THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR BANGLADESH?

On Monday, there was a media day at the ICC headquarters, not far from where India will play Afghanistan in the Asia Cup today, where bigwigs like ICC CEO Dave Richardson, general manager of the Anti-Corruption Unit Alex Marshall and general manager of cricket Geoff Allardice spoke to the media about the state of cricket in 2018.

While that was in equal parts engaging and dull, it was a treat to get a tour of what is the factory of the cricket world. Working there would be a cricket lover's dream as the thread of the gentleman's game runs through the building. Historic and iconic pictures line the walls on every level. In the main conference room where the meeting was held, one side of the wall bears some of the most memorable lines ever written on cricket by the likes of Neville Cardus, John Arlott and CLR James.

The smaller meeting rooms are no less inviting. You can take your pick of the Bradman Room, the Sobers Room, the Heyhoe Flint Room, the WG Grace Room and the Tendulkar room. Each has a wall dedicated to pictures and trivia about the icon the room is named after. On second thought, maybe working here wouldn't be a good idea as it would be too easy to get distracted.

Back in the main conference room, Marshall was talking about the evils of match and spot-fixing and how private leagues attract corruptors like bees to honey. A few hours later in the same city, the T-10 League auctions were set to start.

BANGLADESH WOMEN MAKING WAVES

Allardice was talking in excited tones about women's cricket and how the previous Women's World Twenty20 had set attendance and viewing records for the women's game. While the Bangladesh men's team staged a thrilling turnaround the previous day in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi, it was their female counterparts that got special mention because of their recent brilliance in upstaging India in the Women's Asia Cup final in Malaysia in June and following that up by winning the World T20 qualifiers in the Netherlands.

"We acknowledge the giant strides Bangladesh have taken in recent times, upsetting India at the Asia Cup. They're starting to emerge as a strong team, and one of our key areas now is to continue to explore the growth of the women's game. One of the ways to do this we felt was to give international status to all internationals so that it has the potential to unlock government funding," Allardice said.

To be led by Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan have named a 16-man squad for the 2018 Asia Cup set to begin in the United Arab Emirates from 15 September.

The 18-year-old fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been included in the squad while opening batsman Shan Masood has also received a call-up for the six-nation tournament. Experienced cricketers Yasir Shah, Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim have been left out.

The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the last one-day international series Pakistan featured in, a five-match face-off against Zimbabwe. Top-order batsmen Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imamul Haq and Pakistan's first-ever ODI double centurion Fakhar Zaman make a power-packed batting line-up that will also have the experience of Shoaib Malik and Safraz.

Mohammad Amir will lead the fast bowling attack and will be assisted by Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari, Junaid Khan and Afridi. Faheem Ashraf has been picked as the specialist all-rounder and Shadab Khan is the specialist spinner.

Masood, who has played 12 Tests but no limited-overs matches for Pakistan after having debuted in 2013, has been rewarded for his excellent performances in List-A cricket. The 28-year-old has scored three centuries and five half-centuries in last 10 innings and is now in line to receive his ODI cap.

Afridi, Pakistan's highest wicket-taker in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 in New Zealand, was blooded into the T20I squad during the home series against the West Indies and will now potentially make his ODI debut as well.

While the selection committee headed by the new PCB chairman Ehsan Mani has focused on youth, two veterans in Hafeez and Shah have been omitted from the squad. Hafeez had a disappointing tour of Zimbabwe, returning seven and zero the two T20I innings he played while Shah failed to impress with returns of 1/10 and 0/31 from two ODIs.

Pakistan begin their Asia Cup campaign with a league game against the winner of the ongoing Asia Cup Qualifier on 16 September.

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Usman Khan Shinwari and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The 2018 Asia Cup is going to be held at United Arab Emirates, Asian Cricket Council and PCB chief Nazam Sethi confirmed today.

The tournament is likely to be played in September. Political situation have affected bilateral relations between India and Pakistan and that was the biggest factor cited for the change, ESPNCricinfo reported.

"The ACC deliberated on the matter and decided that this was the best way forward," Sethi said.

Asia Cup in 2016, hosted by Bangladesh was a T20I affair. The past 12 editions were all ODI tournaments. This will be the 14th edition of the tournament and will feature six teams. Full members Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan will play while the sixth team will be decided via a playoff that includes UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea.

SOUMYA'S PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Soumya Sarkar was batting in the ICC Academy nets the day before yesterday's match. He was facing up to some local net bowlers. One of them, just about bowling at medium pace, bowled a bouncer and Soumya, who has faced much faster bowlers, went for the hook. It was astonishing to see that he was late on the ball, making the shot an ungainly one that resulted in the ball going straight up into the net.

On match day, he was facing the considerably faster Junaid Khan. The Pakistan left-arm pacer bounced one at him and the exact same thing happened. Soumya was eons late on the pull, the ball went higher than long, and he was caught at square leg inside the circle. Given the practice, Soumya might count himself unlucky that he got bat on ball at all.

CAN'T WALK, CAN FLY

It is always a source of wonder that Mashrafe Bin Mortaza still plays cricket.  A survivor and sufferer of seven knee operations, it is a common sight to see him limping on the field. That is, until the ball is in play.

But even by his inspirational standards, yesterday was special. In the 21st over, Rubel Hossain bowled on Shoaib Malik's stumps and he played early and uppishly towards midwicket. Mashrafe, as if his boots were spring-loaded, leapt to his left and, completely airborne, plucked the ball two-handed clean out of its intended trajectory. He had a reaction time of 0.84 seconds and took the ball 2.54 metres above ground, proving that you don't need to walk to be able to fly. 

FIVE BALLS WITHOUT THE BIG FIVE

Those watching the match on TV may not have noticed, and they would probably have had a panic attack if they did, but for five balls during Pakistan's chase Bangladesh faced a situation they have not ever faced in the last decade.  Shakib Al Hasan had gone home before the match started because of injury, Tamim Iqbal left more than a week before. After the 15th over Mushfiqur Rahim went off as he was struggling with the heat and his lingering rib injury. Mahmudullah Riyad left the field a little later and, after Mashrafe caught Malik spectacularly, he left the field clutching his hand.

For the remaining five balls of that over, Bangladesh were without the five cricketers who have been the beginning and end of Bangladesh cricket for the last decade. Mahmudullah came back out at the end of the over and, let alone the fans, the cricketers themselves probably breathed a sigh of relief.