Cricket

CA closes probe into Moeen's claim

Cricket Australia has closed its investigation into England all-rounder Moeen Ali's claim that he was called "Osama" by a rival player
'I've been made a scapegoat'

Sri Lanka's sacked skipper Angelo Mathews accused the country's cricket board Monday of blaming him solely for the island's humiliating exit from the Asia Cup.
Where it all happens

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.
It's all about homework

Imrul Kayes had just 48 hours after completing a four-day game in Khulna for the High Performance squad to pack his bags and board a flight to join the Tigers in the United Arab Emirates for a do or die encounter against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, where he was expected to handle one of the best spin bowlers in the world in Rashid Khan.
'Win this one today, Bhai told me'

Mustafizur Rahman is not the most talkative with microphones placed in front of him and cameras trained on him. However, when he performs like he did on Sunday, stopping Afghanistan dead in their tracks by conceding just four when they needed eight to win off the last over of their Asia Cup match, he has to reluctantly make an appearance.
Out of the box and back in contention

What could be the beginning of a turnaround for Bangladesh in the ongoing Asia Cup may seem on the surface to have been caused by the inspired inclusion of Imrul Kayes in the team for Sunday's match against Afghanistan a mere 17 hours after he was flown into the United Arab Emirates as emergency reinforcement.
Rashid sees the other side too

Before yesterday, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan had played four ODIs and three T20s against Bangladesh. Handling the world-class leg-spinner has always been a bothersome prospect for the Tigers. In each of the four previous ODIs that Rashid played against Bangladesh, he had managed more than one wicket and did not give away over 40 runs in any of those games.
Mash becomes first Tiger to 250 ODI wickets

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza becomes the first Tiger to bag 250 wickets after bagging two wickets yesterday.
I'm a scapegoat, says sacked Sri Lanka captain Mathews

Sri Lanka's sacked skipper Angelo Mathews accused the country's cricket board Monday of blaming him solely for the island's humiliating exit from the Asia Cup.
‘Mustafiz was a magician’ – Mash hails fantastic last over

Fizz’s fantastic final over yesterday, saw Bangladesh successfully defend eight runs in the last over in a tight match where Afghans looked like they were in the driving seat with wickets in hand.
Mahmudullah hails ‘brilliant’ Fizz

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad singles out Mustafizur Rahman for special praise after the left-arm pacer kept his nerve and overcame cramps to bowl a last over for the ages, conceding just four runs when Afghanistan needed eight to win.
‘Pressure lets me give back to my team’

Far from being burdened by the responsibility, Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah says he relishes the opportunities to fish his team out of trouble
We needed Imrul’s experience: Mahmudullah

Imrul Kayes shows the value of experience in bailing out Bangladesh from a precarious position during their Asia Cup match against Afghanistan
Riyad glad to be on the right side of last-over drama

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad revels in winning a close game after having been on the wrong side of dramatic finishes in the past
Tigers hold their nerve in thriller

Mustafizur Rahman bowled a superb last over, conceding just four runs when eight were needed, as Bangladesh won the Asia Cup Super Four match against Afghanistan by three runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
'Maxwell, Handscomb on right path'

Veteran Victorian batsman Cameron White, who scored a match-winning century against New South Wales on Sunday, feels
Twin tons crush Pakistan

Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan hit punishing centuries to steer an imperious India to a nine wicket win over a listless Pakistan in the Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.
MOMENTS

However many runs he has scored in ODI cricket, the scale of Liton Das's ambition is staggering. Wiley Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid
Pakistan struggle to 237-7 despite Malik's 78

Pakistan were once again short of a fighting total as they managed 237-7 in their 50 overs despite an attractive half century by Shoaib Malik in the Asia Cup game against India in Dubai on Sunday.
Mushy third Tiger to 5,000 ODI runs

Bangladesh batsman Mushffiqu Rahim became the third player from the country to reach 5,000 ODI runs.
‘It’s challenging, not disturbing’ – Shakib ready to face the music

The rule for two new balls to be used from both ends introduced new dimension to cricket and during their last Asia Cup game against India, Bangladesh faced the new ball from two ends with a new opening pair. With an unstable opening pair and the loss of Tamim Iqbal to injury, the Tigers have not seen the familiar Tamim-Shakib Al Hasan partnerships which thrived in the recent few series.
‘We’ve done it before’ – turnarounds Tigers can draw from

Bangladesh’s Asia Cup campaign hangs in the balance after their defeat to India in the first Super Four match. They lost to Afghanistan as well in the last group phase match and will face them today, seeking to win and stay in the competition. The Tigers’ vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan believed that his team has the ability to turn things around and overcome their conquerors from the group stage.
What equations for the Tigers to stay alive in Asia Cup?

We look at the possible scenarios and equations which will Bangladesh alive in the tournament after today's matches are played.
HP match ends in draw

The four-day match between the two halves of the High Performance squad -- Red team and Green team -- ended in a draw at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday.
Call-ups catch Imrul, Soumya off-guard

Much like Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan, the opening duo of Imrul Kayes and Soumya Sarkar were surprised by their sudden recall to the Tigers' camp for the ongoing Asia Cup.
Battle Royale: Part II

The two bitter rivals—India and Pakistan—will square off once again in the Asia Cup today and this time with much higher stakes in the Super Four battle at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Batting in limbo sans Tamim

It is a telling statistic that even in Bangladesh's flying start to the Asia Cup on September 15, when Mushfiqur Rahim's sublime 144 authored a 137-run hammering of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh left three balls unused in their total of 261.
Panic starts at the top

The 13th-hour inclusion of discarded national openers Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes in Bangladesh's Asia Cup squad may have seemed like reinforcement for a troubled team on Saturday evening, but in the cold light of day it seems little more than a panicked reaction to bad performance.
India, Pakistan couples bowled over in UAE

While India and Pakistan's fierce cricket rivalry has been on display at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, some families in the country have divided loyalties.
Malik denies Afghanistan in last over finish

Experienced batsman Shoaib Malik hit a six and a boundary to pull off a sensational last over three-wicket win for Pakistan against a spirited Afghanistan in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi on Friday.