Shakib-al-Hasan announces retirement from T2OI, Kanpur test can be his last

Shakib announced retirement from T2OI

@cricketmaaza89

Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan has expressed his desire to retire from test cricket after upcoming home series against South Africa if situation in Bangladesh allows him to do so otherwise next test against India at Kanpur can be his last test match of his test career. 37-year-old revealed that he expressed his views to BCB, and selection management and they are okay with his decision.

Further, Shakib announced his retirement from t20I cricket stating that he has already played his last t20 match in T2O world cup which took place in USA and West Indies this year. He said that keeping in mind the next t20 world cup to be held in 2026 it will be ideal for Bangladesh cricket to prepare youngsters for the mega event. He has been a major contributor to Bangladesh cricket and would create a void which Bangladesh need to fill very soon.

Shakib has played 70 test matches for Bangladesh scoring 4600 at an average of 38.33 with highest score of 217 runs and taking 242 wickets whereas he has played 129 T20 international matches scoring 2551 and taking 149 wickets. However 37-year-old will continue to play one day internationals at least till the champions trophy next year.

Speaking about next match Shakib urges Bangladesh to perform better. Speaking to press conference, he said that Bangladesh needs to up their game in Kanpur to have any chance of bouncing back after crushing defeat in first test match.

Shakib lauds team India

“If I talk about India, they are the no.1 team in the world test championship table at the moment. Ther are probably unbeatable at home. I saw a stat somewhere where for some 4000 days they have been unbeaten in India. So, that shows how good they are in India”, Shakib said at the press conference.

“They have been doing well outside India as well. Any country that came to India finding it difficult, we are no different there. But having said that, we must play well against them to be able to show the fight that we feel like we can put on”, he said.

He said that pitches don’t matter when you play a quality team like India.

Shakib will be looking to end his career on a high, but it is easier said than done as he knows it is an uphill task to make India sweat on their home soil.

 

India won the first test against Bangladesh as their dominance at home continues

 

India won the first test by 280 runs (PC: BCCI)

                                                      

Coming to the fourth day of the first test match between India and Bangladesh, the result was inevitable as India routed Bangladesh by 280 runs to pocket the first test played in Chennai. Overnight batsmen Shakib and Najmul Shanto (captain) tried to consolidate for some overs, but the former fell to Ashwin for mere 25 runs to give India their first breakthrough of the day as young Jaiswal complete the formality by taking a nice diving catch at short leg.

Next to follow was Liton Das who was sent back by Ravindra Jadeja and then there was no looking back for Indian bowlers who bundled them for 234. Bangladesh captain Shanto was a top scorer as he scored 82 runs for his team and tried to give a fight somewhat but to no avail.

Local boy Ravichandran Ashwin was rightly adjudged the man of the match for his scintillating 113 runs in the first innings and 6 wicket hauls.

“I had huge shoes to fill, I came in to replace Harbhajan, I used to replicate his action in junior cricket, he was an inspiration to me”

Those were the words from Ashwin from the post-match talking and it shows the hunger he had to learn from his early days. Time and again he has showed his character both with bat and ball and has proved that age is just the number. Jadeja also gave the perfect support as he picked 3 wickets in pursuit of wrapping up the first match.

Another exciting prospect of this match was the return of Rishabh Pant who wrote his own script and completed his 6^th test century. He was the trump card to win India the last Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020-21 Gabba and he will be in the hunting list of Aussies in the upcoming test series down under later this year.

Overall, India will be very happy to have dominated this match without big contributions from the likes of Kohli, Rohit and Rahul and Bangladesh would be varied of that in the next test match. However, Bangladesh will rue the drop catches and will have to rectify the areas before the second and last test match of this series to be played at Green Park, Kanpur.

With this win India have won more matches than the games lost in 92-year-old history taking the winning matches tally to 179. The focus will now shift to Kanpur where the second and last match will be played Bangladesh will look to pose a better fight in the next match whereas India will look to continue their domination in tests at home. It will be interesting to see if the management will make any changes to the playing 11 in the next match considering the workload and for giving some experience to the youngsters as the tough matches will follow in the coming calendar and India will look to test the options they have on their bench and make sure the backup is ready to face the international music.

 

India looking steady to march through Bangladesh in first test at Chennai

 

India inched closer to wrap first test against Bangladesh (PC: BCCI)

 

India have strengthened their grip even further against Bangladesh on day 3 of the first test and are in the driver seat to seal the deal tomorrow. Riding on the knocks of two classy centurions Shubman Gill (119) and Rishabh Pant (109), India made sure that there is no way out for Bangladesh to sneak through them.

