United News of Bangladesh

Najmul Hossain Shanto struck a commanding century to put Bangladesh in control before Mohammad Abbas struck just before tea to give Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough on the opening day of the first Test in Mirpur. Shanto’s 101, his ninth Test hundred and his first against Pakistan, anchored a 170-run partnership with Mominul Haque. The duo dominated a humid post-lunch session on a surface that offered little assistance to either pace or spin.  The breakthrough arrived in the 53rd over when Abbas trapped Shanto leg-before just in the next ball after the century. A good-length delivery nipped back to strike the front pad as Shanto played across the line. Although the on-field umpire initially turned down the appeal, Pakistan captain Shan Masood successfully reviewed the decision, with ball-tracking showing the delivery hitting off-stump. Shanto reached his milestone in style the previous ball, drilling a half-volley from Abbas through the covers for four. His 130-ball innings included 12 boundaries and two sixes, continuing a prolific run of form where he has consistently converted fifties into centuries.  While the session belonged to the hosts, the late wicket provided Pakistan with late momentum. Bangladesh now face a rebuilding phase in the final session, while Pakistan will likely target Mominul, who remains unbeaten having reached his 26th Test half-century. The wicket ended Shanto's first big Test score against Pakistan, an opponent against whom he had previously struggled to reach double figures. Bangladesh will look to Mominul to lead the charge as they aim for a big first-innings total.  

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his side to break into the top five of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings, building on the progress made during the previous cycle. The team finished seventh in the last edition with four wins, an improvement from consecutive last-place finishes in the first two cycles. Bangladesh currently have one draw and one loss from two matches in the present cycle and are seeking their first victory as they prepare to face Pakistan. The two-match series against Pakistan begins Friday in Mirpur. "We have played good cricket over the last two years," Shanto said on the eve of the match. "Finishing seventh last time was a good achievement, and we are gradually improving. This year, the goal is to perform better. It would be great if we could finish in fourth or fifth place." The captain acknowledged that several difficult away tours, including trips to Australia and South Africa later this year, stand in the way of that goal. However, he believes the current squad is better equipped to handle varying conditions. "There are challenges ahead with tours that will be entirely new for us," Shanto said. "But our home series are very important. We will try to create conditions and wickets that suit our strengths against specific opponents." Shanto described the squad as balanced across pace, spin, and batting departments, which allows the team more flexibility. Bangladesh enter the series with the confidence of a 2-0 sweep in Pakistan in 2024, though Shanto was quick to dismiss past records as a guarantee of future success. "We played well in that series, but that is in the past," he said. "While it gives us extra confidence, we have to play well again. Every day must be better than the last for us to get the result. We aren't thinking too much about records; it’s about playing competitive cricket daily." Preparation for the series has been mixed, with several players recently focused on limited-overs cricket. Shanto, however, expressed satisfaction with the work done by those in the red-ball camp.  

After Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down as Bangladesh’s Test captain, the BCB is in a bit of a bind as to who they can turn to next, with no obvious candidates presenting themselves.  Bangladesh currently has two different captains for T20Is and ODIs. It would seem sensible to give it to one of them, since most teams try to avoid three different captains for the three formats of cricket. But it is not clear if either of the two - Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz -  is too keen to add the Test role, or if the BCB is considering other candidates. Najmul did not specify why he opted to abdicate the Test captaincy, although it was expected for a while. However, the move suggests possible issues with the board, particularly after Mehidy's appointment as ODI captain (replacing Najmul). Whatever the reason, Najmul is no longer leading Bangladesh in Tests. The team must now identify its new Test leader. Looking back to the squad of Bangladesh’s last Test shows that only two men— Litton or Mehidy— can take the role.  Litton currently captains Bangladesh's T20I side and has previous experience leading the Test team in one match. He did not emerge as a captain during his age-group days, nor was he pegged as a future leader after years in the national side. But when given the chance with the responsibility, he led the team effectively. And at the same time, as one of Bangladesh's premier Test batters, he remains a strong contender for the role. Having played 50 Tests, he is among the country's most experienced players. Mehidy is another contender for the role. Newly appointed as ODI captain, he could be ready to add the Test leadership. He also has experience leading Bangladesh in two Tests during 2024. The right-arm off-spinning allrounder has played 54 Tests, a record that makes him a stronger candidate for the role. He also boasts experience leading teams at age-group and domestic levels regularly.  While less likely, Mominul Haque remains a contender by virtue of his regular Test status. Long overlooked for ODIs and T20Is, he retains a place in the Test team and possesses experience leading the side for three years. Najmul stands by batting first call, blames first innings collapse for defeat It’s understood Mominul is less inclined to reclaim the role currently, but should the situation demand, he might reconsider. Having played 74 Tests, he stands among the region's most seasoned campaigners. The board might also consider former long-term captain Mushfiqur Rahim if seeking a short-term solution. Mushfiqur led Bangladesh for over five years and possesses proven leadership qualities. But the only drawback is his career is nearing its end. He has already retired from white-ball cricket and has limited time remaining in the red-ball format. So the question remains: would he take on the captaincy now? But equally, if the board is looking for a short-term transitional solution, Mushfiqur might prove the best choice.  Another name circulating within the Bangladesh cricket fraternity is Taijul Islam. The left-arm spinner holds a near-permanent place in the Bangladesh Test team and has years of experience. Months ago, during another phase of captaincy uncertainty, Taijul expressed his readiness to take on the role should the board require him. As the country again faces difficulty identifying its Test leader, Taijul emerges as a potential choice. He lacks a star persona, but his Test record, understanding of the game, and experience make him a significant option to guide Bangladesh's Test future. The other members of the current Test squad are either inexperienced or not yet ready for the Test captaincy. So the next captain might come out from these five players.//

