T20 World Cup 2021
Shakib becomes highest-wicket taker in T20Is
The wait is finally over! Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan became the highest wicket-taker in T20Is. He surpassed the Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga on Sunday while taking two wickets against Scotland in Bangladesh’s first match of the T20 World Cup.
Along the way, Shakib completed 600 wickets in international cricket. He has earlier completed 12000 runs in international cricket as well.
Shakib is now the only cricketer on the planet to score more than 12000 runs and at least 600 wickets in international cricket. South African legend Jack Kallis is right after him with more than 25000 runs and 577 wickets.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
The left-handed all-rounder was close to surpassing Malinga in the Australia series at home, but he couldn’t. He was also close to touching the fate in the New Zealand series, but he failed once again.
Now, in the World Cup, Shakib finally surpassed Malinga and became the highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of international cricket.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
Malinga had taken 107 wickets in 84 matches. Shakib needed to play 89 matches to surpass him. Shakib has four four-wicket and one five-wicket hauls in the format as well.
T20 World Cup: Scotland post a moderate total of 140 vs Bangladesh
Scotland posted a moderate total of 140 for nine in 20 overs against Bangladesh on Sunday at Muscat. It was the first match of the T20 World Cup for both teams.
Mahmudullah Riyad won the toss and sent Scotland in to bat first.
Bangladesh made the better start as with the score on 5/0, Mohammad Saifuddin removed Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer for a duck in the third over.
They recovered a bit though, and in the powerplay, Scotland scored 39 losing one wicket. In the last over of the powerplay, Mustafizur Rahman conceded 13 runs with a four and a six.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
T20 World Cup: Saifuddin bags Bangladesh’s first wicket
Coming to bowl at number three over, allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin bagged Bangladesh’s first wicket in the T20 World Cup 2021.
Bangladesh are taking on Scotland in their first Round 1 match on Sunday at Muscat Oman.
It was Kyle Coetzer, the Scotland captain, who was removed by Saifuddin. The right-handed pacer bowled a terrific delivery right in the blockhole. The batter tried to drive it away through the off side but missed the ball which has shattered his off stump.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
Scotland were at five when they lost the first wicket of the match.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Taskin Ahmed started the innings giving only four runs in the first over while Mustafizur Rahman came at number two and gave away only one.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
At the end of the fifth over, Scotland were batting at 26 for one with George Munsey was unbeaten for 19 off 16.
Oman thumps debutant PNG by 10 wkts in T20 World Cup
Openers Jatinder Singh and Aqib Ilyas smashed unbeaten half centuries as co-host Oman thumped debutant Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in its opening first-round Group B game on Sunday.
Singh scored 73 off 42 balls and Ilyas made 50 that eased the host to 131-0 with more than six overs to spare.
Earlier, skipper Zeeshan Ashraf (4-20) registered Oman’s best figures in a T20 and pinned down PNG to 129-9.
“These are our home conditions, we knew even 140 could be chased easily,” Ashraf said. “We knew the wicket was playing very well, we needed to make sure we didn’t give away loose balls and easy boundaries.”
PNG captain Assad Vala (56) and Charles Amini (37) did well to share an 81-run stand after openers Tony Ura and Lega Siaka had played Oman fast bowlers back onto their stumps without a run on the board.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
But Amini’s run-out was followed by Singh taking a brilliant running catch at long-on before Ashraf, the left-arm spinner, grabbed three wickets in an over to derail the PNG innings.
Singh, played several impressive reverse sweeps, hitting seven fours and four sixes without any of the seven bowlers used by Vala able to trouble the batsman. He raised the victory with a six over mid-wicket in the 14th over.
The 131-run stand was Oman’s best partnership for any wicket in a T20 and the chase, without losing a wicket, was the third-highest in men’s T20 internationals.
“On that wicket, 129 was never going to be enough,” Vala said. “We were looking at 160-plus to give ourselves a chance. (First) Charles got run out, then myself getting out, (and) we lost our way. I think a lot of credit goes to Maqsood and his boys.”
Bangladesh and Scotland are the other two teams in the group and will play later Sunday. Group A comprises Ireland, Namibia, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 12 stage that starts in the United Arab Emirates next Saturday.
Five years ago, Oman sprung a surprise when it beat Ireland in its opening T20 World Cup game in India.
