That’s a question only time will answer. But there are other pressing questions we can’t ignore.
Canada-based midfielder Shamit Shome is set to make his Bangladesh debut in the Asian Cup Qualifier against Singapore on June 10. The 26-year-old, born to Sylheti parents, follows in the footsteps of Jamal Bhuiyan and Hamza Choudhury as another expatriate embracing his roots.
A few expatriates have made their way into Bangladesh football in recent times, with Canada-based Shamit Shome being the latest addition after England-based Hamza Choudhury, Fahamedul Islam from Italy, Finland-based Tarik Kazi, and Denmark-based Jamal Bhuiyan.
For any structure – a physical one like a skyscraper or an abstract one like Bangladesh cricket – the most important part is its foundation as once the foundation crumbles the structure is bound to come crashing down.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Bangladesh achieved a historic away Test win against New Zealand earlier this year with a relatively inexperienced squad under Mominul Haque’s leadership.
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.
Pace, swing and bounce. At the age of 18, Ripon Mondol already has all the qualities required to be a star in the future.
The news of Ottis Gibson no longer extending his contract as the pace bowling coach of Bangladesh was confirmed on Thursday. However, in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, the Caribbean coach said that he was eager to continue his work here, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not show interest.
Ebadot Hossain’s unbelievable spell led to something Bangladesh had never achieved in the past in New Zealand, bringing a historic milestone as the Tigers defeated the Black Caps in a Test match for the first time.
Pacer Ebadot Hossain surprisingly arrived as the leading character in Bangladesh’s emphatic Test triumph over New Zealand in their own backyard, after which The Daily Star’s Ekush Tapader caught up with a certain Sri Lankan who had a significant role behind Ebadot’s development.
Noted Indian filmmaker Srijit Mukherji was seen at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, watching Bangladesh’s match, earlier today. The director wishes to make a biopic on Shakib Al Hasan.
Bangladesh national team cricketers were granted a three-week leave at the conclusion of a five-match T20I series against New Zealand earlier this month. But despite the lack of scheduled practice sessions ahead of the Tigers’ departure to Oman next month for the T20 World Cup, left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed had already started work on his bowling.
The Daily Star (DS): Bangladesh won the series against Australia and New Zealand comfortably but the batsmen struggled to score runs. Do you think there are concerns in the batting department going into the T20 World Cup?
