cricket
Women’s Asia Cup: Bangladesh to face India in first semifinal Friday
Bangladesh, the champions of 2018 Women’s Cup Cricket, will play their ginat rival and the 8th times champions India, in the first semifinal of the eigh-nation Women’s T20 Asia Cup Cricket’2024 in Dambullah, Sri Lanka on Friday (July 26) .
The first semifinal match will kick-off at 2:30 pm Bnagladesh time at the Rangiri Dambullah International Stadium in the Island nation while hosts Sri Lanka, the champions of Group B, will face the Group A runners-up Pakistan in the 2nd semifinal also on Friday (July 26) at 7:30 pm.
The final match of the 9th version of the meet between two winning semifinalists will kick-off at 3 pm on July 28 at the4 same venue,
Bangladesh reached the semifinal as the Group B runners up securing four points from three group matches beating Malaysia by a massive 114 runns, defeated Thailand by seven wickets after conceding seven wickets defeat to hosts Sri Lanka in the first match.
India smartly the qualified for the semifinal as the Group A champions with all win record securing full six points from straight three group matches beating their arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets, outplaying UAE by 78 runs and beat Nepal by 82 runs.
Women’s Asia Cup: Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 114 runs
In their third match in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 114 runs. It was Bangladesh’s second win in the tournament.
In their first two matches, against Sri Lanka and Thailand, Bangladesh beat Thailand but lost to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh won the toss on Wednesday in Dambulla and opted to bat first.
Read more: Shathira Jakir Jessy: First Bangladeshi Woman to Become an International Umpire
Opener Murshida Khatun and captain Nigar Sultana proved the decision of batting first as justified, hitting a 50 each. While Murshida hit 80 with 10 fours, Nigar scored 62 with five fours and two sixes.
Riding on their excellent batting show, Bangladesh posted 191 for two.
In reply, Malaysia managed only 77 for eight in 20 overs and suffered a heavy defeat.
Nahida Akter took two wickets for Bangladesh.
Read more: ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024: Match Fixtures, Schedule, Groups, and Teams
National team stars Tawhid and Shoriful urge an end to bloodshed
Tawhid Hridoy and Shoriful Islam, two stars of the Bangladesh national cricket team, took to social media to urge an end to the bloodshed surrounding the ongoing student protests.
The protests, demanding reform of the quota system in civil service jobs, saw one death on Tuesday in Rangpur.
Three killed in clash between quota protesters and BCL in Chattogram
Three killed in clash between quota protesters and BCL in Chattogram
The situation turned violent on Monday when protesters were allegedly attacked by members of the ruling party's student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Tawhid, a right-handed batter, was the first national cricketer to address the protests. He wrote on his social media page: "I've been away from everything, so I haven't seen much. My beloved Dhaka University, may it not bleed anymore," accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
TIB condemns “cowardly use” of force on peaceful quota reform movement of students
TIB condemns “cowardly use” of force on peaceful quota reform movement of students
Shoriful, a left-arm pacer, also expressed his feelings about the violence, which has left at least a few hundred wounded in the last two days.
"Assalamu Alaikum. I am a cricketer, but I am also a student. I don't want to see the blood of any more students shed," he wrote on his social media page, accompanied by two broken heart emojis.
Quota protesters block Dhaka-Chittagong highway, railway.
Quota protesters block Dhaka-Chittagong highway, railway
Tawhid and Shoriful are the first cricketers to speak out about the ongoing violence. Before them, Ayman Sadiq, the CEO of Bangladesh's largest edutech company, 10 Minute School, also expressed similar sentiments. However, within a day of his statement, the tech CEO lost a $5 million investment proposal from a government-sponsored investment firm.
Shathira Jakir Jessy: First Bangladeshi Woman to Become an International Umpire
While men’s cricket gets a lot of attention, the history of women in cricket is also no less impressive. The first recorded instance of women in cricket goes back to 1745 and the first Women’s One Day International (WODI) was played in 1934. Over the years, the participation and fan following surrounding women’s cricket has only increased, and one of our very own has taken the flag to new heights. We’re talking about none other than Shathira Jakir Jessy, the first Bangladeshi woman to become an international umpire.
