Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto exuded confidence ahead of his team’s Champions Trophy opener against India, emphasising that his side has the firepower to challenge the two-time champions. With a blend of quality fast bowlers and dependable all-rounders, Shanto believes Bangladesh has what it takes to make a strong start in the tournament. “All departments have to click if we are to beat India. We have good memories against them, and if we execute our plans well, we have a good chance,” Shanto said in the pre-match press conference.

“We have some quality all-rounders, and we are depending on them. We are not overthinking. All teams in the tournament are capable of winning, and we fancy our chances,” he added.

One of Bangladesh’s biggest strengths heading into the tournament is their potent pace attack. The likes of Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and young Nahid Rana, who has been impressive in his young career, having taken 20 wickets in six Tests and four scalps in three ODIs, give the team a well-rounded bowling unit, capable of exploiting the conditions in Dubai.

“We are very happy to have a fast bowler like Rana in the squad. If he plays, he will do the job for us. Our team has a good balance of spin and pace,” Shanto said.

Despite the absence of veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was left out after being suspended from bowling due to a suspected action, Shanto remains unfazed. The selectors chose not to pick Shakib solely as a batter, leaving Bangladesh without one of their most experienced players.

“Shakib’s absence is not a factor. Over the last couple of years, we have developed a strong pace attack. This is the best seam attack Bangladesh has had. We need to adjust quickly to the conditions here, as the pitches are not as high-scoring as in Pakistan. But we know we will get a lot of crowd support,” Shanto stated.

With Shakib unavailable, the onus will be on Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah to fill the void, both as experienced middle-order batters and contributors with the ball.

India will be without their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. However, Shanto was quick to dismiss any notion that his team was focusing on an individual’s absence.

“We are not thinking about Bumrah or any other individual. India have a lot of quality players,” he remarked.

Bangladesh face with India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, February 20, in what promises to be a thrilling Group A clash.

West Indies opening batter Evin Lewis endured a rather painful moment during his team’s second ODI against Bangladesh, much to the amusement of both his own teammates and the opposition. Facing Bangladesh quick Nahid Rana, one ball hit Lewis flush in the lower abdomen region, causing the batter to go down in pain. However, a hilarious replay from hawkeye technology followed, showing exactly how firmly the ball had hit Lewis in that region. The incident left Lewis’ teammate Roston Chase, as well as Nahid Rana, laughing profusely.

Despite Lewis being in a lot of pain, hawkeye pulled up a reply showing just how badly it had hit him. Roston Chase – sat in the dressing room – was on the verge of tears in amusement.

Reputed commentator Ian Bishop came up with a cheeky response.

“We haven’t seen from hawkeye for the entirety of the innings, and now they come up with this. I don’t know why some people think it’s funny!” exclaimed Bishop at the incident.

Watch: Evin Lewis suffers blow right in the private area

Evin Lewis feels extreme pain and hawk-eye also comes into play. pic.twitter.com/EBXM5rP410

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 12, 2024

Roston Chase’s amusement was caught by the cameras, to which Bishop said, “Running commentary from Roston Chase!”

Nahid Rana also shared a laugh amid the moment.

The blow did not deter Lewis who slammed Rana for a six just three balls later, smashing it over the midwicket region.

Lewis narrowly missed out on a half-century, making 49 off 62 balls, smashing four sixes. His knock helped West Indies chase down a target of 228 with ease.

The win helped West Indies clinch the ODI series victory with a game to spare, as they took an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Putting Bangladesh in to bat, Jayden Seales starred with the ball, picking up four wickets as Bangladesh were dismissed for only 227.

Brandon King top-scored in the run chase with 82 off 76 balls, while forties from Lewis and Shai Hope ensured West Indies reach their target in just 36.5 overs.

West Indies’ Shai Hope. File
| Photo Credit: AP

The West Indies won a one-day international series against Bangladesh for the first time in 10 years on Tuesday, December 11, 2024.

The West Indies shot out Bangladesh for 227 in 46 overs and strolled to 230-3 in 37 overs. The host won the series with a game to spare.

“It’s great to see the bowlers bounce back the way they did,” captain Shai Hope said. “Gotta tick boxes and keep improving. We were clinical. We’ve been struggling to win series at home (so) hope to finish 3-0 now.”

On the same pitch where the West Indies won by five wickets on Sunday, the par score was 300. But fast bowler Jayden Seales undercut Bangladesh with three wickets in the first powerplay. Seales returned to bag Mahmudullah for 62 in the 45th over and finish with a match-deciding 4-22 in nine overs.

The chase was almost a formality. Brandon King and Evin Lewis opened with a 109-run partnership in 21 overs. King led with 82 and Lewis and Keacy Carty were out just short of half-centuries.

Bangladesh was 115-7 in the 26th over when Tanzim Hasan Sakib joined Mahmudullah and they rescued the innings.

While they were batting with increasing ambition, Bangladesh could dream of 270-280.

Mahmudullah reached a fifty off 84 balls, and Tanzim was closing on his when he was out caught and bowled by off-spinner Roston Chase. Tanzim had 45 off 62 and the partnership reached 92 runs from 106 balls.

Mahmudullah was out in the next over for 62 off 92.

