Cricket
Zimbabwe all out for 57 as Pakistan takes unassailable 2-0 lead in T20 series
Left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem starred as Zimbabwe was routed for its lowest Twenty20 total of 57 and Pakistan romped to a series-clinching 10-wicket win on Tuesday.
Muqeem, playing in only his seventh T20, surpassed fast bowler Umar Gul’s Pakistan record of five wickets for six runs with an even more impressive 5-3 in 16 balls.
Zimbabwe was bowled out in just 12.4 overs and Pakistan openers Saim Ayub, 36 not out, and Omair Bin Yousuf, 22 not out, cruised to 61 without loss in only 5.3 overs.
They have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with the final game scheduled for Thursday.
Zimbabwe touched a new low after electing to bat, losing 10 wickets for 20 runs after openers Brian Bennett (21) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (16) provided a decent start of 37 runs in four overs.
Fast bowler Abbas Afridi dismissed Marumani and uprooted the off stump of captain Sikandar Raza. When Bennett couldn’t cope with a sharp, short delivery from Haris Rauf and top-edged to deep square leg, Zimbabwe slipped to 40-3.
Muqeem baffled the middle order with his googlies and leg breaks as he claimed the wickets of Ryan Burl and Tashinga Musekiwa in his first over and removed Wellington Maskadza and Richard Ngarava in his second over with his turning deliveries.
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He needed four more balls to finish off Zimbabwe when Clive Madanda top-edged to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha in the slips.
Zimbabwe’s previous lowest T20 total was 82 against Sri Lanka this year at Colombo.
Pakistan won the preceding ODI series 2-1, but rested all of its frontline players, including white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan for the the T20 series.
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Chief Adviser congratulates Bangladesh Blind Cricket Team
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday congratulated Bangladesh Blind Cricket Team for becoming runners up in T20 Blind Cricket World Cup held between November 21 and December 3 in Pakistan.
In a message to the team, the Chief Adviser said that the whole nation is proud of their acheivement.
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Bangladesh lost to host Pakistan by 10 wickets in Multan on Tuesday. Six countries- Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan participated in the fourth edition of the tournament held in Lahore and Multan.
Bangladesh were also runners up in the previous edition held in India in 2022.
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Kingston Test: Bangladesh’s lead crosses 200
Bangladesh’s lead in the ongoing Kingston Test against the West Indies passed the 200-run mark with five wickets in hand.
At the stumps of day three, Bangladesh were batting at 193 for five, with Jaker Ali and Taijul Islam remaining unbeaten for 29 and 9, respectively.
Shahadat Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted with a strike-rate over 100 in the second innings. Shahadat posted 28, and Mehidy scored 42.
The intention was clear— to increase the pressure on the West Indies in the last innings of the match.
Kingston Test: Nahid Rana bags maiden 5-for as Bangladesh secure 18-run lead
Nahid Rana bagged his maiden five-for to wrap up the hosts for 146.
The right-arm pacer ended up taking five for 61 runs. Hasan Mahmud took two wickets.
Bangladesh struggled in their first innings, managing only 164 runs before being dismissed.
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West Indies pace bowlers Jayden Seales, with four wickets, and Shamar Joseph, with three, were the chief destroyers of the Bangladesh batting lineup.
Opener Shadman Islam top-scored for Bangladesh with a defiant 64, while captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with a valuable 36.
4 hours ago
Kingston Test: Nahid Rana bags maiden 5-for as Bangladesh secure 18-run lead
Bangladesh right-arm pacer Nahid Rana bagged his maiden five-for in the Test and helped the tourists to wrap up West Indies for 146-10 in reply to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 164, ensuring an 18-run lead.
Rana struck early, removing Mikyle Louis with a delivery clocked at 147.1 kph that drew an edge to the keeper. At 25 for 1, the West Indies faced consistent pressure.
Kraigg Brathwaite fell to a rising delivery, fending it off the bat's shoulder to gully, leaving the hosts at 85 for 2.
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Rana induced an edge from Kavem Hodge with a back-of-a-length ball. Keeper Litton Das adjusted mid-dive to take a one-handed catch, reducing the West Indies to 94 for 3.
Rana later dismissed Alzarri Joseph with a full toss that was chipped to mid-off, and sealed his five-wicket haul by trapping Kemar Roach lbw.
Roach reviewed, but ball tracking confirmed the decision. Rana’s efforts ended the West Indies innings at 146.
Another right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud took two wickets for the tourists.
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In the first innings of the match, Bangladesh were bowled out for 164, with Jayden Seales taking four wickets. Shamar Joseph took three.
Shadman Islam was the highest-run-getter for Bangladesh with 64. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh’s captain, contributed with 36.
5 hours ago
BCB announces women’s squad for T20I series against Ireland
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the first two T20 internationals of the three-match series against Ireland.
All matches will take place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS).
Nigar Sultana Joti will lead the team as captain and wicketkeeper, with Nahida Akter serving as vice-captain.
The squad includes seasoned players like Jahanara Alam and young talents such as Shorna Akter and Fariha Islam Trisna.
SQUAD (1st & 2nd T20Is): Nigar Sultana Joti (Captain & WK), Nahida Akter (Vice Captain), Murshida Khatun, Dilara Akter, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam Trisna, Jahanara Alam, Jannatul Ferdus Sumona, Taj Nehar, Shanjida Akhter Maghla
Stand by: Disha Niswas, Shamima Sultana, Sarmin Sultana
17 hours ago
Bangladesh announces ODI squad for West Indies series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The series will kick off on December 8.
Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz will lead the team in the absence of regular captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is sidelined due to a groin injury.
This will be Mehidy’s debut as ODI captain following his first stint as Test captain earlier in the series.
Batter Towhid Hridoy has also been ruled out due to a similar groin issue.
