T20I
Bangladesh bat first in Mushfiqur’s 100th T20I
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in the second T20I against Afghanistan on Saturday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
This match is also the 100th T20 appearance for Mushfiqur Rahim. The wicketkeeper-batter was out of the playing XI in the first match due to an injury concern.
Mushfiqur is the only second Bangladeshi cricketer after Mahmudullah Riyad to have played 100 or more T20Is. Shakib Al Hasan, the left-handed allrounder, stands right behind Mushfiqur with 96 matches.
To pave way for Mushfiqur, Bangladesh overlooked Yasir Ali, who was inducted in the previous match, which Bangladesh won by 61 runs.
READ: One-minute of silence for Warne in 2nd T20 between Bangladesh and Afghanistan
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mohammad Naim, Liton Das (w), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad (c), Munim Shahriar, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Usman Ghani, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sharafuddin Ashraf.
READ: Cricketing world pays tribute to Aussie legend Warne
Bangladesh to bat first in the first T20I vs Afghanistan
Bangladesh have won the toss and opted to bat first in the first T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka.
Bangladesh included uncapped Munim Shahriar and Yasir Ali in the squad. Munim has recently drawn the attention performing well in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) representing Fortune Barishal under the captaincy of Shakib Al Hasan.
Read:BAN vs AFG Series 2022: Bangladesh’s Predicted Playing XI for First T20I
Yasir, the right-handed batter, has been around the national team for a while now. He has been performing good in the domestic circuit for a few years but failed to prove his mettle in the ODI series prior to the T20 series against Afghanistan.
Bangladesh also included Mohammad Naim in the playing XI despite his lean show in the BPL.
Bangladesh are going to miss the service of Mushfiqur Rahim in this match due to a contusion of the right thumb. To replace him, Bangladesh included Nurul Hasan Sohan in the squad who is not in the playing XI of the first match.
The second match of the series will take place on March 5 at the same venue.
Read:Mahmudullah aims to play fearless cricket in T20Is
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Liton Das (w), Mohammad Naim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad (c), Yasir Ali, Afif Hossain, Munim Shahriar, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad
'Heartbreaking': Mahmudullah on Tigers' T20I blowout v Pakistan
Despite coming close, or so they thought, to beating Pakistan in the last of the three-T20I series, Bangladesh failed to make it on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said it was somewhat heartbreaking for the team who wanted to win at least one match so badly so that the confidence of the team was boosted. “We were so close but we, unfortunately, couldn’t make it. So it was somewhat heartbreaking,” Mahumudullah said after the match, which was Bangladesh's eighth T20I defeat in a row.
Mahmudullah bowled Mohammad Nawaz in the ball which was supposed to be the last ball of the match and when Pakistan needed two runs. But at the last moment, Nawaz moved away, and the umpire called it a dead ball.
READ: Mahmudullah has few answers as Tigers’ rut continues
“He moved away at the last moment, so I asked the umpire if the ball was legal. The umpire's call was final and we respect it,” Mahmudullah added on the incident. “It would have been better if we could win one or two matches. Wins help to boost the confidence of the team. The dressing room environment was so great during the Australia and New Zealand series ahead of the World Cup. The boys put their best foot forward, but unfortunately, we have failed,” Mahmudullah also said.
READ: Mahmudullah blames top-order batting after defeat to Pakistan
Both teams will now head to the Port City of Chattogram to play the first match of the two-Test series from November 26. After that, both teams will return to Dhaka to play the second Test from December 4.
Bangladesh post 124 vs Pakistan in third T20I
Bangladesh posted a moderate total of 124 for seven in 20 overs in the third T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. Mohammad Naim guided the hosts scoring 47 off 50 balls. Along with him, Shamim Hossain and Afif Hossain also did well scoring 22 and 20 respectively.
The hosts’ batters were missing the x-factor in their batting once again. Both Afif and Shamim got a good start but failed to capitalize on it.
Also read: Bangladesh bat first in 3rd T20I with three changes
Mohammad Wasim and Usman Qadir scalped two wickets each for Pakistan.
Bangladesh are now defending 124 to avoid a whitewash which seems to be inevitable after the first innings of the match.
