United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh are trailing by 80 runs in the Dhaka Test against India after day two. Taijul Islam, who took four wickets in India's first innings, believes that Bangladesh could have been in a stronger position now, were it not for some sloppy fielding. Bangladesh failed to capitalize on two great chances - a stumping chance against Rishabh Pant and a catch dropped off Shreyas Iyer, which could have greatly impacted the game. While Rishabh scored 93, Iyer posted 87— the best two individual totals of India’s innings.  "To be honest, our fielding was a bit sloppy," Taijul declared in the post-day press conference. "It's rare to get opportunities such as these while competing with heavyweight teams like India." Taijul is confident that Bangladesh are still well-positioned in the match despite being behind India by 80 runs in the first innings. He believes it will be a challenging task for India if Bangladesh can set a target of 250 or more in the final innings. “We don't know how the wicket would behave on the fourth and fifth day,” he said. “If we can take a lead of 250 runs, I think it would be good for us.” India started the day on 19/0, and ended their first innings all out for 314, securing a lead of 87 runs after Bangladesh were bowled out for 227 on day one.  Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh opt to bat first with two changes vs India At stumps on day 2, Bangladesh were batting at 7/0. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan ended the day unscathed.  Earlier, Taijul had taken three wickets of his four first innings wickets in the first session to rock the Indian innings, leaving the visitors teetering at 94/4 at one stage of the morning. But Bangladesh struggled to contain Rishabh and Shreyas in the second session, as they established a steady 159-run stand for the fifth wicket. Their partnership was eventually broken by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, when he got rid of Rishabh.  Shakib Al Hasan, recovered from the injury that prevented him from bowling in Chattogram, chipped in with four wickets later, as India lost their last six wickets for just 61 runs. Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh end first innings on 365 “We have been doing well in this Test so far,” Taijul said. “It would be great if we could beat India. We would take the field keeping a win in mind.”

India secured an 87-run lead in the first innings of the Dhaka Test on Friday. They were bundled out for 314 in reply to Bangladesh's 227. Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer led the way for India with spectacular individual efforts, accumulating 93 and 87 runs, respectively. Rishabh is lucky to be there as Nurul Hasan Sohan failed to capitalise on an easy stumping opportunity off Shakib Al Hasan's delivery. The batter was well out of the crease but Nurul was not able to break the stumps in time. Read: Dhaka Test: Taijul draws first blood on day two against India Shreyas was also very close to being dismissed a few times, but he managed to escape with a score of 87. Unfortunately, Mehidy Hasan Miraz dropped a catch at the gully despite his best efforts. India, however, lost their last six wickets for 61 runs. Bangladesh had a successful first session when they took three wickets, thanks to Taijul's impeccable bowling. Read: Siddons blames Bangladesh's batting collapse in Dhaka Test on mental lapses After the lunch break, Taijul took another wicket. Shakib bagged four wickets, proving his bowling prowess in Test once again.

Taijul Islam was in fine form on day two of the Dhaka Test, claiming three wickets and putting India under pressure by making runs difficult to come by. India were at 19 for none at the end of day one. But they got off to a shaky start on day two in response to Bangladesh's first innings total of 227. At lunch of day two, India were batting at 83 for three, with Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant not out for 18 and 12, respectively. Read more: Siddons blames Bangladesh's batting collapse in Dhaka Test on mental lapses Indian captain Lokesh Rahul was the first batter to fall prey to Taijul. Although he tried to defend a delivery of the left-arm spinner, the ball hit his front pad first. Bangladesh appealed for an lbw, but the umpire was not convinced. However, the review revealed that the ball was indeed heading for the stumps and Rahul had no choice but to walk off the field. Shubman Gill became the next prey of Taijul. The ball hit his pad and the appeal for an lbw was convincing enough for the umpire to declare him out. India lost both openers with only 38 runs on the board. But the third wicket partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat was going well. However, their stand was cut short as Mominul Haque took a sharp catch at the short fine leg, allowing Taijul to claim his third wicket in the match, dismissing Pujara. Read more: Dhaka Test: Umesh, Ashwin run rampant, leave Bangladesh floundering Bangladesh opted to bat first in the Dhaka Test, with Mominul Haque contributing 84 runs to their 227/10. This was Mominul's first fifty after 12 innings. For India, Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin each bagged four wickets.

