Tigers
Tigers set to take on Australia in final T20I Monday
Tigers are all set to take on visitors Australia on Monday in the fifth match of the five-match T20I series. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh have won the first three matches and wrapped the series up. But they conceded a defeat in the fourth match.
In the first match of the series, Bangladesh had put only 131 runs on the board while batting first. Despite a low score, the hosts managed to win the match by 23 runs. In the second match, they had chased down a target of 122 runs with five wickets in hand, and in the third match, they defended a total of 127 runs and won by 10 runs.
Read: Bangladesh vs. Australia Series 2021: 5th T20I Preview
The winning streak came to an end in the fourth match when the hosts ended up scoring only 104 runs while batting first. They still fought valiantly and lost in the 19th over.
It was Bangladesh’s first-ever series win against Australia in any format of cricket. Shakib Al Hasan led the way for the Bangladeshi batsman in this series scoring 103 runs in four matches, while Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam were the highest wicket-takers for the hosts with seven scalps each in four matches.
The biggest reason behind Australia’s poor show in this series is their clueless batting on the slow surface of Dhaka. Matthew Wade, the stand-in captain of Australia, has repeatedly been saying that if their batting woes continue, they will have to suffer big problems in the coming days.
While the Australian team is worried much about their performance, Bangladesh are aiming to pull up another win in this series.
Read: Nightmarish outing of Shakib costs Bangladesh 4th T20I
Bangladesh might overlook Soumya Sarkar in the last match to pave way for one of Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat. Soumya has been going through a bad patch for a while now. In this series so far, he posted a total of 12 runs.
In the absence of the ace batsmen— Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das, it was expected that Soumya would flourish and help the Tigers to shine against the Australians, but the left-handers failed.
After this series, Bangladesh will host New Zealand for a five-match T20I series. The Blackcaps are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka in later August, and the series will commence in early September in Dhaka.
Domingo disappointed over “stringent” rules keeping Mushfiq away
Like many others in the cricketing fraternity of Bangladesh, Russell Domingo, Tigers’ head coach, did not hide his disappointment about what he levelled as “stringent” rules of Australia that kept hosts’ ace batsman Mushfiqur Rahim out of the five-match T20Is starting on Tuesday.
Due to the illness of both of his parents, Mushfiq had to come back early from Zimbabwe last month. He spent a few days with the family. Meanwhile, he missed the deadline of starting a pre-series quarantine in Dhaka.
Mushfiq should have entered the bio-bubble on July 20, but he got ready to join on July 22. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) discussed Cricket Australia (CA) matter, and the CA refused to approve Mushfiq’s presence in the bio-bubble.
“I can’t understand the stringent rules Australia placed on the Mushfiq’s bubble,” Domingo told a virtual press conference that took place on Saturday.
“I think a 10-day quarantine would have surely been enough. It’s very disappointing the way they went about it. But we want to play against the best team in the world, and it’s an opportunity for other one or two younger players or fringe players to come and play. I’m sure they’re capable of it. The absence of Mushfiqur and Liton (Das) is a sure loss for us, but we’ve got a big squad and some quality players to replace him,” he added.
READ: BAN vs. AUS Series 2021: T20I Records Between Bangladesh and Australia
Earlier, Bangladesh’s former captain and head of the selection panel Faruque Ahmed also expressed disappointment over Mushfiq’s “unfortunate” fate.
During an interaction with UNB, he said: “It’s really unfortunate for Mushfiqur. He had to come back from Zimbabwe as both of his parents were sick, and while staying with them, he missed the quarantine deadline. He was so eager to take part in this series. In that sense, it’s very unfortunate and unfair for him.”
Not just in Mushfiq’s case, the touring party is maintaining a real tight bio-secure bubble in other areas as well. They are staying in a hotel in Dhaka which is banned for new guests during their stay.
In a recent interaction with the media, the BCB chief executive officer said the Australia cricket team is getting more than they expected from Bangladesh.