Pakistan won both of the first two matches quite easily. Bangladesh failed to pose any quality resistance in both games.
Also read: Shaheen guilty for turn-and-throw that took down Afif
After the T20I series, both teams will lock horns in a two-Test series beginning on November 26 in Chattogram, and the second Test will be played in Dhaka from December 4.
Bangladesh bat first in 3rd T20I with three changes
Bangladesh have won the toss in the third T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan and opted to bat first on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh made three changes to their XI adding Shohidul Islam, Shamim Hossain and Nasum Ahmed to replace Saif Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam.
Read:Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Tigresses show how it is done defeating Pakistan in key contest
Shohidul is getting his maiden T20I cap with this match. The right-arm pacer has played a total of 37 T20s and bagged 54 wickets so far with the best bowling figure of taking four wickets conceding 17 runs.
Bangladesh have lost the first two matches of the series, and they are taking the field in this match aiming to avoid a whitewash. Bangladesh’s batting has been the biggest concern for the Tigers.
Pakistan, on the other hand, got back the momentum that they lost in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup losing to Australia.
Read: Shaheen guilty for turn-and-throw that took down Afif
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mohammad Naim, Shamim Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah(c), Nurul Hasan(w), Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shahidul Islam, Nasum Ahmed
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Haider Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani
Shaheen guilty for turn-and-throw that took down Afif
Shaheen Afridi, the Pakistan left-arm pacer, has been fined 15 percent of his match fee for breaching the players’ code of conduct during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday.
The pacer was found to have breached Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”
In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Afridi, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
Read: Pakistan players for Test series arrive in Dhaka
The incident occurred in the third over of Bangladesh’s innings, when having been hit for 6 off the previous delivery Afridi fielded a ball played back towards him by Afif in his follow through, and quickly turned and threw it at the batsman's end, hitting Afif flush in an unprotected part of the back of his leg.
Afif had not even stepped out of the crease momentarily during that play, and was certainly not intending to take a run.
Afridi admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Neeyamur Rashid of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees and ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. There was no need for a formal hearing.
Read: Cornered Tigers eye to avoid a whitewash vs Pakistan
On-field umpires Gazi Sohel and Sohail Tanveer, third umpire Masudur Rahman and fourth official Sharfudoulla Ibne Shahid levelled the charges.
Pakistan have already wrapped up the series with one match to play on Monday. While the tourists are eying to register a whitewash, the hosts are eager to avoid it. The match will begin at 2pm Bangladesh time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Kamrul, Emon added to Bangladesh T20 squad
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) called uncapped pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi and left-handed uncapped opener Parvez Hossain Emon to the T20 squad for the last T20I of the ongoing Pakistan series.
The Bangladesh team management asked opener Saif Hassan to leave the team hotel and join the Test team in Chattogram where a few Test cricketers are gearing for the two-Test series against Pakistan.
Emon was expected to get a call to the same squad at the beginning of the series but he was denied and Saif got a call despite his lean show in the format.
Saif also got his maiden T20I cap in the first match of the series but failed to impress. In two matches, he scored only one run with a golden duck.
Read: Mahmudullah blames top-order batting after defeat to Pakistan
Emon was one of Bangladesh’s mainstays during their U-19 World Cup triumph in 2020 in South Africa. He also displayed his T20 batting prowess in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup last year. He has the record of hitting the fastest T20 century as a Bangladeshi batter.
The left-handed batter played a total of 24 T20s and scored 563 runs in an average of 24.47 with a century.
Kamrul has also shown some quality bowling in T20s. but he was never a part of the Bangladesh T20 team before. He played a total of 68 T20s and bagged 80 wickets with the best bowling figure of taking four wickets conceding 10 runs. He also played seven Tests.
Read: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in low-scoring first T20I
The third and final T20I of the Pakistan series will take place on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The tourists have won the first two matches to wrap up the series. Bangladesh will now have two win the last match to avoid a whitewash.
Bangladesh bat first in 2nd T20I vs Pakistan
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in the second T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan won the first match by four wickets. They stand a chance to wrap up the series if they win this one.
In contrast, for Bangladesh, this match is a chance to keep the series alive. And for that, they have to win this match.
