effort of the members with ICC’s support, ensures the certainty of cricket fixtures with the confirmation of all bilateral series across the three formats.
However, the exact dates of the series that Bangladesh would play will be finalised by the involving boards.
Bangladesh will make a tour of Ireland in June 2023, which will be followed by a home series of two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is against Afghanistan in June. They also have a busy calendar in 2024 during which they will host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from February to April and then will play Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in away Tests mid-year.
Read:Unofficial Test between Bangladesh A, West Indies A ends in draw
A home Test series against South Africa and an away full tour of the West Indies (two Tests, three ODIS and three T20Is) are part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 while the 2025-27 WTC finishes off for them with a challenging home series against England and an away series in Australia.
Bangladesh play New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka at home in the 2023-25 WTC while touring India, Pakistan and the West Indies. In the 2025-27 cycle, they play England, Pakistan and the West Indies at home and have away series scheduled in Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. All of these series are part of the WTC.
Before the announcement of the men’s FTP, the ICC announced the first-ever women’s FTP was announced.
“I’d like to thank our Members for the effort that has gone into creating this FTP for the next four years. We are incredibly lucky to have three vibrant formats of the game, with an outstanding programme of ICC global events and strong bilateral and domestic cricket and this FTP is designed to allow all cricket to flourish,” ICC GM of Cricket Wasim Khan said in a press release published by the ICC.
“The 2023-2027 FTP is very pleasing for Bangladesh,” BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said. “We have received a healthy share of matches against members across formats. This FTP is also a credit to the efforts of the ICC scheduling team and the member Boards and the cooperation between the stakeholders.”
Bangladesh are currently busy preparing for the Asia Cup 2022 starting on August 27 in the UAE. The BCB has already announced a squad for the Asia Cup with Shakib Al Hasan being the captain.
Islamic Solidarity Games: Bangladeshi lifter Sohayaba Rahman sets a new national record
Bangladeshi female weightlifter Sohayaba Rahman set a new national record in the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games now being held in the Turkish city of Konya on Tuesday, lifting total 148 kgs in the women's 80+ Kg weight category.Sohayba lifted 64 KGs in the snatch to break the previous national record of lifting 62 Kgs. In Clean and Jerk, she lifted 84 Kgs to improve the previous national marks of 77 Kgs. In total, she lifted 148 Kgs - bettering the previous best 139 Kgs. But, her performance was not enough to earn a medal in the event as she finished eighth out of eight participants in the 80+ KG weight category.Archery is considered Bangladesh's most prospective event in the ongoing Islamic games. but country's two famed archers Ruman Shana and Diya Siddique did not fulfill their expectation and were eliminated from the quarterfinals of their favorite recurve singles events in the Islamic Solidarity Games.
Read: Islamic Games: Imranur finishes 6th in 100-meter sprintIn the women's recurve singles, Diya lost to Yasemin Ecem of Turkey by 7-3 set points in the quarterfinals. Ecem won the first set by 28-25, the second set ended in a draw (29-29), third set Ecem won by 27-25. Diya won the fourth set by 28-26 and kept the game alive but in the next set, she lost by 28-24 points. In the men's recurve singles, Ruman Shana lost to Ungalov Ozodbek of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, he lost by 6-0 (29/27, 27/26, 29/25). Two other male recurve archers, Hakim Ahmed Rubel and Shagor Islam failed to reach the quarterfinals, they were eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals. In women's recurve, Nasrin Akter was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals and Beauty Roy was eliminated in the second round. In the games swimming, Asif Reza of Bangladesh participated in the 100 meter freestyle in the third Heat and Asif finished sixth with a timing of 54.27 seconds.In fencing, Bangladeshi fencer lost to Lebanon by 45-41 points in the second round of Men's individual foil.
Football League : Mugda SKKS beat PWD SC by1-0 goal
Mugda Samaj Kallyan & Krira Sangsad beat Public Works Department (PWD) Sporting Club by 1-0 goal in the Bashundhara Group Metropolis Senior (First) Division Football League at Kamalapur Stadium here on Tuesday.
Abu Taleb Parvez scored the match-winner for Mugda team in the stoppage time (90+2 minute ) of the match.
Read:FIFA suspends India's football body over 'third party influence'
In the day's another match, Jabrabari Krira Chakra defeated Bangladesh Boys Club also by 1-0 goal at the same venue scored by Jahidul Hasan Dalim in the 25th minute from a penalty.
The day's other match between Friends Social Welfare Organization and East End Club ended in 1-1 draw at the same venue.
Badhon Kanti Shil put Friends Club ahead in the 17th minute while Luxman Chandra Barman leveled the margin for East End Club in the 35th minute.
Anderson doubts many more test cricketers will play at 40
England pacer James Anderson believes cricketers playing test matches in their 40s will soon be a thing of the past because of the changing nature of the sport.
Anderson, who turned 40 last month, made his test debut against Zimbabwe in May 2003 and has gone on to claim 657 wickets in 172 matches. He is still going strong and is set to lead the England attack in the first test of the three-match series against South Africa, starting Wednesday at Lord's.
Graham Gooch, an opening batter, was the last men's test player to play for England in their forties, making his final appearance at the age of 41 in November 1994. The last seamer to represent England in that age bracket was Les Jackson, who made the last of his two test appearances at the age of 40 — 12 years after his debut — in 1961.
Anderson said long-time teammate Stuart Broad, who is 36, might go on to be a 40-year-old test cricketer but doubts anyone else will.
"No one will be stupid enough,” Anderson said.
Read: ENG vs IND 2022: Bumrah breaks record as India dominate 5th Test
“Everything that has gone in the world with franchise cricket, the Hundred, short forms of the game, I can’t see anyone wanting to play test cricket for this long.”
Anderson was dropped for the tour of the West Indies in March before returning to the team this summer for the series against New Zealand and then the one-off test with India, where he claimed a 32nd five-wicket haul of his remarkable career.
Anderson said his passion for the game remains.
“I feel proud I’ve got to where I have. I feel fortunate as well that I’ve still got the love for the game and the desire to get better and still do the training and the nets and whatever else that comes with it,” he said.
“Because with a lot of people that’s the first thing that goes and that’s when you start slowing down and winding down. But for me, I feel like that passion is still there. So I feel fortunate for that. I feel fortunate that my body’s still functioning properly and allowing me to do the job that I love.”
Anderson has contemplated retirement, however.
“Probably (I thought about it) the last three tours of Australia,” he said, laughing.
“The biggest one is when you get an injury — the only time I’d ever think, ‘Can I be bothered going through the whole rehab process?’ A few years ago, I had quite a few calf issues. That’s when you’ve got to think about whether you want to do it or not."
Ballon d'Or 2022: Karim Benzema strong favourite for the prestigious award
The 30-man shortlist for the French Football magazine’s yearly award, the Ballon d'Or, was revealed on August 12 (Friday). For the very first time, the award will be given based on the results of the previous season, not the year. Therefore, this year’s main event will be held on October 17 at the Théâtre du Chatelet. Argentina’s Lionel Messi wasn’t included among the nominees for the first time since 2005. France’s Karim Benzema is the early favoruite to win this year's award. Besides, some of the players from the shortlist are nominated for the award for the first time. Let's look at the Ballon d'Or 2022 predictions.
Potential candidates to win the 2022 Ballon d’Or award
Some footballers deserve to be included among the top three lists for the gala event because of their outstanding 2021–2022 European club football seasons. Here are the top 10 players that have a chance to take home the prestigious award.
10) Son Heung-min (South Korea & Tottenham Hotspur)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
Premier League Golden Boot (personal)
Son Heung-min became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot award in the 2021–2022 season with 23 goals. He was one of the top performers in European club football last season. Son netted 30 goals and assisted 10, helping Tottenham to finish in the top four in the points table.
Read FIFA suspends India's football body over 'third party influence'
9) Trent Alexander-Arnold (England & Liverpool)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield, Champions League (Runner-Up)
Trent Alexander-Arnold might not be one of the top fullbacks in Europe in terms of defensive prowess. However, going forward, he is one of the best in the world, as evidenced by his 22 assists last season.
