Ekush Tapader

Ekush Tapader

From ‘fun cricket’ to the hit format

I In 2007 as the inaugural edition was about to start, Twenty20s were still widely viewed as the ‘fun’ version of cricket. Its reputation as the ‘fun’ version, prompted the ‘serious’ cricketers to distance themselves from it. Perhaps seeing something like a ‘bowl out’ decide the fate of tied matches inclined them to stay away from such frivolity.

5m ago

The veiled concerns over Shanto’s waning form

Shanto’s strike rate is the second lowest among all captains of the 20-team T20 World Cup, barring the Uganda skipper Brian Masaba (108), who is a bowling all-rounder.

6m ago

Poor outfield at ZACS puts cricketers at injury risk

Bangladesh will begin their five-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe today at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on an outfield that has certainly seen better days.

6m ago

Tigers’ nostalgic return to old stomping ground

“This many people usually don’t turn up to see a fitness test at six in the morning. I’m sure they are here because it’s happening at the Bangabandhu [National] Stadium,” said Shahriar Nafees, the current cricket operations manager, after the national team’s fitness test at the famed venue yesterday.

7m ago

'Earlier 10 people would say negative things, now six do'

As I’m earning now, I have to give more. And I really enjoy doing it and also giving gifts to my family members. I have a younger brother, I have nephews and nieces from my sister’s side. I enjoy doing it for them

7m ago

Rana celebrating a ‘different Eid’

Just four years ago, Rana was nowhere near competitive cricket. The 21-year-old, who picked up a cricket ball for the first time after crossing 18, has made it to the national team in express speed.

7m ago

‘Overplayed’ Shoriful at risk of breaking down?

When the Bangladesh team began their two-day training ahead of the first Test in Sylhet, pacer Shoriful Islam was in Dhaka, with the physicians trying to determine whether he was fit enough to play the match.

8m ago

A battle between youth and experience

Bangladesh could end up debuting two pacers in the match - Mushfik Hasan and Nahid Rana—hinted Hathurusingha.

8m ago
March 2, 2023
March 2, 2023

I kept dreaming of another chance: Rony

Bangladesh opener Rony Talukdar's stellar run in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League for the Rangpur Riders earned him a comeback to the Tigers T20I squad gearing up to face England in the three-match series next week.

January 21, 2023
January 21, 2023

BPL and the slippery pole trouble

Back when the inaugural season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) rolled out in 2012, the idea of a franchise-based T20 league was not yet conceived by the Pakistan Cricket Board, and they did have the means to turn it into reality due to various reasons.

January 9, 2023
January 9, 2023

‘Bangladesh is very close to my heart’

English cricketer Robin Das caught the attention of fans worldwide when he, a then 19-year-old, came onto the field as a substitute fielder in place of Matthew Potts in the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s in June last year.

September 22, 2022
September 22, 2022

Starry-eyed U-15s reunite with heroes

Aspiring stars, gearing up to take Bangladesh women’s football forward in future, could not wait to embrace their beloved elder sisters at the BFF Bhaban yesterday as the 2022 SAFF Women’s Championship-winning team were on their way to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) headquarters in Motijheel yesterday.

August 9, 2022
August 9, 2022

'Obstacles motivate me'

Since debuting on the international stage in 2013 through an ODI against Bangladesh in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza has demonstrated his fighting prowess, on and off the field, time and again. The 36-year-old, who is enjoying a phenomenal run of form of late, keeps scaling greater heights with each passing game at an age when most good quality cricketers go into decline. Raza shared his views about his and side's game, also how he views the current Bangladesh team and more, in an interview with The Daily Star's Ekush Tapader, the excerpts of which are as follows:

April 26, 2022
April 26, 2022

College students win school tournament?

A school tournament won with college-going players. While such incidents are not unheard of in local tournaments, interestingly, this time, allegations were made that it happened in the National School Cricket Tournament, organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

April 13, 2022
April 13, 2022

‘We can’t defend anymore’

The disastrous Test series against South Africa saw Bangladesh’s ability to face spinners called into question and while former left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr. emphasised the need to balance things out with more spin-friendly wickets at the domestic level, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, a mentor to many leading cricketers, shone a spotlight on the batters’ inability to face spinners on the international stage.

February 25, 2022
February 25, 2022

‘Show results, not once, but day after day’

Bangladesh achieved a historic away Test win against New Zealand earlier this year with a relatively inexperienced squad under Mominul Haque’s leadership.

February 13, 2022
February 13, 2022

Harsh past made Munim fearless

Known for his fearless batting approach, Munim Shahriar boasts a staggering 167.50 strike rate in the four matches he played for Fortune Barishal in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.

February 12, 2022
February 12, 2022

Ripon cherishes ‘Baby AB’s’ wicket

Pace, swing and bounce. At the age of 18, Ripon Mondol already has all the qualities required to be a star in the future.