Ekush Tapader

For any structure – a physical one like a skyscraper or an abstract one like Bangladesh cricket – the most important part is its foundation as once the foundation crumbles the structure is bound to come crashing down.

I In 2007 as the inaugural edition was about to start, Twenty20s were still widely viewed as the ‘fun’ version of cricket. Its reputation as the ‘fun’ version, prompted the ‘serious’ cricketers to distance themselves from it. Perhaps seeing something like a ‘bowl out’ decide the fate of tied matches inclined them to stay away from such frivolity.

Shanto’s strike rate is the second lowest among all captains of the 20-team T20 World Cup, barring the Uganda skipper Brian Masaba (108), who is a bowling all-rounder.

Bangladesh will begin their five-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe today at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on an outfield that has certainly seen better days.

“This many people usually don’t turn up to see a fitness test at six in the morning. I’m sure they are here because it’s happening at the Bangabandhu [National] Stadium,” said Shahriar Nafees, the current cricket operations manager, after the national team’s fitness test at the famed venue yesterday.

As I’m earning now, I have to give more. And I really enjoy doing it and also giving gifts to my family members. I have a younger brother, I have nephews and nieces from my sister’s side. I enjoy doing it for them

Just four years ago, Rana was nowhere near competitive cricket. The 21-year-old, who picked up a cricket ball for the first time after crossing 18, has made it to the national team in express speed.

When the Bangladesh team began their two-day training ahead of the first Test in Sylhet, pacer Shoriful Islam was in Dhaka, with the physicians trying to determine whether he was fit enough to play the match.

Bangladesh could end up debuting two pacers in the match - Mushfik Hasan and Nahid Rana—hinted Hathurusingha.

"Taskin and I have tried together to build this group in a way in which we can be examples for the next generation of bowlers so that they can elevate the standards even higher," said Ebadot.

“I want to bowl as fast as possible. I want to maintain my line and length also. Besides, another strength of mine is giving bouncers. That effort will be there if I get the chance,” Rana told The Daily Star yesterday.

Soumya, a batter who is known for his inconsistency, becoming the fastest to reach 2000 ODI runs in the country highlights the subpar standard of Bangladesh cricket

'If we make 100 runs and bowl them out for 80 to win a match, our cricket won't be benefitted from that'

Bangladesh fast-bowling coach Allan Donald confirmed yesterday that he will step down from his role after the World Cup, becoming the first member of the Tigers’ coaching staff to call it quits following their disastrous campaign in India.

After six defeats in seven games, Bangladesh have become a non-factor in the ongoing ODI World Cup. The Tigers have two matches left in the competition, both of which have turned into dead rubbers. The Bangladesh team, weighed down by consecutive defeats, have already surrendered to reality and have further reverted into their shells.

Just like the huge gulf in the performance of the Bangladesh and the Indian cricket teams, the differences in the communication systems on either side of the border is also a disparaging sight for a Bangladeshi

Seeing people going about their lives in a nonchalant manner right beside the gorgeous Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, makes it hard to believe that a global tournament like the World Cup is taking place inside the venue.

Usually, only the employers exercise the right to add conditions before offering a job. The job seekers don’t get to give conditions, at least not in Bangladesh. In that sense, Bangladesh cricket fan Fahim Rahman definitely stands out. He had joined his current workplace two years ago on the condition that he would be granted a 40-day leave to watch the cricket World Cup in 2023.

Bangladesh's fast-bowling department has been a revelation, with the Tigers enjoying the luxury of an extended crop of promising pacers that have started to win games for Bangladesh at home and, most noticeably, in foreign conditions. Overseeing the pace-bowling brigade is legendary South Africa pacer Allan Donald, who spoke with The Daily Star's Ekush Tapader about the changes he has seen in the pacers' skillset as well as mindset while giving inside into what had done the trick for over the past 12 months. The excerpts are below:

Jake Lintott has been instrumental for Mohammedan Sporting Club in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League. The English left-arm wrist spinner played a pivotal role in the Black and Whites qualifying for the Super League stage following a lousy start -- that included four defeats in first five outings.