Live Tv
Rtv Plus
Jay Shah Assumes ICC Leadership: Progress or Power Play?
Sports Desk
05 Dec 2024, 12:27
Photo: Collected
The world of cricket stands at a crossroads as Jay Shah, the newly appointed Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), steps into a role that carries immense responsibility. At just 36, Shah becomes the youngest to ever hold the position, succeeding Greg Barclay, who served the past four years.
While India’s influence on world cricket is undeniable, with Shah at the helm, many are wondering if this power will tilt even further in India’s favor. Outgoing Chairman Barclay, in his farewell address, emphasized that while Shah has a significant opportunity to elevate the game, it should not come at the cost of consolidating too much power in one nation. He warned that India’s overwhelming influence could undermine the sport's global expansion.
Barclay also pointed out the growing complexity of international cricket, exacerbated by the rise of franchise-based T20 leagues. The packed schedules, driven by the interests of member countries, have made it increasingly difficult to keep track of global cricket events, further complicating the future of the sport.
As Jay Shah takes charge, the world watches to see whether his leadership will unify or divide the cricketing world.
Comments
West Indies vs. Bangladesh 1st T20: / Tigers Gift Victory on Victory Day
December 16 is Victory Day, a special day celebrated nationwide in Bangladesh. On this momentous occasion, the Tigers added to the celebrations by defeating the West Indies in a thrilling match in St. Vincent. Despite not posting a big total after losing the toss, Bangladesh managed to edge out the hosts by 7 runs.
Batting first, the Tigers set a modest target of 148 runs, with Soumya Sarkar contributing a crucial 43 runs off 32 balls. In response, the West Indies faltered, losing wickets at regular intervals and getting bowled out for 140 with just one ball left in the match.
From the outset, the West Indies batters struggled against the disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack. By the time they reached a team score of 38, they had already lost 5 wickets and were under immense pressure, unable to recover thereafter.
Mehidy Hasan played a pivotal role with both bat and ball. After scoring a steady 26 off 24 balls, he shone with the ball, picking up two wickets in a single over during the 7th, pushing the hosts onto the back foot.
Bangladesh’s innings began on a cautious note. However, after reaching 15 runs, opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for 6 runs off 11 balls, bowled by Akeal Hosein. Captain Liton Das followed with a golden duck, leaving the team in a precarious position.
Afif Hossain Dhrubo couldn't capitalize either, scoring just 8 off 11 balls before getting caught off Roston Chase’s delivery. However, Soumya Sarkar and Zakir Ali Anik stabilized the innings with a 57-run partnership off 42 balls. Their partnership ended when Zakir departed for 24 runs, followed by Soumya, who fell after scoring a crucial 43 off 32 balls.
At the 15-over mark, Bangladesh’s score was just 95, and few would have predicted they’d cross 140. But Shamim Patwari, making his return to the national team after a year, played a quickfire 27 off 13 balls, supported by Mehidy Hasan. Their partnership pushed Bangladesh to 147/6 by the end of the innings. Shamim was dismissed on the second-last ball, and Rishad Hossain added two runs on the final delivery.
For the West Indies, Akeal Hosein and McKoy took two wickets each, while Roston Chase and Shepherd picked up one each.
Chasing 148, the West Indies never found momentum as the Bangladesh bowlers kept the pressure on. The hosts were reduced to 38/5 early on, and despite some resistance, they fell short by 7 runs, handing Bangladesh a memorable Victory Day triumph.
SAFF U-20 Women's Football Championship to be Hosted in Bangladesh in July
According to the new schedule of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the SAFF Under-20 Women's Championship will take place in July.
This decision was made during a meeting of the SAFF Competition Committee on Tuesday, December 17. Bangladesh will be the host country for the event, which is scheduled to take place from July 1 to 11, 2025.
The SAFF Under-20 Women's Championship was originally set to be held in February 2025, with Bangladesh announced as the host. However, a few days ago, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) postponed the event.
The rescheduling of the AFC's 2025 calendar led to the SAFF authorities revising the dates for all their competitions. Since the SAFF age-group tournaments are considered preparatory rounds for the AFC's age-group competitions, the SAFF age-group events have been rescheduled to align with the AFC's calendar.
FIFA The Best Awards 2024: Announced Nominees, Where to Watch
On Tuesday (December 17), FIFA will reveal the winners of the ninth edition of the FIFA The Best Football Awards. The awards ceremony will take place at a gala dinner in Doha, Qatar, at the Aspire Academy.
Brazil has several nominees: striker Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid and goalkeeper Ederson from Manchester City are in contention for the best player and best goalkeeper awards, respectively; while Arthur Elias, the coach of the Brazilian National Team, is nominated for the women's football category.