Before coming to Bangladesh for their first tour in four years, Australia played in West Indies and lost the T20I series to the hosts. Bangladesh also played a T20I series against Zimbabwe and won 2-1.
READ: BAN vs. AUS Series 2021: Who Would Make a Bangladesh-Australia Combined T20I XI?
While the first match of the series will be played on August 3, the other matches of the series will take place on August 4, 6, 7 and 9. All the matches will be played at the same venue— Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Zimbabwe post highest T20I total vs Bangladesh
Riding on the outstanding batting display by Wessley Madhevere, Regis Chakabva and Ryan Burl, Zimbabwe posted 193 for five in 20 overs in the third and final T20I against Bangladesh on Sunday at the Harare Sports Club.
It is now the highest T20 total by Zimbabwe against Bangladesh. Their previous highest was 187 for six in 2016 what was notched up in Khulna.
In Sunday’s game, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bat first.
Also read: Zimbabwe restore parity in T20 series
Openers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Madhevere added 63 runs in just 5.6 overs. In the fourth over of the innings, Madhevere struck five fours off Taskin Ahmed. Madhevere took only 13 balls to score his first 30 runs.
Before falling out by Mohammad Saifuddin, Marumani scored 27 off 20 balls. Madhevere was doing some damage at the other end of the wicket.
Regis Chakabva was more destructive than Madhevere. He struck 48 off 22 balls with six sixes. Soumya Sarkar managed a breakthrough for the Tigers removing Chakabva and Sikandar Raza in the same over.
Also read: BAN vs. ZIM 2021: T20I Series Finale Review
But that was not enough to wrap Zimbabwe in something less than 150 or 160 runs.
Ryan Burl did the final damage scoring 31 off 15 balls with three fours and two sixes.
It was a nightmarish outing for the Bangladesh bowlers. Saifuddin conceding 50 runs in four overs and bagged only a wicket. Nasum Ahmed, who got a chance in the XI for the first time in this series, conceded 37 runs.
Soumya was the best bowler for Bangladesh taking two wickets conceding 19 runs in three overs.
Bangladesh won the first match of the three-match series, but the hosts made a good comeback in the second. So the third match became the final of the series.
Tigers crush Zimbabwe in first T20 match
Bangladesh sealed a comfortable win against Zimbabwe in the first T20 international of the three-match series in capital Harare on Thursday.
Batting first, Zimbabwe posted a challenging total of 152 all out in 19 overs. In response, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim hit a fifty each to guide the Tigers to an eight-wicket victory over the hosts.
Soumya and Naim added 102 runs, which is now the highest first-wicket stand in T20Is for the Tigers. Along the way, the openers surpassed Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das' record of 92 runs -- which the duo scored against the same adversary in March 2020.
Also read: Tamim, Shohan guide Tigers to ODI series sweep against Zimbabwe
Soumya scored 50 off 45 balls with four fours and two sixes, while Naim remained unbeaten on 63 off 51 balls with six fours.
Mahmudullah Riyad, the T20I captain, batted at number three and scored 15 off 12 balls with one four. Nurul Hasan Sohan came to bat next and remained unbeaten on 16 off eight balls with a four and a six.
Bangladesh scored 153 with seven balls to spare and won the game to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
For Zimbabwe, Regis Chakabva continued to perform well. He scored 43 off 22 balls -- the highest for the hosts. In the ODI series as well, he had scored two fifties.
Dion Myers also had a good start but he fell prey to Shoriful Islam.
For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman bagged three wickets with two in the 19th over, while Mohammad Saifuddin and Shoriul scalped two wickets each.
Also read: Chakabva, Raza, Burl propel Zimbabwe to 298 in 3rd ODI
The second and third T20I of this series will take place on July 23 and 25, respectively, at the same venue.
Tamim, Shohan guide Tigers to ODI series sweep against Zimbabwe
They say it all begins at the top. And for Bangladesh too, openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das did it all.