READ: Mahmudullah blames top-order batting after defeat to Pakistan
Bangladesh is playing with an unchanged XI, while Pakistan made one change -- resting Hassan Ali to pave way for Shaheen Afridi. Hassan was the player of the match in the first T20I, taking three wickets.
Bangladeshi batters failed to post a challenging total on the board in the first match. Mahmudullah Riyad, the Bangladesh captain, blamed the top-order batters for the disappointment.
The third and final match of the series will take place on Monday at the same venue.
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah(c), Nurul Hasan(w), Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
READ: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in low-scoring first T20I
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf
Pakistan beat Bangladesh in low-scoring first T20I
Pakistan won the first match of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh by four wickets on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
In the see-saw match, Bangladesh showed some resistance at some points while defending a moderate total of 127 runs. But Pakistan batters were calm enough to seal the match. They destroyed Bangladesh’s hope to erase the World Cup agony.
Pakistan lost four wickets for 40 runs in 10 overs while chasing the target. They needed to score 88 in the last 10 overs to seal the match.
Bangladesh displayed some quality bowling in the powerplay when Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan scalped one wicket each including the wickets of Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
In the fifth wicket stand, Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah added 56 runs off 50 balls that put Pakistan back on the driving seat. The stand was broken by Shoriful Islam. The left-arm pacer removed Khushdil for 34 off 35 balls.
In the last five overs, Pakistan needed 46 runs with five wickets in hand.
They completed the task riding on the 8-ball 18 by Mohammad Nawaz, and 10-ball 21 by Shadab Khan. Nawaz smashed 15 off 19th over bowled by Shoriful with a four off the last ball of 18th over bowled by Mustafizur.
In the last over, Pakistan needed only two runs.
Bangladesh captain gave the ball to Aminul Islam Biplob, only legspinner of Bangladesh squad, to bowl his first over. Shadab failed to take any run off the first ball, but he smashed the second ball to a six to seal the match with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare.
READ: Bangladesh opt to bat first in T20I series opener vs Pakistan
For Bangladesh, Taskin bagged two wickets conceding 31 runs while Mahedi, Mustafizur and Shoriful scalped one wicket each.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted a moderate total of 127 for seven 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Afif Hossain was the highest runs getter scoring 36, while Mahedi Hasan scored 30 and Nurul Hasan added 28.
Despite so manage changes to the playing XI, Bangladesh failed to register a solid start as they lost both the openers inside three overs.
Mohammad Naim, Bangladesh’s most successful T20 opener in recent time, was removed by Hassan Ali off the first ball of the second over of the innings. It was a delivery outside off stump, Naim went for a drive but without any foot movement. He only managed an edge to the wicketkeeper.
In the next over, Saif Hassan fell prey to Mohammad Washim after a horror debut of scoring one off eight balls. He also missed the foot movement while prodding the ball to Fakhar Zaman at the first slip.
Najmul Hossain Shanto came to bat at number three but failed once again. He scored only 7 off 14 balls. He was also haunted by Mohammad Wasim.
READ: Quick wickets jolt Pakistan in first T20I
Bangladesh needed to play till 5.1 overs to get their first boundary— a four off Haris Rauf by the number five Afif.
Bangladesh amassed 25 runs for three wickets in the powerplay— another lean show by the Tigers in the first six overs in the T20Is.
Afif was the only batter to show some resistance against the quality bowling attack of Pakistan who overlooked Shaheen Afridi in this match. Afif fell as the fifth wicket scoring 36 off 34 with two fours and two sixes.
Before his dismissal, Bangladesh also lost the captain Mahmudullah Riyad for six off 11 balls.
In 15 overs, Bangladesh posted 80 for 5. In the last five over, Bangladesh added 47 runs losing two more wickets.
Mahedi and Nurul scored 30 and 28 respectively. These two batters also put up the biggest partnership of the innings— 35 off 24 balls.
Bangladesh eventually reached 127 for seven in 20 overs.
For Pakistan, Hasan Ali bagged three wickets conceding 24 runs. It was his first T20I after missing a match-deciding catch in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup against Australia. Mohammad Wasim scalped two wickets conceding 24 runs.
The second match of the series will take place on Saturday at the same venue at 2pm. The third and final of the series will be played on November 22 at the same venue and at the same time.
