Bangladesh secured their record 19 gold medals in the ongoing 13th South Asian Games in Nepal when Bangladesh Men’s cricket team (U-23) beat Sri Lanka (U-23) by seven wickets at Kritipur, Nepal on Monday.  Bangladesh’s best performance in the SA games was winning 18 gold medals back in 2010 when Bangladesh was the host of the event.  Winning the gold for the second time in men’s cricket, Bangladesh also strengthened their best SA Games performance outside the country. In 1995, Bangladesh had won seven gold medals in Madras SA Games, which was Bangladesh’s best SA Games display abroad.  In the final of SA Games Men’s cricket, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field first. Sri Lanka posted 122 runs all-out in 20 overs. The tremendous efforts of the Bangladeshi bowlers set the foundation to win another gold in the event.  Sri Lankan openers posted 36 runs in the first wicket stand which was indicating a big total. But before posting 100 runs on the board, Sri Lanka lost seven wickets.  Hasan Mahmud was the best bowler for Bangladesh taking three wickets conceding 20 runs only in four overs. Fast bowler Sumon Khan and spinner Mehedi Hasan were also imperious with the ball.  Both of them bowled four overs each and conceded 16 and 18 runs respectively to take one wicket each. Along with them, left-arm slow bower Tanvir Islam scalped two wickets conceding 28 runs in four overs.  Shammu Ashan was the best batsman of Sri Lanka scoring 25 off 20 balls with three fours. Apart from him, Pathum Nissanka (22), Nishan Madushka (16) and Charith Asalanka (12) also reached two-digit scored but failed to make big impacts.  In reply, Bangladeshi openers Saif Hassan and SoumyaSarkar added 44 runs in the first wicket stand and it was enough to lay down a solid base for a big win. Soumya fell for 27 off 28 with four fours while Saif posted 33 off 30 with three fours and two sixes.  After the dismissal of the openers, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto took the responsibility to guide the team to victory. Yasir Ali also contributed scoring 19 off 16 deliveries. Shanto remained unbeaten for 35 off 28 with two fours and one six while Afif Hossain also remained unbeaten for five off seven balls.  Eventually, Bangladesh ended on 125 for three in 18.1 overs and completed winning the gold medal in both Women’s and Men’s cricket events of SA Games. Earlier, Bangladesh Women also beat Sri Lankan Women to win their first gold medal in SA Games. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh Women’s cricket team clinched the gold medal in the ongoing 13th South Asian Games (SA Games) on Sunday beating Sri Lanka in the final by two runs at Pokhara in Nepal on Sunday. Bangladesh Women’s best success in SA Games was winning a silver previously. But this time, they bagged their first gold medal in the event riding on the superb bowling effort. Sri Lanka won the toss in the final and opted to field first. Bangladesh were dismal with the bat as they posted only 91 runs for eight in 20 overs. Murshida Khatun and Ayesha Rahman- the opening pair failed to impress as they were departed in just 16 runs. Ayesha posted only two runs while Murshida scored 14 runs. The middle-order disappointed to pose a strong batting show as Bangladesh fell into big trouble losing five wickets just in 36 runs. Farjana Haque and Ritu Moni failed to score any run in the match. Nigar Sultana was the best batter of Bangladesh scoring 29 runs off 38 balls with two fours and one six. Sanjida Islam and Fahima Khatun contributed with 15 each. Eventually, Bangladesh posted a below-par total of 91 runs for eight in 20 overs. Umesha Thimashini bagged four wickets conceding eight runs in four overs with two maidens. Sathya Sandeepani, Tharika Sewwandi, Kavisha Dilhari and Malsha Ranathunga took one wicket each for Sri Lanka as well. In reply, Sri Lanka tumbled for 89 for nine in 20 overs. Bangladesh scalped two wickets in the last over to seal the game for Bangladesh. Earlier, Bangladesh removed both of Sri Lankan openers in just 11 runs. However, their captain Harshitha Madavi scored 32 and Lihini Apsara scored 25, but their efforts went in vain due to the poor batting of the other batters. Nahida Akter took two wickets conceding 9 runs in four overs while Jahanara Alam, Salma Khatun and Khadijatul Kubra bagged one wicket each. Four out of nine Sri Lankan batters were run out in this game. Earlier, Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives to pave the way to the final. Eventually, they emerged the unbeaten champions of the event and clinched their first-ever gold medal in the SA games. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is preparing hard ahead of the special edition of Bangladesh Premier League- Bangabandhu BPL which is scheduled to be played from December 11. Mashrafe will feature in the league for Dhaka Platoon which also includes players like Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shahid Afridi and Thisara Perera. The 36-year-old pacer was avoided by this year’s BPL teams in the first seven rounds of players’ calling in the player draft. But in the eighth round, Dhaka Platoon roped him in for the special edition of BPL. Mashrafe played his last competitive cricket match during the World Cup 2019 in England against Pakistan at Lord’s. Since then, he has been busy in his political works. But now, the Bangladesh ODI captain is preparing hard for BPL. “I hope Mashrafe will play the whole league. He is now gearing up to back to his best form. He bowled a few overs today. It is difficult for him to get the rhythm back, but he will certainly get that,” Mohammad Salahuddin, the Dhaka Platoon coach told the media on Saturday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. “He is trying to get fitter than before. We might have not seen that, but he is trying personally. He is motivated to do well in BPL,” Salahuddin added. Like Mashrafe, Tamim is also set to back to competitive cricket with the BPL. Tamim is out of action since the Sri Lanka tour which has taken place right after the World Cup. Salahuddin believes the long gap cannot destroy their experience. “They are experienced cricketers. They have been playing at the top level of the game for 10-15 years. So a long gap will not destroy their experience. I think they are capable enough to do well in BPL,” Salahuddin added. Source: UNB AH

Despite losing their first four wickets for just 13 runs, Bangladesh managed to make it to the third day of Kolkata Test Mushfiqur Rahim hit his 21st Test fifty to check the batting collapse and guided the Tigers to the third day in spite of some serious fear of losing the game within two days.  Bangladesh posted 152 for six in 32.3 overs in their second innings before the umpires pulled off the bails with the dismissal of Taijul Islam midway through the scheduled last over of the day. Mushfiqur remained unbeaten for 59 off 70 balls with 10 fours.  Ishan Sharma bagged four wickets conceding 39 runs while Umesh Yadav took two wickets for 40 runs.  Despite Mushfiqur’s hard-fought fifty, Bangladesh are in big trouble in Kolkata Test as they still need 89 runs to avoid an innings defeat.  Bangladesh lost four quick wickets in the second innings after India declared their first innings on 347 for nine in 89.4 overs. The hosts secured a 241-run lead at the end of their first innings.  Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque inside two runs. Ishant scalped both of Bangladesh’s first two wickets in his first two overs of the second innings.  After suffering a duck in the first innings, Mominul came with the same failure in the second innings, and with this, he became the second Bangladeshi captain after Habibul Bashar to have suffered a pair.  Imrul Kayes failed to impress once again and most probably another one-digit contribution in Kolkata Test has brought his final time for the national team. It will be a surprise if he gets another call to Bangladesh side in future.  Before scoring 4 and 5 in Kolkata, Imrul scored only 6 and 6 in Indore Test. This dismal show of the southpaw brought him under a serious question about his international career.  After losing four wickets just in 13 runs, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah came up with a gritty fight as they added 68 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Mahmudullah’s retiring hurt due to a hamstring blow 39.  Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was included in the playing XI as the concussion substitute, came into the field to partner Mushfiqur in the same stand and added 51 runs before falling apart off Ishant on 15 off 22 runs.  