Bangladesh delivered a clinical performance with the ball to defeat the West Indies by 27 runs in the second T20I at Arnos Vale Ground, securing the three-match series with one game to spare. It was Bangladesh’s first T20I series win against West Indies since 2018. After a disappointing 3-0 loss in the ODI series, the visitors have bounced back emphatically in the shorter format. Being sent to bat first, Bangladesh struggled to gain momentum on a slow and damp pitch. Captain Litton Das (3 off 10) was the first to depart, stumped off Akeal Hosein, as Bangladesh found themselves in early trouble at 8 for 1. The top order faltered against the West Indies’ disciplined bowling, with Tanzid Hasan (2), Soumya Sarkar (11), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (26) failing to capitalize on starts. At 72 for 6 in the 14th over, Bangladesh seemed headed for an underwhelming total. India trails Australia by 278 runs on the 4th day of the 3rd test However, a watchfull knock by Shamim Hossain turned the tide. The left-hander smashed 35 off just 17 balls, including two fours and two sixes, lifting Bangladesh to a defendable 129 for 7 in 20 overs. Gudakesh Motie took two wickets for the West Indies. Chasing a modest target of 130, the West Indies' innings was shaken early under the pressure of Bangladesh's disciplined bowling. Taskin Ahmed struck in his very first over, removing Brandon King (8) and Andre Fletcher (0) to leave the hosts reeling at 19 for 2. Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain then combined to decimate the middle order, with Nicholas Pooran (5) and Rovman Powell (6) falling cheaply. Bangladesh edge out West Indies in thrilling first T20I The hosts' hopes rested on Roston Chase, who fought well with a 32-run knock off 34 balls. Akeal Hosein added a battling 31 off 31 at the tail end, but their efforts were in vain as wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Taskin returned to claim the final scalp, dismissing Hosein and wrapping up the West Indies innings at 102 in 18.3 overs.

Bangladesh secured a nail-biting 7-run victory over the West Indies in the first T20I at Kingstown, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The victory came in the morning of Bangladesh’s 54th Victory Day anniversary, commemorating the country’s liberation from Pakistan in 1971, making the occasion even more special. Mahedi Hasan was the star of the match, earning Player of the Match honours for his brilliant all-round performance. He contributed an unbeaten 26 runs with the bat and then dismantled the West Indies batting lineup with a career-best 4 for 13.   Bangladesh add Nahid Rana to T20I squad against West Indies After being put into bat, Bangladesh posted a modest total of 147 for 6. Soumya Sarkar top-scored with 43 off 32 balls, while Shamim Hossain’s quickfire 27 off 13 provided much-needed momentum at the death. Mahedi played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings, forging a vital partnership with Shamim. West Indies' Akeal Hosein was the best bowler for the hosts, taking 2 for 13 in his four overs.   West Indies, chasing 148, were rocked early by Taskin Ahmed and Mahedi. By the 7th over, the hosts were reduced to 38 for 5, with Mahedi’s four-wicket burst sending jitters through the batting order. “We tried to bowl straight and stick to our process,” Mahedi explained. “It was crucial to maintain partnerships, and I’m glad we could execute our plans.” Bangladesh set 322 target for West Indies in final ODI Despite the collapse, captain Rovman Powell led a fightback with a 60 off 35 balls. Alongside Romario Shepherd, Powell stitched a record 67-run partnership for the eighth wicket, giving West Indies a glimmer of hope. With 20 runs needed off the final three overs, Taskin Ahmed delivered a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Shepherd for 22. Powell followed soon after, caught in the deep, as West Indies fell short, bowled out for 140 in 19.5 overs.   “The pitch didn’t behave as expected, and we felt 150-160 would have been a good score,” Bangladesh captain Litton Das lauded his team’s fighting spirit. “But we believed in our bowlers and fielders, and they delivered. This win gives us confidence going into the next game.” Litton also set a personal milestone, breaking the record for most dismissals by a Bangladesh wicketkeeper in a T20I innings with five.   “We lost wickets in clusters, and that was the only way they could stay in the game,” Powell admitted his side missed opportunities. “Our batting let us down after a credible bowling performance. We need honest conversations about what went wrong.”