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has stood by his decision to bat first in the second Test in Colombo but admitted that a poor batting display in the first innings set the tone for the innings-and-78-run defeat to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh collapsed in the second innings of the match as well. They were behind by more than 200 runs after the first innings of each team. Then they failed to surpass the first innings lead of Sri Lanka.  After drawing the opening Test in Galle—where Najmul struck centuries in both innings and Bangladesh dominated for long periods—expectations were high heading into Colombo. However, the visitors faltered with the bat, getting bowled out for 247 in their first innings before conceding 458 to Sri Lanka. The collapse continued in the second innings, with Bangladesh dismissed for just 133. Najmul steps down as Bangladesh Test captain after Colombo defeat “I still believe batting first was the right call. The pitch was a bit slow, but we didn’t bat well,” Najmul said after the match. “The way we lost our wickets, it wasn’t good. We were often looking for the easy way out.” He pointed specifically to the first innings as the turning point of the match. “We had opportunities in this Test too, but we couldn’t make them count. Especially the way we batted in the first innings—it wasn’t what we had hoped for. That’s what cost us the game,” he said. Najmul, who just retired from Test captaincy, acknowledged that most batters threw their wickets away under little pressure. “There were mistakes from the top to the lower order. We didn’t build partnerships or show patience. That hurt us,” he said. Dismal batting hands Bangladesh a heavy defeat in Colombo While praising the bowlers for picking up eight wickets on the third day to bowl Sri Lanka out, Najmul was clear that the game was already beyond reach. “We just didn’t do enough with the bat to stay in the contest,” he said.  

Najmul Hossain Shanto has hinted at stepping down at the captain of Bangladesh’s Test team after the ongoing two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Najmul has reportedly been in a complicated relationship with the national team management, which is now poised to enter a new chapter. Quoting multiple sources close to the in-form batter, Cricbuzz, an international cricket news outlet, reported on Monday that Najmul has already made up his mind, and is expected to inform his decision to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the ongoing series. Najmul played a captain’s knock smashing centuries in both the innings of the just concluded opening Test match against Sri Lanka that ended in a draw. Whether an announcement will be made immediately after the second Test in Colombo or later will depend on follow-up discussions with the board. Galle Test: Rain-marred Test ends in draw despite twin tons from Shanto Najmul’s desire to quit comes in the wake of recent turbulence surrounding his role across formats. Initially appointed captain for all three formats last year, he voluntarily gave up the T20I captaincy to focus on his batting, requesting to continue leading in Tests and ODIs. However, on June 12, the BCB called an unscheduled Zoom meeting and abruptly replaced him with Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the new ODI captain—without placing the matter on the board meeting agenda, a move seen as uncharacteristic and abrupt. It is understood that the abrupt decision to change ODI captaincy might have played a role in Najmul’s possible decision to step down as the Test captain. Najmul was surprised by his removal, especially as he was due to discuss Sri Lanka ODI squad plans with head coach Phil Simmons. BCB director Nazmul Abedin conveyed the news, frustrating Shanto, who then skipped the meeting with the coach.

