Sports
Aussie plays in cricket final despite positive COVID-19 test
Star batter Tahlia McGrath tested positive for COVID-19 but was still allowed to help Australia win the first Commonwealth Games gold medal awarded in women’s cricket, beating India by nine runs in Sunday's final at Edgbaston.
Top-ranked Australia was pushed to the brink by India, which was led superbly by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, before claiming seven wickets in the last five overs for victory.
There was drama midway through Australia’s innings when the team confirmed McGrath had tested positive for the coronavirus before the game.
Had the match been played in Australia, McGrath could not have played. But the Commonwealth Games rules for participation are more relaxed to match the regulations around coronovirus protocols in host nation England.
McGrath reported mild symptoms to team management before the final and returned a positive test but received clearance to play from the International Cricket Council and also the Commonwealth Games Foundation.
Australian team officials said medical staff “implemented a range of comprehensive protocols” during and after the match to minimize the risk of transmission.
That led to an unusual moment early in India’s innings as it chased Australia’s total of 161-8.
After taking an important catch in the third over, McGrath had to wave her teammates away from her as they were gathering to celebrate the moment. She had to isolate after the match as her teammates celebrated the victory.
With Harmanpreet at the crease, India appeared to have a strong chance of reaching Australia’s target.
But when she was out for 65, the momentum swung back to Australia and India was bowled out for 152.
Australian fast bowler Megan Schutt said the team knew about McGrath’s positive test and were all happy to play alongside her.
“She feels absolutely fine, so I think the positive result was an absolute shock to her," Schutt said. “Probably the strangest part of all was not being able to celebrate with her.”
Australia became the first nation to reach 1,000 all-time gold medals at the Commonwealth Games — included 66 golds so in Birmingham — when the top-ranked Diamonds defeated Jamaica 55-51 in a tough netball final, avenging a loss in the group stage.
Read:Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
With one day of competition remaining, Australia had a decisive lead in the medal standings over second place England, which had 55 golds and 166 medals overall.
Also Sunday, and only a week after the England women's soccer team won the European Championship, its women’s field hockey team won a Commonwealth Games title for the first time.
It was a case of seventh time lucky for England, which beat four-time champion Australia 2-1 in the final.
In the six previous editions where women’s hockey has been played in the Games, England had claimed either silver or bronze medals.
The crowd was already singing “Hockey’s coming home,” changing a popular chant usually associated with soccer, when Australia scored its only goal with 19 seconds remaining.
Australian rider Georgia Baker won the women’s road race, giving her three gold medals for the Games, and New Zealander Aaron Gate claimed a fourth cycling gold medal of the Games, displaying his remarkable versatility to win the men’s road race.
The 31-year-old Gate also won the individual and team pursuits, as well as the points race, and he is the first New Zealand cyclist to claim four gold medals in a Games.
“That’s a special thing, making history," he said. “It gives a challenge to other Kiwis to go for that record in years to come.”
Australia’s double world champion javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Barber again played the waiting game to perfection. After adding the 2022 world championship title in Oregon last month to her success in Doha in 2019, Barber was a hot favorite to claim her first Commonwealth gold medal.
But on the eve of the opening ceremony on July 28, she tested positive for COVID-19, putting her into isolation and casting doubt over her participation. She received clearance to compete on Thursday.
“Mentally, I coped," she said. “I wasn’t going to let it affect my performance today.”
She saved her best throw for last.
Trailing her teammate Mackenzie Little, who threw a personal best of 64.27 meters, Barber responded with an effort of 64.43 meters to clinch the gold medal on her sixth and last attempt.
England won gold when the 4x100-meter men’s relay team sprinted to success over Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria.
Zharnel Hughes backed up from his second in the 200-meters final on Saturday night to run a strong second leg when seizing the advantage for England, which clocked 38.35 seconds.
Nigeria claimed the women’s 4x100 relay gold medal, with Jamaican champion Elaine Thompson-Herah finishing strongly as the anchor to clinch bronze for her nation.
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem threw a meet record 90.18 meters to win the javelin gold medal, relegating two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada to silver with a mark of 88.64 and Kenya's Julius Yego into bronze. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India missed the competition because of an injury sustained while earning a silver at the world championships last month.
Wins in the women's 4x400 relay, after England was disqualified for a lane infringement, and in the women's beach volleyball final helped lift Canada to 26 gold medals and 91 overall in third place in the standings after 11 days of competition. The Canadians were seven gold medals ahead of New Zealand and eight clear of fifth-place India.