Bangladesh vs Scotland: Riyad asks Scots to bat first, picks 3 seamers
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field first against Scotland in their T20 World Cup opener on Sunday at Muscat, Oman.
“The wicket looks good to bat on, but we want to chase down here,” Mahmudullah said right after winning the toss. "We want to play our best cricket, and we have included three allrounders in our playing eleven.”
Bangladesh overlooked opener Mohammad Naim and included Soumya as the opener. Along with Soumya, Liton Das will open the innings for Bangladesh.
T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
With the dreams and expectations of millions of people at heart, the Bangladesh national cricket team will embark on a World Cup mission on October 17. Bangladesh will have to qualify for the Super 12 through the qualifying round after failing to make the top eight when the ICC announced the tournament schedule. Therefore, no match in the qualifying phase should be treated lightly. The five players that can make a difference for Bangladesh in the ICC T20I World Cup 2021 are discussed in this article.
Top 5 Potent Bangladeshi Players in 2021 T20I World Cup
Bangladesh selectors picked a 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2021, with one stand-by player. Here are five players that have the potential to rise to the occasion and make a significant contribution to Bangladesh's progress in the tournament.
Shakib Al Hasan (All-Rounder)
M: 88 | Runs: 1,763 | HS: 84 | SR: 121.41 | Wkts: 106 | BBI: 5/20 | Econ: 6.73
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became a regular starter for Kolkata Knight Riders in the just-completed IPL 2021. His all-around brilliance helped the Kolkata team reach the final. So, Shakib will enter the World Cup with a high level of confidence. Shakib is a huge part of Bangladesh's team. Not to mention, he has the ability to cause fear in the opponent's camp with a brilliant all-around display. It will be fantastic news for Bangladesh if Shakib can flourish in the Twenty20 World Cup 2021.
Read Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
Mahmudullah Riyad (Captain, all-rounder)
M: 102 | Runs: 1,771 | HS: 64* | SR: 118.69 | Wkts: 33 | BBI: 3/18 | Econ: 7.18
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad is a vital part of the Bangladesh team. He has already established himself as Bangladesh's most successful T20 skipper. Mahmudullah recently proved his credentials as captain by leading his team to victory in a T20 series against New Zealand and Australia at home. That's why Mahmudullah's captaincy at the 2021 T20 World Cup would be crucial for Bangladesh. Riyad also happens to be the team's most potent hard hitter. He has a knack for hitting big shots in death overs and can also pick up wickets at crucial moments. The Bangladesh team management would be hoping for the top performance from the team captain.
Read Bangabandhu 23rd NCL begins Sunday
Mushfiqur Rahim (Batsman)
M: 91 | Runs: 1,321 | HS: 72* | SR: 115.57
Mushfiqur Rahim is Bangladesh's most dependable batsman. His batting in the middle order will be crucial to Bangladesh's innings. Therefore, Mushfiqur will have to shoulder a bit more responsibility in order to maintain stability in Bangladesh's batting. However, the right-hand batsman has been struggling with the bat in recent days. Hopefully, Mushfiqur will return to his best form during the World Cup.
Read Sadid: The 6-year-old leggie who wowed Tendulkar
Mustafizur Rahman (Medium pacer)
M: 52 | Wkts: 76 | BBI: 5/22 | Econ: 7.48
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was in excellent form in the just-concluded IPL. Mustafiz got 14 wickets for the Delhi Capitals. So, regaining his form will strengthen the Bangladesh campaign. If the cutter-master finds his usual rhythm during the tournament, the opponents will experience serious trouble. Mustafizur Rahman may secure his place among the top wicket-takers in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 if he can adapt his bowling with the UAE's pitches.
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh vs. Scotland Match Preview
Liton Das (Batsman)
M: 38 | Runs: 711 | HS: 61 | SR: 129.74
Liton Das will have to shoulder a bit more responsibility in the opening position in the absence of Tamim Iqbal. Because one of the opening batters must bat all the way through the innings. This stylish opener must play the anchor role for the team. However, Liton hasn't performed well for Bangladesh in recent days. If Liton Das can make a good start in the World Cup, Bangladesh will be able to play with confidence in the tournament.
Read Toppers List at the end of the IPL 2021
Bottom Line
Bangladesh national men's cricket team will have to play as a unit to showcase their true potential in the World Cup. The players must have a good understanding of one another to achieve the goal.
