Gemcon Khulna lifted the title of Bangabandhu T20 Cup on Friday, beating Gazi Group Chattogram by 5 runs in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Khula batted first after losing the toss and posted 155 runs with Mahmudullah Riyad’s unbeaten 70. In reply, Chattogram made a cautious start. However, they lost two wickets – Soumya Sarkar (12), and Mohammad Mithun (7) – during the powerplay. Shuvagata Hom removed Soumya while Al Amin sent off Mithun. Khulna took control of the game in the first 10 overs, conceding only 63 runs and taking three wickets. Liton Das, the highest run-scorer for Chattogram, was caught short of the crease for 23 off 23 deliveries. Chattogram needed 94 runs in the last 10 overs. Riding on the 41-ball fifty of Shykat Ali, they inched towards victory but fell short of six runs in the last over bowled by Shahidul Islam. In the last 10 overs, Chattogram scored 87 runs. They needed 16 off the last six balls, but Shahidul conceded 10 only along with scalping the wickets of Shykat and Mosaddek Hossain in two successive deliveries. And Chattogram finished on 150 for six in 20 overs. Shahidul bagged two wickets while Al Amin, Shuvagata Hom and Hasan Mahmud took one wicket each for Khulna. Earlier, Khulna were sent to bat first after losing the toss. It made the match tough for them right away as Nahidul Islam removed Jahurul Islam off the first ball. They also lost Imrul Kayes for eight adding only 42 runs in six overs in the powerplay. Nahidul bagged two wickets conceding 19 runs in three overs. Next Chattogram captain Mohammad Mithun gave the ball to Mosaddek Hossain who removed Zakir Hasan for 25 off 20 balls. At the end of 10th over, Khulna were stuttering at 63 for three wickets. In the fourth wicket stand, Ariful Haque and Mahmudullah Riyad added 40 runs. Ariful, who was promoted up the batting order, managed 21 off 23 balls. Right after Ariful’s dismissal, Shuvagata Hom came in and posted 15 off 12 balls. He accompanied Mahmudullah in a 34-run stand in the fifth wicket partnership. They eventually posted a challenging total of 155 for seven in 20 overs. Mahmudullah Riyad hit an unbeaten 70 off 48 balls with eight fours and two sixes. For Chattogram, Nahidul and Shoriful bagged two wickets each while Mosaddek and Mustafizur took one wicket each. Source: UNB AH

Gemcon Khulna and Gazi Group Chattogram are all set to lock horns in the final of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup which will take place on Friday at 4:30pm at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.  These two teams ended the league-phase of the event with the highest points and run-rate. While Chattogram achieved 14 points from seven wins in eight games, Khulna gained eight points from four wins.  Chattogram lost Qualifier 1 against Khulna, but they made it to the final beating Beximco Dhaka in Qualifier 2.  Before taking the field in the final, both teams have revealed their desire to lift the trophy. Chattogram coach Mohammad Salahuddin said Khulna have some experienced players which will be a big advantage for them but he said he believes youngsters in his team have the ability to turn the tables. “We’ve a talented bunch of young players with some experienced guys. I believed they have the ability to deliver something expected in the final. Most of the players in our team didn’t play many finals in their lives. And at the same time, there will be no spectators in the gallery which is a relief for them because they are not used to much pressure,” he told the media Thursday during a practice session at Mirpur.  “It’s not important to think about what you’ve done in the last 10 games. It’ll not help us in the final. It (success in the final) depends on the performance we would show in the final and decisions we would take,” he added.  Chattogram was heavily reliant on Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam. Liton led them with the bat scoring 370 runs in nine games. He is also the highest runs getter in the event so far. Soumya also did well, scoring 280 runs in 10 games with an average of 31.11.  Left-arm pacer Mustafizur bagged 21 wickets in nine games for them while Shoriful scalped 14.  Khulna banks on new blood Khulna captain Mahmudullah Riyad also expressed his ambition to win the title with the squad that has a good mixture of young and experienced players. “We’ve a good tournament so far. We played a good brand of cricket, especially, I'm fascinated with the performance of players who were members of the World Cup-winning Bangladesh team,” Mahmudullah told the media on Thursday.  Mahmudullah said the inclusion of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has increased experience in their team.  “He played many finals and won four titles of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). So, it’s great to have him in the squad. I always talk to Mashrafe so that I can get ideas from him to do well in the field. We’re lucky that he’ll feature for us in the final,” he added.  Khulna, however, will miss the service of Shakib Al Hasan. The veteran allrounder left the team due to a family emergency.  “Shakib could play a vital role in the final. We all know what he can do in the field. Since he’s not available in the final, we should take the responsibilities to do well,” Khulna captain told the media.  Each member of the champion team will receive Tk 150,000 while each member of the runners-up team will get Tk 75,000. The best batsman and the best bowler of the event will receive Tk 200,000 each while the player of the tournament and man of the final will get Tk 300,000 and 100,000 respectively, and there will be special performance award for four players who each will receive Tk 100,000.  Source: UNB AH

