A few days ago, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman was reshuffled. Ramiz Raja has been dismissed and Nazam Shetty has been taken in charge.  Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Shahid Khan Afridi as an interim chief selector. The former Pakistan captain will be in charge from the upcoming home series against New Zealand. Along with Shahid Afridi, former pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and former pacer Rao Iftikhar Anjum are also include in the selection panel. PCB Chairman Najam Sethi welcomed the interim selection committee and said, " I have no doubt that even in this limited time they will take some bold decisions. Which will help us to build a strong and competitive team against New Zealand" PCB Chairman added, "Shahid Afridi was an aggressive cricketer who played cricket without any fear. He has 20 years of cricketing experience. He has been successful all the formats, helping youngsters. I am confident about him. He will select the best cricketers and help the team to achieve success." Shahid Afridi  expressed his feeling with joy, "I am proud of this responsibility. I will give my best to fulfill my duty. I will soon call a meeting where I will discuss the plans for the upcoming matches with the other selectors."

Big Bash League team Sydney Thunder spent a day of shame in Australian cricket. Despite building a team with world famous cricketers like Alex Hales, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, the team was bowled out for just 15 runs in a T20 match between Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers.  As a result, the champions of the 2015-16 season of the Big Bash league have created a world record of shame in the history book. This incident happened in the fifth match of the current Big Bash on Friday, December 16 in the match against the Adelaide Strikers at the Sydney Showground Stadium.  While chasing the target of 140 runs given by the Adelaid strikers, Sydney Thunder got all out for just 15 runs in the power play. The record for the lowest total by a team in the history of T20 cricket was till now held by Türkiye. Last year in 2019, Türkiye fell to shame by being bowled out for only 21 runs in the match against Czech Republic.  Now the Australian Big Bash team took their shame on their shoulders.  After winning the toss and batting first, Adelaide Strikers collected 139 runs after losing 9 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs. Chris Lynn scored 36 and Colin de Grandhomme played an innings of 33 runs for the team. Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi took 3 wickets for Sydney.  In response, Sydney Thunder were bowled out for 15 runs in just 5.5 overs. None of the team's batters reached double figures. Brendan Doggett, the number 10 batsman, played the maximum 4-run innings by hitting the only boundary of the innings. Five batters failed to open their account of runs. Adelaide's right-arm pacer Henry Thornton was on fire in the bowling. He picked up 5 wickets for just 3 runs off 2.5 overs. Another pacer Wes Agar took 4 wickets for 6 runs in 2 overs. Spinner Matt Short got the rest of the wicket.

    Bangladesh national cricket team reached the country today after a horrible Asia Cup tournament in which they made an early exit after losing two matches in the group phase. Even though their T20 performance of late has hit the lowest ebb, there was expectation that the Tigers at least would win a game in the continental tournament, which was seen as the preparation platform for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, they lost the first match to Afghanistan by seven wickets after putting up 127-7 on the board. It was a below par total that cost them the game but Bangladesh were in the game till the 15th over. On a slow surface, which resembles Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh lost the game actually to Najibullah Zadran who showed his six-hitting spree to take the game away. In the second game, which was a see-saw battle, Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka by two wickets in the last over, despite amassing a mammoth 183-7. The bowlers and fielders were culpable in the disappointing loss. While the bowlers bowled plenty of no balls in the crucial moments, the fielders also dropped some of the important catches to give Sri Lanka the edge. Team director Khaled Mahmud Sujon and batting coach Jamie Siddons however chose to stay in UAE. They will return to Bangladesh later. Bangladesh's next mission is tri-nation series in New Zealand where apart from hosts, Pakistan will also be involved. After the tri-nation series, they will move to Australia for the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh is likely to leave the country in the last week of September. Source: BSS AH

