Former captains Habibul Bashar, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, and Khaled Mashud Pilot didn't mince words: this isn't just a passing stumble. It's a full-blown crisis in Bangladesh cricket.
Despite posting an imposing 205 for five in the second and penultimate T20I on Monday, the Tigers fell apart in the field, suffering their first-ever loss to the hosts in any format.
The decision was taken following discussions between Emirates Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Known primarily for his left-arm spin, Rakibul is beginning to showcase the kind of all-round ability that could one day earn him a similar status. His recent match-winning performances with both bat and ball in the emerging team suggest that Bangladesh may have found a new dual-threat talent in the making.
The least the board can do is maintain a basic line of communication and show they care about engagement beyond the boundary.
With a five-T20I tour of Pakistan to follow, and the Asia Cup likely to be staged in the UAE, these games offer a timely opportunity to assess conditions and sharpen plans.
As it seems, the dilemma for Bangladesh remains: is Shanto worth the tactical compromise?
A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official on Thursday said that they have received clearance from the government regarding the Tigers' upcoming tour of Pakistan later this month.
The two sides will now play a two-match four-day series, with the first game starting on May 14 in Sylhet.
Bangladesh cricket is set to get a glimpse of a new era in Tests when they take on hosts West Indies in the first of the two World Test Championship (WTC) fixtures from November 22 in Antigua.
Bangladesh ended on 253 for seven after being asked to bat by the West Indies Select XI on the opening day, receiving enough of an indication of the difficulty of playing in the West Indies.
Bangladesh’s batting was once again in the limelight due to the approach taken by the whole unit in the just-concluded series against Afghanistan. The Tigers were missing a few key players in one match or another during the three-match ODI series, but overall it provided a chance to refresh the approach.
Bangladesh batters have an abundance of tricks in their basket to surprise the audience.
David Hemp has been Bangladesh's batting coach for the past eight months, with 14 months remaining on his contract, but now faces criticism after recent batting failures against India and South Africa.
Bangladesh cricket is unparalleled in terms of one thing -- creating its own mess and then bemoaning the untidiness.
Coaches, captains and selectors often say that having all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the side helps with the combination. So, when Shakib was unable to take part in the first Test, the think tank failed to come up with the right decisions.
Marshall struck 127 off 199 balls -- his 25th first-class ton -- while Aich made a 250-ball 122 on way to his maiden first-class hundred to help Dhaka Metro declare their first innings at 408-5, having resumed at 102-1.
In the format, the Tigers last faced India during the T20 World Cup in June, losing by 50 runs, and have not played a match since the tournament. The two sides have faced off in 14 contests, with India winning 13 times.
There are some positive signs and a few ill omens for Bangladesh ahead of their second and final Test against hosts India, beginning tomorrow in Kanpur.