Football legend Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 60. The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency. Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the quarter-finals. In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts." Maradona played for Barcelona and Napoli during his club career, winning two Serie A titles with the Italian side. He scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina, representing them in four World Cups. Maradona led his country to the 1990 final in Italy, where they were beaten by West Germany, before captaining them again in the United States in 1994, but was sent home after failing a drugs test for ephedrine. During the second half of his career, Maradona struggled with cocaine addiction and was banned for 15 months after testing positive for the drug in 1991. He retired from professional football in 1997, on his 37th birthday, during his second stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors. Having briefly managed two sides in Argentina during his playing career, Maradona was appointed head coach of the national team in 2008 and left after the 2010 World Cup, where his side were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals. He subsequently managed teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico and was in charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina's top flight at the time of his death. Source: BBC AH

Bangladesh’s ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returned to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday after more than a year. He visited the ‘Home of Cricket’ in the morning for a fitness test ahead of a five-team T20 league starting later this month. Shakib’s one-year ban for failing to report corrupt approaches ended recently. He returned home last Thursday and sparked controversy by violating quarantine rules. The all-rounder said he was eager to get back to competitive cricket. He played his last recognised cricket back in October 2019 in the Caribbean Premier League. Shakib might get a chance to make his comeback to international cricket early next year when the West Indies will visit Bangladesh for a full series. Source: UNB AH

The Bangladesh cricket fraternity is eagerly waiting to see Shakib Al Hasan back in action after the completion of his one-year ban imposed by ICC due to failing to report corrupt approaches made to him.   Shakib’s ban ended on October 29, and the southpaw is about to return to Bangladesh from the USA this week. Right after returning home, he will participate in a T20 league comprising five teams which will be Bangladesh’s second step towards normalising cricket activities in the country after the Covid-19 outbreak.   Earlier, BCB hosted a three-team 50-over competition to set the stage for the cricketers to get back to the game. Along with the national team members, most of the top young cricketers had participated in this event.   “I am Shakib Al Hasan, and the cricket field is my home. The time is tough, but I will come back to the field being tougher. I have been trying day and night to get back to the field wearing a red-green kit,” Shakib said in a TV commercial made based on his return.   Shakib had a month-long individual training programme at BKSP in September this year aiming to play the then scheduled Test series in Sri Lanka. However, the series was postponed due to the Covid-19 restriction. Shakib then returned to the USA to be with his family. “You have always come back as a champ, and I cannot wait to share more match-winning partnerships with you and bring joy for our nation In Sha Allah,” Bangladesh’s former captain and one of the mainstays, Mushfiqur Rahim, wrote on his social media handle on the day before Shakib’s ban ended.   “We started our careers together as teenagers and never had to look back. Last year it came as a big shock to hear we would not be sharing a dressing room for a year. We have shared great memories, cherished all the good times and stood by each other during tough times. I am so glad that this one year is over, and we will get to take on the field together,” Mushfiqur added.   Not just Mushfiqur, nearly all the national team members welcomed Shakib, and wished him more success for Bangladesh. Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz wrote on his social media handle: “Welcome Shakib bhai! I don’t have to wait more to get to the field with you. It’s a privilege to play with you and share the same dressing room. You are a living legend.”   Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed Rahi and many other cricketers have also welcomed Shakib on their respective social media handles.   During a recent interaction with the media, BCB President Nazmul Hassan said that Shakib would participate in the upcoming T20 league. However, BCB is yet to reveal details about this league. Shakib played his last competitive cricket match back on October 12 for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League.   Shakib might make his comeback to international cricket with the home series against West Indies early next year. His last international assignment was against Afghanistan at home. Source: UNB AH