With an aim to confirm the Super Four berth of Asia Cup, Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka tomorrow (Thursday) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.  For both of the teams, the game is 'do or die' to stay alive in the tournament following their respective defeats to Afghanistan.  The indomitable Afghans crushed Bangladesh by seven wickets and whacked Sri Lanka past by eight wickets and became the first team to move to the Super Four. A straight victory therefore is needed to reach the next round where each four teams will face off each other before the top two teams on the basis of points move to the final. Those who will concede defeat will be eliminated from the tournament straightway. The all important game starts on 8 PM and will be aired live on Bangladesh Television (BTV), GTV and Nagorik TV.  After being tormented by the Afghans, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka expressed his hopes to move to the Super Four, citing Bangladesh as much easier opponent than Afghanistan. The statement made by him is absolutely true given the performance of the both teams but it is an insult to Tigers self-respect which should motivate them to give a fitting reply. None other than a victory will be a befitting reply.  But can Bangladesh turn the things around after a disappointing loss to the Afghanistan in opening game, where there lack of power-hitting problem came to the fore again.  A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official said the board president Nazmul Hassann Papon met the cricketers at hotel today (Wednesday) and tried to bolster their confidence ahead of big clash against Sri Lanka. While the Sharjah pitch was slow, the Dubai where Bangladesh will play against the Lankans is believed to produce batting friendly wicket. If so, the problem will be compounded for Bangladesh as they still are not good enough to play in true batting pitch. Bangladesh so far played 12 matches against Sri Lanka and won just four, in contrast of losing eight. But what could motivate Bangladesh is that their highest chase and highest score in T20 cricket came against the Sri Lanka and that too in Lankan soil. In that match, Mushfiqur Rahim played 35 ball-72 not out to help Bangladesh overcome Lankan's 214-6 with two balls to spare as Bangladesh totaled 215-5. Mushfiqur's knock still is touted as one of the best knocks in T20 International cricket. As Mushfiqur is under fire following his prolonged bad patch in T20 cricket, his service is again needed if Bangladesh wants to move to the Super Four. Overall Bangladesh played 132 matches, winning 45 and losing 84 while three matches ended in no result.  Squad: Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain (vice-captain), Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Naim Sheikh, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Taskin Ahmed Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (captain, Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal Source: BSS AH

Test regular Ebadot Hossain earned a maiden call while Sabbir Rahman who last played for national team three years ago was back in the fold as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, to be played in the UAE from August 27.  Senior player Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin were also back in the squad, led by Shakib Al Hasan. Bangladesh had missed the initial deadline for naming the squad, as the board was in trouble with Shakib's sponsorship issue with Betwinner News, a sister concern of betting company Betwinner. After Shakib cancelled the deal with Betwinner following BCB's pressure, the board named him captain until T20 World Cup.   "We have had elaborate discussion with the captain regarding the team since we are not good enough for T20 cricket," chief selectors Minhajul Abedin Nannu said today. "Considering all facets, we have formed this team. We didn't do well in Zimbabwe but we are hopeful that this team will do well in Asia Cup," he added. To fine tune the team for the World Cup, Bangladesh will get two tournaments-Asia Cup which will be held as T20 format and a tri-nation series in New Zealand, also involving Pakistan.  Bangladesh will be one of six teams contesting the main round of the Asia Cup, along with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The identity of the qualifier will be known via a qualifying tournament that starts on August 20. Abedin said they included Sabbir, who last played a T20 game in September in 2019 against Afghanistan, in a bid to bolster their middle order. He said Sabbir's inclusion didn't come overnight or the failure of other players, rather his performance forced his way back to the side.  "Sabbir is an experienced player. He had an international exposure and he did well in domestic circuit. Since some of our players are injured, we need to bolster our middle order, so we thought Sabbir will fit according to our plan," Abedin remarked. "Sabbir played well in Dhaka Premier League and then he was in nursing with Bangladesh Tigers and in Bangladesh A team. So he had the required experience and exposure and we are hopeful that he will do well using his experience," he added. He further said that Ebadot was called up in T20 format due to his last BPL performance. "Ebadot though is a Test regular, he played well in limited over cricket. He had also done well in the last BPL, so we gave him a chance to show his credential in white ball cricket," Abdein remarked. The inclusion of Mushfiqur and Saifuddin were expected indeed. Mushfiqur played his last T20 game this year against Afghanistan and then he skipped West Indies series due to performing Hajj. He was rested in Zimbabwe series. Saifuddin however was out of national fold after the 2021 T20 World Cup following his recurring back injury. He this time proved his fitness. The selectors also kept Nurul Hasan Sohan in the team despite having a stitch following a surgery on his finger. "Sohan's stitch will be taken away on August 21 and we expect that he will feel okay. That's why he is kept in the team," Abdein informed. The selectors however still back Mahmudullah Riyad and kept him in the squad despite his prolonged lean batting patch.    Bangladesh Squad for Asia Cup:  Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain , Parvez Hossain Emon. Source: BSS AH