Marta is in the running for the award named after her (Marta Award), which recognizes the most beautiful goal of the season. Vasco supporter Guilherme Gandra Moura, affectionately known as "little Gui," is among the nominees for the FIFA Fan Award.
Where to Watch?
The announcement of the winners will be live on FIFA.com starting at 2 pm (Brasília time).
The event will feature the presence of dignitaries, football legends, and various local and regional ambassadors, alongside pioneers of the sport.
All winners of the awards were selected through a voting system that equally weighs votes from fans, national team captains, and coaches from both women's and men's national teams, as well as media representatives.
Fans also participated in the voting for the formation of the FIFA The Best women's and men's teams. For the selection of the starting eleven, fans had access to a list of 77 players, selecting them in predefined formations. The results were based on this voting and the consultation of a panel of experts.
Starting this year, The Best will include the "Marta Award," given to the scorer of the most beautiful goal in women's football for the year. Voting on this matter was divided between fans and the FIFA Legends panel. The FIFA Fan Award winner was chosen solely by fans, while the FIFA Fair Play Award was determined by experts.
FIFA 'The Best' Awards Ceremony: Nominees
Men's Player
Dani Carvajal (Spain), Real Madrid
Erling Haaland (Norway), Manchester City
Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Real Madrid
Florian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer Leverkusen
Jude Bellingham (England), Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe (France), Paris Saint Germain/Real Madrid
Lamine Yamal (Spain), Barcelona
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Inter Miami
Rodri (Spain), Manchester City
Toni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (now retired)
Vinicius Junior (Brazil), Real Madrid
Women's Player
Aitana Bonmati (Spain), Barcelona
Barbra Banda (Zambia), Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway), Barcelona
Keira Walsh (England), Barcelona
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica), Manchester City
Lauren Hemp (England), Manchester City
Lindsey Horan (USA), Olympique Lyonnais
Lucy Bronze (England), Barcelona/Chelsea
Mallory Swanson (USA), Chicago Red Stars
Mariona Caldentey (Spain), Barcelona/Arsenal
Naomi Girma (USA), San Diego Wave
Ona Batlle (Spain), Barcelona
Salma Paralluelo (Spain), Barcelona
Sophia Smith (USA), Portland Thorns
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais
Trinity Rodman (USA), Washington Spirit
Women's Coach
Arthur Elias (Brazil), Brazil
Elena Sadiku (Sweden), Celtic
Emma Hayes (England), Chelsea/USA
Futoshi Ikeda (Japan), Japan
Gareth Taylor (England), Manchester City
Jonatan Giraldez (Spain), Barcelona/Washington Spirit
Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Paris FC
Sonia Bompastor (France), Olympique Lyonnais/Chelsea
Men's Coach
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Real Madrid
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Argentina
Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Spain
Pep Guardiola (Spain), Manchester City
Women's Goalkeeper
Alyssa Naeher (USA), Chicago Red Stars
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham
Ayaka Yamashita (Japan), INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City
Cata Coll (Spain), Barcelona
Mary Earps (England), Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain
Men's Goalkeeper
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine), Real Madrid
David Raya (Spain), Arsenal
Ederson (Brazil), Manchester City
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Aston Villa
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Paris Saint-Germain
Mike Maignan (France), AC Milan
Unai Simon (Spain), Athletic Club
Tigers Secure Historic Series Win on West Indies Soil
Despite a modest target of just 129 runs in the second T20, Bangladesh pulled off an incredible victory against the West Indies—something even the most optimistic fans might not have anticipated. However, after witnessing the first T20, some supporters held on to hope, and the Tigers delivered another stunning performance.
Bangladesh bowled out the Caribbean side for just 102 runs, securing a 27-run victory and clinching the series with one match to spare. Earlier, in the first T20, Bangladesh had claimed a thrilling 7-run win.
The Tigers' red-and-green jerseys shone brightly as they celebrated this remarkable achievement, showcasing their bowling brilliance and resilience on foreign soil.
Australia-India Test Ends in a Draw Due to Rain
Rain turned out to be a blessing for India in the third Test against Australia at Brisbane. The match ended in a draw after frequent rain interruptions throughout the game, including the final day. Only 24.1 overs were bowled on Day 5, during which eight wickets fell across both teams.
India started the final day at 252/9 in their first innings and were bowled out for 260 after adding just eight more runs. Australia, with a lead of 185 runs, began their second innings but quickly lost wickets under relentless pressure from the Indian bowlers.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj spearheaded the attack, reducing Australia to 89/7. In response to the precarious situation, Australian captain Pat Cummins declared the innings, setting India a target of 275 runs.
Pat Cummins top-scored for Australia in the second innings with 22 runs, followed by Alex Carey (20) and Travis Head (17). No other batsman reached double figures. Bumrah picked up three wickets for India.
