Shakib reaches 6000 runs

Shakib Al Hasan is not in Sri Lanka for the three-match ODI series as the champions all-rounder was granted a break by the Bangladesh Cricket Board following a magnificent World Cup and it seems that the hosts have worked out their plan of action in the stalwart's absence.

Shakib was outstanding in the World Cup and was one of the contenders for the player of the series after scoring 604 runs and scalping eleven wickets. However, the Tigers have been struggling to put up any sort of fight against Sri Lanka in his absence and have already lost the series 2-0. They will go into today's third game looking to avoid a whitewash.

A relaxed Dimuth Karunaratne, the hosts' skipper, admitted that Shakib's absence had helped his side tremendously when it came to chalking out their game plan. He opined that it was difficult for Bangladesh to replace someone like Shakib, but he was reluctant to say that the star's absence had an impact on either team's mentality.

"I don't think so [difference in mental strength]. As I said earlier, the main thing was Shakib [ Al Hasan]. If you take the World Cup, Bangladesh did really well because of Shakib and Mushfiqur [Rahim]. Those are the two batsmen that carried them through the World Cup. They batted really well and kept scoring big runs, and as a result the team was scoring 250, 300-plus. Once Shakib isn't there they have to fill that hole in both bowling and batting, I can't see anyone who can replace him. At that time, they had to bring in two players for the batting and bowling and that's why they couldn't balance the side and struggled," Karunaratne told reporters yesterday.

Although the Sri Lanka team management are expected to provide an opportunity to some fresh faces for the third game, Karunaratne informed that they would be looking for a clean sweep, something that would help the hosts gain more rating points in the ICC ODI rankings.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned Bangladesh Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan from all cricket for two years, with one year of that suspended, after he accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. The ICC announced via a media release on Tuesday.

Shakib was found to be in breach of ICC's Anti-Corruption Code for failing to report approach by bookies. According to the media release, Shakib was approached during the home tri-series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka last year in January before he was approached a second time during the same series.

He also failed to report an approach during the IPL 2018 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab on 26 April 2018.

Shakib will be free to resume international cricket from October, subject to him satisfying the conditions in respect of the suspended part of the sanction.

Shakib said he was extremely sad following the incident.

"I am obviously extremely sad to have been banned from the game I love, but I completely accept my sanction for not reporting the approaches. The ICC ACU is reliant on players to play a central part in the fight against corruption and I didn't do my duty in this instance.

"Like the majority of players and fans around the world, I want cricket to be a corruption free sport and I am looking forward to working with the ICC ACU team to support their education programme and ensure young players don't make the same mistake I did," Shakib said.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury informed yesterday that Shakib Al Hasan's eligibility for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled to begin from March 23, rests on a clean bill of health from his next assessment.

The Tigers' Test and T20I skipper is currently undergoing a rehabilitation program for the injury he sustained during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final in February on his left hand's little finger.

"Shakib has come from an injury. I hope that it [Shakib's participation in the IPL] will get clear in the next assessment," said Nizamuddin.

Earlier, it was informed by  BCB cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan that the ace all-rounder has no chance of getting fit before at least March 20.

Nizamuddin also informed that, keeping in mind Bangladesh's World Cup preparations which are expected to begin from mid April, they will decide whether Shakib will be given an NOC for the entire duration of the IPL or just a part of it after discussing the matter with the team management.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan led from the front and remained unbeaten on a match-winning 70 as Bangladesh finally managed to break the Afghanistan hoodoo, registering a four-wicket win in the tri-nation T20I series in Chattogram yesterday.

Although it was a dead rubber at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, ahead of the final between the same sides, Bangladesh will surely gain plenty of confidence despite a not-so-convincing win after four consecutive T20I losses to Afghanistan.

Shakib smashed eight fours and a six during his 45-ball stay while Mosaddek Hossain provided valuable support, remaining unbeaten for a 12-ball 19, as the hosts reached the target with an over to spare.

