Ekush Tapader

The Daily Star (DS): Bangladesh won the series against Australia and New Zealand comfortably but the batsmen struggled to score runs.  Do you think there are concerns in the batting department going into the T20 World Cup?

The Daily Star (TDS): We have witnessed a huge change in you since the lockdown last year. How did you manage to do that? What are the areas you worked on?

Abysmal failure in all three departments -- batting, bowling and especially fielding – has come to the fore more vividly than ever during Bangladesh’s recently-concluded New Zealand tour. Bangladesh were whitewashed in both T20Is and ODIs. And the thumping losses were only a reflection of Bangladesh’s failure as a unit.

The Daily Star (TDS): There has been a long break. How do you see Bangladesh’s pace unit right now?

Despite the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday deciding to allow interested players across the country to avail the board’s training facilities and resume individual practice following a four-month halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, a few players remain in a state of confusion.

On this day, 20 years ago, Bangladesh achieved a new milestone, a new dawn in the nation’s cricketing history after being recognized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the 10th Test-playing nation. Bangladesh had already announced its prominence in international cricket when the Tigers won the ICC Trophy -- the first major trophy for the country -- by beating Kenya in 1997. After that, Bangladesh’s triumph over Pakistan in their maiden World Cup campaign in 1999 had just made their path to being a Test-playing nation a bit smoother.

May 26, 2020 marked the 15th anniversary of Mushfiqur Rahim’s international debut for Bangladesh. The wicketkeeper-batsman revealed his regrets, points of satisfaction, desires and much more during a long conversation with The Daily Star’s Ekush Tapader.

The Daily Star (TDS): How are you spending your time back home?

On February 26, 1971, with political turmoil at its peak and the two states -- East and West -- of the then Pakistan on the verge of war, a rebellious Roquibul Hassan, the only cricketer from the East amid the 10 other cricketers from the dominating West, was cheered when he walked onto the ground with a ‘Joy Bangla’ sticker on his bat to play for Pakistan in an unofficial Test against an International XI at the Dacca Stadium.

I have been watching matches on TV since the 1996 Cricket World Cup. My love for the sport developed from watching the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Brian Lara smashing fours and sixes on the small black and white TV we had back in my hometown in Sylhet.

Is it possible that a representative national team would play two Tests at the same time against two different oppositions, that too on opposite sides of the world, on the same day?

Returning to his West Jummapara abode in Rangpur during any break from his cricketing duties was always special for Akbar Ali as especially-prepared meals from his mother, the addas with childhood friends and serene atmosphere provided a welcome getaway.

Have you ever heard the sweet sound of the leather hitting the willow? It sounded even sweeter to this reporter, who walked into a ground just a few miles from the Sylhet International Stadium and witnessed enthusiastic children playing the game they love. It was dusk and the urge of the young cricketers, all orphaned, to keep playing even during that time of the day only depicted how they find a shade of light through cricket amid all the darkness in this unfriendly world.

Bangladesh are currently going through a leadership vacuum in all three formats of the game.

A rained off match always leads to frustration, especially when you are a fan. And when it is of a much awaited final, the pain is much worsen. That was the case for the huge crowd that flocked the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, only to see the

Afghanistan A alleged that an ‘unprofessional’ approach by the groundsmen in the fourth one-dayer denied them a series victory against Bangladesh A. The fourth game of the five-match series was abandoned due to rain at BKSP last Saturday, and the 62-run

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan, in London for the Inter Parliamentary Cricket World Cup, said yesterday that he wants Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to call time on his cricket career with a match at home.

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad was seen limping when he came out of the team hotel with his son to join Mushfiqur Rahim, who was waiting for him in a car, before leaving for Jummah prayers in Birmingham yesterday.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a one-man army. Shakib is scoring runs; that’s a great thing for the team. But if you look at it, the other boys have stepped up. Mustafizur Rahman got some wickets, Mohammad Saifuddin came in and took the early wicket of Chris Gayle -- we all

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s eyes were firmly on the game at Nottingham between India and New Zealand although the match had not yet begun due to rain. He was ready to go out with his family but the worry and tension in his eyes were apparent.