Islamic Games: Mou makes good start in women's singles table tennis
Sadia Islam Mou of Bangladesh made a good start in women's singles Table Tennis of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games beating her rival from Djibouti by 3-0 straight sets held in the Turkish city of Konya on Sunday.She will play the next match against her Pakistani rival.Another Bangladeshi paddler Sonam Sultana Soma, who got walkover against Guyana in the day's other match. will play next match against her rival from Cameroon.In the men's singles, Mohtasin Ahmed Hridoy of Bangladesh lost to his Iranian rival by 2-3 sets while another Bangladeshi Ramhim Leam Boom lost to his Tajik rival by straight 0-3 sets.In the women's handball, Bangladesh team conceded 10-51 goals defeat against hosts Turkey.
Read: Chess Olympiad: Bangladesh beat New Zealand in Open DivisionAlthough the formal opening of the Islamic Solidarity Games will be held on Tuesday (Aug 9), but a good number of the competitions have already started and some medals were also decided in Konya.Fencer Fatema Mujib, who won gold medal in the last SAFF Games, will carry the red and green flag in opening ceremony the Islamic Solidarity Games Konya, 2022 on Tuesday..An 84-member contingent are representing Bangladesh in the Islamic Solidarity Games Konya' 2022 in eleven disciplines of sports--Athletics, Archery, Fencing, Gymnastics, Handball, Karate, Shooting, swimming, Table Tennis, Wrestling, and Weight-lifting.
Chess Olympiad: Bangladesh beat New Zealand in Open Division
Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 2.5-1.5 points in the 8th round open division match of the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad held at Mahabalipuram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Saturday night.
In Saturday's 8th round match, Bangladeshi FIDE Master Mehdi Hasan Parag (Rating-2227) won against Stark John (Rating-2028) of New zealand while Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib (Rating-2377), Grand Master Ziaur Rahman (Rating-2424) and Grand Master Niaz Murshed (Rating-2413) drew with Kiwis FIDE Master Gong Daniel Hanwen (Rating-2296), Croa, Nicolas (Rating-2289) and Candidate Master Xie Felix (Rating-2224) respectively.
In the open category, Bangladesh team is now in the 48th position with 10 points from eight matches.
But, Bangladesh team lost to Turkey by 1-3 points in the women's division 8th round match of the Olympiad on the same day.
In the women's category, only Bangladeshi Woman FIDE Master Nazrana Khan Eva (Rating-1829) won against Kocyigit, Buse Naz (rating-1991) of Turkey while Woman International Master Sharmin Sultana Shirin (rating-1995), Woman FIDE Master Noshin Anjum (rating-2027) and Woman Candidate Master Jannatul Ferdous (rating-1815) of Bangladesh lost to Turkish international Master Atalik Ekaterina (rating-2422), Woman FIDE Master Okuyaz Duru (Rating-2090) and Woman Candidate Master Onur Cigdem (Rating-2000) respectively.
Bangladesh Women's team is now in the 71st place with 8 points from 8 matches.
Raza guides Zimbabwe to historic series win
Sikandar Raza hit another century in the second match of the three-ODI series against Bangladesh Sunday and guided Zimbabwe to a historic series win in Harare.
Zimbabwe's last ODI series win against Bangladesh came in 2013. After a long wait of nine years, they again beat Bangladesh in an ODI series with one match to play.
The visitors batted first in today's match after losing the toss for the second time. They finished on 290-9, riding on an unbeaten 80 of Mahmudullah Riyad.
Read: Bangladesh’s journey in Asia Cup Cricket Tournament So Far
Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque made a brisk start scoring 71 in 10.6 overs. Tamim perished for 50 off 45 balls. The next three batters – Aamul (20), Najmul Hossain Shanto (38) and Mushfiqur Rahim (25) failed to convert their promising starts into substantial scores.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza bagged three wickets conceding 56 in his 10 overs while Wesley Madhevere took two conceding 40 in nine overs.
Chasing 290, the hosts lost three wickets for 27 runs. Two of their first three wickets were taken by pacer Hasan Mahmud who played his first match in this series.
In the fourth wicket stand, Zimbabwe added 22 runs. Taijul Islam took the fourth wicket. The spinner also played his first match in this series.
In the fifth wicket stand, shared by Sikandar Raza and Zimbabwean captain Regis Chkabva, the home side added 201 runs – Zimbabwe's first 200-run stand against Bangladesh in ODIs and overall third 200-run stand in ODIs against any opponent.
