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Dhaka Premier League: Super League begins on April 18
The Super League stage of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League is set to begin on April 18, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Saturday.
A total of six clubs— Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Legends of Rupganj, Abahani Limited, Prime Bank Cricket Club, Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club and Gazi Group Crickters— will participate in this phase of the Dhaka League.
Mohammedan Sporting Club who had roped in some big names of Bangladesh cricket has failed to qualify for the Super League. Two of their players— Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz— will play the Super League for Sheikh Jamal.
Mohammedan ended up as the seventh team with only 10 points from five wins in 10 matches.
Each of the five rounds of the Super League will have a reserve day.
In the first round matches, Sheikh Jamal will take on Gazi Group, Legends of Rupganj will play against Rupganj Tigers, and Abahani will take on Prime Bank Cricket Club.
Read: Mohammedan’s Mushfiqur set to play for Sheikh Jamal
City Club, Brothers Union and Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity will take part in the Relegation phase of the league. The two teams who will end up being at the bottom will be relegated from the event, they won’t be able to participate in the next season of the league directly.
Sheikh Jamal ended up the league phase of this season of Dhaka League as the best team with 18 points from nine wins in 10 matches while Abahani became number two in the points table with 14 from seven wins in 10 matches.
Veteran batter Naeem Islam scored the highest runs of this season so far— 749 from 10 matches with two centuries and five fifties. He is representing Legends of Rupganj. Prime Bank’s Anamul Haque Bijoy also hit two centuries and five fifties and scored 728 runs in this season of the league.
Parvez Rasool of India who has been playing for Sheikh Jamal has scalped 20 wickets so far in 10 matches while Rakibul Hasan of Prime Bank is right after him with 19 wickets in 10 matches.
Mohammedan’s Mushfiqur set to play for Sheikh Jamal
Mushfiqur Rahim, the former Bangladesh captain, will play the Super League phase of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who ended the initial league phase as the top team.
Mushfiqur was initially roped in by Mohammedan Sporting Club. But due to national duty in South Africa, Mushfiqur was unable to feature for Mohammedan. By the time Mushfiqur returned from South Africa, Mohammedan were almost out of the prospect of being qualified for the Super League.
According to the laws of Dhaka League, if a player does not feature for a team who ended their campaign, the player can play for other teams who are still in the race.
Also read: IPL 2022: Delhi’s Mustafizur Rahman eyes to end his wicket drought
Both Sheikh Jamal and Legends of Rupganj tried to secure the service of the veteran batter. Eventually, Sheikh Jamal managed to rope him in, and thus the wicketkeeper-batter will feature in the remaining part of the league for them.
Not just Mushfiqur, Sheikh Jamal also secured the service of the allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz who was also roped in by Mohammedan.
Also read: ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures
Mohammedan only managed to secure 10 points with only five wins in 10 matches.
The Super League will begin on April 18. In the first round matches, Sheikh Jamal will take on Gazi Group, Legends of Rupganj will play against Rupganj Tigers, and Abahani will take on Prime Bank Cricket Club.
Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
The football world was treated to a few spectacular contests in the quarter-final stage because the majority of the matches were evenly poised. Manchester City, Liverpool, Villarreal, and Real Madrid are the teams that have qualified for the semi-finals. The first leg will take place at the end of this month, with the second leg taking place at the start of May. This article discussed which teams could qualify for the UEFA Champions League 2022 finals.
Champions League 2021/2022: Semi-Finals Fixtures and Favourites
The opening legs of the semi-finals will take place on April 26 and 27. The second tie in this elimination round will take place on May 3 and 4, respectively. A total of four matches will be played in the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-final stage will be determined by goal differential. If the aggregate goals aren't enough to decide the winner, a penalty shootout will be held.
The defending Premier League champions, Manchester City, will face European heavyweights, Real Madrid, according to the draw. In the other semifinal, English club Liverpool will meet Spanish side Villarreal. Let's have a look at the teams with the best chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League 2022 finals.