Batting collapse after batting collapse has ruined good, strong positions of Bangladesh in many matches. After a disappointing first day of the Dhaka Test against India, Bangladesh's batting coach Jamie Siddons said a lack of focus and concentration while batting on day one hurt Bangladesh's progress in the match. Read more: Dhaka Test: Umesh, Ashwin run rampant, leave Bangladesh floundering "There were numerous lapses in concentration when our batsmen were set. This hurts us. It is particularly disheartening to see senior members repeatedly making mental errors," he added. Siddons called on the Tigers to understand their capabilities and be committed to making the most of every opportunity to capitalise on a good start. "We have to take into consideration the conditions, the state of the match, our form and abilities. We must decide what is realistic and then try to convert our starts into big scores," Siddons said. About sidelining Mominul Haque for the Chattogram Test Siddons said: "It was the selectors' decision. We gave him a rest as he was playing for Bangladesh A and not doing well. We gave him a bit of time to get back into the swing of things, and forget about those failures," he said. About Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das' failure to convert good starts into big scores, Siddons said: "Shakib has a habit of coming down the pitch at spinners and fast bowlers, attempting to alter their line of attack; however, this is a risky move to make post-lunch when the bowler is likely to be a bit off the mark." Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh loses openers in 1st session vs India "Liton, he needs to hit the ball along the ground – something that he has been struggling with since transitioning from T20s." The Bangladesh coaching staff believes that the team should have scored more than the 227 that they managed in the first innings. "We should have scored at least 300 runs in the first innings," Siddons said. India's Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin capitalised on Bangladesh's errors, both registering four wickets each. "We need to keep reminding ourselves of the importance of scoring big and build a foundation using which batsmen can get the most out of the first innings. The main priority for us should be to play Test matches without making any mental errors," Siddons said.

Ramiz Raja has been removed as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board by the government and Najam Sethi reappointed. Sethi heads a new 14-member management committee including former Pakistan captains Shahid Afridi and Sana Mir. The government has given them 120 days to restore department teams in the domestic setup and form a new board of governors. The government also repealed the PCB constitution and restored it to the 2014 position, aiming to bring back department teams. The current constitution, formed in 2019, did not recognize department teams. Read more: Australia crushes South Africa inside 2 days in 1st test “The cricket regime headed by Ramiz Raja is no more,” Sethi tweeted late Wednesday. "The 2014 PCB constitution stands restored. The Management Committee will work tirelessly to revive first class cricket. Thousands of cricketers will be employed again. The famine in cricket will come to an end." The move followed the Pakistan test team's first 3-0 whitewash at home on Tuesday, inflicted by England. New Zealand arrived on Thursday for two tests and three one-day internationals, starting with the first test on Monday in Karachi. Sethi said the home squad for the New Zealand series was announced by the previous board and they won't change it. "I wish the team is not announced and we could have approached from a different angle, but now it's not the right time,” he said. Sethi served as chairman from 2013-18. During his tenure, international teams gradually returned to Pakistan after the Sri Lanka bus was attacked in 2009. Sethi also started the Pakistan Super League which attracted foreign cricketers. He was replaced by Ehsan Mani after cricket great Imran Khan became the country’s prime minister. Mani abolished department teams and squeezed domestic cricket into six provincial teams at the behest of Khan. Read more: Dhaka Test: Umesh, Ashwin run rampant, leave Bangladesh floundering However, prominent players and former board members urged the government to bring back department teams. Mani didn't accept an extension after his three-year tenure ended last year and Khan brought in Ramiz as the new chairman. Ramiz continued as the head despite Khan’s government ending this year and Shahbaz Sharif becoming prime minister. It is a normal practice in Pakistan that the prime minister, who is also the PCB patron, appoint the head of the board though direct nominations. “My primary duty is to restore the spirit of the 2014 constitution,” Sethi said at PCB headquarters in Lahore on Thursday. “The most important thing for us is to change the domestic cricket structure . . . bring back departments and all the regions as there’s been a famine for the last four years. “Tell me how many cricketers have come through domestic cricket? It looks like only PSL is supplying players. PSL is a very big international brand, and we will take the domestic cricket to that level, too, so that we can get good players from it.” During Ramiz’s tenure, Pakistan reached the T20 World Cup final this year and the semifinals last year, and qualified for the final of the T20 Asia Cup. However, Pakistan didn’t fare well in test matches at home. Flat, grassless pitches were the focal point and Pakistan lost an unprecedented four home tests in a row in series losses to Australia and England this year. The pitches prepared for both series were severely criticized and rated unworthy by the International Cricket Council.