Requiring 27 from the Rashid Khan for a four and a six in the 18th over, which Mosaddek started with a four of his own. That over saw 18 runs being tacked onto the scoreboard, which made all the difference in the end.

It was not an ideal start for the Tigers as they came in to chase, with both openers Liton Das and Nazmul Hossain departing cheaply to leave Bangladesh struggling on 12 for two inside four overs.

Liton departed for four after he handed a simple catch to Asghar Afghan while attempting to clear the offside off the bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Nazjmul, who failed in his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in the previous game, once again disappointed. The left-hander added just five runs before departing, hanging a simple catch while misreading a slower delivery from pacer Naveen ul Haque.

Bangladesh’s two experienced cricketers, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib, steadied the ship with a 58-run third-wicket stand. But despite being given a lifeline through a dropped catch when he was on 14, Mushfiqur departed as he went after Karim Janat for a second six in the same over. He was caught and walked back for a 25-ball 26.

Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman also failed and things began to look difficult for the Tigers. Shakib, who reached his fifty at the other end, was the biggest hope for the hosts.

The game was also delayed for 12 minutes in the 13th over as a technical problem led to one of the floodlights failing to function properly.

Earlier, Bangladesh made just one change by bringing in Sabbir Rahman to replace injured leg-spinner Aminul Islam, who required three stitches to his left hand after sustaining an injury during his impressive debut against Zimbabwe in the previous game.

The hosts made a good start after electing to field as seamers Shafiul and Saifuddin maintained a tight line and length initially, keeping Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai quiet.

The Tigers made a good start after electing to field as seamers Shafiul and Saifuddin bowled in tight line and length initially that kept the Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai quiet.

The hosts were almost rewarded for that in the second over when Gurbaz, on just three runs, top-edged a short delivery from Shafiul and popped a regulation catch to Mahmudullah, who incredibly dropped the dolly.

The Afghan openers then grabbed the opportunity and started to punish the Bangladesh bowlers and were eventually cruising on 75 without loss after nine overs before Shakib introduced Afif Hossain into the attack for the first time in the series.

The 19-year-old provided the breakthrough with his off-spin, picking up two wickets in his first over. He removed Zazai for a team-high 35-ball 47 and then removed Asghar Afghan for a duck.

After that, Bangladesh gained momentum and the Afghan middle order collapsed. The visitors could add just 34 runs with their last five wickets, ultimately posting 138 for seven in 20 overs.

In front of a raucously partisan crowd in Edgbaston, England ensured that the 2019 World Cup will see first-time champions crowned with a dominant eight-wicket defeat of five-time winners Australia in the second semifinal yesterday.

After a superb bowling performance that found every Australian batsman bar Steve Smith wanting, England chased a sub-par 223 with little fuss. Skipper Eoin Morgan hit Jason Behrendorff over mid on to secure the win with 17.5 overs to spare, setting off fireworks and uproarious applause.

England have never won a World Cup despite playing three previous finals, and will face New Zealand -- who have also never won the mega event and have reached their second successive title decider -- in the final at Lord’s on July 14.

England’s chase was built around an explosive opening stand between Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy that realised 124 runs in just 17.2 overs and negated any sting in Australia’s attack. Roy was second to depart in the 20th over with the score on 147, but Morgan (45 off 39) and Joe Root (49 off 46) maintained England’s dominance with an unbroken 79-run stand.

It was Roy who dominated the match-shaping opening partnership by scoring 85 off 65 balls. Those runs were worth their weight in gold because, as evidenced in India’s defeat to New Zealand in the first semifinal the day before, a World Cup knockout carries pressure of its own and a slow start or early wickets would only have let Australia back into the contest.

