Abdullah Al Mehdi

If Australians did not know Hasan Mahmud before the first Test in Darwin, they certainly know the Bangladesh pacer now.

Hemming spoke to The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi after Tuesday's opening session in Chattogram about mastering local conditions and ending the reliance on foreign expertise.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and its medical department remain perplexed about how Nahid Rana sustained his injury during the Tigers' tour of Zimbabwe earlier this month, despite his workload being carefully managed.

That Argentina got to a final is a mark of the unbelievable World Cup Lionel Messi played.

It could be a match of validation of their particular styles, but rarely do two sides meet on the world stage with such an assembly of class and potential.

Argentina have been far from convincing at this World Cup. Yet every time they have been pushed to the brink, they have found a way through.

Argentina and Lionel Messi face Murat Yakin's Switzerland in what promises to be a sterner test for the defending champions than any they have encountered so far in the tournament.

For Argentina, it is becoming inevitable. Messi happened when the World Cup dream was on the brink of ending for the defending champions.

It was a blockbuster drama that may have been headlined by the icons, but was ultimately decided by an ensemble of supporting cast.

If they are still defined by pragmatism, that pragmatism comes from this France team’s togetherness, wrought in liquid gold.

Lionel Messi looked down, a grin widening into a grimace. One wonders whether there was even a smirk after the miss. Nowhere close to what could be termed a good penalty, he wore the look of a man who knew he was overthinking.

One pass to find him. One drop of the shoulder to leave them grasping at straws. And one touch to burst into space and bend the game to his will. It was all Argentina needed.

Rana is a sensation unlike any before in Bangladesh cricket.

The first thing that stands out about Lamine Yamal is not flair, nor is it raw skill or a penchant for trying the unobvious. It is the calm -- an eerie, composed serenity that completely belies his age.

Mosaddek Hossain, averaging 77.5 and scoring at a strike rate of 129 in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, has been rewarded with an ODI call-up after almost four years. Ahead of his selection for Bangladesh's first two ODIs of the upcoming three-match series against Australia, the all-rounder talked about the difficulties of batting in the lower middle order and struggles during an interview with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi. The excerpts are as follows: 

Unlike the preceding election during Aminul Islam Bulbul’s tenure, there was no strict requirement this time to nominate councillors from ad hoc committees.

Pace is power in Test cricket, and Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is beginning to reap its rewards. With Bangladesh’s 104-run win over Pakistan in the first Test in Mirpur, Shanto equalled Mushfiqur Rahim as the captain with the most Test wins for the Tigers, with seven victories.

Rana getting the old ball to talk had even surprised his captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das.

Aggression is one thing, but controlled aggression is a different kind of menace. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s century against Pakistan on Friday in Mirpur on Day 1 of the first of two Tests, part of the World Test Championship, was a perfect example of the latter.

Ball by ball, step by step, Rana was pure bliss to watch at the Mirpur practice nets on Tuesday.