Ireland Women edged Bangladesh Women by four wickets in the final T20I of the series, securing a 3-0 series sweep with a dramatic last-over victory in Sylhet on Monday.  Chasing 124 for victory, Ireland needed 15 runs off the final over. Laura Delany turned the game on its head, smashing three consecutive boundaries off Shorna Akter to seal the win with one ball to spare. Delany's unbeaten 36 off 31 balls earned her Player of the Match honors.  First ODI: Bangladesh post 294 against West Indies with three fifties Ireland's chase was anchored by Amy Hunter (28 off 24) and Gaby Lewis (21 off 24), but Bangladesh's disciplined bowling, led by Rabeya Khan (2-17), kept the game in the balance until Delany's heroics. Earlier, Bangladesh struggled to post 123 for 7 after being put into bat. Sobhana Mostary top-scored with 45 off 43 balls, supported by Sharmin Akhter's 34 off 33.  First ODI: Bangladesh opt to bat first vs West Indies Ireland’s Orla Prendergast claimed 4-22, including crucial wickets in the death overs. Despite Bangladesh’s strong showing in the preceding ODI series, which they swept 3-0, Ireland dominated the T20Is.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 127 with one ball remaining in their innings during the first T20I of the three-match series against India on Sunday in Gwalior. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, returning to T20Is after over 14 months, top-scored for Bangladesh with 35 runs. The rest of the batters struggled to contend with India’s disciplined bowling attack. India won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat on a fresh wicket at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which was hosting its first international match. First T20I: Bangladesh to bat first in Gwalior Bangladesh lost both openers, Parvez Hossain Emon and Litton Das, within the first three overs. Despite preserving wickets during the powerplay, Bangladesh couldn’t capitalize as runs remained scarce. Litton was dismissed first after an unclear shot attempt, resulting in an easy catch for Rinku Singh. Towhid Hridoy, known for his power-hitting, scored just 12 runs from 18 balls, failing to make a significant impact. Middle-order batters Mahmudullah Riyad and Jaker Ali also faltered. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lingered at the crease for 25 balls but could only muster 27 runs, appearing uneasy against the Indian bowlers. Rishad Hossain briefly lifted hopes with a six and a four but departed shortly after, scoring 11 off five deliveries. Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling effort with three wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, playing his first T20I since the 2021 T20 World Cup, also claimed three wickets, making a strong comeback. Towhid or Rishad: Who will be Bangladesh’s X factor against India?

Bangladesh are set to face India in the first T20I of the three-match series in Gwalior on Sunday evening. Bangladeshi fans will be keeping a close eye on two players—Towhid Hridoy and Rishad Hossain—wondering which of them could be the Tigers' X factor. Both Towhid and Rishad have proven themselves as integral parts of Bangladesh’s T20 squad. Towhid has drawn attention with his big-hitting abilities, while Rishad has impressed with his leg-spin and his knack for clearing the boundary at crucial moments. Before this series, Bangladesh faced India in 14 T20Is, with only one victory. But this time, the Tigers are bringing more experience than the Indian squad, as India have rested some key players. Who will replace Shakib in T20Is for Bangladesh? This Indian side has collectively played fewer than 400 T20Is, whereas the Bangladesh team has collectively played more than 600, which places Bangladesh in the rare position of being a more experienced side than India, who have always been considered a big team for Bangladesh.  However, this difference in experience may have little impact, as the Indian players possess a broader diversity of skills, which the Bangladesh team lacks. If Bangladesh are to improve their T20I record against India, Towhid and Rishad will need to perform well. Towhid has played 29 T20Is so far, amassing 600 runs at a strike rate of over 130. Rishad, with 24 T20Is under his belt, has taken 29 wickets, including 10 in the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, where he was among the tournament’s top bowlers. Bangladesh will certainly miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced his retirement from the format. To fill the void, Bangladesh has included Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the squad. Najmul eyes India series to begin preparations for next T20 World Cup Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence that Mehidy could step up and help fill the gap left by Shakib. The match will begin at 7:30 pm(Bangladesh time) in Gwalior. This city is hosting an international match for the first time in over a decade, and the venue, Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, will be hosting its first-ever international match.