8) Thibaut Courtois (Belgium & Real Madrid)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
La Liga, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had a fantastic 2021-2022 season with Real Madrid. Courtois made a total of 23 clean sheets and his brilliant performance in the UCL final helped Madrid win their 14th Champions League trophy.
7) Luka Modric (Croatia & Real Madrid)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
La Liga, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana
At 36, Luka Modric has proved that he is still capable of producing magical performances when needed. Modric had some brilliant moments with Real Madrid last season, especially in the Champions League. Apart from scoring 7 goals, the sensational midfielder also made 14 assists.
Read Barcelona sells more assets as it hopes to register players
6) Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium & Manchester City)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
Premier League
Attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne had another stellar season with Manchester City. He netted 21 goals and assisted 18 times last season, which helped the Citizens to win the Premier League title for the fourth time in five years.
5) Vinicius Junior (Brazil & Real Madrid)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
La Liga, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana
The Brazilian wunderkind Vinicius Junior was one of the key members of Real Madrid’s fruitful 2021–2022 season. He has shown magnificent bondage with Karim Benzema upfront, which ultimately helped the Los Blancos to win the UCL trophy. Vinicius scored 22 goals apart from assisting 19 times.
4) Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich & Barcelona)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
Bundesliga, European Golden Boot (personal)
The Polish goal machine, Robert Lewandowski, had another magnificent season with Bayern Munich. He scored 57 times in the 2021–2022 season for the Bavarians. Lewandowski can finish in the top three since the Ballon d’Or is an individual award.
Read Benzema, Courtois, De Bruyne on shortlist for UEFA award
3) Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield, Champions League (Runner-Up), Premier League Golden Boot (personal)
Liverpool’s main hitman, Egyptian Mohamed Salah, found the net 33 times and made 19 assists as well last season. Salah was one of the main reasons Liverpool reached three finals and finished second in the Premier League.
2) Sadio Mane (Senegal, Liverpool & Bayern Munich)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
FA Cup, EFL Cup, DFL-Supercup, Champions League (Runner-Up)
Sadio Mane was simply incredible during the 2021-2022 season. He smashed 33 goals and assisted five times for Liverpool, helping his team to win the FA Cup and EFL Cup. Mane is the early favourite to finish in the top three on the list.
1) Karim Benzema (France & Real Madrid)
Notable achievements in 2021-2022 season:
La Liga, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana, Pichichi Trophy (personal), UCL player of the season (personal), UCL top goal scorer (personal)
Almost everyone is of the opinion that Karim Benzema will win the Ballon d'Or 2022 award after a stellar campaign with Real Madrid. He has been Madrid's go-to player for the past two years, scoring goals when his club most needed them. The Frenchman contributed 15 assists along with 48 goals scored for Real Madrid last season. Karim also won the UEFA Nations League (2020–21).
Read Rights group urges FIFA, Qatar to compensate WCup workers
Verdict
The majority of football experts and journalists think that French forward Karim Benzema of Real Madrid will win this year's Ballon d'Or 2022 award because of how he played in the 2021–202 season. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are the heavy favorites to place in the top three since Liverpool finished as the runners-up in the Champions League last year. Besides that, Vinicius Junior and Robert Lewandowski are the other two contenders who have a good chance of making the top three list.
Shakib Al Hasan: Expectations from Bangladesh’s T20 captain in Asia Cup 2022
After several days of hype surrounding the appointment of a new captain for Bangladesh national men's Twenty20 team, the BCB finally confirmed on Saturday (August 13) that Shakib will captain the team for the upcoming three international series, which include the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE and the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. It may have been a risky move for the Cricket Board to choose a new captain at a time when two crucial events are approaching. The fact that the name is Shakib creates an air of hope. The expectations from the ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and his record as Bangladesh's national male cricket team's T20 captain are discussed in this article.
Shakib’s record as Twenty20 captain of the Bangladesh national team
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was first appointed as captain when regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza suffered a knee injury during the first Test of the West Indies tour in 2009. Shakib acted as captain for the remainder of the tour, which included a lone T20I as well. Under his captaincy, Bangladesh won all of their fixtures on the 2009 Caribbean tour. Shakib then captained Bangladesh in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 and lost both of their group phase fixtures against Pakistan and Australia, respectively.