Roy started his carnage with two cover-driven boundaries in the fourth over off Mitchell Starc, who was later to become the highest wicket-taker in a single edition of the World Cup by trapping Bairstow in front for his 27th wicket of the edition. It was otherwise not a happy outing for Starc as he bore the brunt of Roy’s onslaught, leaking 70 runs from nine overs. Roy brought up his 50 off his 50th delivery in the 15th over, after which England were on 95 without loss. If Australia were thinking that a fightback was still a possibility, the next over would have crushed that hope. Aaron Finch brought on the part-time leg-spin of Smith, and Roy launched him for three successive sixes, with the last one bouncing off the roof of the five-story tall media stand behind the sightscreen. Bairstow departed two overs later and Roy himself was denied a century when umpire Kumar Dharmasena adjudged him caught-behind off a Pat Cummins bouncer when replays showed that the ball was nowhere near his gloves as he played and missed the pull. Roy protested, but England did not have a review as Bairstow had used up their lone unsuccessful one when challenging a pretty plumb leg-before decision -- perhaps England’s lone mistake in an otherwise perfect performance.

Earlier, Australia had come into the semifinal with a world of confidence, having beaten England in their league game on June 25 and boasting an all-win record in six previous World Cup semifinals. England, whose defeat at Lord’s against the old enemy formed part of a two-game dip that threatened their semifinal chances, had rallied with victories in their last two league games and yesterday, burst Australia’s bubble inside the first seven overs after losing the toss by taking three wickets with just 14 on the board.

Skipper Aaron Finch departed for a golden duck in the first ball of the second over, playing around an inswinger from the fiery Jofra Archer to be trapped plumb in front, although he wasted their single unsuccessful review. Smith had then entered as the crowd booed loudly.

In the next over, Chris Woakes accounted for David Warner -- Australia’s highest scorer in the World Cup with 636 runs leading into the match -- with a ball that reared from short of a good length and caught the edge of a hopping Warner’s bat on way to second slip.

The pitch was offering early-morning movement with a good helping of pace, and allied with accurate and incisive bowling from Archer and Woakes, Australia found the going tough and limped to 14 in the sixth over. That was when Woakes got one to nip sharply back off the seam and bowl Pete Handscomb.

Then followed the only partnership of note between Smith and Alex Carey as the duo put on 103 for the fourth wicket. Australia reached 27 for three after the first 10 overs and while Carey in particular tried to cut loose, excellent ground fielding from England ensured that Australia were kept on a tight leash. Smith took 34 balls to score his first seven runs, but started making up for lost time with a pulled boundary off Ben Stokes in the 16th over. He was soon on 33 off 50 balls and with the introduction of leg-spinner Adil Rashid, the run rate picked up as Australia’s recovery seemed underway with the score on 103 for three after 25 overs. However, in the 28th over, Carey let the advantage slip by skipping down to Rashid and holing out at deep midwicket. Marcus Stoinis lasted just a ball before he was trapped in front by a perfectly pitched googly. In between, Smith brought up his half-century to another chorus of boos.

Glenn Maxwell then raised hopes of a second recovery when he hit Rashid for a six over long on in the 32nd over. But that is also when the new pace challenge started for Australia in the form of the returning Archer. The right-arm pacer mixed 140kph-plus deliveries with 120kph slower balls and Maxwell was undone by the latter, checking a drive and being caught at cover for 22.

Pat Cummins did not last long, falling victim to another Rashid googly that he edged to slip to leave the score on 166 for seven. Mitchell Starc stayed with Smith during a 51-run eighth-wicket stand that carried the score to 217 for seven, but just when it looked like Australia may make a match of it with a score nearing 250, Smith was run out brilliantly by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, whose direct hit at the non-striker’s end in the 48th over found Smith just short of his stumps, forcing the brave innings to be cut short on 119-ball 85. Starc was caught behind for 29 off the next ball bowled by Woakes. Mark Wood then bowled an inch-perfect yorker to bowl Behrendorff in the next over to bowl Australia out for a sub-par 223 with an over to spare.