BCB sports physician Dr. Monzur Hossain Chowdhury explained that Hridoy requires rest and will be reassessed in two weeks.
Left-hander Afif Hossain Dhrubo has been recalled to the squad after a year-long absence, with his last ODI appearance in December 2023.
On the other hand, Zakir Hasan, who was part of the recent ODI series against Afghanistan, has been excluded. Fast bowler Nahid Rana retains his spot after an impressive debut against Afghanistan last month.
Bangladesh squad for West Indies ODIs:
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Captain), Litton Das (WK), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
20 hours ago
Blind Cricket World Cup : Bangladesh reach first- ever final eliminating Sri Lanka by six runs in semis
Bangladesh reached the final of the Blind Cricket World Cup' 2024 for the first time eliminating Sri Lanka by six runs in a keenly contested 2nd semifinal at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Pakistan on Sunday.
Bangladesh will play the final on Monday (Dec 2) against hosts Pakistan, which outplayed Nepal by 10 wickets in the first semifinal.
In the day's 2nd semifinal, Bangladesh batted first and piled up a huge total of 244 runs for the loss of six wickets in quota 20 overs, featuring 177 runs in the opening stand by Salman and Arif.
Salman quick-fired 97 runs off just 49 balls while Arif made 81 runs off 56 runs.
In reply, the Sri Lankans, riding on Chanda Deshpriyo's 86 runs, fought hard for their existence but were forced to fold their innings at 238 runs for 9 in stipulated 20 overs to concede a narrow six runs defeat.
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New season of BPL soars with ‘Dana 36’ mascot, youth festival
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) unveiled its first-ever mascot, ‘Dana 36,’ at a festive event on Sunday, setting the stage for the league’s 11th edition.
The mascot, featuring wings and a dove-like face, symbolizes liberation, peace, and limitless potential, according to organisers.
The event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), was part of the larger “Youth Festival 2025,” which aims to celebrate the energy and creativity of young Bangladeshis.
The festival will integrate sports and cultural activities nationwide, culminating with the U-20 Women’s SAFF Championship final in February.
BCB President Faruk Ahmed highlighted the unique connection of this year’s BPL with the July-August student movement, a theme in the mascot’s design and the league’s community initiatives.
To honour the memories of those who lost their lives during the movement, the event began with a minute of silence.
This year’s BPL, set to kick off on December 30, aims to prioritize environmental sustainability through “zero-waste matches” while promoting initiatives focused on social responsibility.
Fans will enjoy concerts in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet, while a portion of proceeds will go to the July Foundation.
Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud said that the festival aims to reshape the future under the slogan, “Let’s change the country, let’s change the world.”
Cricket stars including Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Salma Khatun, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Nigar Sultana attended the BPL mascot launch event.
1 day ago
U-19 Asia Cup: Holders Bangladesh almost assure semifinal berth beating Nepal by 5 wickets
Defending champions Bangladesh Under-19 Cricket team almost assured the semifinal berth in the U-19 Asia Cup Cricket from Group B beating Nepal by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
This was the 2nd consecutive victory for Bangladesh in the ongoing U-19 Asia Cup after beating Afghanistan by 45 runs in the opening match.
After the 2nd round matches, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh maintained all win run in Group B securing full four points each.
Sent onto bat first in the day's match, Nepal were all out for 141 runs in the 45.4 overs with opener Aakash Tripathi contributing the team highest 43 runs off 77 balls hitting five boundaries.
Besides, middle order Uttam Magar (29) and lower order Abhisekh Tiwari (29) were the other Nepalese batsmen reaching the double figure.
Riwan Hossain, Iqbal Hossain Emon and Al Fahad took two wickets each conceding 8, 24 and 26 runs respectively.
In reply, Bangladesh easily reached their target scoring the match-winner 142 runs for the loss of five wickets in only 28.4 overs featuring two half centuries by opener Zawad Arbar and captain Azizul Hakim Tamim.
Zawad Arbar scored the match highest 59 runs off 65 balls featuring five fours and four sixes while skipper cum one down Azizul Hakim made 52 runs off 72 deliveries hitting two fours and three sixes.
Yubraj Katri made the major damage in Bangladesh innings grabbing four wickets conceding 23 runs in six over spell with a maiden.
Eight Asian teams--five full-member countries –India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan-- alongside three qualified teams—Nepal, Japan and UAE –split into two groups, are competing in the first phase of the Asia Cup.
Bangladesh, which was placed in four-team Group B with Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, will play Sri Lanka in their remaining group match on Tuesday (December 3).
Bangladesh clinched their maiden and only U-19 Asia Cup crown beating UAE by a huge margin of 195 runs in the last year's final.
1 day ago
Pakistan win toss and chose to bat in first T20 against Zimbabwe
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the first T20 against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
For the three-match series, Pakistan has rested all its frontline white-ball players, including captain Mohammad Rizwan, as the team looks to assess its bench strength. Salman Ali Agha will lead the side, with fast bowler Haris Rauf, the most experienced T20 player in the squad, included in the lineup.
Rauf is just one wicket away from becoming Pakistan's leading T20 bowler, aiming to surpass leg-spinner Shadab Khan's record of 107 wickets.
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Opening batter Saim Ayub and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed were not originally part of the T20 squad, but were retained for the series after performing well in the preceding one-day series against Zimbabwe, which Pakistan won 2-1.
“We want to give as many chances to youngsters because this series is all about youngsters,” Salman said at the toss. “We just want to put good total on the board as it (the wicket) could get slower and lower.”
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Zimbabwe will be led by Sikandar Raza and has recalled Wellington Masakadza and Ryan Burl for the Twenty20 series after both missed out the ODI series.
Line-ups:
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Omair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Ryan Burl, Dion Myers, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu.
1 day ago