Read 3 known Chelsea bids left after Cubs owners drop buyout plan
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
First Leg Fixture: Tuesday (April 26/1 a.m.) | Venue: Etihad Stadium
Second Leg Fixture: Wednesday (May 4/1 a.m.) | Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Manchester City and Real Madrid both faced a tough opponents in the quarter-finals. Manchester City beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home in the first leg but had to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano in the second leg. Though both ties were difficult for the English champions. On the other hand, Real Madrid enjoyed a big lead over Chelsea after winning the first leg 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. It was believed that Madrid would have an easier time in the second leg, but Chelsea fought back strongly and won the match 3-2. However, Real Madrid proceeded to the semi-finals with a scoreline of 5-4 on aggregate.
The semi-finals ties between them will be difficult to predict because both teams have been in excellent form this season. Manchester City prefer to play in the build-up and control possession. Oppositely, Real Madrid have the potential to surprise the opponent out of nowhere, and this has been a feature of their game this season. Manchester City's top scorer is Riyad Mahrez, who has six goals, while Real Madrid's top scorer is Karim Benzema, who has twelve.
Read Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Verdict: Manchester City
Liverpool vs Villarreal
First Leg Fixture: Wednesday (April 27/1 a.m.) | Venue: Anfield
Second Leg Fixture: Tuesday (May 3/1 a.m.) | Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica
Villarreal's ousting of Bayern Munich from the competition was the most unexpected outcome of the quarter-finals. Villareal had created a fantastic chance for themselves after defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 at home in the first leg. They qualified for the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. On the other hand, Liverpool enjoyed a big lead over Benfica after winning the first leg 3-1 away from home. Benfica performed well in the second leg, scoring three goals at Anfield. However, the match finished 3-3, and Liverpool proceeded to the next round with a 6-4 aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Liverpool may start as favourites against Villarreal. However, Villarreal's team has so much confidence right now that they can overcome Liverpool in this round. Therefore, it won't come as a surprise if Villarreal reach the final. Mohamed Salah leads Liverpool with eight goals, while Arnaut Danjuma leads Villarreal with six.
Read Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022: The Match that Could Decide Premier League Champion
Verdict: Liverpool
Bottom Line
On paper and based on current form, no team appears to be a strong favorite to go to the semi-finals. Whoever executes their game plan properly in both games will have a better chance of advancing to the UEFA Champions League 2022 finals. Given the intensity of the quarter-finals, the semi-final stage promises to be even more exciting.
IPL 2022: Delhi’s Mustafizur Rahman eyes to end his wicket drought
The Delhi Capitals managed to win two of their first four encounters in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore have clinched three out of their first five fixtures. At the moment, Bangalore and Delhi are in the middle of the points table. Therefore, the game is crucial for both sides in order to move up the IPL 2022 points table. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman has been struggling to pick up wickets after a brilliant start to the campaign. Mustafizur will be hoping to end his wicket drought in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Team News
With six points after five games, Royal Challengers Bangalore are presently in the sixth position in the IPL 2022 points table. Oppositely, the Delhi Capitals are in the eighth position with four points. As the fifteenth season of the Indian Premier League is moving closer to its halfway stage, the teams are all set to push for top-four finishes. Therefore, the remainder of the league phase will be crucial for franchisees in their quest for a playoff berth. Let’s take a look at the match preview between the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Read Imran Khan: The Greatest Pakistani Cricketer
Delhi Capitals
The Delhi Capitals have one of the best opening pairs in the ongoing season. The Delhi side finds the right combination with Prithvi Shaw and David Warner in the opening positions. Their middle orders are also solid, where skipper Rishabh Pant is responsible for taking charge of the team. Delhi’s bowling has a variation too. Mustafizur Rahman is one of their most economical bowlers. Besides, Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav have picked up wickets for the Capitals.
The cutter-master Mustafizur Rahman has been outstanding with his bowling variations, which have made an impact at the start of the innings. However, Mustafizur hasn’t picked up a wicket since his three-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans. The left-arm pacer will be hoping to take a wicket or two in order to make even more of an impact in the match for his side.
Also Read: Root quits as England test cricket captain after 5 years
Predicted Playing XI (DC)
Top Order: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Middle-Orders: Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper and Captain), Lalit Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Lower-Order: Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed
Royal Challengers Bangalore
On paper, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a strong batting unit. However, neither of their batters has made the top ten list of most run scorers. However, this record will definitely change in the coming matches, as newly appointed Captain Faf du Plessis, Kohli, and Maxwell are all capable enough batters to find their own rhythm at any time during the season.