The team management, together with head coach Russell Domingo and captain Mahmudullah Riyad, must construct a suitable game plan for the competition. Though, the main goal would be to bring the team together so that they can perform well on the field.
The five players mentioned above are the most experienced in the current Bangladesh national cricket team setup. They will have to carry the bulk of the responsibilities in the ICC T20 Men's World Cup 2021.
Read Dravid to be Team India's next head coach?
Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
The latest edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is all set to commence from Sunday in Oman. On the first day of the event, Bangladesh will take on Scotland at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket on Sunday at 8pm Dhaka time.
The match will be telecast in Bangladesh by Gtv, T Sports, and Btv while Rabbithole will telecast through YouTube.
Ahead of the first match, Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said they will focus more on skilled batting instead of power-hitting which is more popular in the shortest format of international cricket.
“We know we don’t have power-hitting batters like other teams do, but we are confident in our skilled hitting ability. We will focus more on this skill in the World Cup,” Mahmudullah told in the pre-event press conference on Saturday in Muscat.
Bangladesh lost both of their warm-up matches in the UAE against Sri Lanka and Ireland. The Tigers’ captain believes it won’t be doing anything to damage the confidence of the players. He also thinks that the underperforming Mushfiqur Rahim is only one good innings away from finding his old form back.
“Mushfiqur is a batter who has the ability to turn the contest our way at any moment,” Mahmudullah said. “As a cricketer, you can go through a bad patch at any moment, and at the same time, you can get out of at any moment. I believe Mushfiqur needs only a good match to get back to form. We are not bothered about him. He can do well tomorrow (Sunday).”
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh vs. Scotland Match Preview
T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh vs. Scotland Match Preview
Bangladesh are going to be a formidable opponent for Scotland in their first T20 World Cup encounter. However, Scotland won both of its scheduled practice matches and are well prepared to face Bangladesh. The match will start at 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on October 17 (Sunday). The winner of this match will likely finish top in their group; therefore, this is an important fixture for both sides. The match preview of Bangladesh vs. Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2021 is discussed in this article.
Notable T20I Record between Bangladesh and Scotland
So far, Bangladesh have only played one T20 match against Scotland. The Scottish national team won the lone match by 34 runs back in 2012. Here are some of the highlights of that match.
Batted first, Scotland scored 162 in their allocated 20 overs. Bangladesh were bowled out for 128 runs in response.
Read Toppers List at the end of the IPL 2021
# Shakib Al Hasan scored the highest 31 runs for Bangladesh. On the other side, Richie Berrington scored a century (100) for Scotland.
# Mashrafe Mortaza and Abdur Razzak took two wickets each for Bangladesh. On the other hand, Joshua Davey and Rana Haq bagged three wickets each for Scotland.
# Mashrafe Mortaza had the best bowling figures (2/22) for Bangladesh, while Joshua Davey (3/23) had the best bowling figures for Scotland.
Read: Short format, long wait for pandemic-affected T20 World Cup
Bangladesh Team
Bangladesh openers failed in the warm-up matches, therefore finding the right opening combination is Bangladesh's most difficult challenge at the present. Reports suggest that the team management is now keen to open the innings with Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar. Depending on the nature of the pitch, Bangladesh may decide to include a couple of spinners in the playing XI.
Three impactful players of Bangladesh
Mahmudullah Riyad: T20I: 102 | Runs: 1,771 | HS: 64* | SR: 118.69 | Wkts: 33 | BBI: 3/18 | SR: 23.90
Shakib Al Hasan: T20I: 88 | Runs: 1,763 | HS: 84 | SR: 121.41 | Wkts: 106 | BBI: 5/20 | SR: 18.40
Mustafizur Rahman: T20I: 52 | Wkts: 76 | BBI: 5/22 | Econ: 7.48 | SR: 14.90
Read Dravid to be Team India's next head coach?
Predicted Playing XI: Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed
Scotland Team
Scotland have some excellent T20 players in its roster and can shock any team in the world on any given day. Scotland are in good form and they may stick with the same lineup against Bangladesh that took part in the last practice match.