India ended Bangladesh's first innings of the Dhaka Test at 227 runs today, with Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin bagging four wickets each.  Mominul Haque scored 84 off 157 balls to become the highest scorer of the innings and notch his first half century in 12 innings.  Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh loses openers in 1st session vs India Bangladesh had started steadily after electing to bat first, with their openers surviving the first hour unscathed. However, they lost both Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan within a span of four balls soon after the drinks break.  The third wicket stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Mominul Haque steadied the innings, with the duo adding 43 runs before the lunch break. Shakib was then dismissed by Umesh off the first ball after lunch, having posted 16.  Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh opt to bat first with two changes vs India The dismissals of Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das for 25 apiece then derailed Bangladesh's momentum before Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nurul Hasan Shohan fell quickly too.  Jaydev Unadkat, who is playing his second Test in 12 years, also took two wickets for India. To end the first day, India managed to accumulate 19 runs in 8 overs without losing any wickets. Shakib created a brilliant chance when he struck Lokeh Rahul on the pad and the umpire initially declared him out. However, after reviewing the decision, the umpire had to reverse his call. The day was called off early due to bad weather.

Bangladesh lost two wickets in the opening session of the Test match against India in Dhaka. The hosts, Bangladesh, won the toss and elected to bat first. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan provided a solid opening partnership, seeing out the first hour without any loss of wicket.  Bangladesh would have been in an even stronger position had they not lost the openers within a span of four deliveries. Read more: Dhaka Test: Desperate Tigers aim to prove their Test prowess Zakir (15) was defeated by the wily Jaydev, whose delivery had extra bounce. Unable to counter it with an offensive shot, Zakir could only meekly defend the ball, which was eventually caught cleanly by Lokesh Rahul at the cordon. Ravichandran Ashwin got the breakthrough in the following over, dismissing Shanto (24) with an outside off-stump delivery that hit Shanto’s pad. The Indians' vociferous LBW appeal was upheld by the umpire and confirmed as correct by ball-tracking technology. India were guilty of missing further opportunities, with Rishabh Pant failing to capitalise on a stumping chance and Mohammad Siraj being too slow to react to a catchable ball from his fine leg position. Mominul Haque and Shakib Al Hasan provided some much-needed resistance after the early departure of the openers, with Mominul in particular looking to be regaining form after a difficult passage of play. Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh opt to bat first with two changes vs India Till break on day one, Bangladesh were batting at 82 for 2, with Shakib and Mominul batting respectively for 16 and 23.  Bangladesh opted to make two changes to their playing XI, swapping Yasir Ali and Ebadot Hossain for Mominul Haque and Taskin Ahmed respectively. India also elected to make a change, bringing Jaydev Unadkat into the line-up in place of Kuldeep Yadav. This marked a memorable return for Jaydev, who had last played a Test match 12 years ago and had not been given a Test opportunity for 118 matches. He now had the chance to demonstrate his skills at the highest level once more.

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first in the crucial second Test of the two-match series against India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladesh made two alterations to their playing XI, swapping out Yasir Ali and Ebadot Hossain for Mominul Haque and Taskin Ahmed. India omitted Kuldeep Yadav, who had a successful first Test, and brought in Jaydev Unadkat. This will be only his second Test since his debut in 2010, having missed an astonishing 118 Tests in between, which puts him second in the all-time list for most consecutive Tests missed between appearances. Also read: Dhaka Test: Desperate Tigers aim to prove their Test prowess Gareth Batty tops this list, having missed an incredible 142 Tests between his appearances in 2006 and 2016. India secured victory in the first Test of the ongoing series in Chattogram, and are now looking to register a clean sweep in this match. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are hoping for a strong comeback, as they have never won a Test against India in the 12 matches they have played against them. Players of BAN vs IND 2nd Test in Dhaka Bangladesh (Playing XI): Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Nurul Hasan (w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed. Read More: Nasum Ahmed included in the Bangladesh squad for Dhaka Test vs India India (Playing XI): KL Rahul(c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

