Despite an impressive debut, right-arm pacer Khaled Ahmed was initially omitted from the Bangladesh ODI squad in favor of senior player Taskin Ahmed, who was rested. However, within 24 hours, Taskin was sidelined due to illness, paving Khaled's return for the third and final ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand on Tuesday. Asia Games Cricket: Bangladesh women win bronze beating Pakistan by 5 wickets Along with Khaled, left-handed batter Afif Hossain has also been recalled to the national team for the third ODI, rejoining after being rested for the first two matches against the same opponent. The first match of the series was washed out due to heavy rain. However, New Zealand secured a memorable win in the second match, marking their first ODI victory in Bangladesh in 15 years. Now, the visitors have the opportunity to clinch the series if they emerge victorious in the last match on Tuesday. Litton rested, Shanto to lead Bangladesh in 3rd ODI vs New Zealand In the absence of regular captain Shakib Al Hasan and vice-captain Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh in the third ODI against New Zealand. This will mark his first time leading the Bangladesh senior side in an international outing. BAN vs NZ ODI Series: Tamim and Litton may sit out the final match Bangladesh squad for third New Zealand ODI: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Afif Hossain.

Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi scored 46 and 41 respectively to propel Afghanistan to 160 against Bangladesh in the warm-up match. Right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed did well taking three wickets. Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first in Brisbane. Hazrat Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added only 19 runs in the opening stand. But the number three Ibrahim came up with a steady innings and Nabi also did well to post a big total. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed bagged three wickets while Shakib Al Hasan and Hasan Mahmud scalped two wickets each. After this match, Bangladesh will play their second warm-up match against South Africa on October 19 at the same venue.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has called up off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and right-arm pacer Taskin Ahmed to the T20I squad of Bangladesh for the three-match series against the West Indies.  The T20I series will kick off on July 2 in Dominica.  Mehidy has not played a T20I match since December 2018, but he has been a regular part in Tests and ODIs for Bangladesh. Taskin, meanwhile, has made a full recovery from an injury sustained in South Africa in April this year and makes his return to international cricket. The Bangladesh T20I squad, originally named for the series, has been hit hard by injuries with pacer Shohidul Islam pulling out prior to the tour. Batter Yasir Ali was forced to return home from Antigua with a back injury while allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin was withdrawn as he is still short of optimal fitness for international cricket.  Ahead of the T20I series, Bangladesh played a two-match Test series against the hosts that the Tigers lost 0-2 without offering a real challenge.  The first and second T20I of the series will take place at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica on July 2 and 3 respectively while the third and final T20I will be played on July 7 at Providence Stadium, Guyana.  Also read: Shakib to continue playing in SA despite family issues Bangladesh T20 Squad: Mahmudullah Riyad, Munim Shahriar, Liton Das, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed and Taskin Ahmed  

Riding on the brilliant pace-bowling display by Taskin Ahmed, Bangladesh wrapped up South Africa for 154 in 37 overs on Wednesday in Centurion.  Ahead of this match, the series was on parity 1-1. If Bangladesh can win this match, they will make a history of winning their maiden ODI series in the soil of South Africa.  South Africa won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bowl first. In the first wicket stand, the hosts added 46 runs in just 6.5 overs. But after that, Taskin came to the fore and dismantled the batting line of the hosts. READ: Bangladesh bowl first in series decider vs South Africa Taskin started with the wicket of Kyle Verreynne. It was not the best delivery Taskin bowled in the match. It was short and wide, but Kyle only managed a bottom edge that has shattered his stumps when he was at 9 for 16 balls.  Mushfiqur Rahim took the catches on the other four occasions of Taskin’s five wickets in this match.  After Kyle, Taskin removed Janneman Malan, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius and Kagiso Rabada. Apart from the first scalped, Taskin delivered nearly all the perfect short balls to bag wickets. He led the Tigers all the way with the ball.  Along the way, the right-arm pacer completed his second five-for in ODIs. His maiden five-wicket haul came in 2014 against India in Mirpur. That was his debut in the format. After about an eight-year-long gap, Taskin finally recorded his second five-for.  Taskin ended up taking five wickets for 35 runs in nine overs.  South Africa eventually tumbled for 154 for all wickets in 37 overs with Malan posting the highest of 39 runs. Their second-highest runs scorer was Keshav Maharaj’s 28. He was trapped run-out by Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur as the last wicket.

After a bat-dominated first day, Bangladesh Friday staged a comeback in the competition, with bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam picking up three wickets in the first session of the second day of the final Test in Kandy. While right-arm pacer Taskin struck twice to remove Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews, Taijul bagged the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva. On Thursday, Bangladesh gave away 291 runs for just one wicket after losing the toss and sent to bowl first at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium. Also read: Kandy Test Day 1: Karunaratne, Thirimanne's centuries propel Sri Lanka to 291/1 Bangladesh were wicketless in the first hour of day two. But it was a short delivery from Taskin which worked well for him. Thirimanne was uncomfortable and the ball touched his gloves before reaching the keeper safely. Thirimanne partnered with Dimuth Karunarate in the opening stand to put up 209 runs.  Two balls after scalping Thirimanne, Taskin could have sent Angelo Mathews back to the dressing room if he heard the sound of a clear neck. Wicketkeeper Liton Das also failed to hear the sound and thus they didn’t go for a review. But the TV replays showed a clear neck. Taskin eventually removed Mathews as Liton took an easy catch.  Bangladesh grabbed the third wicket of the session when Taijul removed Dhananjaya for two. Najmul Hossain Shanto took the catch in second chance after the Liton fumble. Before the wicket-taking delivery, Taijul showed some glimpses of turn and bounce on the wicket.  At the lunch break of day two, Sri Lanka were batting at 334 for four. In the first session of day two, the hosts added only 43 runs in 26 overs to their overnight total. Bangladesh conceded less than two runs per over in this session. 

Bangladesh lost two early wickets in their second innings of the Kandy Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.  Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 648 for eight in 179 overs securing a 107-run first-innings lead. Bangladesh were sent to bat after the lunch break of day five.  Saif Hassan failed to impress with the bat once again he fell for one playing only eight balls. He suffered a duck in the first innings facing six deliveries.  Also read: Karunaratne, Dhananjaya send Tigers on a leather hunt Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had hit a ton in the first innings, returned a duck in the second innings facing eight balls. Both of the first wickets were taken by Suranka Lakmal, the most experienced bowler of the Sri Lankan attack.  Sri Lanka added 136 runs in the first session of the fifth day. Two overnight batsmen, Dimuth Karunarante (244) and Dhananjaya de Silva (166), were removed by Taskin Ahmed while Taijul Islam bagged the wicket of Wanindu Hasaranga and Ebadot Hossain scalped Pathum Nissanka. For Bangladesh, Taskin bagged three wickets conceding 112 runs while Taijul took and Ebadot and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scalped one wicket each.  Bangladesh removed five Sri Lankan batsmen in the first session of the final day with one run out. Bangladesh will have to bat at least 68 overs to end this Test in a draw. Earlier, Bangladesh declared the first innings at 541 for seven wickets in 173 overs before the lunch break of day three. Also read: Karunaratne, de Silva continue to trouble Bangladesh Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque dominate in the first two days as they have struck a century each. It was the first Test for Najmul, and Mominul recorded his maiden century in away Tests. Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das have struck a fifty each for the visitors. It was the sixth-highest Test innings for the Tigers, and third highest in the overseas Tests. For Sri Lanka, Vishwa Fernando was the most successful bowler who bagged four wickets in the batting paradise conceding 96 runs in 35 overs while Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya de Silva took one wicket each.