Competing duo look to India warm-up

Sabbir Rahman was called back into the squad for the Asia Cup last August after over two years despite not much of impressive performances in the domestic circuit.  

The right-handed batter scored five off six deliveries on his return as he featured in a quick-fire 19-run opening stand with Mehedi Hasan Miraz in their do-or-die contest against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. But that was enough for the right-hander to earn a place in the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin next month in Australia. 

Bangladesh went with the makeshift opening pair of Sabbir and Miraz in the just-concluded two-match T20I series away to the UAE as well. 

Even though Bangladesh won the series against the UAE 2-0 – that included a hard-fought seven-run victory in the first game – Sabbir failed to make an impression, scoring 0 and 12 in the two matches, respectively.  

Perhaps the only glimpse the 30-year-old has shown since getting a callback was when he launched UAE pacer, Sabir Ali, for a massive six over midwicket off a free-hit in yesterday's game. And referring to that, Bangladesh's batting coach Jamie Siddons said that Sabbir showed everyone what he is capable of doing.  
 
"Sabbir still trying to find his feet at this level of the game. But, you know, he showed us what he can do with the bat with one shot. We just want to see a bit more of that," Siddons said of Sabbir's batting in a video message to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the Tigers' 32-run victory in the second T20I against UAE in Dubai on Tuesday.
 
However, unlike Sabbir, Miraz has been showing more than just glimpses in his new role as an opener. The all-rounder scored a team-high 37-ball 46 yesterday. He also scored a rapid 38 in the Asia Cup game against Sri Lanka to give Bangladesh a positive start. 

"Miraz is coming along in leaps and bounds. His confidence is up. I have seen him bat really well in Test matches and ODI cricket. I knew he could do what he has been doing. Now, he has been given a license to play more shots at the top of the order and he is doing a great job," Siddons lauded Miraz's efforts. 

Bangladesh will participate in a tri-nation T20I series involving hosts New Zealand and Pakistan from October 6, before going to the land Down Under for the eighth edition of the marquee T20 event. 
 

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud, who will act as head coach of the Bangladesh national team for the upcoming tri-nation ODI series and the Tests and T20 series against Sri Lanka has said that the punishments doled out to Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman were necessary.

Sabbir was slapped with a heavy fine of Tk 20 lakh by BCB and banned from domestic cricket for six months. He will also not be included in the central contract pool as punishment for assaulting a young fan during a National Cricket League game in Rajshahi last month.

Cricketer Tamim was handed a Tk 5 lakh fine following the batsman's criticism of the Mirpur pitch and his comments over the outfield after the BPL match between Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders.

Mahmud, who oversaw the Tigers' training session for the first time today however did not reveal whether the fines were too lenient or too strict but reiterated that there is a price to be paid for stepping out of line.

Also Read: Sabbir's indiscipline proving costly

Regarding Sabbir's punishment, The Technical director said: "The match referee's report gained prominence in relation to Sabbir's situation. Whatever the punishment is, you have to remember that when you commit a crime of big magnitude, then you have to accept your punishment.

"Sabbir is a role model for many youngsters in the country. Sabbir should keep that in mind."

He also put forward the notion that a player of Tamim's stature should not talk in a manner which will tarnish the image of Bangladesh's cricket; especially in light of the two demerit points accumulated after Bangladesh's home series against Australia.

He suggested that the venue could be closed down by the ICC if there are complaints from people involved with the country's cricket.

"Perhaps the punishments were necessary and that is why they were doled out."

Jofra Archer and Joe Root took three wickets apiece as Afghanistan slumped to 160 all out in a World Cup warm-up match at the Oval on Monday.

England, fresh from their 12-run defeat by world champions Australia in their previous warm-up fixture, were too strong in the field for rank outsiders Afghanistan in south London.

Fast bowler Archer, in what is tournament hosts England’s last match before they open the World Cup against South Africa at the Oval on Thursday, struck twice with the new ball before ending some late resistance from Mohammad Nabi.

Afghanistan were in danger of being dismissed for under 100 before Nabi, with 44, helped the last two wickets add 68 runs.

Archer dismissed Hazratullah and Rahmat Shah in a brisk new-ball spell.

Meanwhile opener Noor Ali saw scrapped his way to 30 before he played on to Ben Stokes.

Hashmatullah could not get going and that prompted Asghar Afghan to attack the occasional off-spin of Test captain Root.

But, having missed out on a first-ball full toss, Asghar tried to drive Root over the top but found Jason Roy in the deep instead.

Afghanistan lost their next four wickets in a mere seven deliveries, Hashmatullah and Najibullah Zadran carelessly run out, Gulbadin Naib holing out to Moeen Ali and Rashid Khan steering Root to slip for a golden duck.

SCORES IN BRIEF

Afghanistan: 160 all out in 38.4 overs (Nabi 44, Zadran 30; Root 3-22, Archer 3-32)

England: 161 for 1 in 17.9 overs (Roy 89 not out, Bairstow 39, Root 29 not out; Nabi 1-34)

Result: England won by 9 wickets.

Bangladesh 'A' suffered a horrible batting collapse in their four-wicket defeat against West Indies 'A' in the first unofficial ODI of the three-match series at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Tuesday. 

Asked to bat, the Mohammad Mithun-led side were bundled out for just 80 in 23.2 overs as the batters found it difficult in the fast and bouncy track of the Caribbean. Pacers Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Mukidul Islam made good use of the condition, scalping two wickets each, but that was not enough to stop the Caribbean side chasing a paltry total. The hosts eventually coasted over the line in 23.3 overs.  

Only three Bangladesh batters were able to get to double figures. Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali top-scored for the side, hitting a 41-ball 25. Soumya Sarkar's 15 off 20 deliveries was the next best score. 

Sabbir Rahman, who was recently added to the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup that will commence later this month, failed to impress. He gave a catch back to the keeper off a Justin Greaves delivery after a six-ball three-run knock. 

For the hosts, pacer Greaves shone with the ball, ripping through the middle order of Bangladesh 'A' as he ended with figures of four for 25 in just seven overs. Pacers Anderson Phillip and Shermon Lewis took two wickets each.