Early Life
Shathira Jakir Jessy was born in 1990 in Lalmonirhat. Her father, a banker, and mother, a head teacher, were very supportive of her love for cricket. Through her mother, Jessy first got into Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) in shooting as women’s cricket wasn’t offered by BKSP at that time.
Over the years, Jessy persisted and when women’s cricket finally took off in 2007, Jessy found her calling. And the rest is history.
Read more: Women's Asia Cup: Bangladesh aim for semifinal spot
Career Overview
Table: Shathira Jakir Jessy’s Cricket Career at a Glance
Competition
Matches
Runs Scored
Top Score
Ball Bowled
Wickets
WODI
2
1
1
22
0
WT20I
1
-
-
-
-
WLA
9
133
62
342
15
WT20
13
57
22*
270
17
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shathira_Jakir
Women's Asia Cup: Bangladesh aim for semifinal spot
The Bangladesh national women's cricket team is all set to fly to Sri Lanka to take part in the ACC Women's Asia Cup T20. Before an official photoshoot on Monday, Nigar Sultana, the Bangladesh captain, said they are aiming for a semifinal spot in this edition of the Asia Cup.
Bangladesh, the former champions, have experienced a mixed bag of results over the last couple of years. Last year, they played against India at home but fell short of expectations.
ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024: Match Fixtures, Schedule, Groups, and Teams
“Our first goal is to qualify for the semifinal,” Nigar said on Monday in Mirpur. “We haven't done well in the last two series. We failed to win any matches. So the first match in the Asia Cup is important for us.”
In their first match, Bangladesh will take on the hosts, Sri Lanka, against whom Bangladesh has three wins in 12 matches. The stats prove that Sri Lanka is a stronger side than Bangladesh in T20s, meaning that Nigar and her team will have to play their best cricket to beat Sri Lanka in their opening match of the Asia Cup.
Jesy to become first Bangladeshi umpiring at Women's Asia Cup
In 2018, Bangladesh beat India twice, including once in the final, and won the title for the first time, a feat that the men's team has never achieved so far. But since then, Bangladesh has never been able to reach the semifinals.
“We need good momentum, and a win against Sri Lanka can deliver that,” she said.
Hashan Tillakaratne is the coach of the Bangladesh women's team. The former Sri Lankan cricketer believes the team has played poorly in recent times, and he said it's necessary to instill confidence in them so that they can overcome the fear of failure and perform well.
BCB announces women's cricket team for ACC Women's Asia Cup 2024
“We have to accept that we haven't been able to play good cricket in recent times,” Hashan said. “But we have the ability to do well.”
Bangladesh's confidence can be boosted by the inclusion of two senior campaigners, Rumana Ahmed and Jahanara Alam—both of whom were out of the national team for around a year.
Both the captain and coach said they are confident that their inclusion can help the team find momentum in the Asia Cup.
“They returned to the setup after a long time,” Nigar said. “Both did well in the last domestic event. I think they can impact our game in a bigger way.”
Bangladesh has no dedicated T20 event for the development of women's cricket. Despite repeated outcries by the cricketers, the BCB has yet to introduce a T20 event for women cricketers. But Habibul Bashar, the former Bangladesh captain and current head of the women's wing, said they are working to introduce more development opportunities for women's cricket.
“The BCB has had discussions about doing it,” Bashar said about more opportunities and facilities for women cricketers. “It's now the call of the time. I don't know when we'll get it, but the BCB is discussing it.”
India beat Zimbabwe by 42 runs in fifth T20 to win series 4-1
Sanju Samson scored 58 as India beat Zimbabwe by 42 runs in their fifth Twenty20 on Sunday to win the five-match series 4-1.
Samson, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, hit four sixes in his 45-ball innings to help India score 167-6 in 20 overs after losing the toss and batting first.
Rahul Dravid declines extra bonus from BCCI after India’s T20 World Cup win, garners widespread praise
In reply, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 125 runs in 18.3 overs with medium pacer Mukesh Kumar taking 4-22 in 3.3 overs.
Zimbabwe had won the first T20 by 13 runs, with India then rebounding with four consecutive wins. It won the second, third and fourth T20s by 100 runs, 23 runs, and 10 wickets, respectively.