India started their chase cautiously, scoring 8 runs without loss in 2.1 overs. However, bad weather and poor light made further play impossible, resulting in the match being declared a draw. Travis Head was named Player of the Match.
The five-match series is now tied at 1-1.
Score Summary:
Australia: 445 (Smith 101, Head 152; Bumrah 6/76) & 89/7 decl. (Cummins 22, Carey 20*; Bumrah 3/18)
India: 260 (Rahul 84, Jadeja 77; Cummins 4/81, Starc 3/83) & 8/0 (Jaiswal 4*, Rahul 4*)
Bangladesh Sweeps West Indies with an 80-Run Victory
Bangladesh Sweeps West Indies with an 80-Run Victory
After the disappointment of being whitewashed by the West Indies in ODIs, the Tigers redeemed themselves in style, handing the hosts a T20 series whitewash on their own turf, bringing joy to their fans.
On Friday (December 20), at the Arnos Vale Ground in St. Vincent, Bangladesh defeated the West Indies by a massive 80 runs in the third and final T20 match of the series.
Batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh set an imposing target of 190 runs. In response, the West Indies suffered an early setback when Brandon King was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed for a duck in the first over. After a brief rain interruption, Sheikh Mahedi struck in the very next over, further unsettling the hosts.
Bangladesh had never won a T20 series on West Indies soil before. This time, after achieving that milestone, the Tigers made history by whitewashing the hosts for the first time. This marks the second time Bangladesh has whitewashed an opponent in an away series consisting of three or more matches. Overall, it’s the third time Bangladesh has achieved a T20 series whitewash, with the previous instances being against Ireland and England.
In the mission to complete the whitewash, Bangladesh set a challenging target of 190 runs for the West Indies. The hosts stumbled right at the start, losing two wickets within just seven runs. Taskin Ahmed trapped Brandon King LBW for a duck on the second ball of the innings, and Sheikh Mahedi removed Justin Greaves (6 off 5) in the next over.
Nicholas Pooran and Johnson Charles then built a 38-run partnership off 24 balls. However, Mahedi broke the stand by bowling Pooran (15 off 10) in the sixth over. In the following over, Hasan Mahmud dismissed Roston Chase for a duck, while Charles (23 off 18) fell to a direct hit from Rishad Hossain at midwicket. Three wickets fell for just one run, pushing the West Indies out of contention.
Captain Rovman Powell also failed to deliver, edging a delivery from Rishad Hossain to Liton Das. He managed only 2 runs off 12 balls.
With the West Indies struggling at 60 for 6, Romario Shepherd tried to steady the innings with the lower order. However, Rishad struck twice in the 15th over, dismissing Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph in the space of four balls, effectively ending the fightback.
Shepherd, realizing the battle was lost, gave away his wicket in the next over, caught off Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Shepherd top-scored for the West Indies with 33 off 27 balls, including one four and three sixes. The hosts were bowled out for 109 in 16.4 overs.
Rishad Hossain was the standout bowler with figures of 3 wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs. Taskin Ahmed and Sheikh Mahedi each claimed 2 wickets, conceding 30 and 13 runs, respectively.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted a formidable total of 189 for 7, thanks to a blistering innings from Zakir Ali, who smashed six sixes.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh skipper Liton Das saw a strong start from Parvez Hossain Emon, who scored 39 off 21 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. However, Liton managed only 14 off 13, and Tanzid Tamim added 9 off 9. Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 29 off 23 before Zakir stole the show.
Zakir remained unbeaten with 72 off 41 balls, featuring 3 fours and 6 sixes, taking Bangladesh to 189. Tanzim Hasan Sakib chipped in with 17 off 12, hitting one boundary and one six.
Tarique Rahman Hails Bangladesh's 3-0 T20 Sweep Over West Indies
Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) , extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Bangladesh Cricket Team for their impressive 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series against the West Indies.
Sharing his message on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Rahman praised the team's exceptional performance, highlighting their dedication, teamwork, and extraordinary skills that led to the remarkable victory.
"Congratulations to the Bangladesh Cricket Team on their outstanding 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series against the West Indies. This remarkable achievement is a testament to your unwavering dedication, exceptional teamwork, and extraordinary skills on the field. Such victories not only showcase your talent but also inspire millions across the nation, reinforcing the pride and passion we hold for cricket," he wrote.
Expressing optimism for the future, Rahman added, "As you continue to raise the bar, may this success propel you toward even greater accomplishments on the international stage. The entire nation stands united in celebrating your triumph."
The clean sweep by the Bangladesh team has sparked widespread jubilation across the country, with fans and public figures alike applauding the players for their stellar performance.