Yes, with Tamim smashing his fastest ODI ton and later Nurul Hasan Shohan celebrating his comeback, the Tigers Tuesday registered a clean sweep against host Zimbabwe in the three-match series at Harare Sports Club.
In the last game of the ODI series on Tuesday, the Tigers beat Zimbabwe by five wickets chasing a target of 299 runs. In fact, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Batting first, the hosts scored 298/10 -- their highest in this series.
Also read: Tamim to miss home series against Australia, New Zealand
In reply, Tamim and Liton added 88 runs in the opening stand and set a solid foundation in pursue of a big total.
Liton fell for 32 but Tamim was firm at the other end of the wicket. Shakib Al Hasan joined Tamim, and together they added 59 runs on the score board. Shakib had missed a ton for four runs in the previous match, and this time, he ended up on 30 off 42.
Tamim fell for 112 when Bangladesh were batting at 204. Before falling prey to Donald Tiripano, Tamim completed his ton off 87 balls -- his fastest in the format. Right after Tamim’s dismissal, Mahmudullah Riyad suffered a golden duck, and all of a sudden, Bangladesh were facing trouble.
However, Mohammad Mithun and Shohan put on a fifth-wicket stand of 64 runs, which helped the Tigers keep the scoreboard afloat.
Also read: Chakabva, Raza, Burl propel Zimbabwe to 298 in 3rd ODI
It was Shohan’s first ODI in five years. He grabbed the opportunity in two hands as he struck 45 off 39 balls and remained unbeaten. He and Afif Hossain added 34 runs for the sixth wicket to seal the game.
Bangladesh scored 302 for five and won the game by five wickets.
Wessley Madhevere and Donald Tiripano took two wickets each for Zimbabwe.
Earlier, Regis Chakabva, who opened the innings for the hosts, scored 84 off 91 balls with seven fours and one six. It was his second fifty in the series.
For the sixth wicket, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl added 112 runs, the highest runs in a single partnership in Zimbabwe’s innings. The stand was broken by Mustafizur, who was playing his first ODI in this series, removing Raza for 57 off 54 balls.
But Burl was there in the middle. Before falling prey to Saifuddin, Burl posted 59 off 43 with four fours and as many as sixes.
Saifuddin bagged three wickets in the 48th over removing Burl, Donald Tiripano and Tendai Chatara. Saifuddin conceded 87 runs in eight overs to take three wickets. Mustafizur also bagged three wickets conceding 57 runs. They eventually put together 298 in 49.3 overs.
The series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event along with the shots, India, will qualify directly for World Cup 2023.
After the three-match ODI series, both teams will lock horns in a three-match T20 series. All the matches will take place at the same venue. Before the limited-over series, Bangladesh took on the hosts in a one-off Test and won that match by 220 runs.
Shakib shines in Tigers series win against Zimbabwe
Shakib Al Hasan smashed an unbeaten 96 to guide the Tigers to win the second ODI by three wickets against Zimbabwe and sweep the series on Sunday at the Harare Sports Club.
The third and final ODI of the match will take place on July 20 at the same venue.
Bangladesh bowled first in this game after losing the toss. The hosts posted a moderate total of 240 runs with the fifty by Wesley Madhevere. Bangladeshi bowlers have done a decent job to resist the hosts from posting a big total on the board.
Zimbabwe got their only fifty-plus partnership in the sixth wicket stand shared by Sikandar Raza and Madhevere. They added 63 off 70 deliveries.
Shoriful Islam, the left-arm seamer, broke the stand removing Madhevere for 56 off 63 balls. Shofirul ended up taking four wickets conceding 46 runs in 10 overs— his career-best so far.
In reply, Bangladesh made a steady start as Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das added 39 runs in the opening stand. Tamim, who has been suffering from a leg injury, fell to Luke Jongwe as the first wicket for 20 off 34 balls.
Within seven runs of Tamim’s dismissal, Liton, who hit a hundred in the first match, fell for 21. He was removed by Richard Ngarava.
