Year: 2019

“New Bangladesh skipper: Mominul Haque. ©AFP” /> Dhaka (AFP) – Mominul Haque says he was stunned to be named Bangladesh Test captain in place of the banned Shakib Al Hasan but is relishing the chance to take on Virat Kohli’s side in India. Shakib was banned last week by the International Cricket Council for two years, one of them suspended, for failing to declare attempts to bribe him. Such is the fame of 32-year-old superstar Shakib that around 700 people took to the streets of his hometown in protest, with…

“Australia is on a hot T20 streak, having not been beaten in their last seven matches. ©AFP” /> Canberra (AFP) – Master batsman Steve Smith stroked a faultless unbeaten 80 as Australia edged Pakistan by seven wickets in Canberra to go 1-0 up in their three-match Twenty20 series. Top-ranked Pakistan set a competitive 150 for six off their 20 overs, with skipper Babar Azam hitting his second consecutive half-century and Iftikhar Ahmed clubbing a quickfire 62. But their bowling attack was no match for Smith, who brought up his fourth…

“New Zealand’s players celebrate victory against England at Nelson. ©AFP” /> Nelson (New Zealand) (AFP) – A dramatic England collapse which saw five wickets fall for only 10 runs allowed New Zealand to snatch a 14-run victory in their Twenty20 international in Nelson Tuesday. It also put New Zealand 2-1 ahead in the series with two games to play. England were on track to overhaul New Zealand’s 180 when they reached 139 for two in the 15th over, with captain Eoin Morgan in full flight as he cracked sixes off…

“Australia’s David Warner dives in an attempt to avoid a run out during the Twenty20 match between Australia and Pakistan at the Cricket Cricket Ground in Sydney, The match ended in no result after rain . ©AFP” /> Sydney (AFP) – Pakistan were saved by the rain Sunday as persistent showers halted a rampant Aaron Finch as Australia headed for victory in their opening Twenty20 international. The visitors managed 107 for five in a reduced 15 overs due to the weather at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Australia set a…

“Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar plays a shot . ©AFP” /> New Delhi (AFP) – Mushfiqur Rahim Sunday said pollution did not bother him after his unbeaten half-century powered Bangladesh to their first-ever Twenty20 international victory over India in smog-hit New Delhi. Mushfiqur made 60 to anchor Bangladesh’s chase of 149 as the tourists achieved their target with three balls to spare.They won by seven wickets to lead the three-match series 1-0. The Indian capital has been blanketed by smog with authorities saying air pollution had reached “emergency” levels, with schools closed…

“Jonny Bairstow has been selected for the T20 series but was left out of England’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand. ©AFP” /> Wellington (AFP) – England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow believes New Zealand will be intent on exacting World Cup revenge in the Twenty20 series that begins in Christchurch on Friday. The Black Caps suffered the cruellest of defeats in the final of the one-day showpiece, when the scores were tied after a Super Over but England won because they had hit more boundaries. Cricket chiefs have since…

=”Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has been banned for two years, with one year suspended, by the ICC. ©AFP” /> Dhaka (AFP) – Bangladesh captain and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was banned Tuesday from all cricket for two years, with one year suspended, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said. The ban came after Shakib “accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code”, the sport’s governing body said in a statement. These included failing to disclose to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit full details of approaches or invitations made in…

“Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan speaks to journalists when outlining details of the strike. ©AFP” /> Dhaka (AFP) – Cricketers in Bangladesh’s main domestic league will see match payments almost double under a new deal that ended a player strike last week, the sport’s ruling body said Monday. Players in the top-tier of the National Cricket League will receive 60,000 taka ($705) instead of 35,000 taka per four-day match, a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) statement said. Other expenses were also increased as part of the deal, which ended a three-day…