Zimbabwe stuns world champion India by 13 runs in opener of T20 series
Bangladesh high-performance team departs for Australia tour
Bangladesh Cricket's high-performance unit departed for Australia on Saturday. This marks the first tour of Australia by a Bangladeshi cricket team in over 15 years.
National team selector Hanan Sarkar is accompanying the team. He expressed confidence that the tour will be highly beneficial for the young cricketers, providing valuable learning experiences.
In this tour, Bangladesh HP will face Pakistan Shaheens in both four-day matches and will play against Pakistan Shaheens and the Northern Territory team in the one-dayers.
BCB announces high-performance team for extended Australia tour
The first four-day match starts on July 19th, followed by the second on July 26th. The one-dayers are scheduled for August 1st and 6th. Bangladesh's T20 matches will take place on August 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17, with the semi-finals and final on August 18.
The BCB has announced separate squads for this tour, comprising a total of 25 cricketers. Some of these players have already gained experience representing the national team.
HP squads for the Australia tour:
Players in All Three Teams: Parvez Hossain Emon, Ariful Islam, Rakibul Hasan, Mukidul Islam, Ripon Mondol, and Maruf Mridha.
Player in Four Day and One Day Teams Only: Sk Peavez Rahman Jibon.
Players in One Day and T20 Teams Only: Tanzid Hasan, Jisan Alam, Afif Hossain (captain of one-day team), Shamim Hossain, Akbar Ali (captain of T20 team, vice-captain of one-day team), Wasi Siddique, Abu Haider Rony, and Mahfusur Rahman Rabbi (vice-captain of T20 team).
Players Only in the Four-Day Team: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (Captain), Amite Hasan, Sahadat Hossain Dipu (Vice Captain), Mahidul Islam Ankon, Aich Mollah, Rezaur Rahman Raja, and Hasan Murad.
Player Only in T20 Team: Allis Islam
Taskin issues legal notices to Ekattor TV, Samakal over “defamatory reports”
Bangladesh's right-arm pacer and vice-captain of the T20 team Taskin Ahmed has issued legal notices to private tv station Ekattor TV and Bangla daily Samakal, demanding retractions and apologies for broadcasting and publishing allegedly false and defamatory reports that have tarnished his reputation.
Taskin says most of the news and information being spread are rumors
Represented by Advocate Jobayer Mohammad Aourangzeb, Taskin Ahmed has taken a firm stance against what he describes as baseless allegations that have caused significant harm to his standing both nationally and internationally.
The notice to Ekattor Media Limited, who owns Ekattor TV, pertains to a report aired on the sports segment “Khelajog” on July 1. The broadcast alleged that Taskin missed the team bus and arrived at the cricket ground after the toss for the match against India on June 22.
According to the report, this delay led to his exclusion from the playing XI. However, the legal notice claims that while Taskin did miss the bus due to “an innocent mistake of missing the alarm,” he arrived at the ground 20 minutes before the toss and participated in the national anthem ceremony. The decision to exclude him from the team had been made prior to these events and was unrelated to his late arrival.
Team accepted Taskin's apology for oversleeping on day of crucial World Cup match against India
The notice asserts that the report aired by Ekattor TV contained “false and defamatory statements” that were broadcast without due diligence or reliable sources. Taskin's legal representative emphasized that the unfounded allegations violated defamation laws and significantly damaged his credibility and standing.
Similarly, Samakal is facing a legal notice for a report published on July 3, which claimed that Taskin’s performance in a World Cup match against Nepal was compromised due to his consumption of a “special drink” the night before, leading to him vomiting before the match.
The legal notice refutes this claim, explaining that Taskin felt nauseous due to motion sickness from traveling on winding roads. Upon arriving at the stadium, he consulted the BCB medical team, who found him fit to play after prescribing medication for his nausea. Taskin participated in the match and contributed to the team's victory, contradicting the report's implications.
The notice describes the allegations published by Samakal as “derogatory, false, baseless, and defamatory,” highlighting the significant harm and mental distress caused to Taskin.
Both legal notices demand that the respective media outlets withdraw the defamatory reports and issue unconditional apologies on their platforms within seven days. Taskin’s legal counsel warns that failure to comply will result in legal action, both civil and criminal, seeking appropriate damages for the harm caused. UNB has seen both the legal notices.