Najmul Hossain Shanto’s impressive performance in the ODI format has further pushed his rise in the past month. The 24-year-old cricketer continued his excellent form, particularly against Ireland, which led to his nomination for the ICC’s Player of the Month for May. Scoring a century in the recent Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Test match 2023, Shanto continued his superb performance. Though the player experienced some difficult times in his cricket career, recently he has become a consistent batter for the Bangladesh squad and helped the Tigers clinch win in several matches. Shanto acquired the Man of the Match award in the 2023 BAN vs AFG Test match. Career Highlights of Najmul Hossain Shanto Najmul Hossain Shanto has been playing tests since 2017, and so far, he has played 23 Test matches. In these 23 matches, he scored 1283 runs, with 163 being his highest score. With 4 centuries and 7 fifties, Shanto has been very consistent in recent test matches. Shanto’s best performance came against Sri Lanka in 2021. He did exceptionally well and scored 163 runs in just one inning, which is his best performance in test matches up to now. Read more: Key Performers in BAN vs AFG Test 2023 Table: Najmul Hossain Shanto’s career as of June 20, 2023.  Format Match Total Runs Highest Score Average 100s 50s Test 23 1283 163 29.83 4 3 ODI 24 615 117 26.73 1 3 T20I 23 548 71 28.84 0 3 Source: ESPN  In addition to Test, recently Shanto has displayed an impressive performance in One Day Internationals (ODIs) too. Overall, in 24 matches, he has accumulated a total score of 615 runs, with a highest score of 117. His average stands at 26.73 with one century and three fifties, reflecting his consistent contributions to the team's batting line-up. Najmul Hossain Shanto has been performing really well in the T20 International format. He has played 23 matches and scored 548 runs in total. His highest score in a single match is 71 runs against Zimbabwe, which is quite impressive. On average, he scores around 28.84 runs per match. Although he hasn't scored a century yet in this format, he has hit three half-centuries. This means he has played some really good innings and contributed a lot to his team's success. Although Shanto started international cricket career in 2017, he became a regular member of Bangladesh cricket team in 2021. So, in just two years Shanto demonstrated his skills. With his tremendous performance he also proved that he has enough potential. Read more: BCB Announces T20I Squad for Afghanistan Series Shanto’s Most Recent Performance in BAN vs AFG Test 2023 Shanto played a fantastic cricket match for the Bangladesh team. He scored a century in both innings of the match. In the first innings, he made 146 runs, and in the second innings, he scored 124 runs. His brilliant performance practically ensured Bangladesh’s victory. Shanto became the second Bangladeshi player, after Mominul Haque, to score a century in both innings of a Test match. Table: Shanto's score card in BAN vs AFG Test 2023 Innings  Runs 4s 6s Strike Rate 1st 146 23 2 83.42 3rd 124 15 0 82.11 Read more: Pakistan fast bowler Afridi set to return to test cricket

Left-handed batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto shines with a century in the Dhaka Test against Afghanistan, setting the tone for the hosts. Marking only his third century in Test matches, Shanto displayed exceptional batting prowess and contributed well to Bangladesh's innings. After winning the toss, Afghanistan chose to bowl first. They quickly found success by dismissing Zakir Hasan for just 1 run. Read more: LPL Auction 2023: Tamim Iqbal among 24 Bangladeshi Cricketers Who Signed Up Nijat Masood delivered a length ball on the line of the stumps, which sharply moved and eluded Zakir's attempted shot. The Afghan players appealed for a caught-behind, but the umpire dismissed the appeal. However, television replays clearly showed that the ball made contact with the bat, resulting in Nijat taking a wicket off the very first ball of his Test career. Despite this early setback, the Bangladeshi batting line-up remained resilient. Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy formed a remarkable partnership of 212 runs for the second wicket. Their batting display resembled an ODI innings, demonstrating their solid technique and stroke-making ability. Read: BAN vs AFG Test: Afghanistan opt to bowl first in Dhaka The partnership was eventually broken when Joy was dismissed for a well-earned 76 off 137 balls. Bangladesh is currently missing the services of key players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, both of whom are nursing injuries. Their absence poses a challenge for the team, requiring other players to step up and fill the void. Similarly, Afghanistan is also facing the absence of their star player, Rashid Khan, who is sidelined due to injury concerns. Read: Litton Das as Captain: Test experience could mean advantage over Afghanistan