The Bangladesh team is set to begin their T20I campaign on October 6 without the services of long-time stalwart Shakib Al Hasan. The former Bangladesh captain recently announced his retirement from the format, leaving the team with a pressing question: who will replace Shakib in the T20I format? It was expected that Shakib would play in the three-match T20I series against India following the two-match Test series. However, ahead of the second Test in Kanpur, Shakib surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from both Test and T20I formats, making him unavailable for the T20I series. Mashrafe sued over hostile takeover of shares in BPL franchise In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) included Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the squad. But the question remains: will Mehidy truly replace Shakib in this format? Shakib played 129 T20Is, amassing over 2,500 runs and taking 149 wickets. In contrast, Mehidy has played just 25 T20Is, scoring 248 runs and claiming 14 wickets. These stats clearly demonstrate that Shakib has been an irreplaceable figure in Bangladesh’s T20 setup. While Mehidy is a spinning all-rounder like Shakib, he cannot yet replicate what Shakib brings to the table. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed hope that Mehidy can rise to the challenge left by Shakib. However, he stopped short of calling Mehidy a direct replacement. “It will be a bit difficult to adjust now. There will be some challenges in forming the playing eleven,” Najmul said. “Shakib used to provide balance on both fronts—batting and bowling. We have brought Mehidy into the team, and I hope he will quickly adapt to that role.” Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging that finding a like-for-like replacement for Shakib would be difficult. Authorities unable to provide Shakib 'guarantee of safety' from public anger After the Kanpur Test, which Bangladesh surprisingly lost in just over two days, Hathurusingha expressed his shock at Shakib’s sudden retirement announcement. In T20Is, Bangladesh has struggled to perform consistently, but Shakib was a steady presence, which earned him spots in various private leagues worldwide. While Bangladesh may find someone capable of performing well in the format, Shakib’s absence will undoubtedly haunt the team for some time.

In their third match in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 114 runs. It was Bangladesh’s second win in the tournament.  In their first two matches, against Sri Lanka and Thailand, Bangladesh beat Thailand but lost to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh won the toss on Wednesday in Dambulla and opted to bat first.  Read more: Shathira Jakir Jessy: First Bangladeshi Woman to Become an International Umpire Opener Murshida Khatun and captain Nigar Sultana proved the decision of batting first as justified, hitting a 50 each. While Murshida hit 80 with 10 fours, Nigar scored 62 with five fours and two sixes.  Riding on their excellent batting show, Bangladesh posted 191 for two.  In reply, Malaysia managed only 77 for eight in 20 overs and suffered a heavy defeat.  Nahida Akter took two wickets for Bangladesh. Read more: ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024: Match Fixtures, Schedule, Groups, and Teams

The 2024 ACC Women's Asia Cup Tournament starts this month. Sri Lanka will host this T20I tournament, consisting of 15 matches. Eight teams are participating in this contest. Let’s look at the fixtures, teams, and schedules of the 2024 Women's T20I Asia Cup tournament. Participating Teams and Groups The 2024 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup tournament will be played by eight teams, divided into two groups. The teams in Group A are India, Nepal, Pakistan, and United Arab Emirates, while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand are in Group B. Group A Group B India, Nepal, Pakistan, and UAE Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand . The four full members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan, have been automatically qualified for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024.  Besides, the finalists (Malaysia and UAE) and semi-finalists (Nepal and Thailand) from the 2024 ACC Women's Premier Cup will join the tournament.  