Read: Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Raza and Chakabva hit a 100 each. Raza had hit a ton in the first match of the series as well which helped Zimbabwe to register their maiden win against Bangladesh in nine years.
Today, the hosts chased down the target of 291 with five wickets in hand.
For Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged two wickets each.
"The series win is a massive achievement," Chakabva said after the match. "We have been playing some good cricket. We were itching to play good cricket."
"We've been trying to play positive cricket. The coaches asked me to take it deep and I batted positively. We have to play good cricket again, we'll be looking to win in the last match as well."
"The difference is four centuries for them and zero for us (in the series)," Bangladesh captain Tamim said after the match. "We put up a decent total. But all credit to Zimbabwe, they were the better team this series."
The last and final ODI of this series will take place on August 10 at the same venue. Before the ODI series, the hosts won the T20I series 2-1.
Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Basketball on Monday
Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, organized by Bangladesh Basketball Federation, will be held on Monday (August 8) at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur.President of Bangladesh Basketball Federation ( BBF) Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, who is also the president of Bangladesh Medical Association, will inaugurate the day-long meet Monday afternoon.
Read: Raza guides Zimbabwe to historic series win
Bangladesh Basketball Federation arranged the tournament on the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh’s journey in Asia Cup Cricket Tournament So Far
The Bangladesh national cricket team started their journey on the international stage in the 1986 Asia Cup cricket competition against Pakistan, which they lost by 7 wickets. Team Tigers have participated in thirteen Asian Cup tournaments so far, which includes twelve ODI format events and one Twenty20 format event. Bangladesh had struggled in the early events of the competition. However, their recent performances in the tournament have been impressive. Bangladesh’s performances in the Asia Cup tournament is discussed in this article.
Bangladesh’s performances in the Asia Cup Cricket events (1986- 2018)
The Bangladesh team was considered minnows when they made their first appearance in the 1986 edition. They have played in all editions of the tournament since then and hosted a record five Asia Cup cricket competitions, including three in a row in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Here are Bangladesh's performances in the Asia Cup Cricket tournaments.
1986 Asia Cup
Bangladesh finished third in the group stage in the second edition of the Asia Cup. They lost both of their group stage fixtures by 7 wickets against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively.
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
1988 Asia Cup
Bangladesh first hosted an Asia Cup competition in the year 1988. They faced India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the group stage and lost all the matches.
1990/1991 Asia Cup
Bangladesh’s winless run in the Asia Cup continued in the fourth edition of the tournament. They lost both of their group stage fixtures against India and Sri Lanka, respectively.
1995 Asia Cup
In the 1995 Asia Cup in the UAE, Bangladesh played all three Asian giants: India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They once again finished the competition winless by losing all three fixtures.
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
1997 Asia Cup
Bangladesh remained winless in the 1997 Asia Cup tournament in Sri Lanka.
2000 Asia Cup
The BCB organized the seventh edition of the Asia Cup in Dhaka. They were defeated by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India in the group stage and knocked out of the tournament.
2004 Asia Cup
Four years later, Sri Lanka hosted the eighth edition of the competition. Bangladesh finally earned their first victory in the competition as they beat Hong Kong by 116 runs in a group stage fixture. However, they lost all of their Super Fours matches and were knocked out of the tournament.
Read Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup in UAE, ACC confirms
2008 Asia Cup
Bangladesh found their second victory in the Asia Cup in the ninth edition when they overcame the UAE by 96 runs in a group stage match. However, they couldn’t win a single match in the Super Fours.
2010 Asia Cup
The tenth edition of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka wasn’t a fruitful one for Bangladesh. They lost all of their fixtures against India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
2012 Asia Cup
The 2012 Asia Cup was hosted in Bangladesh. The hosts surprised everyone by beating India and Sri Lanka in the group stage and qualifying for the finals. There was a real opportunity for the Tigers to clinch their maiden Asia Cup trophy. Pakistan broke millions of Bangladesh cricket fans' hearts by winning the final by only 2 runs.
Read Asia Cup 2022 moved from Sri Lanka to UAE: Ganguly
2014 Asia Cup
Bangladesh’s most disastrous Asia Cup was the 2014 edition at home. They lost all of their four group stage matches against India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
2016 Asia Cup
The BCB organized the 2016 edition of the Asia Cup. For the first time, the Asia Cup was played in a T20 format. Bangladesh reached the inaugural Twenty20 format Asia Cup final by beating the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in the group phase. However, Bangladesh once again lost in the final, and this time India overcame them by 8 wickets.
2018 Asia Cup
The 14th edition of the Asia Cup took place in the UAE. It was a one-day format tournament. Bangladesh reached the Super Fours by beating Sri Lanka by 91 runs. The Tigers defeated Afghanistan and Pakistan in the next round and earned a place in the championship match. However, Bangladesh fell against India in the final once more, ending their hopes of winning an Asia Cup.
Read BCB yet to name a captain for Asia Cup
Bottom Line
Bangladesh's journey in the Asia Cup Cricket Tournament so far was eventful. The country came so close to winning the Asia Cup Cricket at least three times, but they were unable to do it. With the 2022 Asia Cup tournament just around the corner, Team Tigers will have another opportunity to win an Asian Cup competition. However, the Bangladesh T20 national team will have a difficult time making it to the Super Four stage given their recent performances.
Bangladesh post 290 as Mahmudullah hits unbeaten 80
Despite a good start against Zimbabwe in the second ODI, Bangladesh finished on 290-9 in Harare Sunday.
The Tigers lost the toss once again and were asked to bat first. Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque made a brisk start scoring 71 in 10.6 overs.
Tamim perished for 50 off 45 balls. The next three batters – Aamul (20), Najmul Hossain Shanto (38) and Mushfiqur Rahim (25) failed to convert their promising starts into substantial scores.
In the fifth-wicket stand, Mahmudullah Riyad and Afif Hossain added 81 runs. Afif fell for 41 off 41 balls, but Riyad stood firm like a rock at the other end of the wicket. He remained unbeaten on 80 off 84 balls.
Riding on Riyad, Bangladesh scored 84 runs in the last 10 overs.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza bagged three wickets conceding 56 in his 10 overs and Wesley Madhevere took two conceding 40 in nine overs.
Read: BAN vs ZIM 1st ODI 2022: 5 Talking Points
Zimbabwe won the first match of the series chasing 303 runs – their first such win against Bangladesh, and maiden victory against the same side in nine years.
If Bangladesh win today's match, the last match of the series, on August 10, will be a series decider.
Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is yet to come up with a solution to the Twenty20 captaincy dilemma as four players have been considered for the role. The captain always has significant input on picking players for a series or tournament. Therefore, once the BCB finalizes who will lead the Tigers in the upcoming event, selecting the final squad for the Asia Cup 2022 will become easier. Besides, the selectors have to evaluate the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE squad for Bangladesh as they will host the forthcoming event. How Bangladesh’s Twenty20 squad would look like for the Asian Cup cricket competition is discussed in this article.
Who could make the Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup 2022?
There are a few automatic choices who will be in the Asia Cup 2022 squad for Bangladesh. However, a few spots will be up for grabs. The captain's, head coach's, and selectors' preferences will determine the final selection. Not to mention that the United Arab Emirates will host the event and the players who competed in the 2021 T20 World Cup will be given consideration. Let’s have a look at the players who can find a place in the likely 15-member Bangladesh Twenty20 squad for the 2022 Asia Cup.
Batting/Top-Order
There will be no Tamim Iqbal and most likely no Litton Das, who sustained a hamstring while playing the third T20I against Zimbabwe. So, who will open the innings for Bangladesh?
Read Asia Cup 2022 Schedule: Groups, full fixtures, venues
The most likely options would be Anamul Haque Bijoy and Munim Shahriar, as both of them have recently played for the T20 team. But given their recent records, neither of the players should be considered to open the innings for Bangladesh in the upcoming event.
The selectors might think about Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar, who have better statistics than Anamul and Munim since 2021. Another possible option could be Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has maintained a 100 strike rate in 7 innings. In the recently concluded Zimbabwe series, Parvez Hossain Emon made his debut against Zimbabwe. But the selectors may be reluctant to pick him for the tournament. At least three opening batters will be included in the squad. Shakib Al Hasan will bat at No. 3, which is all but confirmed.
Probable four players for top-order: Anamul Haque, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan.
Read Sri Lanka to host Asia Cup in UAE, ACC confirms
Batting/Middle-Order
Mushafiqur Rahim at No.4 and Mahmudullah Riyad at No.6 are two almost confirmed spots for Bangladesh's T20 line-up. Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan are strong favourites to take the no.5 and no.7 spots, respectively. Afif, in particular, has been the most consistent middle-order batter for Bangladesh since the T20 World Cup last year. He has made 325 runs in 19 innings with a strike rate of 112.45.
Surprisingly, Mahmudullah Riyad, who has been criticized for not being consistent with the bat, is the second-highest run scorer in Bangladesh’s middle-order since the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup. The selectors may pick two additional all-rounders in the squad. At the moment, Mosaddek Hossain and Mahedi Hasan are the best two options at the moment as they have regularly featured on the T20 side in the last few bilateral series. Other candidates for the final two positions are Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Hossain, and Yasir Ali.
Probable six players for middle-orders: Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain and Mahedi Hasan.
Read BAN vs ZIM ODI Series 2022: Bangladesh aim to level the series in 2nd ODI
Bowling/Pace
Bangladesh are likely to pick four fast bowlers for the upcoming event. Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam are automatic choices as they have done pretty well in the recent series. There could be a battle for the final spot as Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Saifuddin, Ebadot Hossain, and Khaled Ahmed could all be in consideration for the main event. Hasan Mahmud made his international return in the Zimbabwe T20 series, while Saifuddin has to prove his fitness before considering him for the final squad.
Probable four pacers: Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud.
Read Tigers' Zimbabwe tour: Naim, Ebadot added to ODI squad
Bowling/Spin
The selectors will definitely pick at least one genuine spinner, and it could be two, depending on the demand by the coach and captain. Nasum Ahmed and Taijul Islam will fight for the place. However, given Nasum’s success in the T20 format for the Bangladesh national side in the last one year, the selectors may eventually pick him.
Way Forward
The BCB’s main focus is now to announce the new T20 captain for Bangladesh, at least for the upcoming 2022 World Cup event in October. The selection committee would also face a major challenge in picking the right players and assembling a strong playing XI for the Asia Cup 2022. Bangladesh's players haven’t really performed up to the mark in the recent Twenty20 matches. The lack of appropriate power hitters on the team is a major source of concern for the Cricket Board. The selectors may pick players who have regularly featured for Bangladesh's national T20 team in recent international series.
Read India’s women reach Commonwealth Games cricket final
Bangladesh bat first in 2nd ODI vs Zimbabwe
Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent to bat first in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series against Zimbabwe on Sunday at Harare.
Zimbabwe won the first match of the series chasing 303 runs. If they win today, they will confirm the series as well. Ahead of the ODI series, the hosts won the three-match T20I series.
Bangladesh made three changes to their playing XI— Najmul Hossain Shanto, Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam came in to replace Liton Das, Mosaddek Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman.
Zimbabwe made five changes to their playing XI.
Read: Tigers' Zimbabwe tour: Naim, Ebadot added to ODI squad
Bangladesh need to win this match to remain in the race of winning the series.
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal (c), Anamul Haque(w), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud
Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (w/c), Tony Munyonga, Luke Jongwe, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi, Tanaka Chivanga
Nunez helps Liverpool salvage 2-2 draw at Fulham in EPL
New Liverpool signing Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score one goal and set up another Saturday as the Reds salvaged a 2-2 draw at promoted Fulham in the opening round of the Premier League.
Aleksandar Mitrovic put Fulham ahead twice at Craven Cottage as Marco Silva’s team threatened a major upset, but Nunez showed just why Liverpool spent big to bring the Uruguay forward in from Benfica this offseason.
Nunez first met a low cross from Mohamed Salah with a deft backheel flick into the top of the net to make it 1-1 in the 64th minute, and then helped his Egyptian teammate net the second equalizer in the 81st. Nunez tried to control a high cross into the box that time but the ball instead fell into the path of Salah, who had a simple tap-in.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson then came close to an injury-time winner when his curling long-distance shot hit the crossbar.
Read: UEFA Champions League 2022 Final: Liverpool to Face Real Madrid
Mitrovic headed in the opening goal in the first half, rising above Trent Alexander-Arnold at the far post to meet a cross from the right, and then converted a penalty in the 72nd minute after he was brought down by Virgil van Dijk.
Fulham also had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 57th when Neeskens Kebano hit the post with a shot from the right of the area after a quick attack.
“That great chance from Kebano, if he’d scored the second goal the game would be completely different but I really enjoyed (it),” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “Our first half was almost perfect.”
The draw will still count as a setback for Liverpool, which is aiming to wrest back the title after finishing one point behind champion Manchester City last season.
“The start of the game was really bad from us,” manager Jürgen Klopp said. “No direction, no positivity, no opening up, no breaking lines, nothing (of) what you have to do.”
Klopp had opted against starting Nunez even though the newcomer made quite an impression in preseason and scored in the Community Shield win over City last weekend. Roberto Firmino was preferred instead, but Liverpool’s attack clicked into a higher gear once Nunez came on for the Brazilian attacker.