Read ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures
Bangalore’s bowling line-up has real variations. So far, Lankan spinner Hasaranga is among the top five most successful bowlers this season. He will be their main weapon in this fixture, along with Hazlewood and Siraj.
Predicted Playing XI (RCB)
Top Order: Faf du Plessis (Captain), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Middle-Orders: Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suyash Prabhudessai, Dinesh Karthik (Wicket-Keeper), Wanindu Hasaranga, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood.
Read Andrew McDonald named head coach of Australian cricket team
Match Time (DC vs RCB): Saturday (April 16) at 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Head-to-Head: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals
Both sides have met each other on 28 occasions. In a head-to-head encounter, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a significant lead over the Delhi Capitals. The RCB have won 17 out of 28 matches. In contrast, the Delhi Capitals have won 10 games.
Read SA vs BAN 2022: Bangladesh’s Top Five Performers From South Africa Tour
Verdict
Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their latest match against Chennai Super Kings, while Delhi Capitals registered a dominating victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match. It will be a tight battle as both sides are in the same kind of form in this ongoing IPL 2022 season. Whoever plays with full potential on the day will have a better chance of clinching the match.
Royal Challengers Bangalore can take some inspiration from their overall IPL record against the Delhi Capitals. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman could be a very effective weapon for the Delhi side. His bowling variations have had an impact on the batters in order to stop the run flow. The left-hand pacer needs to snatch wickets on a regular basis in order to improve his overall bowling figures in the tournament.
Also Read: Is Mominul Haque the right man to lead Bangladesh's Test team?
3 known Chelsea bids left after Cubs owners drop buyout plan
The owners of the Chicago Cubs dropped their interest in buying Chelsea, leaving three remaining bids for the enforced sale of the Premier League club by sanctioned Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The bid was being led by Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts but faced opposition from Chelsea fans over Islamophobic comments by his father, Joe, that featured in leaked emails three years ago.
The consortium, which also featured American investors Ken Griffin and Dan Gilbert, did not directly address the “issues” that prevented them pursuing the bid ahead of Thursday’s deadline for final submissions.
“The Ricketts-Griffin-Gilbert Group has decided, after careful consideration, not to submit a final bid for Chelsea FC,” the group said in a statement. “In the process of finalizing their proposal, it became increasingly clear that certain issues could not be addressed given the unusual dynamics around the sales process. We have great admiration for Chelsea and its fans, and we wish the new owners well.”
The remaining three known bids also involve North American sports team investors.
Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca has partnered with Larry Tanenbaum, who has ownership stakes in Toronto with the NBA’s Raptors, the NHL’s Maple Leafs and the city’s MLS team. Peter Guber, a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is also backing in the group.
Another part-owner of the Dodgers, Todd Boehly, is leading another consortium.
Read: Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
The third remaining known group is fronted by former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Martin Broughton with planned investment by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who own the Philadelphia 76ers and have stakes in Premier League club Crystal Palace.
A New York-based merchant bank, the Raine Group, has been overseeing the sale process that was announced last month by Abramovich following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The oligarch has been sanctioned by Britain and the European Union over his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin with assets frozen, including Chelsea.
Abramovich has been disqualified from running the reigning European champions by the Premier League and he cannot profit from the proceeds of the sale, which the British government must sign off under terms of a license that allows the team to continue operating.
Chelsea’s Champions League title defense was ended by Real Madrid on Tuesday but Thomas Tuchel’s team is on course to qualify for the lucrative UEFA competition next season as it is third in the Premier League. Chelsea remains in contention for the FA Cup with a semifinal match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Bahrain-based private equity firm is in exclusive talks to buy seven-time European champion AC Milan and become the Italian league’s first Middle East investor, a person with knowledge of the process said.
The buyout by Investcorp could see the Serie A leader sold for around 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the exclusive talks which began this month.
Read: Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022: The Match that Could Decide Premier League Champion
The U.S.-based hedge firm Elliott Management has owned Milan since 2018 after the former Chinese owner failed to repay part of a loan. Milan declined comment. Investcorp, which was founded in Bahrain in 1982, delisted from the Bahrain stock exchange last year after almost four decades as it continues its global expansion of investments.
The potential takeover comes with Milan on top of Serie A with six games remaining. Milan looks to win a first title since 2011, and a 19th overall, after a period of domestic dominance by Juventus broken by crosstown rival Inter Milan only last season.
The two Milan clubs share the San Siro stadium and they are looking to build a new stadium jointly as part of “The Cathedral” project.
Read: Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar to start peace-themed tour
AC Milan is also looking for investment that would allow the team to return to the pinnacle of European football having not won the Champions League since 2007. The team, which features Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, went out in the group stage in December after ending a seven-season absence from the lucrative UEFA competition.
Root quits as England test cricket captain after 5 years
Joe Root stepped down as England’s test cricket captain on Friday, ending his five-year spell in a role that became increasingly challenging because of the team’s long run of series defeats — including 4-0 in the Ashes over the winter.
“I have loved leading my country,” Root said, “but recently it’s hit home how much of a toll it has taken on me and the impact it has had on me away from the game.”
Read: ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures
Root leaves his post holding the record for the number of wins as England test captain — at 27 — while his status as one of the world’s leading batters is secure after scoring eight centuries since the turn of 2021.
However, his captaincy has come under scrutiny with England having only won just one of its last 17 test matches — the country’s worst run since the 1980s.
Losing heavily in Australia, England’s biggest rival, was followed last month with a 1-0 series defeat to the West Indies. That made it four series defeats in a row — and it could be five unless England can beat India in July in the remaining test left over from their unfinished series from last year.
“It has been the most challenging decision I have had to make in my career,” said the 31-year-old Root, who took over as captain from Alastair Cook in 2017, “but having discussed this with my family and those closest to me; I know the timing is right.”
Read: Andrew McDonald named head coach of Australian cricket team
Root said he wanted to carry on playing for England, for whom he is the country’s second highest run-scorer in tests behind Cook.
It leaves England’s men’s team not only without a captain, but also a coach and director of cricket after the departures of Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles, respectively, in the wake of the Ashes.
Ben Stokes will be among the favorites to take over as captain, although the allrounder has just returned to the team after a spell out for mental-health reasons.
ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures
The Tamim Iqbal-led Bangladesh's ODI team has been in fine shape lately, and they are now leading the points standings of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. With only two ODI League series remaining, Bangladesh do not have enough chances to earn points for the World Cup 2023 qualification tournament. Therefore, they must concentrate on winning as many games as possible in the remaining fixtures. Bangladesh's upcoming Super League schedule and World Cup qualification scenario are discussed in this article.
The Updated Standings of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League
Bangladesh climbed to the top of the World Cup Super League points table after winning the ODI series against Afghanistan in February. The team Tigers strengthened their lead in the standings after clinching a historic series against South Africa (2-1) last March. Bangladesh are now in top place with 120 points, 25 points ahead of England in second place.
Read Imran Khan: The Greatest Pakistani Cricketer
The top eight teams in the standings will advance to the World Cup in 2023. As a result, the thirteen teams competing are fighting it out for a spot in the top eight spots in the points table. India will automatically qualify for the World Cup 2023 as the host nation, regardless of where they place in the Super League. India are currently in third place, ahead of Australia and Afghanistan. According to the most recent updates, Ireland, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand rounded up the top eight.
Interestingly, three major cricket teams, Pakistan, the West Indies, and South Africa, are currently outside the top eight. They must make a strong recovery in their remaining ODI Super League matches.
