Ashfaq-Ul-Alam

Whatever happened to Bangladesh’s batting all-rounders?

In an ideal world, having five bowling options with a quota of 10 overs each should be sufficient to bowl the required 50 overs in an ODI innings.

5d ago

Time for BFF to match Ritu and Co’s level

If winning the SAFF Championship in 2022 and 2024 warranted the Bangladesh women’s team an open-top bus parade, what would be a proportionally appropriate celebration for the miracle they have just pulled off in Myanmar?

1w ago

Miraz’s moment: by vision, or vacancy?

Miraz's recent ODI record establishes him as a consistent performer, which makes him a good captaincy candidate as he could lead by example. His pedigree as a leader, however, is not as impressive.

1w ago

Lankans provide lessons for Bangladesh

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was left scratching his head throughout the day -- figuratively, for ideas, and literally, out of frustration -- as Sri Lanka bolstered their control over the Colombo Test, thanks to Pathum Nissanka and Co on the second day of the second and final Test today.

2w ago

Greenidge's caution still echoes

“There is no way that Bangladesh cricket, with the present system, can operate at the Test match level in less than 10 years. I give you that and I stand the challenge on that. To push forward will be suicidal as far as our cricket is concerned.”

2w ago

Why can’t Bijoy score runs in Tests?

Out of former Bangladesh left-arm off-spinner Enamul Haque Moni and current Bangladesh Test team opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, who do you think averages more in Tests?

3w ago

Perennial chokers exorcise their demons

Can the perennial chokers defeat the ultimate champions? This was the question floating around before the World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia.

4w ago

Will Bavuma’s underdog story get its fairytale ending?

When Temba Bavuma went out to bat on Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia on Friday, the odds were firmly against him and his side.

1m ago
February 14, 2025
February 14, 2025

A ‘Mini World Cup’ with big implications for Bangladesh

“Though the Bangladeshi team was not allowed to take part, the population reacted with enormous enthusiasm to the biggest sporting event -- some said the most positive event of any kind--in the country’s short, fraught, history.”

February 1, 2025
February 1, 2025

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

How many people are watching the ongoing 11th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is a difficult question to answer.

January 21, 2025
January 21, 2025

The ‘insult’ of Dhaka clubs and the reality of Bangladesh cricket

The Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) status as the most famous and influential cricket club in the world is one of the few undisputed facts in the game's storied history.

January 12, 2025
January 12, 2025

The indelible legacy of Tamim Iqbal

Tamim had a chance to rewrite the ending by taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy, starting next month, but eventually chose not to.

January 4, 2025
January 4, 2025

Hopes of ‘better future’ exposes bitter truths

“I only get Tk 3000 as allowance per month apart from accommodation and food in the national camp. They are giving me an additional Tk 2000 as house rent since I got married… There is no future playing for the national team,” Bangladesh’s star archer Ruman Sana said to The Daily Star in March last year, explaining why he no longer wants to play for the national team.

December 28, 2024
December 28, 2024

A year of contrasts in Bangladesh cricket

As for the year that is winding down, it was neither an overarching triumph nor a debilitating failure. The stench of mediocrity was present, but so was vivacious tenacity. Above all, it was an interesting year in cricket for Bangladesh -- one that fans would not forget soon.

December 24, 2024
December 24, 2024

A year of chaos and clean sweeps in Tests

The chaotic results column is overall a good sign for Test cricket.

December 9, 2024
December 9, 2024

Bangladesh’s pace assembly line now up and running

Chances of Taskin Ahmed waking up super early in St Kitts, take time out of his preparation for the first ODI against West Indies to watch the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in the UAE yesterday are quite slim.

December 4, 2024
December 4, 2024

Nahid Rana: A golden goose worth taking care of

One of Aesop's renowned fables, 'The goose that laid the golden egg', imparts a timeless lesson: too much greed can ruin one's fortune. It also highlights the value of patience -- a virtue the Bangladesh Cricket Board could embrace to nurture the immense potential of one of their brightest prospects, Nahid Rana.

November 27, 2024
November 27, 2024

IPL snub a reminder of Bangladesh’s talent drought

A total of 1574 players had registered for the players auction of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). From there, 574 got shortlisted by the 10 teams to go under the hammer, of which 208 were from overseas, 12 of which were uncapped cricketers and only one of them was from New Zealand, a 22-year-old middle-order batter named Bevon Jacobs.