Former Bangladesh captain, allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, has been named in the CC Men’s ODI team of the decade as the only Bangladeshi.

ICC has also announced Test and T20 teams of the decade, but there is no Bangladeshi member in these teams.

In the ODI team, three members are from India- Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni; two members are from Australia- David Warner and Mitchel Starc and South Africa- AB de Villiers and Imran Tahir, and one member from England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh- Ben Stokes, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga and Shakib Al Hasan.

To consider a player for this team, ICC evaluated their performance from January 1, 2011, to October 7, 2020.

Read Also: Shakib creates history completing 5,000 T20 runs

Kangana questions religious faith in wake of Shakib's apology

Shakib reclaims top spot of ODI allrounders

During this period, Shakib  scored 3489 runs in 96 innings and scalped 131 wickets in 102 innings, which is unarguably the best all-round performance in ODI cricket during this period.

During the same period of time, a total of 35 bowlers bagged more than 100 wickets, but none could score runs like Shakib. The second man in the list is Mohammad Nabi who scored 2458 runs in this period along with taking more than 100 wickets.

And during the same period, a total of 54 batsmen amassed at least 2500 runs, but none could take wickets more than Shakib. Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan is second in the list taking 94 wickets along with accumulating at least 2500 runs during this period of time.

ICC’s ODI team of the decade: Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, MS Dhoni (c), Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir and Lasith Malinga

ICC Men’s Test team of the decade: Alistair Cook, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli (c), Steve Smith, Kumar Sangakkara, Ben Stokes, Ravi Ashwin, Dale Steyn, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

ICC Men’s T20I team of the decade: Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, MS Dhoni (c), Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Lasith Malinga

The year of 2020 supposed to be a busy year for cricket in Bangladesh, but it has ended as a barren one due to the novel coronavirus which was detected first in the country in March this year.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had decided to host a two-match T20 series between Asia XI and the Rest of the World XI to commemorate the birth centenary of the country’s founding president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But the plan was sidelined indefinitely due to the deadly Covid-19 outbreak throughout the world.

The disappointing year for Bangladesh for the game of cricket started with a three-match T20 series in Pakistan. It was Bangladesh’s first tour to Pakistan in 12 years. After much talk, the series was split into three different phases. In the first phase, both countries locked horns in a three-match T20 series which was won by Pakistan 2-0 with the third and final match was abandoned due to rain.

Also Read- International cricket set to return with WI tour of BD in January confirmed

After the T20 series in January, the Bangladesh team toured Pakistan in February to the first match of the two-match Test series. The Tigers lost the Test as well. It was Bangladesh’s third match in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh was due to tour Pakistan in April to play the remaining Test and an ODI, but the Covid-19 forced to halt that part of the series.

Right after the second phase of Pakistan tour, Bangladesh hosted Zimbabwe for a Test, three ODIs and two T20Is. Bangladesh won the Test riding on the third double-ton by Mushfiqur Rahim in the format. The Tigers won the other matches of this series as well.

In the last ODI of the series, Liton Das smashed 176 off 143 with 16 fours and eight sixes. This is the record of the highest individual total by a Bangladeshi in an ODI. Along the way of making this record, Liton surpassed his opening partner Tamim Iqbal who also hit 128 in that game.

Also Read- After 20 years, Bangladesh still finding its feet in Test cricket

In the same game, Bangladesh recorded their highest partnership in ODIs at any wicket— 292 by Tamim and Liton.

After the Zimbabwe series at the home, Bangladeshi cricketers head to the most prestigious domestic event- Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League- the only 50-over competition of the country. But it was postponed indefinitely after the first six games due to the Covid-19 situation in the country.

Since that, all sorts of cricketing activities were on hold till September when some cricketers started individual training programmes after months-long lockdown. The Tigers were supposed to tour Sri Lanka for a full series, but the Covid-19 situation came to the fore again, and the series was postponed indefinitely.

Due the same, at least 14 international matches of Bangladesh have been postponed including a Test series against Australia, an ODI and T20I series against Ireland.

Also read: Bangladesh celebrates 20 years of Test Status

Right after the postponement of the Sri Lanka series, Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president had announced that the board will focus on bringing back domestic cricket to the field. And as he said, BCB hosted a 50-over competition, the BCB President Cup, in November comprising three teams consisting of the top cricketers of the country.

In this event, the board maintained a strict bio-secure bubble for the cricketers, coaches, staff and others who are involved in organizing the event.

With the experience of hosting the President Cup, BCB introduced a brand new T20 league0- the Bangabandhu T20 Cup 2020- with five teams taking place.

Also Read- BCB reluctant to host cricket at home due to Covid-19

This event probably was the only positive thing for Bangladesh cricket to take forward from this year. Unlike the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), all the cricketers of Bangabandhu T20 Cup were Bangladeshi. The local talents got a golden chance to prove their mettle in the format.

Young cricketers like Najmul Hossain Shanto, Parvez Hossain Emon, Anisul Islam Emon, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan displayed some tremendous performance in the event. And along with them, Mustafizur Rahman, Liton Das have also proved their class. While Mustafizur was the best cricketer of the event, Lition was awarded the trophy of the best batsman.

Hosting two events in two months, opened the door for Bangladesh to bring international cricket back at home as the West Indies have confirmed their visit to Bangladesh in January- February 2021.