Also read: Shakib bags five as Bangladesh register emphatic win vs Zimbabwe
Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain failed once again to overcome their batting woes as they were dismissed for two and five respectively. Bangladesh lost five wickets in 130 runs.
Shakib, who came to bat at number three, stood solid at one end of the wicket. He and Mahmudullah Riyad added 55 in the fifth wicket stand to keep Bangladesh’s hope alive. Blessing Muzarabani broke this stand taking Mahmudullah for 26, and right after that, Mehidy Hasan Miraz ws out only at six. He tried to play a big shot off Madhevere and ended up giving a catch to Dion Myers.
Afif Hossain accompanied Shakib in a 28-rum stand but failed to finish the job. Mohammad Saifuddin came to bat at eight and finish the game, adding 69 on the board in the eighth wicket stand with Shakib.
Bangladesh ended up on 242 for seven in 49.1 overs and won the game by three wickets. While Shakib remained unbeaten on 96, Saifuddin also remained unbeaten on 28.
“Today was the day I had to put my hands up. I’m happy that I’ve done it,” Shakib said to the broadcaster after the match. “It wasn't easy to bat today, and credit goes to Saifuddin for the way he played. He showed a lot of composure.”
Bangladesh captain Tamim also applauded Shakib and Saifuddin for their batting and finishing the job. He said to the broadcaster: “There were many soft dismissals today, but the way Shakib and Saifuddin played was nice to see. The wicket was playing quite nicely in the first innings compared to the previous match, and I am to chase 241.”
This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event along with the shots, India, will qualify directly to the World Cup 2023.
After the three-match ODI series, both teams will lock horns in three-match T20 series. All of those matches will take place at the same venue. Before the limited-over series, Bangladesh took on the hosts in a one-off Test and won that match by 220 runs.
Mahmudullah, Taskin help Tigers pass 400-run mark
Despite losing two early wickets on day one of the Harare Test, Bangladesh passed the 400-run mark on day two riding on a hundred by Mahmudullah Riyad and a maiden fifty by Taskin Ahmed.
Mahmudullah, out of Test setup for more than 17 months, was called up at the last minute.
Read: Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 2021: Test Series Preview
It was the fifth Test hundred for Mahmudullah. Before this match, he played a Test match back in 2020 against Pakistan.
The right-handed allrounder grabbed the chance well. He and Taskin passed 150 runs in the ninth wicket stand, which is now the highest ninth-wicket stand at the Harare Sports Club as well.
They surpassed 147 between Mohammad Wasim and Mushtaq Ahmed of Pakistan.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. Saif Hassan and Najmul Hossain Shanto were dismissed early on day one.
Read: Bangladesh bat first in Harare
Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque added 60 runs in the third wicket stand to recover from the early damage. But Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan fell quickly.
Mominul scored 70, and after him, Liton Das posted his Test total of 95 to keep the score afloat.
Bangladesh ended day one at 294 for eight. Two overnight batsmen— Mahmudullah and Taskin hold firm and kept scoring runs.
At the end of 114 overs, Bangladesh were batting at 420 for eight, with Mahmudullah and Taskin were unbeaten for 119 and 62 respectively.
Tigers to play a warm-up match ahead of crucial Zimbabwe series
Ahead of the one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20Is against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh will play a two-day practice match at Takashinga Sports Club on July 3 and 4 to warm up ahead of the crucial series.
All the 18 members of the Bangladesh Test squad are currently in Zimbabwe, while the players who will play ODIs and T20Is will leave for Harare on July 9 and July 16, respectively.
Tamim Iqbal, the ODI captain of Bangladesh who is part of the Test squad, might not take part in the practice match. The left-handed batsman has been suffering from a leg injury since the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Twenty20 Cricket League.
READ: Australia and Bangladesh to square off in 5 T20Is early August
He had represented Prime Bank Cricket Club in the event. But he couldn’t play the Super League due to the injury.
