Cricket
ICC World Cup Trophy sparks excitement among Bangladeshi cricketers
A radiant smile adorned Mushfiqur Rahim's face as he proudly presented the ICC World Cup trophy on a makeshift stage, exuding sheer joy.
As part of the global tour leading up to the upcoming ICC World Cup, set to be held in India later this year, the coveted trophy is travelling the world. At present, the prestigious trophy is in Bangladesh.
On Tuesday morning, the cherished trophy graced the home of cricket — Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Mushfiqur had the honour of carrying the trophy and placing it on a makeshift display table.
Read: Bangladesh to play two FIFA Int'l Friendlies with Afghanistan on Sept 4, 7
Members of the national team, currently in Dhaka, gathered at Sher-e-Bangla stadium to see the trophy and capture moments with it in photographs.
As he posed alongside the trophy, Mushfiqur reflected, "I feel incredibly fortunate to have represented Bangladesh in four World Cups. We hold the belief of performing well, aspiring to surpass our previous World Cup achievements."
Mushfiqur also emphasised that the Tigers, Bangladesh's national cricket team, need to excel to achieve better results.
Read: ICC World Cup Trophy travels to Padma Bridge
"A strong start is paramount. Over the last four to five years, we've exhibited exceptional cricket in ODIs. The impending World Cup offers a splendid opportunity for emerging players to showcase their skills. Our squad comprises a blend of youthful talents and seasoned players. I'm optimistic that they'll collaborate effectively," Mushfiqur elaborated.
Taskin Ahmed, the right-handed fast bowler, showed more excitement during the photo session with the World Cup trophy.
"For the past few years, our pace unit has invested relentless effort," Taskin said. "It's truly heartening to hear that our pace unit is performing well collectively. I'm confident that in the coming years, we can outshine our current achievements."
Present at the event was Sri Lankan cricket legend and Bangladesh's spin coach, Rangana Herath. He underlined the pivotal role that spinners are expected to play in this year's World Cup in India.
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"I have faith that spinners like Shakib (Al Hasan) and Mehidy (Hasan Miraz) will play pivotal roles for Bangladesh in the World Cup," he affirmed. "Currently, we're conducting a preparatory camp. I firmly believe our spin arsenal is well-equipped to tackle any challenge that comes our way."
The photo session with the World Cup trophy was graced not only by members of the men's national team but also by cricketers from the Bangladesh women's team.
Nigar Sultana Joty, captain of the women's team, expressed her optimism, noting that the men's team has performed admirably in ODIs, heightening expectations for this year’s World Cup.
Former captains Akram Khan, Naimur Rahman, and Khaled Mahmud also joined in, posing for photographs with the coveted World Cup trophy.
The World Cup trophy will be exhibited tomorrow at the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in Dhaka, open to the public. The program will commence at 11 in the morning and extend until 8 in the evening, affording the public a firsthand experience with the coveted trophy.
World School Chess: St. Joseph School of Dhaka finishes 27th
St. Joseph Higher Secondary School of Dhaka finished 27th in the World School Team Chess Championship securing seven points after the 8th and last round matches held in Aktau, Kazakhstan on Monday.
St. Joseph Higher Secondary School of Bangladesh ranked 27th among 43 schools from 39 countries.
Also read: Thessaloniki Chess: GM Ziaur Rahman, FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia win their matches
On Monday morning, St. Joseph School lost to Mathematical Grammar School of Serbia by 1.5-2.5 game points and in the 8th or last round game Monday afternoon, St. Joseph School won against English School Nicosia of Cyprus by 2.5-1.5 game points.
The players of the St. Joseph School team are: Osman Faruk Sami, Ahnaf Rashid Chowdhury, Nawshad Uddin, Karar Riddho Haque and Abrar Zaheen.
Also read: World School Chess: St Joseph School earn three points from five matches
FIDE trainer and International Master Abu Sufian Shakeel served as the coach cum captain of the St. Joseph School chess team.
Istanbul ENKA High School of Turkey emerged as the unbeaten champions in the U-18 group securing full 16 points.
ICC World Cup Trophy travels to Padma Bridge
Ahead of this year's World Cup in India, the ICC World Cup Trophy has embarked on a world tour, making its way across iconic landmarks, including the Padma Bridge in Bangladesh.
The ICC organized an official photo session for the trophy at Service Area 1, Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Mawa End on Monday. Following the schedule, the trophy will be exhibited at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Also read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy tour arrives in Bangladesh
Commencing at 9 am and continuing until noon, this exclusive event will be graced by esteemed guests, including members of the National Team, Women's Team, current and former cricketers, cricket officials, organizers, and representatives from the media.
The grand finale of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour in Bangladesh will be a public exhibition of the trophy at the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, located in the heart of Dhaka at Panthapath.
Also read: Shakib preferred to replace Tamim as ODI captain
On August 9, cricket enthusiasts and fans of all ages will have the opportunity to witness the gleaming trophy firsthand from 11 am to 8 pm.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour commenced in late June, covering 18 countries around the world, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, USA, Nigeria, Uganda, France, Italy, the United States of America, and the host country India, as announced by the ICC. After Bangladesh, the World Cup trophy will travel to Kuwait.
Also read: Bangladesh's probable squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy tour arrives in Bangladesh
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour is reaching the shores of Bangladesh, igniting a wave of excitement among cricket enthusiasts across the nation.
The prestigious trophy is set to tour various locations in the country from August 7 to 9, showcasing the emblem of cricketing glory to adoring fans and supporters.
The coveted ICC Cricket World Cup trophy will make its first stop at midnight tonight, as it arrives in Dhaka.
Read: Thessaloniki Chess: GM Ziaur Rahman, FM Tahsin Tajwar Zia win their matches
On August 7, an official photoshoot with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy will take place at Service Area 1, Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Mawa End. This event, scheduled for 3 pm, will capture iconic moments with the gleaming trophy against the backdrop of one of Bangladesh's remarkable landmarks.
The excitement will escalate on August 8 when the trophy will be put on display at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Starting at 9 am and continuing until noon, this exclusive event will welcome esteemed guests, including members of the National Team, Women's Team, current and former cricketers, cricket officials, organizers, and representatives from the media.
Read: World School Chess: St Joseph School earn three points from five matches
The grand finale of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour in Bangladesh will be a public exhibition of the trophy at the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, located in the heart of Dhaka at Panthapath. On August 9, cricket enthusiasts and fans of all ages will have the chance to witness the gleaming trophy firsthand from 11 am to 8 pm.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour started in late June, and the program is covering 18 countries around the world including Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, USA, Nigeria, Uganda, France, Italy, the United States of America, and the host country India, as ICC said. After Bangladesh, the World Cup trophy will travel to Kuwait.
Shakib preferred to replace Tamim as ODI captain
When the question of who will become the next ODI captain of Bangladesh surfaces within the cricketing fraternity of the country, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Nazmul Hasan, said that Shakib Al Hasan is an obvious choice for the hot seat.
Tamim Iqbal, who had been captaining Bangladesh in the 50-over format, recently stepped down due to his injury-related complexities. With only two months left before the next World Cup, BCB is under pressure to appoint the next captain.
"We have to carefully consider the decision to appoint a new captain," he said in programme held in Dhaka to celebrate the birthday of Sheik Kamal, the son of the founding father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "But it's true that Shakib is an obvious choice for the role."
Read: Taskin wins Sheikh Kamal National Sports Award
When Tamim was the regular captain, Litton Das, the top-order batter in fine form, was his deputy. Tamim had announced an abrupt retirement during the last home series against Afghanistan. In his absence, Litton led the team in the two remaining matches of that series.
"Leading the team in a series and leading a team in the World Cup are different," Nazmul said while expressing his views on Litton's potential as a new captain. "It's a big responsibility, and it may impact his batting as well. We don't want to rush into appointing a new captain; we need to take more time."
While discussing the possible names for the new captain, Litton's name is also popping up, alongside Shakib. Mehidy Hasan Miraz's name is also on the table.