Can Taskin win his fitness battle to make it to the World Cup?
Taskin, who played a crucial role in the T20 World Cup 2024, publicly acknowledged his mistake of missing the team bus and apologized to his teammates and coaches. He expressed his regret in a social media post. Before issuing the legal notices, Taskin stated in an interview that both Ekattor and Samakal had spread false news and rumors about him.
Rahul Dravid declines extra bonus from BCCI after India’s T20 World Cup win, garners widespread praise
Former Indian batting legend and head coach of the Indian World Cup-winning cricket team, Rahul Dravid, has declined to accept an extra bonus in recognition of his contributions to India’s recent T20 World Cup victory. Dravid insisted that he could not accept a larger bonus than his colleagues, whose efforts he deemed equal to his own.
Each of India’s coaching staff, including bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore, was awarded 2.5 crore rupees for their contributions to India’s T20 World Cup success. In addition to this amount, Dravid was offered an extra 2.5 crore rupees, which he refused to accept.
Dravid’s act of fairness has garnered widespread praise on social media and among the cricketing community. Former cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu applauded Dravid with his signature oratory, stating, “The fragrance comes from his character, not a perfume.”
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle also praised Dravid on social media, writing, “In a world where 'come-look-at-me' is a disease and paid PR is an acceptable way of life, Rahul Dravid makes humility look cool. It is what we must aspire for in our profession; to achieve greatness and let it rest simply upon us.”
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), all members of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning squad, including Dravid, were to receive 5 crore rupees each from the 125 crore rupees prize money. The support staff, including the bowling, batting, and fielding coaches, were to receive 2.5 crore rupees each, while the selectors and traveling members of the squad were to receive 1 crore rupees each.
BCB announces high-performance team for extended Australia tour
The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) high-performance unit is embarking on an extended tour of Australia, featuring two four-day matches, two one-dayers, and six T20 matches.
The tour commences with the first four-day match on July 19th and concludes with a T20 match against the Big Bash League team Perth Scorchers on August 17th.
BCB uncertain about Mushtaq Ahmed's role as long-term spin bowling coach
If the Bangladesh HP team advances to the final of the T20 tournament, which involves nine teams, including Bangladesh HP, the tour will extend to August 18th.
Bangladesh will face Pakistan Shaheens in both four-day matches and will play against Pakistan Shaheens and the Northern Territory team in the one-dayers.
Bangladesh’s Pakistan tour for two Tests finalized
The first four-day match starts on July 19th, followed by the second on July 26th. The one-dayers are scheduled for August 1st and 6th. Bangladesh's T20 matches will take place on August 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17, with the semi-finals and final on August 18.
Naimur Rahman, the chairman of BCB's HP committee, highlighted the tour as a valuable development opportunity for the players.
“This is a big opportunity for our players. Some players from the national team will be playing alongside players from HP. This is because our tour to Australia in 2027 will also be held in Darwin. It's a good opportunity for them to prepare,” he said. “Often, we see our new players or debutants playing in unfamiliar environments for the first time. We want to avoid that.”
Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan in same ICC Champions Trophy group: reports
The HP team includes 25 players, some of them, like Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Aiff Hossain, Shamim Hossain, and Abu Hider, have played for the Bangladesh national team.
Players in All Three Teams: Parvez Hossain Emon, Ariful Islam, Rakibul Hasan, Mukidul Islam, Ripon Mondol, and Maruf Mridha.
Player in Four Day and One Day Teams Only: Sk Peavez Rahman Jibon.
Players in One Day and T20 Teams Only: Tanzid Hasan, Jisan Alam, Aiff Hossain (captain of one-day team), Shamim Hossain, Akbar Ali (captain of T20 team, vice-captain of one-day team), Wasi Siddique, Abu Haider Rony, and Mahfusur Rahman Rabbi (vice-captain of T20 team).
Players Only in the Four-Day Team: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (Captain), Amite Hasan, Sahadat Hossain Dipu (Vice Captain), Mahidul Islam Ankon, Aich Mollah, Rezaur Rahman Raja, and Hasan Murad.
Player Only in T20 Team: Allis Islam