Also read: BCB eyes to resume domestic cricket soon

During the Bangabandhu T20 Cup, a two-member delegation of West Indies toured Bangladesh to oversee the health protocol that the BCB is providing to ensure safety for the cricketers and other staff.

After a short visit in Dhaka and Chattogram, they expressed their happiness, and within the next few days, West Indies confirmed the tour.

Despite a barren year in 2020, Bangladesh are looking forward to playing more cricket in 2021. After the West Indies series at home, Bangladesh are scheduled to tour New Zealand. In 2021, Bangladesh will also take part in the ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in India during the later part of the year.

Australian fast bowler Aaron Summers will become the first foreign player to play in revamped Pakistan domestic cricket when he represents Southern Punjab in the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament in Karachi next month.

The 24-year-old Summers had played for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League in 2019 and also represented Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.

Summers is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on Monday for a week-long training camp at the National High Performance Centre before joining Southern Punjab at Karachi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s domestic competition rules allow one foreign player per side.

Read Also: Six Bangladeshi cricketers to play T10 League in UAE

“Pakistan is a breeding ground for the fast bowlers,” Summers said Saturday in a statement issued by the PCB.

“While I look forward to developing as a quality fast bowler,” he said, “I am equally keen to help my side (perform) strongly in the Pakistan Cup.”

PCB’s High Performance Director Nadeem Khan said the cricket board wanted to attract foreign players to Pakistan domestic cricket.

“We are aspiring to make our domestic structure robust, tough and challenging that can not only benefit our cricketers but also attract foreign cricketers — just like our cricketers who are regularly featuring in Australia and England’s domestic circuit,” he said.

“I am hopeful Aaron’s participation will also attract other foreign cricketers. It will also help our local players interact and integrate with players from other environments and enhance their understanding of different cultures.”

India could make up to five changes for the second cricket test against Australia beginning Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground while the home side is expected to go unchanged.

India captain Virat Kohli has returned to India to be with his wife for the birth of their first child and fast bowler Mohammed Shami has a broken arm.

Opener K.L. Rahul and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant could be in line for recalls, with Prithvi Shaw and Wriddhiman Saha in danger of being dropped.

India heads to the MCG after posting its lowest total in test history — 36 in the second innings — in an eight-wicket loss in the day-night match at the Adelaide Oval which ended inside three days.

Áustralia captain Tim Paine said Friday he doesn’t expect his side to let up in attempting to take a 2-0 lead in the four-test series.

“The moment we take our foot off the pedal, and think we’re going all right performances can slip,” Paine said. “But we’ve been fantastic in how we’ve prepared for this game. We can’t pay any attention to mental scars or whatever people are talking about.

“India is a proud cricket country, they’re an extremely talented side. We know some of the players they’re talking about coming in . . . if we give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.”

The match would normally draw a crowd of up to 80,000, but just 30,000 people will be allowed into the MCG. Despite the strange build-up due to COVID-19 restrictions, Paine is happy just to be playing the Boxing Day test at the MCG.

“Seeing the MCG sometimes with 30,000 in it you’re a bit disappointed when you turn up,” he said. “To have 30,000 fans there is certainly better than not playing the Boxing Day test at the MCG, so everyone’s excited.”

Joe Burns will again partner Matthew Wade at the top of the order after Burns’ unbeaten 51 in the first test.

On Thursday, Cricket Australia officials met to determine whether the MCG might hold two tests in a row if a new COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney prevents the Sydney Cricket Ground match from beginning played beginning Jan. 7.

Read Also: Australia plans no changes for 2nd cricket test vs India

Cricket Australia mulls 3rd, 4th Test swap after Covid-19 spike

The CA board decided wait further to give the SCG its “best chance” to host the third test. The board also want to stick with Brisbane hosting the fourth test beginning Jan. 15, just four days after the SCG match is scheduled to end.

But should the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney result in the SCG test being untenable, CA’s preferred contingency is playing the third test at the MCG.

“The drop in new community transmissions in NSW have provided cause for optimism,” CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement. “However if the situation in Sydney deteriorates, we have strong contingency plans in place.”

CA said it was working with the Queensland government to secure travel exemptions for players, officials and broadcasters to move from Sydney to Brisbane following the SCG match, Hockley said.

Regardless of where the third match is play, Australia coach Justin Langer said he was optimistic opener David Warner will be fit.

The 34-year-old Warner has been recovering from a groin injury sustained in the one-day international series against India.

“He batted very well (on Wednesday) in the nets, he’s moving well,” Langer said of the 24-test veteran. “He’s enthusiastic as ever. He’s got so much energy and passion for the game and he’ll be doing everything possible to get out onto the ground.

“He’s having a bit of trouble running at full speed. We’ll just monitor him and fingers crossed he’ll be back.”

Cricketer Rubel Hossain on Thursday distributed blankets among the cold-hit poor people of Bagerhat town.

Rubel said he stepped forward as many poor people are left at the mercy of cold weather during the winter.

“I wanted to help them survive the harshness of nature as poor people are the ones who suffer much during winter. Also, a small contribution from the wealthy people would help more of them,” he said.

Also, the cricket star plans to distribute blankets among 1,200 people.

Winter has already arrived, and the advancing cold is already affecting the poor and disadvantaged.

Recently a weeklong cold wave swept the country – especially the northern part.