Read: Tamim steps down as Bangladesh ODI captain
"We have many things to consider," Nazmul said, expressing the complexity of the scenario. "We have to appoint a captain for the long term, and we also have to think about the World Cup. If we appoint a relatively new guy, can he handle the pressure of the World Cup? And if we appoint an experienced player, will he be able to continue playing for a long time? We have to consider everything."
Shakib is now 36 years old, and no one can assure that he will continue playing for at least the next two years, which makes it challenging to consider him as the new captain, according to Nazmul.
"Can you assure that Shakib will play two more years?" Nazmul asked the question to a journalist. "We don't know! So we have to sit with him and understand his plans for the future."
Read: Tamim returns home following treatment for back injury
Bangladesh's new assignment is to take part in the Asia Cup later this month, followed by a home series against New Zealand. As a result, the BCB will soon have to make a crucial decision regarding the appointment of a new captain who will undoubtedly face significant pressure in quick succession.
Taskin wins Sheikh Kamal National Sports Award
Right-arm national team pacer, Taskin Ahmed, has won the prestigious Sheikh Kamal National Sports Award 2023. Along with him, a total of 10 sportsmen and organizations received this award this year from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Taskin recently participated in the Zim Afro T10 event in Zimbabwe, where he performed exceptionally well.
Read: Tamim steps down as Bangladesh ODI captain
He was also invited by a team in the Lankan Premier League (LPL), but the board did not allow him to play, considering his workload for the coming months.
"It's a great honor to win this award," Taskin said. "This is my maiden national award, and it's particularly special to receive it from the hands of the Prime Minister—it's a moment of pride for me."
Taskin mentioned having a brief conversation with the Prime Minister during the award ceremony.
"She wished us good luck in the Asia Cup and the World Cup," Taskin said.
Read: Cricketer Hasan Mahmud tests positive for dengue
Although Taskin was denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the LPL, several other Bangladeshi cricketers, including Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, and Shoriful Islam, are participating in the league.
"If you perform well in any event, it boosts your confidence," Taskin said. "T10 is a tough format, so having a good memory of this league will help me perform better in other formats in the future."
The right-arm pacer is delighted that many of his teammates are now playing in foreign leagues, and he believes it's a positive sign for the cricketers of Bangladesh.
Tamim steps down as Bangladesh ODI captain
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has decided to step down as the captain of the Bangladesh ODI team. He will miss the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to take place later this month in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“Tamim decided to step down as the captain,” stated Nazmul Hasan, the board president, during a press conference held in Gulshan on Thursday afternoon.
The press conference, which was supposed to commence at around 8 pm at the board president's residence, faced a delay of one hour, adding to the drama of the day in Bangladeshi cricket. The cricketing fraternity of the country anxiously awaited Tamim's fate with the Bangladesh team throughout the entire day.
Read: Cricketer Hasan Mahmud tests positive for dengue
Nazmul added: "Tamim took this decision keeping the team's best interests in mind. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation for his injury and wants to come back fully fit. We are expecting him to be ready ahead of the New Zealand series at home."
The board is yet to announce the next captain for the ODI team. Nazmul said they would talk with the board and players before appointing the new captain.
Jalal Yunus, the chairman of the cricket operation committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), said that Tamim would be unable to practise with full intensity until August 20. Consequently, he will miss the Asia Cup, as the Bangladesh team is scheduled to leave for the tournament on August 26.
Before the dramatic press conference, Tamim had a meeting with the board president, members of the medical team of the board, and the board president himself.
Several issues were discussed during the meeting, including whether Tamim wanted to continue as captain, whether he had a good understanding with the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, and what his plan was to manage his injuries.
"My journey as the captain of the Bangladesh ODI team was fantastic," Tamim said. "The results speak for themselves. Now it would be very selfish of me to continue as the captain."
The Tamim-saga began with his abrupt retirement decision in early July. This decision not only shook the cricketing arena of the country but also caught the attention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had to intervene. After a meeting with her, Tamim revealed that "he couldn't say no to the head of the government" and changed his mind, deciding to continue playing for Bangladesh.
Tamim had initially made the retirement decision in response to the board president's harsh criticism, which arose due to his decision to play the first Afghanistan ODI despite not being fully fit during the last home series. Prior to that match in Chattogram, Tamim had stated that he would play to assess the status of his injury.
The board president, in a conversation with a Bengali daily just a day later, asserted that a captain cannot assess his fitness in an international match. He also mentioned that the head coach did not take Tamim's remark lightly, stating, "this is not gully cricket."
Tamim led the Bangladesh ODI team in 37 matches, emerging victorious in 21 of them. Under his leadership, the Tigers secured a place in the World Cup taking place later this year in India through the World Cup Super League. If Tamim can successfully overcome his injury, he might still be a part of the Bangladesh team as a player in the World Cup.
"I will be sad," Tamim said. "But everyone's dream is the same. When it comes to the team, we have to set aside our individuality. I made this decision thinking about the team's future."
Cricketer Hasan Mahmud tests positive for dengue
Cricketer Hasan Mahmud has tested positive for dengue fever.
A member of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) medical team has confirmed the matter and said that the pacer is currently receiving treatment at home. His platelet level was found to be below the normal range.
Also read: Afif’s dream to play in Global T20 Canada remains unfulfilled
Although his fever level subsided on Tuesday, Hasan is still experiencing physical discomfort. As a result, he could not join the ongoing fitness camp for the preliminary squad of the Bangladesh team, which is in preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Despite being bedridden due to dengue fever, Hasan's condition improved on Tuesday, and he is expected to undergo a blood test on Wednesday.
Also read: Tamim returns home following treatment for back injury
Bangladesh is grappling with a dengue outbreak this year, with more than 54,000 reported cases of the mosquito-borne disease as of August 1. The death toll has surpassed 260.
Afif’s dream to play in Global T20 Canada remains unfulfilled
Despite securing the no objection certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Afif Hossain's dream to play in the Global T20 Canada has gone unfulfilled due to visa issues.
The left-handed batter was unable to obtain his visa on time for travel to Canada, and as a result, he decided not to go as the event is nearing its conclusion.
His scheduled flight to Canada was on July 30.
Also read: Tamim returns home following treatment for back injury
With his plans to play in the Global T20 Canada thwarted, Afif has joined the ongoing fitness camp of the preliminary squad of the Bangladesh team.
Meanwhile, Liton Das is participating in the Global T20 Canada, and Shakib Al Hasan also took part in the tournament before joining the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Sri Lanka.
Also read: Shoriful gets BCB's nod to play in LPL
Shoriful Islam and Towhid Hridoy are currently busy playing in this year's LPL.
The preliminary team that started a fitness camp at Mirpur will undergo a Yo-Yo Test this week. Following the fitness assessment, the selection committee will finalise the team, reducing it to either 20 or 15 members.
Tamim returns home following treatment for back injury
Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal returned home on Monday evening after seeking medical treatment in London for his back injury. However, it remains unclear when he will be able to make a comeback to cricket.
The batter recently caused notable chaos when he announced an abrupt retirement from all forms of cricket, only to withdraw the decision 24 hours later after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Following those eventful two days, he took a leave for one and a half months.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) commenced a training camp with 32 cricketers on Monday ahead of the Asia Cup, and Tamim is expected to join soon.
Tamim has been dealing with a long-nurturing back injury, which was at the center of the controversy during the recent Afghanistan series.
Prior to the first ODI in Chattogram, Tamim had stated that he was not fully fit but would play the first match to assess his injury situation. This move was heavily criticized by the cricket board president and the head coach of the Bangladesh team.
Following this, Tamim declared his retirement, calling the journalists for a personal press conference and making a tearful announcement midway of the Afghanistan series. He did not play the last two matches.
Upon returning home from London on Monday, Tamim avoided addressing the media at the airport, leaving uncertainty about the course of action to treat his injury. If he requires an operation, he might not be able to play in the World Cup next year, and he may also have to skip the Asia Cup.