Bangladesh had to make another concussion substitute in this game as Nayeem Hasan got a struck on his head, and the team management brought in Taijul Islam as the replacement.  After Mehidy’s dismissal, Taijul Islam batted 24 balls to score 11 before the day ends. Taijul fell prey to Umesh.  Earlier, India scored 347 for nine in 89.4 overs with the help of Virat Kohli’s 27th Test ton. It was Virat’s second Test ton at the Eden Gardens with the previous one came against Sri Lanka back in 2017. With this century, Indian captain’s tally of international tons reached 70. He just needs two more centuries to pass Rickey Ponting’s 71 and become second after Sachin Tendulkar in the list of the most century in career.  Along with Virat, Cheteshwar Pujara (55) and Ajinkya Rahane (51) also contributed well with the bat.  Al Amin Hossain and Ebadat Hossain bagged three wickets each while Abu Jayed Rahi scalped two wickets.  Bangladesh tumbled for 106 in the first innings as they were completely fumbled against the Indian pace attack. Ishant bagged five wickets while Umesh took three and Mohammad Shami scalped two wickets.  Brief score: Bangladesh first innings 106/10 in 30.3 overs, Shadman 29, Liton 24, Nayeem 19, Ishant 5/22, Umesh 3/29, Shami 2/36 India first innings 347/9 (declare) in 89.4 overs, Virat 136, Pujara 55, Rahane 51, Al Amin 3/85, Ebadat 3/91, Abu Jayed 2/77 Bangladesh second innings 152/6 in 32.3 overs, Mushfiqur 59*, Mahmudullah 39 (retired hurt), Mehidy 15, Ishant 4/39, Umesh 2/40 Source: UNB AH

India took charge of the second Test of the series straightway at the packed Eden Gardens on Friday after bowling out Bangladesh for 106 in 30.3 overs on the first day of the pink-ball Test. None of the current Bangladeshi players played a pink-ball match before. Mominul Haque, the stand-in captain of Test team, hinted that that they might have to face a tough challenge while facing the Indian pace-bowling attack with the pink ball.  But he opted for batting after winning the toss and Bangladeshi top-order crumbled in no time. Bangladesh lost their first wicket when Imrul Kayes failed to judge the right line while facing Ishant Sharma. He went for a drive to the cover area but missed the ball which hit his pads, and the umpire did not think twice before lifting his finger. Imrul went for a review but in vain. Tigers lost four more wickets within 26 runs as Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun and Mushfiqur Rahim failed to add anything to their name, and as a result, Bangladesh suffered a colossal batting collapse. These three batsmen played 13 balls together.  After a crumbling start, the onus was on Mahmudullah Riyad and Liton Das. But Mahmudllah fell prey to Ishant thanks to a stunning catch by Wriddhiman Saha behind the wicket Liton retired hurt after sustaining a blow on his head off Mohammad Shami.  Liton sustained the blow at 20.3 overs. He retired six balls later. The right-handed wicket-keeper batsman did not go back in the middle. Bangladesh team management fielded Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the concussion substitute. The ICC introduced this sort of substitutes in July this year, and it is effective from August 1 this year.  Bangladesh had to make another concussion substitute when Nayeem Hasan got a blow off the same bowler- Shami. Bangladesh fielded Taijul Islam as the replacement. While Miraz is allowed only to bat this match, Taijul can do both.  Among the Tigers, Shadman Islam hit the highest 29. Liton posted 24 (retired out) and Nayeem scored 19. None of the other Bangladeshi batsmen reached double-digit scores.  In reply, India posted 174 for three in 46 overs at the end of day-1 with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane batting at 59 and 23 respectively.  Ebadat Hossain removed Rohit Sharma (21) and Cheteshwar Pujara (55) while Al Amin Hossain took the wicket of Mayank Agarwal who had hit a double ton in the first game of the series. India have already secured a lead of 86 runs with seven wickets in hand at the end of Day-1 of the Kolkata Test.  Brief score: Bangladesh 106/10 in 30.3 overs, Shadman 29, Liton 24, Nayeem 19, Ishant 5/22, Umesh 3/29, Shami 2/36 India 174/3 in 46 overs, Virat 59*, Pujara 55, Ebadat 2/61, Al Amin 1/49. Source: UNB AH