Mahidul Islam Ankon was the surprise package of the just-concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The wicketkeeper-batter, who is better known for his steadfast run-making, plundered 316 runs in 12 innings for Khulna Tigers as a finisher with an astonishing strike-rate of 174.58 – the highest among all batters with at least 300 runs in BPL 11.

Glenn Phillips cracked a maiden century and Mitchell Santner grabbed three wickets to help New Zealand overpower Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening match of a tri-nations series in Lahore on Saturday.

Captain Andy Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker scored half-centuries as Ireland posted 298 in their second innings to take control of a one-off Test against Zimbabwe on Saturday.

With Sri Lanka leading by only 54 runs, Steve Smith's side will be eager to mop up the tail early Sunday and seal a 2-0 sweep.

Openers Parvez Emon and Khawaja Nafay smashed half-centuries and put on the highest-ever opening stand in a BPL final to propel Chittagong Kings to 194 for three against Fortune Barishal in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League in Mirpur on Friday.

Abahani have parted ways with their long-serving head coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon ahead of the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) season and replaced the 53-year-old with former national selector Hannan Sarkar. 

Commanding centuries from Steve Smith and Alex Carey gave Australia a dominating lead at stumps on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Friday.

At one point, Sri Lanka deployed two fielders at cover in an attempt to stifle his run flow.

In just his ninth ODI, and with England on 111-4, Bethell stuck it out with Buttler in a 59-run stand that raised hopes of a fighting total.

The innings only came about due to the absence of Virat Kohli, with the former skipper nursing a sore knee and rested from the contest and Iyer included at the last minute after receiving a phone call from captain Rohit Sharma.

Andy McBrine struck a Test best 90 not out as Ireland recovered from a dismal start to post 260 all out on Thursday on the first day of a one-off match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

The second ODI is on Sunday in Cuttack.

Tamim, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, is leading Fortune Barishal as they aim to defend their title against Chittagong Kings at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets apiece.

The two teams will begin the ODI series on Thursday in Nagpur with an eye on the upcoming 50-over Champions Trophy.

The Sun Group are the third investors into the eight-team Hundred from the lucrative IPL, following the Ambani family, whose Reliance Industries are behind the Mumbai Indians, and RPSG, in charge of the Lucknow Super Giants.

Ponting believes Kallis is not spoken about in the same breath as legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara due to factors beyond cricket.

Tailender Aliss Al Islam turned hero with a last-ball four as Chittagong Kings upstaged Khulna Tigers by two wickes in an enthralling game to reach the BPL final against Fortune Barishal.

Australia are on guard for a spin trap when the second and final Test gets underway in Galle on Thursday despite an unassailable lead in the series.

Cummins skipped the ongoing Test tour of Sri Lanka for the birth of his second child but also has an ankle problem.