However, Shakib Al Hasan is all set to play the practice match. The all-rounder was in the US with his family before joining the team in Zimbabwe.
“We have been doing well in practice sessions,” Taskin Ahmed, the right-arm pacer who is a part of the teams in all formats, told the media over a video message. “I believe that we will have no complaint about our preparations in Zimbabwe.”
The first match of the series, the one-off test, will take place on July 7 at the Harare Sports Club.
“We are looking forward to playing the Test first. We have won many matches against Zimbabwe. But every match is new, and we have to play our best game to beat them at their home,” Taskin added.
Bangladesh’s last Zimbabwe tour was in 2013 when the Tigers ended the series in a draw, winning one of the two-match series.
After 2013, Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh thrice for the Test series and lost two of them, with the last series being a one-off Test affair.
Overall, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe took each other in nine Test series -- Zimbabwe won four and Bangladesh three. The other two series ended in a draw.
READ: What Bangladesh Cricket Fans Can Expect From Herath and Prince?
The three ODIs will take place on July 16, 18, and 20, while the T20Is will be played on July 23, 25, and 27 respectively.
Test and ODIs will start at 1.30 pm (Bangladesh time) while T20Is will commence at 4.30 pm (Bangladesh time).
Tigers to fly for Zimbabwe Tuesday
Bangladesh national cricket team is set to fly for Zimbabwe early Tuesday for one Test, three ODIs, and as many T20Is.
The series will start on July 7 with the Test; all matches will take place at Harare Sports Club.
The Tigers will board a Qatar Airways flight at 4:25am.
The players have just finished the month-long Banglabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 Cricket League.
First, 18 members of the Bangladesh Test squad will go to Zimbabwe. The players who will play ODIs and T20Is will leave Dhaka on July 9 and the ones who will only play T20Is will leave Dhaka on July 16.
Shakib Al Hasan, who will represent Bangladesh in every format in the series, will leave for Zimbabwe from the US.
Bangladesh team will not have to undergo any special quarantine after arriving in Zimbabwe. They will be allowed to join practice session immediately.
For this series, Bangladesh selectors brought Nurul Hasan Sohan back to all three formats of the game after a gap of three years; Shamim Hossain is a new face in the T20Is.
Bangladesh's T20I captain Mahmudullah Riyad has also been added to the Test squad.
READ: Khaled Mahmud doubtful about his position at BCB
Bangladesh team members went through a Covid-19 test and returned negative before their journey, Monjur Hossain Chowdhury, a Bangladesh Cricket Board physician, told UNB.
Bangladesh Test squad
Muminul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Shdman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Mahmudullah Riyad, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehedy Hasan Miraz, Taizul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed Rahi, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam
READ: BAN vs ZIM: Five Most Memorable Matches Between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe
In: Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Naeem Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad
Out: Mohammad Mithun
Playing to strengths helps Mushfiqur shine against Lankans
Mushfiqur Rahim smashed an 87-ball 84 to help the Tigers post a challenging total in the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Riding on his bat, Bangladesh posted 257 for six after winning the toss and won the match by 33 runs.
"I stuck to my strengths and took my time. I had to keep one end safe and that's what I did. The finishing touch from Riyad and Afif was superb," Mushfiqur said after the game.
"It wasn't an easy wicket to bat on. As Shakib and Liton got out early, there was pressure. Tamim batted well and he allowed me to take my time. And then Riyad was superb. These conditions aren't ideal to play; it's not just hot, the humidity takes a lot out of you but the credit goes to our players," he added.
Mushfiqur scored 84, Tamim 52 and Mahmuduallah 54, helping the Tigers overcome the initial batting damage. And Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged four wickets and Mustafizur Rahman took three to confine the Lankans within 224 runs and seal the game.
This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event will directly qualify for the World Cup 2023.
Bangladesh have already played six matches of this event and won three. Sri Lanka played three matches of the World Cup Super League and lost all.
The remaining games of the ODI series will be played on May 25 and 28 at the same venue.