Three impactful players of Scotland
Calum MacLeod: T20I: 53 | Runs: 1,114 | HS: 74 | 50s: 7 | SR: 114.02
Richie Berrington: T20I: 66 | Runs: 1,517 | HS: 100 | SR: 128.12 | Wkts: 27 | BBI: 3/17 | SR: 18.50
read Chennai beats Kolkata in final to clinch 4th IPL title
Joshua Davey: T20I: 23 | Wkts: 25 | BBI: 4/34 | Econ: 8.21 | SR: 19.50
Predicted Playing XI:
George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer (Captain), Ollie Hairs, Richie Berrington, Calum MacLeod ,Cross (Wicket-Keeper), Christopher Greaves, Joshua Davey, Christopher Sole, Alasdair Evans, Hamza Tahir
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh's Group Stage Fixtures
Verdict
Winning the first match would boost confidence among the players. Therefore, both sides would be ready to give it their best in this encounter. Bangladesh did not do well in the practice matches, but the results exposed the true weaknesses of the squad. Bangladesh team management must come up with a proper plan in the main event of the T20 World Cup 2021. Otherwise, they would not be able to showcase their true potential in the competition. On the other side, Scotland would be looking to maintain their perfect (T20 match) record against Bangladesh.
Read Youth ODI: Bangladesh lose series opener against Sri Lanka
Twenty20 Cricket World Cup: 5 players to watch
Some players to watch at the Twenty20 World Cup starting on Sunday with an eight-team first round. Four teams from Round 1 will advance to join the top eight teams in the main Super 12 stage from Oct. 23:
JASPRIT BUMRAH (India)
The paceman with the unorthodox bowling action is back to spearhead India’s T20 attack for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak and is likely to become the country’s leading wicket-taker in the format during the World Cup. Five wickets would take him above Yuzvendra Chahal’s record of 63 for India. Bumrah, on the back of a strong test series in England, came out of the IPL as one of competition’s leading wicket takers with 21 for Mumbai Indians at an average of 19.52. He continues to be prolific in all formats with his express pace and consistency off a short run-up. Few pacemen are better at yorkers that could prove to be his best source of wickets on the UAE’s spin-friendly pitches.
DEVON CONWAY (New Zealand)
The left-handed batter has taken international cricket by storm in all formats, underlining not just his talent but his versatility and ability to thrive in different conditions. There was the double-hundred against England at Lord’s on his test debut in June, the 126 against Bangladesh in his third and most recent ODI in March, and then an unbeaten 99 off 59 balls against Australia in one of his 11 innings for New Zealand in Twenty20s. Conway averages 59.12 in T20s and stands out in a way because he is not the kind of explosive power-hitter typically synonymous with the shorter format, rather a thinker and a gap-finder with a clean shot-making ability either as an opener or in the middle order. Born and raised in South Africa, Conway moved to New Zealand in 2017 and — at the age of 30 — has had to be patient for his chance at international level. Having helped the Black Caps to become world test champions, Conway could be the player to lead the team to a first ICC white-ball world title.
LIAM LIVINGSTONE (England)
Livingstone’s two-year plan has paid off. In a bid to get into England’s squad for this World Cup, he decided in 2019 to do a global tour of the T20 franchises so he could experience a variety of conditions and broaden his experience. He is now a regular in England’s T20 team and one of the most thrilling batters in the world. He’s also one of the biggest hitters, as shown in smashing a 42-ball hundred against Pakistan in July — the quickest ever scored by an England player. He was also the top scorer in the inaugural season of The Hundred, the new English domestic competition, in which he hit more sixes than anyone. Livingstone has struggled for runs in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals over the past month, an indication he might not be suited to the slower wickets in the United Arab Emirates. But he is clearly a potential game-changer and match-winner and, in that way, an ideal replacement for the absent Ben Stokes in the England team.
DAVID WARNER (Australia)
Once the best all-format opener in the game, Warner comes into the World Cup with no form and is perhaps emblematic of Australia’s preparations for the competition. He was dropped as captain by Sunrisers Hyderabad before this year’s Indian Premier League was paused for coronavirus-related reasons in April, then dropped from the team entirely after a three-ball duck and a three-ball 2 upon the competition’s resumption last month. Warner also hasn’t played for Australia in the T20 format since September last year, missing recent series against the West Indies and Bangladesh so he could be fresh for the IPL and the World Cup. Australia captain Aaron Finch has said Warner, one of the world’s most explosive batters on his day, will start in the T20 World Cup but is under pressure as his country looks to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2012 and win it for the first time.