Read more: Bangladeshi players' performance in foreign cricket leagues: Updates from LPL and MLC Fixtures of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 Table: Match Schedules of Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 (Time Adjusted to BST) Stage Date (BST) Time Teams Venue Group July 19, 2024 (Friday) 2.30 PM UAE vs Nepal (Group A) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 19, 2024 (Friday) 7.30 PM India vs Pakistan (Group A) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 20, 2024 (Saturday)  2.30 PM Malaysia vs Thailand (Group B) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 20, 2024 (Saturday)  7.30 PM Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (Group B) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 21, 2024 (Sunday)  2.30 PM India vs UAE (Group A) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 21, 2024 (Sunday)  7.30 PM Pakistan vs Nepal (Group A) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 22, 2024 (Monday)  2.30 PM Sri Lanka vs Malaysia (Group B) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 22, 2024 (Monday)  7.30 PM Bangladesh vs Thailand (Group B) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 23, 2024 (Tuesday)  2.30 PM Pakistan vs UAE (Group A) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 23, 2024 (Tuesday)  7.30 PM India vs Nepal (Group A) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 24, 2024 (Wednesday)  2.30 PM Bangladesh vs Malaysia (Group B) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Group July 24, 2024 (Wednesday)  7.30 PM Sri Lanka vs Thailand (Group B) Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Semi-Final 1 July 26, 2024 (Friday)  2.30 PM TBD vs TBD Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Semi-Final 2 July 26, 2024 (Friday)  7.30 PM TBD vs TBD Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka Final July 28, 2024 (Sunday) 7.30 PM TBD vs TBD Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka . Read more: BCB uncertain about Mushtaq Ahmed's role as long-term spin bowling coach Conclusion Starting on July 19, the 2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup tournament will end on July 28. The tournament will be played in the round-robin and knockout format. Therefore, each team will play with other teams. The current champion, India, will enter the tournament as a favorite. However, Bangladesh is expected to try to regain the title they won in 2018. Read more: BCB announces women's cricket team for ACC Women's Asia Cup 2024

Right up to the Twenty20 World Cup final, there were question marks about whether India should persist with playing Virat Kohli. One of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced just wasn't scoring. He'd tallied 75 runs in seven games, including two ducks. India won every game but Kohli was reduced to a concerning afterthought, saved by the middle order and bowlers. The humbling scores followed a spectacular Indian Premier League for Kohli, who set or extended tournament records in scoring 741 runs at an average of nearly 62. Captain and fellow opener Rohit Sharma, despite their low-scoring partnerships at the World Cup, insisted throughout that he and Kohli were the first names on the team list. His faith was repaid in the final against South Africa on Saturday, when Kohli led India's batting with 76 from 59 balls in a competitive total of 176-7. The bowlers brilliantly defended the total to win a thriller by seven runs and make India a world champion for the first time in 13 years. “None of us doubted him,” Sharma said of Kohli. Virat Kohli latest victim of deepfake? “We know his quality. He has been at the top of his game for 15 years now. Big players will step up in big occasions and he played a crucial knock today. It was a team effort to get to that total but we knew we needed someone to bat time and he did that perfectly, using all his experience.” After being named man of the match, Kohli said it was his last T20 international. “One day you feel like you can't get a run, but one day things just click,” he said. “I am so proud to get the runs for the team on the day it mattered most. The occasion prompted that change for me, I felt like it was now or never. We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time. The occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.” Class prevails when it comes to Kohli. He's produced so often when it's mattered. In the 2014 final in Dhaka, he led all scorers with 77 off 58, though India lost to Sri Lanka. In the 2016 semifinal in Mumbai, he hit an unbeaten 89 off 47 in the loss to West Indies. Asia Cup: India overpower Afghanistan as Virat Kohli hits ton after 1,000 days He finished as the T20 captain at the 2021 World Cup, and hit 50 off 40 in the 2022 semifinal loss to England in Adelaide. After six T20 World Cups, he's the highest scorer in tournament history, just ahead of Sharma, but he's decided to finish his 14-year T20 career on a high than stay to the next World Cup in 2026 co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. He'd be 37 by then. “It is time for the new generation to come through for India,” Kohli said. "We have some amazing players coming through and they have to take this team forwards now. Virat Kohli steps down as India's Test skipper “I wasn't feeling myself before today. I wasn't confident. So I am very grateful and humble right now. It has been difficult, so there are a lot of emotions. It hasn't quite sunk in for me yet. It's an amazing day, I am so thankful.”