Read Andrew McDonald named head coach of Australian cricket team
World Cup Super League Points Standings (Updated April 4, 2022)
Position
Team
Match
Win
Loss
Points
NRR
1
Bangladesh
18
12
6
120
0.384
2
England
15
9
5
95
0.838
3
India
12
8
4
79
0.416
4
Australia
12
7
5
70
0.496
5
Afghanistan
9
7
2
70
0.416
6
Ireland
18
6
10
68
-0.355
7
Sri Lanka
18
6
11
62
-0.031
8
New Zealand
6
6
0
60
2.171
9
Pakistan
12
6
6
60
-0.194
10
West Indies
15
5
10
50
-0.972
11
South Africa
13
4
7
49
-0.206
12
Zimbabwe
12
3
8
35
-0.894
13
Netherlands
10
2
7
25
-1.028
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read ICC World Test Championship: Latest Bangladesh Standings, Results, Remaining Fixtures
Bangladesh’s Upcoming Fixtures for the ODI League
Six of Bangladesh's eight ICC ODI World Cup Super League series have already been completed. As a result, they have only two series left in the competition. The Bangladesh team has already completed their series against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. They will play Ireland and England in their final two series, respectively. Let's take a look at the completed series results and the match schedules for the upcoming matches.
Results
Bangladesh vs West Indies
(Bangladesh won the series 3-0/home)
New Zealand vs Bangladesh
(New Zealand won the series 3-0/away)
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
(Bangladesh won the series 2-1/home)
Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh
(Bangladesh won the series 3-0/away)
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
(Bangladesh won the series 2-1/home)
South Africa vs Bangladesh
(Bangladesh won the series 2-1/away)
Read SA vs BAN 2022: Bangladesh’s Top Five Performers From South Africa Tour
Remaining Fixtures
3-match ODI series between Bangladesh and England (March 2023/Home)
3-match ODI series between Ireland and Bangladesh (May 2023/away)
Bottom Line
Bangladesh should focus more on the Ireland series in order to gain as many points as possible, as England at home would be a difficult series for them. However, Bangladesh have a strong home record in the recent ODI series, thus England will find it difficult to match the hosts. Team Tigers would have a great chance to finish among the top eight teams in the points standings if they can earn 40 more points in the two remaining series. If it happens, Bangladesh would qualify for the 2023 World Cup in India by participating in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
Read Is Mominul Haque the right man to lead Bangladesh's Test team?
Andrew McDonald named head coach of Australian cricket team
Andrew McDonald has been named head coach of the Australian men’s cricket team on a four-year contract.
Cricket Australia said Wednesday that McDonald’s contract had been made permanent after serving as interim coach since Justin Langer did not agree to a short-term contract renewal in February.
“The journey so far has been particularly pleasing, and I am honored to be given this incredible opportunity for what is an exciting period ahead,” said McDonald, who was the favorite to secure the job fulltime after Australia’s 1-0 test series win in Pakistan.
McDonald joined Australia’s coaching team in 2019 after leading Victoria state and the Melbourne Renegades to all three domestic competition titles during the 2018-19 season.
Read: T20 World Cup 2024: ICC Confirmed the Qualification Route for Marquee Events
The former test all-rounder has also held head coaching roles in the Indian Premier League and in English county cricket. He had been senior assistant coach with Langer since joining the Australian team.
McDonald, who last week returned from the three-test tour of Pakistan, also led Australia to a 2-1 loss in the one-day series and a win in the only T20 International.
“We interviewed several excellent candidates for this role, which is one of the most important in Australian sport,” said Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley.
“Andrew has already shown he is an outstanding head coach and the vision he outlined for the role during the appointment process was both impressive and exciting, making him our clear choice.”
AFC Cup play-off: Dhaka Abahani to face Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on April 19
Six-time Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will face Indian giant ATK Mohun Bagan in the second play-off match of the AFC Cup on April 19 at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Earlier, the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit got a walkover against Club Valencia of the Maldives in their first play-off match of the AFC Cup, with the latter withdrawing in the last minute due to funds crunch.
Club Valencia players were due to arrive here on Sunday night to participate in the AFC Cup play-off match, but they informed the Bangladesh Football Federation and the apex body, Asian Football AFC, of their inability to participate in Tuesday's game.
On the other hand, ATK Mohun Bagan of Kolkata smartly qualified for the second and final play-off match crushing Blue Star Sporting Club of Sri Lanka by 5-0 in the first play-off game at Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Read: BPL Football: Sk Russel beat Swadhinata KS 2-1
The winners of the second play-off match between Dhaka Abahani Ltd and Mohun Bagan will qualify for the Group D of the AFC Cup, along with Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh, Gokulam Kerela FC of India and Maziya S&RC of the Maldives.