In the chase, Lewis was slower to get in a groove than King and was dropped on 28.

King and Lewis were both hit on the body in the 40s while attempting pulls at Nahid Rana.

King’s eighth boundary brought up his fifty off 52 balls but Lewis was out for 49, to a tame caught and bowled by Rishad Hossain.

King’s best shot was a six when he came down the track at Tanzim and sent the ball back over the medium-pacer’s head and rebounding off the roof.

He was eventually yorkered by Rana, out for 82 off 76 balls, including eight boundaries and three sixes.

He’d combined for 66 in eight overs with Carty, who would fall for 45 off 47 with victory just 31 more runs away. The teams stay in Basseterre for the last ODI on Thursday (December 12).

File photo of Yashasvi Jaiswal.© AFP

File image of the Indian cricket team© AFP

The Indian teams over the years have depended a lot on match simulations and Gautam Gambhir’s outfit is no different, selecting net bowlers with specific skill-sets who can help the batters get ready for the Bangladesh series starting here from September 19. One of the pacers called up for the four-day camp here is Punjab’s Gurnoor Brar, who has so far played five first-class matches and he was also with Punjab Kings during the IPL last season. While his first-class record isn’t flattering, what worked for the 24-year-old is his tall 6 feet 4.5 inch frame and the disconcerting bounce that he can generate with more than skiddy pace. It is understood that Gurnoor has been drafted in specifically to get some simulation for the high-arm action of Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana, who had a match-haul of five wickets against Pakistan in a recent Test match at Rawalpindi.

The hallmark of Rana’s bowling is the bounce he generated from length with his 6ft 5 inch frame and generally bowled straight lines in the second Test against Pakistan.

It is understood that with two potent new ball bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in its ranks, India is unlikely to play on rank turners and the Chepauk strip could be one where pace bowlers and spinners both will get equal assistance.

The bounce could be more even and hence the lanky Bangladesh pacer Rana might come into the equation.

India’s new bowling coach Morne Morkel was seen giving some advice on how to bowl to star batters and what kind of specific net sessions they are looking at in the camp.

Mumbai off-spinner Himanshu Singh, whose action is believed to be similar to the legendary Ravichandran Ashwin, is also a part of the nets.

Tamil Nadu slow left-arm bowler S Ajit Ram also sweated it out at the nets.

During the second day at nets, pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal, the duo who might have to sit out if India play three specialist spinners, bowled more than the premier pace duo of Bumrah and Siraj.

The senior batters are now trying to get into the groove after a month-long break.

The Bangladesh team will be arriving in Chennai on Sunday. It is understood that there will be tight security for the visitors, who are coming right after the civil unrest in the country and subsequent ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina.

In fact, new BCB chief Farukh Ahmed told reporters in Dhaka last Thursday that BCCI secretary Jay Shah has “assured” him necessary security arrangements.

“I have talked to Jay Shah and he has given us assurance regarding security,” Faruque told reporters after a meeting with the national team players at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Having made an instant impact with his brilliant performance in the historic 2-0 triumph over Pakistan, Bangladesh rising speedster Nahid Rana has now set his eyes on the upcoming away Test series against India. The 21-year-old consistently hit 150 kph and stood out as the star performer especially in the second innings of the final Test in Rawalpindi where he took 4/44 as Bangladesh secured a historic sweep. “Obviously we are well prepared for India series. We have started training. The more we are prepared the better we will be in execution during the matches,” Rana said in a video shared by Bangladesh Cricket in ‘X’, formerly twitter.

“India are a good team but the team that plays better cricket will win. We will see when we go there.” The speedster, from Chapainawabganj, has emerged as a new sensation in Bangladesh cricket with his ability to bowl consistently fast over long spells.

He made headlines by crossing the 150 kph mark on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in March this year.

Then in Pakistan he established himself as a genuine fast bowling threat by making immediate impact in the second Test.

He dismissed Shan Masood with his third ball before scalping the prized wicket of Babar Azam in his next over.

“Before leaving, I had said that I wanted to achieve something for my country, and it feels great to have delivered on what was expected of me,” he said.

The first Test is slated in Chennai, a venue known for its bounce-friendly pitch.

Asked if he is ready to hit the 152 kph mark again, Rana said, “I will strive to give my best.

“Pace is something you can’t always predict — it depends a lot on rhythm. Sometimes, it just clicks, and suddenly you find yourself hitting those speeds.

“I never set out to clock 152 kph or push past that. I just focused on executing the team’s plan. My friends and folks back in the village are really happy of my achievement,” he said.

Rana’s journey in cricket began when his brother enrolled him in an academy in 2020 after finishing college.

He made his first-class debut in October 2021 and quickly made a mark, taking 32 wickets in the following season.

In the 2022-23 National Cricket League, Rana and Sumon Khan achieved a rare feat with both taking over 30 wickets, an accomplishment not seen in over 11 years for fast bowlers in the domestic first-class tournament.

Determined to carve his own path, he said: “I don’t want to be like anyone else. I want to create my own identity and be known as Nahid Rana of Bangladesh,” Rana said.

“I haven’t followed any particular bowler. I’ve watched and learned from everyone — my seniors and those I grew up watching,” he signed off.