Bangladesh failed to post a challenging total on the board in their last Super 12 Round match in the T20 World Cup 2022 against Pakistan in Adelaide on Sunday. After opting to bat first, Bangladesh posted a below-par total of 127 for 8 wickets, with Najmul Hossain Shanto registering a slow 54 off 48 balls. Read More: BAN vs PAK T20 World Cup: Did the umpire make a wrong call on Shakib’s LBW? Shanto and Liton Das opened the innings for the Tigers in this match, and Liton hit an early six, indicating that they may have a good day in batting. But he fell prey to Shaheen Afridi inside the power play for 10 off eight balls. It was a short ball from Shaheen, and Liton tried to pull it off but ended up giving a regulation catch to Shan Masood. Bangladesh didn't lose any more wickets in the first 10 overs, but in the 11th over, they suffered a double blow when Soumya Sarkar fell while playing a reverse of Shadab Khan, and off the next ball, Shakib Al Hasan suffered a controversial lbw. TV replays showed the ball was touching Shakib's bat before hitting his pads, and the bat was not grounded either. But the umpire called him out. Shakib left the field in utter disbelief with a golden duck that put Bangladesh into further trouble. Mosaddek Hossain made only five off 11 balls, and Nurul Hasan Sohan also suffered a three-ball duck. Their dismissals made it tough for Bangladesh to go for a big total. But Afif Hossain was unbeaten for 24 off 20 balls. He helped Bangladesh pass the 100-run mark in this match. Eventually, Bangladesh ended up with 127 for eight. For Pakistan, Shaheen bagged four wickets, conceding 22 runs, while Shadab bagged two. Bangladesh made three changes to their playing XI: Soumya Sarkar, Nasum Ahmed, and Ebadot Hossain are in place of Yasir Ali, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Islam. Read More: T20 World Cup: Soumya’s wicket, Shakib’s golden duck; Bangladesh in trouble vs Pakistan Bangladesh (Playing XI): Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(captain), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan(wicket-keeper), Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam(captain), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi The South African team earlier lost its contest against the Netherlands in Adelaide. The Tigers will, therefore, advance to the semifinals if they win against the Pakistani side in this contest.  Can Bangladesh defend a low total of 127 runs against Pakistan in their last group stage match in the T20 World Cup 2022? The tigers will be out of the tournament if they don't. Read More: Netherlands defeat South Africa, turning BD v PAK into virtual quarter-final

After a chaotic and dramatic last over in Brisbane, Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by three runs in their third match of the T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday. In the last two overs, Zimbabwe needed 26 runs with five wickets in hand. They had Ryan Burl and Sean Williams at the crease. In the last over, Zimbabwe needed 16 to seal the match. Mosaddek Hossain, who had conceded 27 runs in his first three overs, came to bowl the last over. He scalped two wickets, conceding 12 runs. Read More: T20 World Cup: Taskin takes 3 wickets, Zimbabwe in trouble The match ended in a dramatic fashion when Mosaddek delivered a no-ball after the fifth delivery that sent Richard Ngarava back. Blessing Muzarabani swung the bat but missed. Nurul Hasan collected the ball and stumped him. But Nurul collected the ball before the stumps and the umpire called it a no-ball.  Right after Nurul stumped Muzarabani, Bangladesh started a celebration. But the umpire called for them to deliver another ball. This time, Muzarabani failed to connect the ball and Bangladesh won by three runs. Zimbabwe ended up at 147 for eight in 20 overs. Earlier, in the 19th over, Shakib Al Hasan conceded seven runs off the first three balls, and in the fourth ball, he trapped Williams in a run-out for 64 off 42 balls. It was a great effort from the Bangladesh captain. Read More: Pakistan vs Netherlands T20 world Cup Live Streaming: Where and How to watch, Playing XI Williams drove to the off region, and Shakib sprinted quickly to collect the ball and shattered the stumps at the non-striker end. Shakib ended the over by giving 10 runs away. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed took three wickets while Mustafizur Rahman and Mosaddek took two wickets each. Bangladesh won the toss in this match and opted to bat first. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 71 and guided Bangladesh to a fighting score. In reply, Zimbabwe lost four wickets inside the powerplay, with Taskin taking two and Mustafizur Rahman taking two more. Read More: India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2022: H2H Record, Venue Stats, Predicted Playing XI, Watch Live Bangladesh lost their last match to South Africa, while Zimbabwe beat Pakistan in their last match. With Bangladesh's win against Zimbabwe in their third encounter of the T20 World Cup 2022, they have kept their hope alive for the quest for a semifinal berth.

In pursuit of 151, Zimbabwe have lost 5 wickets for 69, as right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed took 3 in his first 3 overs. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in their third match in the T20 World Cup 2022 and posted 150 runs for 7 in 20 overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 71 for Bangladesh. In reply, Zimbabwe lost 4 wickets inside the powerplay, with Taskin taking 2 and Mustafizur Rahman taking 2 more. Read More: Pakistan vs Netherlands T20 world Cup Live Streaming: Where and How to watch, Playing XI Taskin also did well in Bangladesh's first match in this T20 World Cup against the Netherlands. The strong pace attack of Bangladesh did not give Zimbabwe a chance to fight back. At the end of the 12th over, Zimbabwe were batting at 80 for 5. They have to fight really hard to seal this match in Brisbane. Read More: 2022: H2H Record, Venue Stats, Predicted Playing XI, Watch Live Bangladesh lost their last match to South Africa, while Zimbabwe beat Pakistan in their last T20 match. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are playing against each other for the first time in the T20 World Cup competition, and this is a crucial contest in their quest for a place in the semifinals. The tigers are currently dominating thanks to Taskin Ahmed's three wickets.