Gill and Pant both were aggressive from the start of their innings and pinned the Bangladeshi team to the walls. Bangladeshi bowlers toiled hard and looked down from the body language as even their most experienced campaigner Shakib-al-Hasan looked clueless. Pant came to his own and staged his comeback to tests in grand style. This innings will give him the right impetus and boost for the upcoming home series against NZ and  against aussies on their home soil.

In reply, Bangladesh are struggling at 158/4 and looking down the barrel. Bangladeshi openers were aggressive as they compiled 62 runs for the first wicket. Zakir Hasan and Shadan Islam looked to counterattack but it was India’s pace spearhead Bumrah yet again who clinched Zakir Hasan on the individual score of 33. After that, centurion from first innings Ravichandran Ashwin came to the party as he had 3 scalps to his name, and we can expect even more on day 4 of the Chepauk pitch.

Ashwin first picked Shadman Islam who flicked the ball straight to Gill. After that he sneaked through Mominul Haque with straighter one knocking the off stump and then the lofted attempt from Mushfiqur Rahim gave Ashwin his third wicket whose catch was held by KL Rahul.

With the pitch expected to assist the spinners even more on day 4, one can expect the final outcome of the match even by the lunch time. For Bangladesh, it would require nothing less than a miracle to cross the boundary and to even think of getting India close to the rope. For them, their hopes rest in the hands of their seasoned campaigner Shakib and Najmul Shanto, their captain who is not out on 51 of 60 balls and looked positive in his approach. Bangladesh has a mountain to climb as they are 357 runs far and would have to play out of their skin to make a match of this. Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraj can contribute heavily as well but will they show the determination and rigidity to do so, only time will tell.

As far as India Is concerned, bowlers will look to wrap it up as quickly as possible and will look to consolidate the points on WTC (World Test Championship) points table. Jadeja looked good but didn’t have any wicket to show and will look to change that tomorrow.

 

 

INDIA VS BANGLADESH TESTS - CHANCE FOR YOUNGSTERS TO CEMENT THEIR PLACE

            

Happy times again for the Indian fans as they have a chance to cheer for their favourite team yet again as Rohit Sharma led Indian team will be locking horns with the high-spirited Bangladesh team in 6 days’ time.

India will face Bangladesh in Chennai for the first test (PC: BCCI)

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Where India will be eyeing to solidify their WTC (world test championship) standings, the young guns of Indian team will look to impress the senior players and selectors to cement their place in the test side which is the ultimate testament of skills and temperament.

The likes of Yashaswi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep and Yash Dayal will all be looking to optimize the opportunity as and when it comes. There is no doubt in their skills but there is no room for complacency.

YOUNG GUNS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Jaiswal being the blazing young lad will be the player Bangladeshi team should vary of as he can take the game away in a session or two. Although, he didn’t score much in the ongoing Duleep trophy against India A, but you will be at your own risk to underestimate him. It will be interesting to see where he will bat with Gill being the surety to be in the playing XI.

For Jurel, it will be the direct fight against his senior pro KL Rahul and most likely India will look to go with the latter. However, Jurel has done a decent job in his limited chances and will be looking to impress even further if opportunity comes his way. He scored a gritty 90 runs against England and took India out of the tough situation (from 177-7 to 307) in the second test which India eventually won. Boy who hails from army family showed his tough character and can be given more opportunities.

Entertaining young lad from Mumbai, Sarfaraz Khan is a complete entertaining package as we saw a glimpse of his talent in test series against England earlier this year. His younger brother Musheer Khan is making headlines for some very good reasons scoring 181 runs in duleep trophy which was also his debut match. Coming back to his elder brother, Sarfaraz Khan would surely not like to miss the opportunity against Bangladesh as he can be a trump card for India against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be played down under, although its very early to comment on his chances against mighty aussies.

Akashdeep and Yash Dayal has fought hard to come this far wearing national jerseys and it is always a matter of pride representing your country in tests. However, it will be interesting to see who will get the chance in the playing XI but if given chance they will look to prove their mettle in the longest format of the game.

WTC STANDINGS

As for the WTC standings, India is well placed with PTC of 68.52 followed by Australia (PCT 62.50). Bangladesh on the other hand is currently sitting 4th on the table and will look to repeat against India what they did to Pakistan recently. Having said that, Bangladesh will have to play out of their skin to do that and India on the other need not be complacent.