Indian Premier League
Kolkata kicks off IPL with 10-run win despite Shakib’s lean show
Shakib Al Hasan made a comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday with the first match of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season against Sunresiers Hyderabad. KKR won the game by 10 runs, but Shakib’s performance was lean in the field.
The left-handed allrounder batted for five balls to score only three runs. But he started well with the ball taking a wicket off the first ball in the season removing Wriddhiman Saha. Shakib, however, failed to continue on the good run as he ended up his bowling quota conceding 34 runs in four overs.
Shakib missed the last season of IPL due to the two-year-long ban, with one year suspended, which was imposed on him by the ICC for failing to corrupt approaches made to him.
Also read: Mustafiz's Rajasthan vs Shakib's Kolkata: Which team has the best chance to win the IPL 2021?
On Sunday’s game, SRH won the toss and sent KKR to bat first. Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill added 53 runs before Gill was removed by Rashid Khan at 15 off the last ball of the seventh over.
In the second wicket stand, Rana and Rahul Tripathi added 93 runs on the board. The first three youngers laid a good foundation for KKR.
Riding on Rana’s 80, Tripathi’s 53 and Dinesh Karthik’s 9-ball 22, KKR posted a challenging total of 187 for six in 20 overs.
Also read: Shakib's 34th Birthday: 34 achievements to celebrate the no.1 all-rounder
For SRH, two Afghan spinners— Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi— bagged two wickets each while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan took one wicket each.
In reply, Manish Pandey hi an unbeaten 61 off 44 balls with two fours and three sixes while Jonny Bairstow also smashed a fifty, 55, off 40 deliveries, but SRH failed to sail through.
They needed to score 22 runs in the last over bowled by Andre Russell. Pandey and Abdul Salam only managed 11 runs despite a last-ball six by Pandey.
Also read: Shakib reaches Kolkata to play IPL
For KKR, pace-bowler Prasidh Krishna took two wickets conceding 35 runs while Shakib, Russell and Pat Cummins took one wicket each.
‘We can win in Sri Lanka even without Shakib, Mustafizur,’ says Mominul
Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque said they are confident of winning the two-match series in Sri Lanka even without the service of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman who are busy playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
A 21-member preliminary Test squad of Bangladesh is all set to fly to Sri Lanka on Monday for a two-match Test series against the hosts. The series will begin on April 21 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. Both the matches will take place at the same venue.
Bangladesh’s last tour was to New Zealand where the Tigers failed to come victorious in any of six limited-over matches against the hosts. Now they are in dire need to bounce back.
Shakib and Mustafizur would have been Bangladesh’s biggest weapons in the Sri Lanka tour. But the Tigers are set to miss their service as both of them were allowed to skip this tour for IPL. Despite their absence, Mominul believes that Bangladesh has the ability to outplay Sri Lanka.
Also read: Bangladesh preliminary Test squad to fly for Sri Lanka Monday noon
“I don’t think we cannot win without Shakib and Mustafizur,” Mominul told the reporters on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium after a practice session. “We have more players in our team. They don’t have 10-12 hands (to play better than others). We also don’t have many hands. I don’t think their absence will make any impact. We couldn’t come up as a team in recent time and that’s why we have been failing to bring the result to tour favour. This is as simple as it.”
Mominul led the Tigers in six Tests so far, and the Tigers lost in all occasions except one against Zimbabwe. The other five matches were part of the World Test Championship. The forthcoming Sri Lanka series is also a part of the same event.
Mustafizur gets BCB nod to play in IPL
Bangladesh’s left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman was cleared by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
Mustafizur, who previously played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, will play this season for Rajasthan Royals who roped him in from the auction earlier this year for Rs 1 crore.
Also read: Shakib reaches Kolkata to play IPL
A BCB official confirmed UNB that the board has allowed Mustafizur to take part in IPL 2021. It means that the pacer will not be available for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Mustafizur is now the second Bangladeshi player after Shakib Al Hasan who has secured BCB’s permission to play IPL skipping a Test series.
Also read: Six cities to host games as IPL returns to India
The pacer got inducted into IPL back in 2016 when he represented Sunrisers Hyderabad. Riding on his tremendous bowling efforts, the Sunrisers won the title that year, and Mustafizur got the award of the emerging player of the season.
However, he was comparatively lean in the field when he played for the Mumbai Indians.
Shakib reaches Kolkata to play IPL
Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan reached Kolkata to play the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The T20 cricket league is slated to start on April 9 with the opening game between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Also read: Honoured to meet PM Modi: Shakib
Shakib left for Kolkata on early Saturday and will represent Kolkata Knight Riders in this season of the IPL.
Kolkata will start their campaign with the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 11.
Shakib had previously won two titles for Kolkata and also played for Sunrisers Hyderabad for two seasons.
Overall, the all-rounder played 63 games in the IPL and scored 746 runs and claimed 59 wickets. He has always been one of the best all-rounders of this T20 league.
Also read: Shakib's 34th Birthday: 34 achievements to celebrate the no.1 all-rounder
The all-rounder missed the last season of the IPL as he was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for two years, with one year suspended, due to failing to report corrupt approaches made to him.
He, however, made a comeback to competitive cricket with the Bangabandhu T20 League last year but failed to impress.
He also made a comeback to international cricket with the West Indies series earlier this year but skipped the New Zealand tour to stay with his wife – who gave birth to their third child this month.
Also read: Shakib Al Hasan: What lies ahead after a dispute with BCB?
Shakib will also not be a part of Bangladesh's Sri Lanka tour for a two-match Test series as he is set to participate in this year's IPL. Both the Sri Lanka series and IPL are scheduled to take place at the same time.
The all-rounder sparked controversy after choosing not to play Tests in Sri Lanka. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has granted a 48-day leave to him so that he can play the whole season of this year's IPL.
If Shakib wants to play Tests, BCB may revoke NOC to play IPL: Akram Khan
Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan, currently chairman of the cricket operation committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has said BCB will reconsider its decision to allow star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
Shakib explains his decision to prioritize IPL over national duty
Bangladesh superstar Shakib Al Hasan gave an explanation about his decision to skip Bangladesh’s Sri Lanka tour for a two-match Test series and prioritize the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Six cities to host games as IPL returns to India
The IPL will return to India after nearly two years with six cities chosen to host the world’s lucrative Twenty20 competition.
Mustafizur puts national duty on top
Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman on Tuesday said he will always prefer playing for the national team over anything if the board selects him.
Shakib to skip Sri Lanka Tests to play in IPL
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has decided to skip the Test series against Sri Lanka to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL).