Mushfiqur keeps Tigers afloat

The 2022 Asia Cup will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while still being officially hosted by Sri Lanka, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said in a statement on Wednesday. The ACC said that the tournament has been moved to the UAE "considering the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka". It will be played between August 27 and September 11.

"Considering the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, the ACC after extensive deliberation has unanimously concluded that it would be appropriate to relocate the tournament from Sri Lanka to the UAE," the ACC said in a statement.

Sri Lanka has been reeling under economic and political turmoil. However, they had hosted Australia in a bilateral series and are currently hosting Pakistan. The ACC said that it had made every effort to host the tournament in the country.

"Every effort was made to host the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken after much deliberation. The UAE will be the new venue while Sri Lanka will continue to retain hosting rights," ACC president Jay Shah was quoted as saying. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly had earlier said that the tournament had been moved out of Sri Lanka to the UAE.

This will make it the second consecutive time that the tournament will be played in the UAE. The six-team Asia Cup will be played as a T20 tournament this year. India are the defending champions, having won the tournament in 2018 while it was still played in the ODI format.

The Asia Cup will be played in T20 format this time and serve as preparation for the World Cup in October. It will start with a qualifying round of matches between UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong. The winner will go on to the main tournament and play Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh batter Liton Das said it was time for the right-handed batter to take responsibility for his game.  

The 29-year-old made his Bangladesh debut in 2015 and nine years into his international career, he still blows hot and cold and struggles to become a dependable batter for the Tigers across formats.  

"I've been playing [international] cricket for 9-10 years now. I've gained that much experience. Now is the time to take responsibility. If not now, then when will I take responsibility?" Liton told reporters on Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium where the Tigers trained ahead of their India tour, starting September 19.

Liton played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's historic Test series win in Pakistan with a match-winning 138-run knock in the second Test of the two-match series. From a disastrous plight that saw the visitors lose six wickets for just 26 on the board, Liton propelled his side to a stable position with a patient knock, notching up his fourth Test ton in the process. In the first Test, he scored a half-century and led a counterpunch against the Pakistan bowlers, helping Bangladesh to a take a lead.

Criticism has followed Liton throughout his career and it was not long ago that the merit of his selection was brought into question in the white-ball formats. Very few can forget the manner of his dismissal in a hattrick of failed scoops in a T20I against Zimbabwe at home in May or the rush of blood that saw him dance down the pitch and gift his wicket away while Bangladesh were trying to save a Test against Sri Lanka in March.

Liton has established himself amongst fans and perhaps even the management as a supremely talented batter who blows hot and cold but there is little doubt about his ability and the fine batsmanship he can dish out on his day. His stroke-making compounded with the ease with which he can execute his batting has always set him apart from the rest but the inconsistent application of all that promise is what has always disappointed his admirers.

His recklessness or a lack of responsibility in the white-ball formats has not, however, seeped into his performance in Tests. Since 2020, he has scored the second-most runs amongst designated wicket-keepers, amassing 1559 runs at an average of 48.71. Only Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan has scored more in that time frame.

When asked about his attacking stroke-playing ability, Liton said it was no different from how the rest of the world plays their cricket. With the India series up next, Liton will have to be at his best to tackle one of the best bowling units in the world.

"I don't play that much of attacking cricket. I try to score off the balls in the scoring zones. And you will see that run-scoring is very important in any format. There comes a flow in your batting when you play for a run each ball. 

"I think the way I bat is in sync with how everyone across the world plays; They play the game with an attacking mood. Naturally, there are more attacking field setups in Test cricket and the probability of getting out is higher, but at the same time, the scope to score is also greater," Liton said.

Bangladesh are set to play two Tests and three T20Is against India, starting with the first Test on September 19. 

The Tigers, who play with the Kookaburra ball, will face the challenge of playing with the SG ball in India. The SG ball has a more pronounced seam which helps spinner grip the ball better after it gets old. It also allows the pacers to use the seam better while trying to initiate swing with the old ball.

"The India series will be challenging for us. For preparation, we are facing our main bowlers [at the nets] as much as possible. 

"It will be difficult because with the Kookaburra ball, it is tough when the ball is new and it gets easier when the balls gets old. But with the SG ball, it is a bit easier when it's new and difficult when it's old," Liton said. 

It is difficult to say whether Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim likes climbing mountains in real life, but when it comes to scaling the hypothetical mountains that exist in cricket, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter has conquered many.

Mushfiqur yesterday reached another such mountaintop in the first of two Tests against hosts Pakistan, becoming the first Bangladesh player to score a Test century in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka -- hence conquering the Asian summit.

Now, there is one more Asian country that hosts Test cricket – the UAE – but it does not have Test status and serves as a neutral venue.

On the other hand, there is Afghanistan, the newest member of the Asian Test club, but due to security concerns, Test cricket is yet to be played on Afghan soil.

In his maiden Test innings in Pakistan, Mushfiqur made 191 off 341 balls in Rawalpindi, a knock that oozed class, exemplified his patience, and put his watertight defence on display.

His near nine-hour vigil at the crease, which began four overs into the post-lunch session on the third day and ran until the fourth day's final session, wrested control of the match away from the hosts and allowed the visitors to head into the final day leading by 94 runs.

Mushfiqur has previously scored six Test centuries at home, including a couple of double hundreds against Zimbabwe, a 200 against the Lankans in Galle back in 2013 -- which was the maiden Test double hundred by a Bangladesh player -- and made 127 against India in Hyderabad, 2017.

The 37-year-old also has centuries in New Zealand and West Indies, making him the only Bangladesh batter with Test tons in six Test nations.

On the fourth day, Mushfiqur lost his overnight partner Liton Das (56) early but found ample support from Mehedi Hasan Miraz, with whom he batted for 56 overs and accumulated 196 runs, forming the best-ever eighth-wicket stand in Test cricket for Bangladesh.

Mushfiqur, who was unbeaten on 55 after the third day, reached the three-figure mark right at the cusp of lunch, with a glance down fine leg against off-spinner Agha Salman.

As he completed the second run to reach his 11th Test hundred, he punched the air and let out a deafening roar, releasing the emotions he had held in for hours. He then proceeded to perform a Sajdah before putting back his gear, regaining his composure, and resuming his vigilance.

After playing out the entire second session alongside Miraz, and also getting a life on 150 thanks to Babar Azam, Mushfiqur seemed destined to score his fourth double ton.

But when he was just nine runs away from joining the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Zaheer Abbas, he fell to pacer Mohammad Ali, playing a loose shot on a delivery that bounced a tad more than he anticipated, took an outside edge, and nestled into the gloves of Mohammad Rizwan.

The agony of missing the double ton was apparent in Mushfiqur's expression; however, falling nine runs short of 200 does not diminish the effort it took to score the previous 191 runs.

Even though the match is likely to end in a draw unless something dramatic happens on the final day today, fans of Bangladesh cricket will remember it as the game where Mushfiqur conquered the Asian summit.

Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud revealed that the Tigers were looking to finish the game by the end of Day 4 of the second Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Stadium on Monday. 

The visitors raced off to 42 for no loss in seven overs while chasing Pakistan's 185-run target, courtesy of a few wristy blows from opener Zakir Hasan, before proceedings were called off due to bad light and subsequent rain. 

Zakir smashed two fours and as many sixes, while Shadman remained vigilant for his nine runs before the interruption took away an entire session of play.

"If it had not rained, we would have tried to finish the game today or within the first session tomorrow," Hasan told reporters after the day's play. 

Earlier, Hasan, playing his third Test, picked up a maiden five-wicket haul which helped to bundle out Pakistan for 172. Hasan became the first Bangladesh pacer to take a fifer against Pakistan and his pace partner Nahid Rana also registered his best figures (4-44). Taskin Ahmed picked up the other wicket as the pacers accounted for all 10 wickets in an innings for the first time in Bangladesh's Test history. 

"Whenever a fast bowler is given the ball, there is only one plan which is how he can bowl wicket-taking deliveries. Taskin [Ahmed] started it and Rana [Nahid] came on. He was superb, he was excellent. The momentum perhaps shifted towards us. Then I came to bowl and I maintained my process and got my wickets.

"It's very joyful and a matter of pride to get five wickets for your country and team. Playing a Test match and winning it and now getting the chance to win another one makes me very happy."