After the T20I series, both the teams will take on each other in a two-match Test series, with the first Test beginning on November 26 in Chattogram, and the second Test in Dhaka from December 4.
Meet the Semi-Finalists of ICC T20 World Cup 2021
The ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021's Super 12 Round will conclude on Monday (November 8) with a match between India and Namibia. The final match of this round will be a dead rubber as four teams have qualified for the semi-finals on Sunday (November 7). India would have had a chance to go to the last four if Afghanistan had won the match against New Zealand. However, the Blackcaps had little problem defeating the Afghan team and advanced to the first knockout round with an easy victory. Let's take a look at the semi-final lineups and fixtures.
Semi-Finalists of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2021
The semifinals will include two teams from each group. Let's take a look at who made it to the tournament's first knockout round.
Group 1
England (First)
England came out on top of Group 1 with 8 points. England edged Australia and South Africa in terms of net run rates to finish first in the points table. They won four games in a row in the Super 12 Round but lost their last match against South Africa.
Read Perfect Pakistan face Australia in semifinals; NZ v England
England’s Super 12 Round results
ENG vs. WI
England (6 wickets)
ENG vs. BAN
England (8 wickets)
ENG vs. AUS
England (8 wickets)
ENG vs. SL
England (26 runs)
ENG vs. SA
South Africa (10 runs)
Australia (Second)
Australia finished second in Group 1 in the points standings with 8 points. Australia edged out South Africa in terms of net run rates for second place in the points table and a berth in the semifinals. They won four games and only lost to arch-rivals England in the Super 12 Round.
Read T20 World Cup: Kiwis break over a billion hearts quietly
Australia’s Super 12 Round results:
AUS vs. SA
Australia (5 wickets)
AUS vs. SL
Australia (7 wickets)
AUS vs. ENG
England (8 wickets)
AUS vs. BAN
Australia (8 wickets)
AUS vs. WI
Australia (8 wickets)
Group 2
Pakistan (First)
Pakistan finished first in Group 2 points standings with a 100 percent winning record. They won all of their Super 12 Round matches and gained 10 points to advance to the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 semifinals.
Read SAfrica’s 10-run win v England not enough to avoid WCup exit
Pakistan’s Super 12 Round results
PAK vs. IND
Pakistan (10 wickets)
PAK vs. NZ
Pakistan (5 wickets)
PAK vs. AFG
Pakistan (5 wickets)
PAK vs. NAM
Pakistan (45 runs)
PAK vs. SCO
Pakistan (72 runs)
New Zealand (Second)
New Zealand finished second in Group 2 with 8 points, securing a spot in the semifinals. They won four matches in this round and only lost one against Pakistan.
Read Tigers directly qualify for Super 12s of next T20 World Cup
New Zealand’s Super 12 Round results
NZ vs. PAK
Pakistan (5 wickets)
NZ vs. IND
New Zealand (8 wickets)
NZ vs. SCO
New Zealand (16 runs)
NZ vs. NAM
New Zealand (52 runs)
NZ vs. AFG
New Zealand (8 wickets)
Twenty20 World Cup 2021 Semi-Final Fixtures
The Group 1 champion England will meet the Group 2 runner-up New Zealand in the first semifinal on November 10. The following day, the Group 2 champion Pakistan will play the Group 1 runner-up Australia in the second semifinal.
Read Khaled Mahmud added to national team staff
Semi Final Fixtures
Date
Match
Venue & Time (Bangladesh Standard Time)
November 10 (Wednesday)
England vs. New Zealand
Abu Dhabi (8 PM)
November 11 (Thursday)
Pakistan vs. Australia
Dubai (8 PM)
Sources: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Bottom Line
There have been no upsets in the Super 12 Round as the big teams are aware of the potential of emerging teams. Afghanistan were the most promising team among the weaker oppositions. They put up a determined effort against stronger opponents. Aside from that, Pakistan is the only team to stay undefeated in the competition. Whereas, South Africa failed to qualify for the next round despite winning four games in Group 1. There will be no easy games in the semifinals. The teams must give it their all in order to advance to the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 championship match.
Read T20 World Cup Upset: BCB may take big decisions for the Pakistan series