Bangladesh and India are both eagerly awaiting their second Test of the two-match series, set to take place tomorrow at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. India have already won the first Test of the two-match series in Chattogram, and are now aiming to secure a comfortable sweep of their opponents. However, Bangladesh are eager to prove their Test match ability at their most-familiar surface of Mirpur, where they previously won two consecutive ODIs against India prior to this series. Spinners are likely to play a pivotal role in this match on the pitch which is traditionally known to aid spin bowlers.  Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan have been in top form with the ball in Chattogram while Shakib Al Hasan was out of action due to a rib injury, but the southpaw is now fit and ready to bowl  in the Dhaka Test.  Allan Donald, the bowling coach of Bangladesh, cleared the doubts about Shakib's availability as a bowler, confirming that “Shakib is okay; he will bowl. He was briefly hampered by a bruise during the ODI game in Mirpur, but has since fully recovered and is available for selection.” India boasts an impressive spin attack, headed by Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel who decimated the Bangladesh batting line-up in the first Test. In Chattogram, the Bangladeshi batters were left in distress when confronted with the duo's skills. But Vikram Rathour, the batting coach of India, said they are not worried much about spin. He instead said that when the game is in the subcontinent, one team should be aware of the turn.  “When you play in Asia, subcontinent, you expect the wickets to turn,” he said in the pre-match press meet on Wednesday.  Read more: Indian tail wags to carry team past 400 He added that the turns in Bangladesh will help them to prepare well for the next series against Australia.  “After this we are playing Australia and we expect them to turn. So good practice for us. Good preparation. No special things tactically,” the Indian batting coach added. “We are not discussing anything too much. They need to decide what areas and the shots that are on, depending on the bounce we get here.” Ahead of this match, India escaped an injury scare. Lokesh Rahul, the stand-in captain of India, suffered a blow to his hand during the practice session. But, as their batting coach stated, Rahul has no reason to be worried about. He is all fit to take on the field.  Bangladesh will be eying on the batting skills of Zakir Hasan, who hit a century in his debut Test at Chattogram, becoming the fourth Bangladeshi batsman to do so. He had already been showcasing his talent in the domestic circuit and has now finally delivered when it matters most.  “The young man has surprised many. It is the first time I have seen Zakir. I love his attitude, boldness, and attacking mindset. He has come to play,” Alland has said.  Read more: Ctg Test: Zakir hits a ton on debut, but Bangladesh still in trouble Before this match, Bangladesh had faced India in 12 matches, with 10 of them resulting in defeats and two ending in a draw. However, this time around, Bangladesh will approach the match with a winning mentality.  

Nasum Ahmed, the talented left-arm spinner, has been selected for the Bangladesh Test squad for the upcoming second and final Test of their series against India starting on December 22nd in Dhaka. Nasmum’s call-up to the Test squad is a major milestone in his cricketing career, and he will no doubt be eager to make an impactful debut. Nasum has represented Bangladesh in both ODI and T20I matches. He has played 83 T20 matches, 61 List A matches, 4 ODIs and 28 T20Is so far. He has taken 105 wickets in First-class cricket at an average of 30.25, 32 wickets in T20I cricket at 20.03, 5 wickets in ODI cricket at 25.60, 80 wickets in List A cricket at 27.28 and 71 wickets in T20 cricket at 25.23. His best bowling figures are 7/43 in First-class cricket, 4/10 in T20I, and 5/49 in List-A cricket. Read more: Chattogram Test: India register a big win as Bangladesh’s batting woes continue Bangladesh has opted to leave out pace bowlers Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam due to their respective injuries for this match. Nasum Ahmed has been called up as a substitute for Shakib Al Hasan in the next Test match as Shakib will likely be limited to batting only due to an injury he sustained from a bouncer bowled by Umran Malik in the ODI series. Shakib played the last ODI and first Test in Chattogram with that pain. Read more: Ctg Test: Zakir hits a ton on debut, but Bangladesh still in trouble Bangladesh were defeated by 188 runs in their opening Test match in Chattogram, largely due to a lacklustre batting display in the first innings. To save the match, Bangladesh needed to bat the entire fifth day, but they failed to do that. Bangladesh squad for Dhaka Test: Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja.