Objection comment to Rob Houwing.

It is true Bangladesh placed 9th position in the ICC Test rankings. And as a test playing nation Bangladesh should play better cricket. You have presented some statistics but you must admit that Bangladesh makes lots of improvement from 1998 to 2008 in ODIs. The Test statistics for Bangladesh is not good. But I cannot understand why you are so eager to strip the test status of Bangladesh. If you want to tell us that most elite Test playing countries have no time to play some cricket against Bangladesh. They can spend their time by playing Stanford 20/20 or IPL and earn more money and glamour. Against Bangladesh there is no glamour. This is so true. If an elite Test playing country looses a match against Bangladesh, I can imagine their embarrassments. And I do not understand why you are so sympathetic for them.

In your article you have repeatedly mentioned "the new world order". And to save the new world order for the purity of the game the maiden (Bangladesh) must be sacrificed. This is a totally facile remark. I am personally very much surprised by this logic. How it is possible such a big problem ("the new world order" jointly created by Modi and Stanford) has such a simple solution?

I am shocked that you want this unholy "the new world order" should rule over cricket. The Cricket spirit lies in Country vs Country not a club vs club. As a sports editor you should promote that thing but unfortunately you lost the rudder and suddenly you discover the land of "the new world order". As a sports editor you should promote cricket. You should not write an article to banish a country from Test arena for the sake of "the new world order". You should personally apologies to call Bangladesh team a “mice”.

The original article is here.

2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 5th Day

The BLACKCAPS have won the two test series in Bangladesh 1-0 after the rain-affected second test petered out to a draw at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The tourists’ slim hopes of forcing a result lay with forcing the hosts to follow on but the Tigers got past the target of 163 safely, albeit with nine wickets down.

From then on the match was effectively over with only hope for a result being a calamitous batting display second time around from the BLACKCAPS.

But that was not to be despite the early loss of Jamie How (8) who failed to latch on to a pull shot and spooned a ball from Mashrafe Mortaza and was caught by Abdur Razzak at mid on.

However, Aaron Redmond (30 not out) and Jesse Ryder (39 not out) ensured that was not the case to finish on 79-1 when the tedium was brought to a premature end.

Bangladesh had earlier declared on 169 for nine, in reply to the BLACKCAPS’ first innings total of 262 for six declared, after resuming on a precarious 13 for three.

Bangladesh had to overcome a fine bowling display from opposing skipper Daniel Vettori to narrowly avoid being forced to follow on.

Spinner Vettori finished with figures of 5-66, his 19th five-wicket haul in tests, and Iain O'Brien chipped in with three victims for 31 as Bangladesh limped past the target.

All-rounder Skahib Al Hasan (49) and Mashrafe Mortaza (48) provided the bulk of the runs for the home side and shared in a 78-run stand for the seventh wicket to see the Tigers to safety.

Earlier, spinner Jeetan Patel secured the day's first breakthrough, trapping Mehrab Hossain (7) leg before wicket, Vettori got rid of opener Tamim Iqbal and pace bowler O'Brien had Mushfiqur Rahim (7) caught behind by BrendonMcCullum.

After lunch the hosts adopted an aggressive approach to add 65 runs in 10.1 overs but Vettori denied Shakib a test fifty by trapping him leg before to give the spinner his fifth victim. Mortaza adopted the long handle but he had a reprieve when the third umpire ruled a catch had not carried to Ryder in the gully.

The unlucky bowler was O’Brien, but he eventually got his man when Daniel Flynn held a chance in at short leg and he also claimed Shahadat Hossain cheaply to force the declaration.

Vettori was named man of the match and man of the series.

2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 5th Day

The BLACKCAPS have won the two test series in Bangladesh 1-0 after the rain-affected second test petered out to a draw at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

The tourists’ slim hopes of forcing a result lay with forcing the hosts to follow on but the Tigers got past the target of 163 safely, albeit with nine wickets down.

From then on the match was effectively over with only hope for a result being a calamitous batting display second time around from the BLACKCAPS.

But that was not to be despite the early loss of Jamie How (8) who failed to latch on to a pull shot and spooned a ball from Mashrafe Mortaza and was caught by Abdur Razzak at mid on.

However, Aaron Redmond (30 not out) and Jesse Ryder (39 not out) ensured that was not the case to finish on 79-1 when the tedium was brought to a premature end.

Bangladesh had earlier declared on 169 for nine, in reply to the BLACKCAPS’ first innings total of 262 for six declared, after resuming on a precarious 13 for three.

Bangladesh had to overcome a fine bowling display from opposing skipper Daniel Vettori to narrowly avoid being forced to follow on.

Spinner Vettori finished with figures of 5-66, his 19th five-wicket haul in tests, and Iain O'Brien chipped in with three victims for 31 as Bangladesh limped past the target.

All-rounder Skahib Al Hasan (49) and Mashrafe Mortaza (48) provided the bulk of the runs for the home side and shared in a 78-run stand for the seventh wicket to see the Tigers to safety.

Earlier, spinner Jeetan Patel secured the day's first breakthrough, trapping Mehrab Hossain (7) leg before wicket, Vettori got rid of opener Tamim Iqbal and pace bowler O'Brien had Mushfiqur Rahim (7) caught behind by BrendonMcCullum.

After lunch the hosts adopted an aggressive approach to add 65 runs in 10.1 overs but Vettori denied Shakib a test fifty by trapping him leg before to give the spinner his fifth victim. Mortaza adopted the long handle but he had a reprieve when the third umpire ruled a catch had not carried to Ryder in the gully.

The unlucky bowler was O’Brien, but he eventually got his man when Daniel Flynn held a chance in at short leg and he also claimed Shahadat Hossain cheaply to force the declaration.

Vettori was named man of the match and man of the series.

Warriors 2nd ICL win

Two fine knocks from Shahriar Nafees and Alok Kapali powered the Dhaka Warriors to a six-wicket win over the Mumbai Champs, their second Indian Cricket League victory, at Tau Devi Stadium in Gurgaon on Monday.

Dhaka Warriors clocked 155 for four with eight balls to spare in reply to Mumbai Champs' 151 for six in the stipulated 20 overs as Nafees struck 57 and Alok remained unbeaten on 48.

Left-handed opener Nafees made a cracking start, smashing Burkul for three fours in the opening over, but partner Nazimuddin fell cheaply for just two in the third over, leaving the side at 15 for one in 2.4 overs.

Nafees, pairing with Aftab Ahmed, repaired the initial damage to put on 54 runs for the second wicket before Aftab went cross to be bowled by Khanolkar for a 15-ball 23.

Alok, the lone centurion in the ICL, joined Nafees, who fell on 57, leaving the side at 95 for three in 12.2 overs. Nafees struck nine fours and one six in his 40-ball knock.

Keeping his cool, Alok knocked a superb 48, while Dhiman Ghosh, who remained unbeaten on 13, struck Burkul for four to steer Dhaka Warriors home with eight balls to spare.

Alok, who smashed three sixes and four fours in his 35-ball knock, was named the man of the match for his all-round performance.

Invited to bat first, the Champs could manage only a moderate total in the face of tight bowling from the Dhaka Warriors, with Khirid (51 not out) and van der Wath (18 not out) putting on a significant 74 off 41 balls to take Mumbai to 151 from 77 for six.

Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel returned two for 20 while Mohammad Sharif, Tapash Kumar Baisya, and Kapali took one wicket apiece for the Warriors.

2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 4th Day

BLACKCAPS skipper Daniel Vettori grabbed three wickets in an over to give his side a real chance of pushing for victory in the rain-shortened second test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Vettori produced his heroics after the BLACKCAPS had declared on 262-6 after being asked to bat in a match which saw the first three days washed out at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

The left-arm spinner left the hosts reeling at 13-3 before bad light denied him the chance of wreaking more havoc with the hosts requiring 163 to avoid the follow-on.

Entering the attack in the 10th over, Vettori grabbed a wicket with his first ball after Zunaed Siddique suffered what could only be described as a brain explosion. He charged down the track only to miss the ball and be stumped by Brendon McCullum at the second attempt after initially dropping the ball.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful lasted only two balls before being trapped in front and with his last ball of the over he repeated the dose to remove Rajin Saleh.

He finished with the stunning figures of 3-0 from his solitary over.

Earlier Jesse Ryder came agonisingly close to a century in his second test but fell nine runs short.

Ryder batted responsibly to build his innings, accelerating once he passed fifty for the first time in test cricket. Three figures appeared on the cards as he clubbed 12 boundaries in his 140-ball stay, but got a top edge to Abdur Razzak while trying to paddle a ball to the leg side to offer Mehrab Hossain the simplest of catches.

The burly left-hander shared in a face-saving 137-run partnership with McCullum (66) after the BLACKCAPS had slumped to 49-3.

The pitch, which had been under covers for four days, had a glossy sheen to it and the BLACKCAPS openers were soon sloping off back to the pavilion.

Aaron Redmond shouldered arms to a ball that nipped back off the seam from Mushrafe Mortaza to be trapped in front and Jamie How followed two balls later when he was beaten by an outswinger from debutant Mahbubul Alam which crashed into his off stump. At 10-2 the tourists were in danger of handing Bangladesh the upper hand but Ross Taylor helped steady things with Ryder.

But when he fell for 19, leaving a ball from Shahadat Hossain that jagged back to hit the top of his off stump, and Ryder and McCullum had to start a salvage act.

Ryder went shortly before tea and after the break McCullum looked to up the ante but mistimed a slog-sweep to hole out to Ashraful off Shakib Al Hasan. The wicketkeeper batsman seemed to be close to rediscovering his best form after a wretched time of late with the bat.

Vettori hit a breezy 22 before getting an inside edge to a ball from Ashraful and it was left to Daniel Flynn and Grant Elliott to take the BLACKCAPS top a point where Vettori was happen to declare. Flynn managed a ponderous 35 from 81 balls after being dropped on 10 and Elliott was unbeaten on 8.

The BLACKCAPS lead the two-match series 1-0.

The tourists made one change with Grant Elliott replacing the injured Jacob Oram while Bangladesh handed a test debut to paceman Mahbubul Alam who took the place of Naeem Islam.

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2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 3rd Day

Groundstaff work on the pitch after the rains finally ease, Bangladesh v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Mirpur, 3rd day, October 27, 2008

A saturated outfield has prevented play starting on day three of the second test between the BLACKCAPS and Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Umpires Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva inspected the ground two hours after the scheduled start time and ordered the covers protecting the pitch be removed.

However, they deemed the sodden outfield would take too long to become fit for play and abandoned the day.

Dhaka Warriors lost again

Royal Bengal Tigers 175 for 2 (Dasgupta 80, Gavaskar 51) beat Dhaka Warriors 172 for 7 (Kapali 65, Aftab 61) by eight wickets
Sparking half-centuries from Aftab Ahmed and Alok Kapali carried the Dhaka Warriors to a competitive 172, but Deep Dasgupta’s blistering unbeaten 80 helped the Bengal Royal Tigers overhaul that with eight deliveries and eight wickets remaining. Dhaka’s medium-pacers had been unable to tie down the runs in the tournament, and it was yet another disappointing performance. Bengal knocked off the runs with ease, thanks to Dasgupta’s 109-run stand in 12.3 overs with Rohan Gavaskar
Read details here.

Indian board withdraws financial help for Sri Lanka

The Indian cricket board has withdrawn the offer of a financial package to help neighbours Sri Lanka in a row between the two countries, according to a report.

Indian officials were upset that news of the confidential offer had been leaked to the media, according to a document seen by Reuters that gave details of a meeting between the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC).

It accused Sri Lanka's board of being "hostile" and said India was putting on hold all forthcoming tours with Sri Lanka, as detailed in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) future tours programme until 2012.

The Indian board offered financial help to Sri Lanka after a standoff between the SLC and its top players over next year's proposed tour to England.

SLC chairman Arjuna Ranatunga is adamant that the tour to England should go ahead in April and May even though it clashes with the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) in which many leading cricketers are keen to play.

Ranatunga has said that while the IPL means financial gains for players the England tour would help to boost the financial position of the cash-strapped SLC.

"The BCCI was very disturbed that the proposal they have made to Sri Lanka cricket in respect with the IPL with much confidentiality was released to the media," the document stated.

2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 2nd Day

Rain has again prevented play starting on day two of the second test between the BLACKCAPS and Bangladesh at Mirpur.Persistent rain delayed a start in the test after the first day was also washed out.

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2nd Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 1st Day

The first day of the Second Test between the BLACKCAPS and Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur has been washed out without a ball being bowled.

Rain prevented the covers being lifted and despite it easing to drizzle the decision was made to abandon the day's play. There is a depression sitting in the Bay of Bengal and the forecast is for similar weather tomorrow.

"We have not done very well (so far) but our best is yet to come." McCullum

Brendon McCullum has warned the hosts that New Zealand have yet to show their best in the tour although it is nearing its end.

The hard-hitting New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman has had a very poor run during the one-day series against Bangladesh that the Black Caps came from behind to win 2-1 and also in the Test series that they lead 1-0.

Admitting his lack of form in the season, McCullum said during a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium yesterday that the second Test, which starts at the same venue tomorrow, could be the ideal stage for Daniel Vettori's side to flourish.

"We have played two one-days here and feel we are ready to go all out and win the Test series 2-0," the New Zealand vice-captain told adding that Mirpur has wickets where the batsmen could get runs if they showed patience.

Having scored a magnificent century in the opening match of the Indian Premier League, runs have not flown from his bat but McCullum said he was working hard on it.

Everyone was fearful of the master-blaster one-day opener, especially after his swashbuckling 80 off just 30 balls that throttled New Zealand to finish a chase in just six overs -- a one-day record -- against touring Bangladesh during the 2007-08 season.

But the Bangladesh attack has so far tamed his bat successfully. His one-day scores in the series were 14, 12 and six while his Test figures while batting in middle-order were 25 and two.

"Bangladesh's performance in the Chittagong Test was not unexpected to us because it was their home condition. The spinners dominated there but we made a comeback."

New Zealand chased a record second-innings total of 317 on foreign soil to snatch a three-wicket victory in the first Test in Chittagong from the jaws of defeat, thanks to Vettori's eight-wicket haul and a pair of half-centuries. However, they will be without their ODI series hero Jacob Oram, ruled out for the last Test due to injury.

"We have not done very well (so far) but our best is yet to come."

Only five local players, Tigers captain Mohammad Ashraful, Rajin Saleh, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and star performer of the first Test Shakib Al Hassan, had optional batting practice in the afternoon but Bangladesh will return for a full session this morning.

Oram ruled out for the second test

New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has been ruled out for the second and final test against Bangladesh starting on Saturday in Dhaka.

"He has got a back problem. He has been ruled out for the second test, (and) will fly home on Saturday," team manager Lindsay Crocker told Reuters.

"He will undergo several medical tests at home and only than we will be able the assess the situation." Crocker said a member of the squad will take Oram's place.

Oram suffered back pain while bowling on Sunday and was rested before Bangladesh were all-out for 242 in the second innings of the first test. New Zealand lead the series 1-0 after their three-wicket win in Chittagong on Tuesday.

Middle order batsman Oram was out for a duck in the first innings and not out for eight in the second. The medium pacer ended 20-14-14-0 in the first innings and 8-2-19-0 in the second.

Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza turn down offers from ICL

Bangladesh cricketers Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza have turned down offers to join the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL), the pair said after the first test against New Zealand concluded on Tuesday.

Tamim said he had rejected a three-year $900,000 deal while Mortaza said he had refused an undisclosed offer "without giving a second thought".

Last month 14 Bangladeshi cricketers, including former captain Habibul Bashar, joined the ICL to form a new team named the Dhaka Warriors. The cricketers were subsequently banned for 10 years by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Dhaka Warriors taste first ICL win

Dhaka Warriors tasted their first triumph in the Indian Cricket League when they handed a comprehensive 62-run defeat to Delhi Giants at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, India on Monday.

Habibul Bashar's side bundled Delhi Giants out for 112 with eight balls to spare after posting a challenging total of 174 for five in 20 overs.

After being put into bat first, openers Shahriar Nafees (30 off 27 balls) and Nazimuddin gave Dhaka a solid 91-run foundation on which other batsmen carried the momentum to finish on top. Nazimuddin played an explosive 29-ball 54 smashing five sixes and five fours and later was adjudged man of the match.

Alok Kapali struck a 25-ball 34 and Bashar made 28 off 23 balls to help Dhaka past the 150-run mark. Delhi, in reply, fell in trouble to be reduced to 46 for five and never recovered from the damage though Abhinav Bali remained unbeaten on 33, but it was not enough to take Delhi home.

Mohammad Sharif, Mohammad Rafique and Mosharraf Hossain took two wickets each for 18, 19 and 21 respectively to wreck Delhi innings.

1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 5th Day

BLACKCAPS captain Daniel Vettori scored a match-winning 76 to lead his team to a three-wicket victory in the first test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Set 317 to win at the Divisional Stadium, the BLACKCAPS recorded their highest ever successful fourth innings run chase on foreign soil to win a test that for large parts of which they played second fiddle to the hosts.

Vettori led the way, coming in as nightwatchman late on the fourth day, to hit his 18th test fifty to complete a superb match in which he scored 55 not out in the first innings and had match figures of 9-133.

Vettori gained valuable support initially from Aaron Redmond and then young left-hander Daniel Flynn.

He was restrained during his innings and it was something of a surprise to see him dismissed 19 runs shy of victory. He was bowled playing an ugly shot across the line to a ball from left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.

Earlier, the patient Redmond shared in a 40-run stand for the third wicket with Vettori before he was undone on 79 by first innings destroyer Shakib Al Hasan who caught the edge of his bat and Zunaed Siddique claimed the catch at slip.

His determined innings spanned 237 balls and gave the BLACKCAPS a much-needed foundation on which to build their pursuit of 317.

Flynn played a mature innings to steady the innings after the loss of Ross Taylor (9) and Brendon McCullum (2) either side of lunch.

Taylor played a loose cut to point to gift Mashrafe Mortaza his first scalp while McCullum was cut off by Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva, who adjudged him leg before wicket to Razzak despite the ball clearing pitching outside leg stump.

Flynn, playing in his fourth test, was very watchful, but was quick to punish anything loose with his innings of 49 punctuated with six boundaries. He added an invaluable 82 with Vettori.

He was nearly caught by Mohammad Ashraful going back at mid on with seven runs needed for victory but survived only to fall to a bat-pad catch with the scores tied.

It was left to Kyle Mills to hit the winning runs which he did from the fourth ball he faced after a misfield from bowler Shakib who ended the match with figures of 9-115.

The successful run chase surpassed the previous highest of 164-4 made at the WACA in Perth to clinch the 1985 series with Australia.

New Zealand beats Bangladesh by three wickets in first cricket Test
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Vettori pleased with fightback
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David Leggat: Dan's the man on NZ's big day
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Inspired Vettori dashes Bangladeshi cricket hopes
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Vettori thrilled with chase
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Vettori says NZealand must improve
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Daniel Vettori leads New Zealand to victory over Bangladesh
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1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 4th Day

The BLACKCAPS have found some batting form to make an encouraging start in their quest for 317 to win the first test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

The tourists were 145 for two at the close of play on day four still needing 172 to win and set a new record for a successful run chase on foreign soil.

The much maligned top order found some form to put together two solid partnerships on a wicket the has lost some of its zip and is keeping low at times.

Openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond set the tone with a 55-run stand for the first wicket at the Divisional Stadium and the stoic Redmond found another committed ally in Jesse Ryder to add 90 for the second wicket.

At the close the dogged Redmond, playing in his fourth test match, was unbeaten on 62 and nightwatchman Daniel Vettori was yet to score.

Redmond's patient innings saw him face 192 balls and register his first test half-centruy.

Earlier, the BLACKCAPS' hopes of claiming the last two Tigers batsmen quickly when play resumed were dashed as they dug in to add another 58 runs to their overnight score of 184 for eight and push the target past 300.

The main obstacle was Mashrafe Mortaza who clubbed 44 from 87 balls until he gave part-time legspinner Redmond his first wicket in test cricket thanks to a smart stumping from Brendon McCullum.

Mortaza had earlier added 40 for the ninth wicket with Abdur Razzak before Iain O'Brien picked up the wicket of Razzak after Ross Taylor held a sharp chance at slip.

Shahadat Hossain then inherited the support role, negotiating 17 balls without scoring a run yet adding 22 with Mortaza for the final wicket before Redmond brought the curtain down with the score on 242.

The BLACKCAPS began their chase for 317 in bright fashion with How particularly aggressive. The opener hit five fours and six in his innings of 36 but it was his aggression that proved his downfall. He was bowled by Razzak trying to dab a ball to point only to see it hit his off stump.

But Redmond, who appeared content to play the sheet anchor role and Ryder, playing in his first test, overcame the hiccup to bat with discipline until Ryder was run out.

The burly left-hander had guided a ball down to third man in the third over before the close and was cauight short of his ground attempting a second run by a direct hit from Mortaza.

His 38 was a sedate innings compared to his one-day assaults but he was visbly upset with himself for getting out so close to the end of the day's play.

His dismissal brought Vettori to the crease and he and Redmond safely negotiated the final overs to see the BLACKCAPS to 145 for two at stumps to set up an intriguing final day.

The BLACKCAPS' previous best run chase abroad is the 164-4 made at the WACA in Perth to clinch the 1985 series with Australia.

The BLACKCAPS have never scored more than 300 in the fourth innings of a match on the sub-continent with the 272 for six compiled when drawing with India at Ahmedabad in 2003-04 their best efort to date.

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1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 3rd Day Highlights

1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 3rd Day

Shakib Al Hasan sweeps during his innings, Bangladesh v New Zealand, 1st Test, Chittagong, 3rd day, October 19, 2008

The BLACKCAPS will face a challenging target on a wearing pitch if they if they are to win the first test at Chittagong after Bangladesh built a lead of 258 on day three.

Two late wickets to Daniel Vettori with the second new ball saw the Tigers' end the day on 180 for eight and the tourists will be hoping to wrap up the innings early on day four to limit the total they will have to chase.

They will need a dramatic improvement on their first innings effort after they were limited to 171 - a new all time low against their hosts - to hand Bangladesh a 74-run first innings.

The Tigers set about almost squandering their advantage to lose five wickets for 71 when batting a second time and put their hopes of a first test win against a major test-playing nation on hold.

But Shakib Al Hasan, fresh from ripping the heart out of the BLACKCAPS' batting lineup with seven wickets, turned tormentor with the bat to chalk up his maiden test fifty and take the lead past 200.

Shakib finally fell for 71, but shared in a crucial stand of 56 with Mushfiqur Rahim for the sixth wicket when the hosts were in danger of failing to extend their hard-fought first innings lead into a potentially match-wining target.

Earlier in the day the BLACKCAPS added 16 runs to their overnight total to be all out for 171 - their lowest ever total against Bangladesh.

No. 11 Iain O'Brien was the wicket to fall, bowled by left-arm spinner Shakib to give the 21-year-old the superb figures of seven for 36 from 25.5 overs and record the best innings analysis by a Bangladesh bowler.

BLACKCAPS skipper Vettori ended unbeaten on 55 bringing up his 17th test half-century in the process.

Bangladesh's hopes of just their second test win were dealt an early blow when Kyle Mills caught the edge of Junaid Siddique's bat for second slip Aaron Redmond to take a simple chance.

It was then the turn for Vettori and Jeetan Patel to shine, combining to share four wickets and reduce the hosts to 71 for five and lift the BLACKCAPS' hopes of limiting the total they will have to chase.

Patel struck first, as he did in the first innings, when a perfectly flighted delivery jagged back to trap Rajin Saleh leg before wicket for six when the score was 36.

While Saleh's lack of footwork let him down, captain Mohammad Ashraful was let down by poor decision making.

Facing just his second ball from Vettori, he advanced down the wicket and sliced the ball to Redmond at cover who clung on to a difficult chance and Ashraful departed without scoring.

Patel enticed Mehrab Hossain jnr, who made 83 in the first innings, to miscue to Mills at mid on and when Tamim Iqbal was caught and bowled by Vettori the hosts looked shaky.

But up stepped Shakib and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahim to salvage the situation and it came as something of a surprise when Rahim dragged a ball onto his stumps from O'Brien to leave the score at 127 for six.

Shakib, who hit Patel for three fours in one over after reaching fifty, found another worthy ally in debutant Naeem Islam to compound the misery on the BLACKCAPS.

He mixed attacking flourishes with resolute defence and it took Vettori, who opted to take the second new ball himself and a smart juggling catch by Ross Taylor at slip to end his resistance.

Naeem went soon after for 19, also to Vettori, but the pair had added 48 and did enough to ensure the BLACKCAPS will need to score their highest total abroad to win a test match, while Vettori ended the day with figures of 4-39.

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1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 2nd Day Highlights

1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008 2nd Day

Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Ashraful are jubilant after the fall of another New Zealand wicket, Bangladesh v New Zealand, 1st Test, Chittagong, 2nd day, October 18, 2008

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed six wickets to leave the BLACKCAPS staring at an embarrassing, and sizable, first innings deficit against Bangladesh after day two of the first test at Chittagong.

The 21-year-old had taken only three test wickets in six tests prior to this match but turned destroyer to help reduce the tourists to 155-9 after the hosts were dismissed for 245.

He finished the day with the startling figures for 6-31 from 24 overs and hauled in a stunning catch in the final over to cap a memorable day at the Divisional Stadium.

His performance overshadowed that of BLACKCAPS skipper Daniel Vettori who regsitered his 16th five-wicket haul in test cricket to wrap up the Tigers' first innings and then added a typically beligerent 49 not out to limit the damage to the tourists.

Shakib was quickly into his work, making the initial breakthrough in his second over to remove Jamie How while debutant Jesse Ryder fell in his third. Fellow spinner Abdur Razzak removed Ross Taylor before Shakib ended Aaron Redmond's watchful 90-ball stay on 19 to have the BLACKCAPS in early trouble at 52 for four.

The test minnows refused to let the BLACKCAPS off the hook and Shakib snared three more wickets in the final session to leave the visitors on the ropes.

It was not the response the BLACKCAPS wanted after they wrapped up the Tigers' innings by claiming the final six wickets for 62 when play got underway on day two.

Vettori grabbed three wickets before lunch to finish with 5-59 off 36 overs, but it was Iain O'Brien who struck first after the Tigers had resumed on 183 for 4 to remove Mehrab Hossain for 83.

The right-hander was deceived by a slower ball and could only prod a catch to Redmond at extra cover giving the Wellington paceman his third wicket of the innings.

Jeetan Patel enticed Naeem Islam to charge down the pitch only to be stumped by Brendon McCullum to end a 41-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim and then Vettori got in out the act.

Rahim fell for 79 after top-edging a sweep to How in close to be the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 229 and the end came 16 runs later with Vettori taking a diving ctach off Patel to wrap up the innings.

The BLACKCAPS' reply began encouragingly enough with the openers negotiating almost 15 overs before How got a leading edge to a ball from Shakib that Rajin Saleh clutched at silly mid off. Ryder lasted only five balls on debut before a defensive prod gave the Shakib and Saleh combination more reason to celebrate.

Razzak claimed the scalp of Taylor, leg before wicket with a ball that appeared to clip the inside edge, and his left the BLACKCAPS at 46 for three in the 22nd over and their predicament worsened when Redmond fell an over before the tea interval.

McCullum and Daniel Flynn staged something of a fightback to add 47 for the fifth wicket before Flynn gave Islam a wicket in his first over in test cricket when he edged a cut to Rahim behind the stumps.

McCullum went in the next over, losing one hand on the bat and lofting the ball to Razzak at mid on. One-day hero Jacob Oram fell for a four-ball duck to give Shakib his first five-wicket bag in test cricket and leave the BLACKCAPS rocking at 100 for seven.

Vettori and Kyle Mills knuckled down and eked out precious runs in a 27-run stand that was ended when umpire Asoka de Silva adjudged that Mills had edged Shakib behind but the Aucklander was none too happy with the decision.

No. 10 Patel offered no runs, but valuable support to Vettori to see the pair add another 29 runs but he fell in the final over of the day, heaving a short ball from Mohammad Ashraful to Shakib at midwicket who pulled off a spectacular catch to heap more misery on the tourists.

Vettori battled through all the drama to cash in on anything short of overpitched to be unbeaten at the close one short of his 17th test fifty. But with only O'Brien to keep him company when play resumes on day three, the BLACKCAPS are facing a sizable first innings deficit.

Read more news from:

Vettori frustrated by team's batting display
CricInfo.com, UK

New Zealand 155-9 at stumps while Bangladesh 245 all out in first Test
The Canadian Press

Shakib rips through New Zealand
BBC Sport, UK

Shakib hits Black Caps for six
The Press Association

New Zealand struggle against Bangladesh
Independent Online, South Africa

Timid Tigers fend off Kiwis
SkySports

1st Test New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Mohammad Ashraful hands debutant Naeem Islam his Test cap, Bangladesh v New Zealand,1st Test, Chittagong, 1st day, October 17, 2008

The hosts crawled to 183-4 from 94 overs at the close of a painfully slow day in 35degC heat but were grateful at being let off the hook after the BLACKCAPS' catching let them down at the Divisional Stadium. Mehrab Hossain (79 not out) and Musfiqur Rahim (59 not out) mounted a spirited fightback after Bangladesh had at one stage looked in danger of being dismissed cheaply after captain Mohammad Ashraful opted to bat first on a placid pitch.
That decision almost backfired spectacularly after Iain O'Brien, preferred by the BLACKCAPS ahead of Tim SOuthee and Mark Gillespie, removed Zunaed Siddique lbw with his first ball and the seventh of the match.
But Brendon McCullum grassed a regulation chance the very next ball to give Rajin Saleh a life before Aaron Redmond dropped Tamim Iqbal at second slip off Kyle Mills in the third over - all before a run had been scored.
The blown chance made the Tigers' batsmen run-shy and they inched to lunch, with Iqbal enjoying another let-off when Redmond failed to hold a chance at short leg off Jeetan Patel, at 34 for one from 32 overs.
After the resumption the BLACKCAPS struck quickly with captain Daniel Vettori enticing a drive from Iqbal and McCullum held on to the thin edge. Iqbal, who is known as somewhat of a dasher, had squeezed out 19 runs in his 80-ball stay.
His inspid innings was surpassed by Saleh who was finally claimed by O'Brien in the 42nd over when he chopped the ball onto his stumps. His stay yielded 20 runs from 129 balls.
O'Brien at one stage had the remarkable figures of 2-4 from 11 overs as the hosts were more intent on self-preservation than run-scoring.
The next over saw Vettori deceive Ashraful in the air to trap him in front and see them slide to 44 for four. But any hopes the BLACKCAPS had of rattling through the order were stymied by Hossain and Rahim who combined in a unbroken 139-run stand for the fifth wicket - a new test record for Bangladesh.
Hossain brought some life to the listless innings and succeeded in upping the run-rate with some attractive strokeplay and he found Patel to his liking, hitting him for three boundaries in one over before tea. But both he and Rahim found, like the other Bangladesh batsmen, the miserly Jacob Oram difficult to get away with the allrounder conceding just nine runs from 15 well-directed overs.
They grew in stature in the final session as the BLACKCAPS bowlers began to tire in the heat. Hossain brought up his first test half-century from 84 balls while the more circumspect Rahim took 138 balls to record his second fifty in tests.
The pair comfortably dealt with the second new ball which Vettori took the moment it became available and the BLACKCAPS were left to rue a day that had got away from them.
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NewsTalk

Interview with Habibul Bashar

Over aggression was a major problem for this game: Habibul Bashar
On his team’s performance in the opening game
We can’t say that we played very good cricket today. We started off very well but lost too many wickets in the middle overs. We didn’t achieve the target that we wanted to, but we played after a long time. Probably, this was our first game in three months and as time goes by we will definitely be better.
The flamboyant start but losing the way in middle
It has to a mixture of both. T20 does not mean you hit all the balls. It has to so be somewhere in between. You hit initially and at the same time also look for singles. You cannot hit every ball and that’s the mistake we committed today. Hopefully we won’t to do it again and come back with some good results.
On being overaggressive – a problem associated with Bangladesh players
Over aggression was a major problem for this game. But we will talk and discuss. We will try to make sure that it does not happen again in the next game.
On fast bowlers conceding too many runs
The bowlers need time to settle. They will come back harder and they all are playing after a long time
On areas that require attention
We would look to score more runs in the middle overs and not to lose too many wickets. Also, we will try to restrict the run flow with the new ball. It becomes very difficult if we give away so many runs in the first 5-6 overs. (Warriors conceded 74 runs in first five overs) But the spinners did a very good job.
Read full article here.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

1st Test

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, has said he is ready for the challenge of leading the bowling attack on the spin-friendly Chittagong track when his side takes on Bangladesh in the first Test starting Friday. On New Zealand's 2004-05 tour of Bangladesh, Vettori picked up 20 wickets in two Tests, including 12 at Chittagong's MA Aziz Stadium. However, this tour's first Test will be played at the Divisional Stadium, which took over hosting duties from 2006. "That was a different ground, but we know spinners would bowl more overs in such conditions, so Jeetan [Patel] and I will be ready," Vettori said. New Zealand have had a chance to get familiar with the pitch at the Divisional Stadium when they clinched the one-day series 2-1 with a 79-run win in third match.
Read more from cricinfo.

BCB announce 13-man squad for the Test series

The Bangladesh Test squad for the Brac Bank Series against New Zealand:

• Mohammad Ashraful (Captain)
• Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain)
• Tamim Iqbal
• Zunaed Siddique
• Rajin Salah
• Shakib Al Hasan
• Mehrab Hossain Jr.
• Naeem Islam
• Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper)
• Abdur Razzak
• Syed Rasel
• Shahadat Hossain
• Mahbubul Alam Robin

New Zealand secure series victory

Ashraful bowled by Oram

The BLACKCAPS, led by Ross Taylor’s third ODI century, crushed Bangladesh by 79 runs in the deciding international at the Divisional Stadium in Chittagong to claim the three-match series 2-1.

Taylor cracked an impressive 103 off 119 balls to lead the tourists to 249 for seven and the Tigers were in strife early and never recovered to fall well short of their target on 170 for eight.The BLACKCAPS won the toss and chose to bat and their top order woes seemed destined to continue after openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum were dismissed cheaply to leave them struggling at 13 for two in the seventhBut Jamie How and Taylor combined to put on 125 for the third wicket to haul them out of trouble and set them on the way for a decent total.How was the main aggressor in the partnership, stroking 73 from 82 balls and in the process chalked up his seventh ODI half century from 54 balls.He fell when he was beaten in the air by young off-spinner Naeem Islam on a wicket that was offering turn and bounce for the slow bowlers.From being well placed at 138 for three after 32 overs, the BLACKCAPS lost wickets regularly to curb their hopes of a daunting total.Scott Styris (12), Jacob Oram (3) and Daniel Flynn (5) failed to get going and at 201 for six in the 44th over the BLACKCAPS were well short of what they would have been looking for.Taylor reached his century in the 47th over from 117 balls which included five fours and four sixes but was dismissed two balls later trying to hit a full toss out of the ground.Daniel Vettori (19 not out) and Kyle Mills (18 not out) added 30 from the last three overs to nudge the score closer to what the tourists would have wanted.Bangladesh enjoyed a fortunate start when Taylor dropped Tamim Iqbal at first slip off the first ball of their innings, but the unlucky Mills soon enticed Zunaed Siddique into a false shot and the Tigers were in trouble.The introduction of Jeetan Patel and Oram put more pressure on the hosts and the pair combined to reduce Bangladesh to 59 for five.Patel, aided by a smart catch by McCullum, removed Iqbal for a quickfire 35 just two balls after Oram had dismissed debutant Imrul Kayes.Oram, who failed with the bat for the first time in the series, then removed the dangerous Mohammad Ashraful when the Tigers’ skipper tried to get inventive as the required run-rate mounted but only succeeded in yorking himself.Tim Southee and Mills ensured there would be no fightback and the hosts were condemned to defeat when they slid to 98 for seven in the 35th over.The Tigers’ Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak delayed the inevitable with some spirited resistance to add 46 for the eighth wicket before Ryder caught the edge of Razzak’s bat for 27.Islam ended unbeaten on 46 after a laborious 106-ball innings but the winning margin did not reflect the yawning gap between to the two sides on the day.The series had been all square leading tin to the match after Bangladesh won the series opener in Mirpur by seven wickets on Thursday while the BLACKCAPS forced a decider after winning by 75 runs at the same venue on Saturday.The series win will give the BLACKCAPS a big confidence boost heading into the two-match test series, which starts in Mirpur on Friday.
Read more from BBC.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Don`t worry. We will win tomorrow.

Mohammad Ashraful and Mashrafe Mortaza, have a chat during a nets session ahead of the series-decider in Chittagong

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

3rd ODI

This will be the 100th ODI match to be staged in Bangladesh since the first one exactly two decades ago and the occasion calls for something special. No point reminding the Tigers about it who arrived in the city of hillocks and ships on Sunday. They are still smarting from the defeat in the second game and are quietly hoping that things will work out for them in the same was as it did in the first match where they simply swept aside the Black Caps.
It is difficult to say whether Chittagong has the honour of starting seconds or minutes ahead of Dhaka on 27 October 1988. On that day Pakistan took on Sri Lanka at the Bangabandhu National Stadium while hosts Bangladesh battled India at the MA Aziz stadium here. Those were the first ODIs played in this country. Twenty years on the Tigers find themselves in a position they are not quite accustomed to. A win tomorrow would give the home side a series win and the chances for a change are almost even.
Teams
Bangladesh (12): Zunaed Siddique, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice Captain), Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Imrul Kayes

New Zealand (From): Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum (Wicketkeeper/Vice Captain), Jamie How, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori (Captain), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie, Gareth Hopkins, Michael Mason, Grant Elliott.
Read more from BDnews24.(Bangla)

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Bangladesh team arrives at Chittagong this morning.

Kiwis level series

New Zealand squared their one-day series with Bangladesh with a 75-run win in the second match in Mirpur.

In reply to the visitors' 212-9, where Jacob Oram top-scored with 75 not out, Bangladesh were all out for 137.New Zealand began poorly, going from 31-0 to 45-4, before Oram turned things around with his match-winning innings. Vettori was pleased with his team's performance and said: "I think we bowled and fielded very well. Bangladesh at the start put pressure on us.

"I think when you lose the first game and put a mediocre total on the board than there are some concerns. So we were a little bit nervous in the dressing roomand we started wondering about going down 2-0 on a series we should win."

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

2nd ODI
The 2nd ODI starts at 9:00am at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with state-run television BTV beaming the match live from the venue.
Bangladesh have not won back-to-back matches against a top-ranked team and suffered humiliating defeats in the very next match, instead – a fact Mashrafee was quite aware of.
The Black Caps also examined the pitch for the second match.

"Just being smarter in the condition, bowling in better length and better line, adapting to the slow and sticky nature of the wicket and fielding better as well. So all three departments we looked at and I am sure tomorrow we will give a better performance," Jamie How told reporters when asked what they had discussed before starting the practice.
Read more from BDnews24.

Bangladesh win first ODI against New Zealand photo

New Zealand Batting

Bangladesh Batting

Presentation Ceremony

Bangladesh win first ODI against New Zealand

Bangladesh secured a first ever one-day international victory over New Zealand with a seven-wicket win in Mirpur.
It marked the first time in 12 meetings that the BLACKCAPS had lost to the Tigers and swiftly ended their goal of vaulting to No 2 in the International Cricket Council one-day rankings.
Such a promotion was in the offing providing they won the three-match series 3-0, which they were widely expected to do. But Bangladesh put paid to that with a confident allround performance, limiting the tourists to 201 for nine after a fine display in the field.

"I am happy we played as a unit," Ashraful said. "I am elated that its the first win against New Zealand and first against a major country under my captaincy."

"The toss was very important," Ashraful told TigerCricket.com. "With the overnight rain and the cloud cover we needed the bowlers to have a go first. I want to compliment everyone - Mashrafe, [Syed] Rasel, Shahadat [Hossain], Shakib, Razzak, Naeem...they set up the win for us with some wonderful bowling.

"The fielding too was good," Ashraful added. "I have said this before, if we do well in all three departments then we stand a good chance of being competitive. Today was proof of that."

After being invited to bat first in damp and overcast conditions, they lost five wickets for 18 runs to slump to 65 for five inside 17 overs before Jacob Oram led the resistance movement with a battling 57 off 89 deliveries. The only top order batsman to get underway was Jesse Ryder, who made 34 off 35 balls before spooning a catch to mid wicket.

Oram tempered his natural inclination to hit out as he and skipper Daniel Vettori cautiously set about turning the tide. These two put on 70 for the seventh wicket as the tourists reached 149 after 40 overs before Vettori departed for 30.

Oram hung around for another six overs before holing out at long on to become left-armer spinner Abdur Razzak's third victim. Razzak finished with the fine figures of three for 33 off 10 overs, but he was outshone by spirited fast-medium bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, who enjoyed the helpful conditions early on.

Mortaza snared three for 18 in his opening burst of eight overs and returned to pick up another late in the piece. He ended with four for 44, figures which suffered in his last spell when he conceded 26 runs in his last two overs.

Teenager Tim Southee swatted an unbeaten 19 off 14 balls at the death to drag the tourists over the 200 mark. Kyle Mills, Mark Gillespie and Scott Styris all claimed a wicket each but the bowlers could do little to prevent the historic win for the hosts.

unaid Siddique (84) and Mohammad Ashraful (60) guided Bangladesh to a historic win which Mashrafe Mortaza (4-44) had earlier set in motion.

Bangladesh's batsmen, criticised for their failures against Australia, stood up to the task with Ashraful himself scoring a brisk unbeaten 60. The star of the day , though, was Junaid Siddique, whose patient 85 easily eclipsed the 62 he had managed in his eight previous ODI innings. "I needed this innings to get my confidence back," Siddique said. "My one-day record has been quite ordinary and it was about time I got some runs.

A 70-run partnership between Oram and Daniel Vettori (30) gave some respectability to the New Zealand score, and despite the low total the visitors would have still been confident of taking a 1-0 series lead.

But the Bangladesh batting line-up proved to be more resolute than they were late last year when they were skittled out for just 98 in Queenstown.

A confident 67-run second-wicket stand between Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim (32) set the platform.And Siddique, who had managed 62 runs in his eight previous ODIs - at an average of just seven - formed a solid 109-run stand with Ashraful to inch the home side closer to victory.Siddique's majestic innings was ended by Mark Gillespie when the left-hander was caught by Oram, so it was left for Shakib Al Hasan (six not out) to push Gillespie for the winning single.

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori said Bangladesh deserved the victory."We knew they are a good side with some quality individuals," he said."The conditions were favourable for bowling in the morning but there are no excuses."

Read more about this from Yahoo, BBC, Cricket Newzealand

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Batman and Robin

Mahbubul Alam Robin is talking with coach Siddons at Mirpur.

New Zealand fast bowler Martin out of Bangladesh tests

New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin has been ruled out of the tour of Bangladesh so he can continue treatment on a lingering hamstring and lower back injury, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Wednesday.
Martin sustained the injury while playing county cricket in England and had already been ruled out of the one-day series that preceeded the two-test series.
NZC selector Dion Nash said that while Martin was pain free he had lost condition and it was decided it was more beneficial that he continue his rehabilitation rather than join the tour.
"With such a big season ahead it would have been foolish to rush Chris back too early," Nash said in a statement. "He is better at home working on his fitness and strength."
Martin has been replaced by Mark Gillespie for the tests. Gillespie is already in Bangladesh with the one-day squad.
New Zealand play three one-day internationals from Oct. 9-14 before the two-test series starts on Oct. 17.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

New Zealand Vs Bangladesh 1st ODI Ticket

ICC World Cricket League

From cricinfo http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/wcl/content/story/320398.html

The World Cricket League was devised by the ICC to provide regular one-day international cricket to Associate and Affiliate countries as well as to provide a qualification route into the ICC World Cup Qualifier (formerly ICC Trophy) and form there to World Cup.

The competition is divided into five divisions with promotion and relegation between them. Each division takes places in one venue over a week in a round-robin league with play-off places resulting from there culminating in a final between the top two and ranking finals for the remaining teams.

The ICC says that competition is about more than just the top six Associate teams. "It is a five-division structure designed to afford teams of various standards the opportunity to play regular one-day cricket against similarly ranked opponents regardless of where in the world they are located. It will also ensure that the qualifying pathway for the World Cup is open to the majority of the 91 ICC Associate and Affiliate members."

The first event - the WCL Division 1 competition involving the top six Associates - took place in Nairobi in January/February 2007 and was won by hosts Kenya with Scotland the runners-up. The two sides qualified for the ICC World Twenty in South Africa later in the year. The WCL Division Three was staged in Darwin in May 2007 with Uganda and Argentina the finalists promoted to Division Two.

Rules and format

The WCL was initially divided into five global groups (see below) with the first staging of each division being used to establish grouping thereafter. From 2009 onwards each division will have two promotion and relegations with the exception of the top division.

All sides in Division 1 plus the top four in Division Two and the top two in Division Three 2009 will go through to the ICC World Cup Qualifier (formerly the ICC Trophy) which will be held in the UAE in April 2009. That will in turn produce rankings for each of the top divisions from 2009 onwards.

Division One Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands, Scotland. Initial tournament Nairobi January-February 2007.

Division Two Denmark, Namibia, Oman, UAE plus the winners of initial Division Three competition (Argentina, Uganda). Initial competition Windhok November 2007.

Division Three Argentina, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, Italy, PNG, Tanzania, Uganda. Initial tournament Darwin May-June 2007. A second tournament with the bottom two from Division Two, the top two from Division Four and the third and fourth sides from Darwin (PNG and Cayman Islands) will be held in January 2009.

Division Four First and second from Division Five plus fifth to eighth from Division Three (Fiji, Hong Kong, Italy, Tanzania). Initial tournament September 2008.

Division Five Afghanistan, Bahamas, Botswana, Germany, Jersey, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway, Singapore, USA, plus two qualifiers from East Asia Pacific region. Initial tournament in Jersey May 2008.

For more details click here.

Warm-up match abandoned

Cloudy sky at Fatullah Cricket Stadium

Visiting New Zealand's lone warm-up match against Bangladesh Cricket Board XI ahead of the three one-day international series against Bangladesh was abandoned duo to unfit outfield of Narayanganj Fatullah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
For details click here. Read more from the daily star.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Forget cricket, let`s play football

Brendon McCullum plays football during a practice session, Fatullah

Selectors selection

The selectors include three inexperienced players in the team and probably two of them in the first ODI will get the cap. And after this series selectors will drop them and give a excuse,"They are unable to fulfill our expectation". In the next series again they will bring some players from under19 team. This discarded players might join next year ICL. ICL should choose some of this selectors for their own league so that they can help them to find some young genius.

For full news read here.(Bangla)

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

So You Think I Can Dance

Daniel Vettori lightens up during practice, Dhaka

Three inexperienced comes for ODIs against NZ

Bangladesh Cricket Board on Monday named three uncapped players in a 14-member squad for the three one-day internationals against visiting New Zealand.

The three rookies are Imrul Kayes, Nayeem Islam and Mahbubul Alam Robin.

"We have considered the junior players this time as some slots of the national team were open after some cricketers left recently and we hope the newcomers will do well," chief selector Rafiqul Alam said at a press conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Among the 15 members for the away series against Australia in August, fast bowlers Nazmul Hossain and Dollar Mahmud have been axed. Nazimuddin, Nafees, who had pulled out of the Australia series due to exam), Alok Kapali, wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh and all-rounder Farhad Reza joined the ICL.

Squad: Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafee Bin Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Naeem Islam and Mahbubul Alam Robin.

For full news read here.

Kapali blames Mashrafe and Ashraful for ICL Fiasco

“Mohammad Ashraful was very keen to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and seeing his interest, I thought if the national skipper could resign from international Cricket why couldn’t I. Even Mashrafe Mortaza asked me to join and as a result I and the others joined ICL but I was shocked when Ashraful and Mortaza did not join ICL,” Kapali said, adding, “What shocks me more is that he has been lying to people and telling them he had nothing to do with the ICL.”

Read the news here.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Black is the best colour.

Jacob Oram follows some instructions in Dhaka.

BCB XI v New Zealanders 2008

BCB XI squad: Junaid Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Shamsur Rahman, Rajin Saleh (capt), Nafees Iqbal, Tushar Imran, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Saghir Hossain (wk), Syed Rasel, Nazmul Hossain, Dolar Mahmud, Enamul Haque jnr.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Coach, the hat looks good to you.

Ashraful is talking with coach Siddons at Mirpur.

Daniel Vettori Bowling Highlights

Daniel Vettori is in action against Bangladesh.

Best Of New Zealand Cricket

See the wonderful performances of New Zealand Cricket team.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

Vettori is the youngest player to have represented New Zealand in Test cricket, having made his debut in 1996/1997 at the age of 18. Vettori is a slow left-arm orthodox spinner, but he is known for his flight and guile rather than prodigious turn or pinpoint accuracy.

New Zealand in Bangladesh 2008

New Zealand Team

Test squad Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Gareth Hopkins (wk), Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.

ODI squad Jamie How, Brendon McCullum (wk), Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (capt), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.