The BCB later scrapped Shakib from the captaincy and appointed Mushfiqur Rahim to lead the national side. Seven years later, in 2017, Shakib was re-appointed, but his second stint as T20 captain didn’t come out as expected. Bangladesh only won one series out of six under his captaincy from 2017 to 2019. In terms of stats, Shakib is the second-worst Twenty20 captain in Bangladesh.
Read Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis of Bangladesh National Men’s T20 Cricket Squad
Bangladesh’s T20 captaincy record (at least 10 matches)
Player
Matches
Win
Loss
Percentage (%)
Mahmudullah Riyad
43
16
26
38.09
Mashrafe Mortaza
28
10
17
37.03
Mushfiqur Rahim
23
8
14
36.36
Shakib Al Hasan
21
7
14
33.33
Mohammad Ashraful
11
2
9
18.18
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
How will Shakib fare as Bangladesh’s T20 captain in 2022 Asia Cup?
Shakib has come a long way since making his international debut in 2006. He has seen many highs and lows in his 16 illustrious years of international cricket. At 35, he is nearing the end of his career and probably has a good two to three years left before hanging up his boots. Despite the fact that Shakib hasn’t achieved noteworthy successes as captain in T20Is, one can’t rule out the possibility that he will be a success in his third term as skipper. He has all the qualities and experience to lead the Bangladesh Twenty20 side. Here are some of his captaincy qualities that could make a difference for Bangladesh during the upcoming 2022 Asia Cup event.
Leadership Quality
Perhaps the most important element to being a captain is to have leadership qualities. Shakib is well respected and idolized by the young players in the Bangladesh squad. He has a strong influence in the dressing room in terms of making decisions. Therefore, there is no doubt about Shakib’s leadership capability.
Clear Vision
Shakib Al Hasan has a clear vision of what he demands from his players. He knows the players very well, their strengths and weaknesses. Shakib will consider a player’s playing ability in a particular role when making a game plan. It remains to be seen whether the player can fulfill his role during the game and how much of an impact he can have on the team. Shakib’s strong will as a leader will help Bangladesh's team to produce good performances in the forthcoming two big events.
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Game Awareness
The ability to make sensible judgments is one of a competent captain's most crucial qualities. A captain must pay close attention to three crucial decisions during a match: field selection, bowling substitutions, and batting order rearrangement. Shakib's talent as a cricketer and intelligence are widely recognized. Shakib is far savvier than the former skipper, Mahmudullah Riyad, when it comes to knowing what to do in different match situations.
Way Forward
It is clear that Shakib's track record as the Bangladesh national team's T20 captain is not the best. The Bangladesh Cricket Board now has no better candidate than Shakib to replace Mahmudullah Riyad as T20 captain. The talented all-rounder is perhaps Bangladesh's finest player to date, having played Twenty20 cricket in different parts of the cricketing world. Shakib is the best candidate to captain the team since he can inspire the players and bring forth their best performances in the Asian Cup Cricket tournament.
In addition, he has an in-depth understanding of what it takes to overcome tougher opponents and unfamiliar conditions. Though only time will tell whether Shakib Al Hasan can meet the expectations as Bangladesh T20 captain in the Asia Cup 2022.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
FIFA suspends India's football body over 'third party influence'
In a big blow to Indian football, international apex body FIFA on Tuesday suspended the country's soccer association "due to undue influence from third parties".
This means that India will not be able to host the big-ticket Women's Under-17's World Cup, slated to begin in the country on 11 October.
"The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes," the apex soccer body said in a release.
"The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned," it added.
Also read: Rights group urges FIFA, Qatar to compensate WCup workers
However, on an optimistic note, FIFA said that the suspension will be revoked "once the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF's daily affairs".
"FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved," it added.
In May this year, India's Supreme Court disbanded the AIFF and appointed a committee of administrators to govern the popular sport in this country.
Also read: US stays top of FIFA women's rankings; England up to No. 4
This was because of the Indian football association's failure to hold elections since December 2020 when the tenure of its last governing body ended, with the AIFF attributing the same to the pending legal cases regarding its constitution.