Shakib Reaches 350-Wicket Milestone in First-Class Cricket

Argentina will take on Chile in Buenos Aires on September 5 in the World Cup qualifiers. Four days later, the reigning world champions will play against the hosts in Colombia. However, Argentina will have to play these two matches without captain Lionel Messi. Messi is still recovering from a right ankle injury. The 36-year-old Angel Di Maria, who retired from the national team after winning the recent Copa America, is not on the list either. Scaloni announced a 28-man preliminary squad for the two World Cup qualifiers. However, the regular captain of Argentina was not kept in that team. This decision by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is still pending since Messi has not yet recovered from the injury sustained in the Copa America final. Besides, goalkeeper Franco Armani and winger Di Maria are not in the team as they bid farewell to international football after the Copa America. In addition, Exequiel Palacios is not on the team. Defenders Marcos Acuna and Lucas Martinez Cuarta did not get a chance. Despite rumors, Paulo Dybala did not have a place in the team. Lionel Scaloni announced two new faces in the 28-man squad – Valentin Castellanos and Matias Soule. Valentin Castellanos, a 25-year-old forward, plays for SS Lazio. Forward Soule, who has just joined another Italian club Roma, is 21.  Argentina's 28-member squad: Squad: Goalkeepers: Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martnez (Aston Villa). Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Germn Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi), Nicols Otamendi, Lisandro Martnez, Nicols Tagliafico, Valentn Barco. Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Alexis McAllister, Enzo Fernandez, Giovanni Lo Celso, Ezequiel Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul. Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho, Matias Sole, Giuliano Simeone, Valentin Carboni, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez and Valentin Castellanos. Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodrguez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernndez, Giovani Lo Celso, Ezequiel Fernndez, Rodrigo de Paul, Nico Gonzlez. Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho, Matas Soul, Giuliano Simeone, Julin lvarez, Valentn Carboni, Lautaro Martnez, and Valentn Castellanos.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced their playing eleven for their first Test match against Bangladesh Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday. The two-match Test series will kick off on August 21 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.  The two Tests against Bangladesh will mark the first assignment of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's Test coach. The second Test of the two-match series is set to be played from August 30 to September 3 in Karachi. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali are the top four pacers for Pakistan who will play against Bangladesh in the first Test match. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha will be the hosts' spin bowlers. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will open for Pakistan, while captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam will be in action in the middle order. Fast bowler Aamir Jamal has been released from the squad due to ongoing fitness issues which impacted Pakistan's lineup against Bangladesh. Jamal, who suffered a back injury while playing County cricket in England earlier this year, was initially included in Pakistan's squad for the ICC World Test Championship series, pending a fitness clearance. However, the 28-year-old has not fully recovered from his back problem and has been sent to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for rehabilitation. Pakistan's playing XI for the 1st Test against Bangladesh: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali.

Farooq Ahmed has become the new president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He was assigned to the BCB President post on Wednesday (August 21). Former national cricket team captain Farooq Ahmed served as chief selector in BCB for two terms earlier. Rumors in the sports arena for the last few days that Nazmul Hassan Papon is stepping down from the post of BCB president. And former Tiger captain Farooq Ahmed is going to replace him. That rumor came true on Wednesday with Papon's official resignation. It should be noted that Farooq Ahmed served as the chief selector of BCB for two terms. He served in the first term from 2003 to 2007 and in the second term from 2013 to 2016. In the second term, he resigned due to a dispute with the board over the election process.

An impressive performance by Mushfiqur Rahim has helped Bangladesh to build a lead of 117 runs over Pakistan on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Rahim fell short of nine runs to complete his double century as he was caught out by Mohammad Rizwan at 191. This was the first century by Raheem against Pakistan, while he scored his career's 11th century. Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 77 runs while Shoriful Islam scored 22. Naseem Shah took three wickets while Shaheen Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali claimed two wickets each. Bangladesh resumed their first innings on day four at 316 runs for the loss of 5, trailing by 132 runs. Bangladesh's opener Shadman Islam stood out with 93 runs, while Mominul Haque and Liton Das scored half-centuries. Pakistan declared its first innings on 448 for the loss of six wickets. The innings saw Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 171 runs while Saud Shakeel scored 141 runs. Source: Dunyanews

Bangladesh recorded their first Test win over Pakistan in their 14th attempt in Rawalpindi, having previously lost 12 Tests since their first meeting in 2001. Bangladesh on Sunday scripted history as they recorded their maiden Test win over Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Najmul Shanto's side beat the hosts by 10 wickets after being set a modest target of 30. Opting to field first, Bangladesh had started the Test on a high, leaving Shan Masood’s men reeling at 16 for three on the opening day. However, riding on middle-order batter Saud Shakeel (141) and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan’s (171) rearguard centuries, Pakistan declared the first-innings at 448 for six. Fielding an all-pace Test attack for the first time in 28 years, Pakistan were then put on the backfoot by Bangladesh as they racked up 565 in reply, earning a 117-run lead. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim struck a 341-ball 191, backed by able fifties from Shadman Islam (93) and Mehidy Hasan (77) to fend off Pakistan. The win marked Bangladesh’s first Test win over Pakistan in 14 attempts. They had previously lost 12 matches while securing a solitary draw since their first meeting in 2001. Bangladesh have now beaten nine of the 11-Test playing teams they met. They are yet to register a win over India and South Africa. The win marked Bangladesh’s 20th Test victory across 143 matches and seventh away from home. The Tigers have previously won in twice in the Caribbean and Zimbabwe besides solitary wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Consequently, the Tigers also moved past Pakistan on the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 points table standings with their second win in five games this cycle. Pakistan slipped to the eighth spot following their fourth defeat in six games this cycle, shrinking their points percentage (PCT) to 30.55. The teams will meet in the second Test at the same venue starting August 30. Source: TIE

Bangladesh got a big win in the first match of the two-match Test series against Pakistan. Along with that, the regret of not winning the Test match against the hosts has been removed for them. The chief advisor of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus congratulated Bangladesh team on this historic victory.  This greeting was given in a statement sent by the Chief Advisor's Press Wing on Sunday (August 25). Before taking the field against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, Bangladesh had only one draw in 13 Tests. The Tigers had the bitter taste of defeat in the remaining 12.  Finally, the red-green representatives win the test against Pakistan. Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 10 wickets in the first match of the two-match Test series.

The 2024 Paralympic Games are set to open Wednesday with about 4,400 athletes in the fray. Athletes with disabilities, permanent injuries or impairments prepare will compete for 549 medals across 22 sports over 11 days in Paris. The Place de la Concorde, among the historic public squares in Paris which hosted skateboarding, breaking and 3x3 basketball during the Olympics, is the venue for the opening ceremony. The Indian contingent will have 179 members. As many as 77 are team officials, nine are contingent medical officials and another nine are contingent officials. With 84 athletes competing in 12 sports, this is the largest continent India has ever sent to the Paralympics. 'Considering the special needs of some para athletes, personal coaches have been included in the contingent. However, they will provide necessary services to other players as per the directions of the Chef de Mission/team head coach,' the Sports Ministry had said while clearing the contingent. For India, all eyes will be reigning gold medallists like para-shooter Avani Lekhara and javelin thrower Sumit Antil, badminton players Manasi Joshi and Krishna Nagar and archer Sheetal Devi among others. India had won a whopping 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympics which included five golds. Here are the live streaming details of the 2024 Paris Paralympics: When will the Paris Paralympics 2024 begin? The Paris Paralympics will start on August 28, with the opening ceremony scheduled for 11:30 PM IST. Where will the Paris Paralympics 2024 take place? The Paris Paralympics 2024 will take place in Paris. Where to watch the Paris Paralympics 2024 live on television in India? Fans in India can watch the Paris Paralympics 2024 on television via Sports 18 network. Where to watch live streaming of the Paris Paralympics 2024 in India? The live streaming of Paris Paralympics 2024 will be available on JioCinema app and website. Source: HT