TABRAIZ SHAMSI (South Africa)
The spinner is the top-ranked bowler in T20 internationals, which may come as a surprise to some considering the Proteas’ long-established reliance on fast bowling to get the job done. But Shamsi, a left-arm wrist spinner with plenty of variation, is now crucial to the South Africa team and reflects a trend in the short format where slow bowlers are proving to be invaluable. While Shamsi’s wicket-taking ability has never been in doubt, he once struggled to limit the runs and was considered a risky selection. The 31-year-old Shamsi has made major improvements in that department, although his strength will always be as an attacking spinner. He wanted to be a magician before his cricket career took off and is still keenly interested in the art. And that’s fitting for a bowler renowned for having a good selection of tricks up his sleeve.
T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh’s Group Stage Fixtures
The top eight teams in the ICC T20 team rankings directly qualified to the Super 12s phase. The remaining four teams will be determined through a group phase, which will begin a week before the main event. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Super 12, thus they will compete in the group stage to advance to the next round. The six teams who qualified for the tournament through the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier will join them. Let's have a look at the T20 World Cup 2021 group phase fixtures.
Read:IPL 2021 Final: Key Stats, Team News Ahead of CSK vs. KKR Championship Match
Group A Fixtures of T20 World Cup 2021
Ireland, Namibia, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka are the four teams in Group A. Among the teams, Sri Lanka are the clear favorites to advance to the Super 12s. However, the Lankan side may encounter stiff challenges playing against Ireland and the Netherlands.
Ireland are a promising team with the potential to upset strong opponents on any given day. On the other hand, the Netherlands are known for being a giant killer. They have a history of upsetting big teams in World Cup tournaments. Therefore, when confronting these opponents, Sri Lanka must take them seriously.
Namibia are a very weak team, thus making it to the group stage of the World Cup is a significant accomplishment. The winner of this group will play in Group 1, while the runner-up will play in Group 2 in the Super 12s round.
Read:Tigers lose the plot while fielding to lose first warm-up against SL
ICC T20 World Cup 2021 Group A Schedule
Date
Fixture
Venue
Time
October 18 (Monday)
Ireland vs Netherlands
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
4 PM
October 18 (Monday)
Sri Lanka vs Namibia
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
8 PM
October 20
(Wednesday)
Namibia vs. Netherlands
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
4 PM
October 20
(Wednesday)
Sri Lanka vs. Ireland
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
8 PM
October 22 (Friday)
Namibia vs. Ireland
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
4 PM
October 22 (Friday)
Sri Lanka vs. Netherlands
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
8 PM
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Defeat in warm-up match not a big thing: Minhajul
Group B Fixtures of T20 World Cup 2021
Bangladesh, Scotland, Oman, and Papua New Guinea are the four teams in Group B. On paper, Bangladesh appear to be the clear favorite to finish top in Group B's points table. Scotland will put Bangladesh to the test when the two teams play on Sunday (October 17). Whoever wins the contest will be favourite to take the first position in the points table.
One of the T20 World Cup 2021 hosts, Oman and Oceania’s Papua New Guinea have a slim chance of progressing to the next round. Participating in the preliminary round of the Twenty20 World Cup will be a significant achievement for both the associate nations of the International Cricket Council.
The winner of this group will play in Group 2, while the runner-up will play in Group 1 in the Super 12s round of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2021.
Read: Mahmudullah out of Bangladesh’s first warm-up match
ICC T20 World Cup 2021 Group B Schedule
Date
Fixture
Venue
Time
October 17 (Sunday)
Oman vs Papua New Guinea
Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman
4 PM
October 17 (Sunday)
Bangladesh vs. Scotland
Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman
8 PM
October 19
(Tuesday)
Scotland vs. Papua New Guinea
Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman
4 PM
October 19
(Tuesday)
Oman vs. Bangladesh
Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman
8 PM
October 21 (Thursday)
Bangladesh vs. Papua New Guinea
Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman
4 PM
October 21 (Thursday)
Oman vs. Scotland
Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman
8 PM
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read:IPL 2021 Eliminator: Shakib Scores the Winning Run as Kolkata Secure Qualifier 2
Verdict
As per the fixture, the competitive group in the T20 World Cup 2021 is Group A. Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sri Lanka are set to compete for a spot in the Super 12s Round of World Cup. Group B includes Bangladesh and Scotland. These two teams are considerably stronger than the rest of the group. The top two teams in each group will progress to the Super 12s phase. As a result, a tough contest can be expected among the participating teams in the group phase for a berth in the next round.