A month-long Men’s T20 World Cup cricket tournament is about to end with a blockbuster final between two unbeaten sides India and South Africa. Both teams will face each other at Bridgetown, Barbados on 29th June, 8:30 PM BST. Details of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final Match Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 55 29/6/2024 South Africa vs India  8:30 PM Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados . Preview of the 2024 T20 World Cup Final between India and South Africa It is a fascinating and fitting World Cup final in so many ways. The battle for the trophy is supposed to be between the two undisputed best teams in the world. And no one’s more fitting for that other than the two unbeaten teams of the tournament.  South Africa is making their debut appearance in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Previously, they failed to win the World Cup semi-finals twice but got 3rd time lucky this time in the ongoing tournament against Afghanistan. India, on the other hand, won the initial edition of the tournament in 2007 hosted by South Africa, but failed to repeat it afterward. India lost one final (2024) and two semi-finals (2016 and 2022) since winning the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In 2024, team India are on their mission for their 2nd T20 World Cup championship. This time, South Africa appears to be unbeatable. Not only do they have a wonderfully balanced team in every department, but they also have a propensity to deliver the desired outcome in every case. They have a perfect winning record and are the only team participating in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 to do so. Additionally, South Africa are not reliant on a single player, just like any champion team. Only one of their batters is among the top 15 run-scorers in this World Cup. This may be primarily due to the kinds of pitches they were playing on. However, it is quite unexpected given the number of superstars in their bowling lineup that they have only one bowler in the top 5. However, there will be cause for concern with their close matchups. This concern might be erased from their head after a dominant win against Afghanistan. They showed in that match why they were the better side and gave a silent warning to the Indian team as well.  Across this World Cup tournament, India appears to be the most coordinated and skilled team. They played flawlessly and won the majority of their games comfortably to advance to the semi-finals. As of now, they appear to be the overwhelming favorite to win the trophy because of the way they have dominated their opponents. Up to this point, they have depended on the collective output. In almost every situation during the games, almost every player of the team contributed significantly as per their might. They are now a team that faces no fear and is capable of defeating anyone in any circumstance. They can now at last sense that their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy is about to come to an end. But they will desperately hope for Virat Kohli's form to be back in line despite they may not even require his assistance very much. Read more: South Africa beats Afghanistan to reach the Twenty20 World Cup final, ending a long cricket drought India Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 8 Won 7 Lost 0 Tie/NR 1 Highest Run-scorer Rohit Sharma (248) Highest Wicket Taker Arshdeep Singh (15) . South Africa Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 8 Won 8 Lost 0 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Quinton de Kock (204) Highest Wicket Taker Anrich Nortje (13) . India vs South Africa Head-to-Head T20I Records So Far Matches Played India Won South Africa Won TIE/NR 26 14 11 1 . IND vs SA H2H Records T20World Cup Tournaments So Far Matches Played India Won South Africa Won TIE/NR 6 4 2 0 India have mostly proven to be the better side when these two teams faced each other in the World Cup.  Probable Lineups  India Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav. South Africa Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram (Captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi. Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men's T20 World 2024 Key Players to Watch in India Team  Rohit Sharma Following a quiet start to the competition, Rohit Sharma really turned things up when it mattered the most. With his explosive 92-run innings against Australia and fiery 57 runs against England, he has shown his urge to be the first captain in 11 years to lead India to an ICC trophy glory. The Indian captain's role has become increasingly important in the last few matches. He has a century against South Africa in his career as well. India will undoubtedly be hoping that their captain performs as well as he did against Australia. Jasprit Bumrah India's strike bowler will be crucial in this match. He is the best at getting wickets early on. In a match where they need to pick up the likes of Quinton De Kock and Aiden Markram early, he is the most key player for the team. Although he has been poor against South Africa, he along with India would be eager to change it this time.  Kuldeep Yadav By taking significant wickets in the middle overs and keeping the opposition away from settling down, Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the most instrumental bowlers for India. He has completed his work to perfection so far and now needs to do it again. A middle-order consisting of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller need to be dispatched early, or else India could be in serious trouble. Kuldeep Yadav must take care to prevent that from occurring. Read more: After a disastrous T20 World Cup, what's next for Bangladesh cricket? Key Players to Watch in South Africa Team Anrich Nortje He has been a major factor in South Africa's success in this competition. The captain handed him the bowl, and he did a good job of it wherever the opposition tried to establish a solid foothold in the match. After witnessing what Rohit Sharma can do in the last two matches, taking his wicket would be South Africa's primary goal in this match. South Africa will rely on Anrich Nortje, who is an expert in this field.   Heinrich Klaasen Right now, he is probably one of the game's best hitters. He can easily alter how the match plays out. The Indian spinners are benefited from the pitches regardless of the condition. In the middle overs, the Indian spinners have been the best and Heinrich Klassen would be essential to maintaining South Africa's run rate in the face of India's lethal spin attack. Quinton de Kock Of course, the top run-scorer for South Africa have a huge role to play in their first-ever final. He averages 44.57, the most in his career, against India. If he gives the Proteas a good start, South Africa might be able to cope better against Indian spinners. He would love that too.  Verdict The India vs South Africa final is going to be an exciting and competitive match where both teams could win given the option. There is not much differentiating point between the two finalists. However, India is a slight favorite because of their experience in playing finals over the years compared to South Africa, for whom it is the first time in history. This controlling nerve might be the only point between these two where India have an advantage. But for the fans, they should sit tight to witness an epic battle between the two invincibles of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Read more: T20 World Cup: India beat England comfortably, setting up final with South Africa