BanglaCricket Article

Well the big day is finally here. Today, 160+ million people will drop whatever they are doing and will follow and cheer the men in red and green as they meet up with Pakistan for the Asia Cup in the final. This is Bangladesh's first major tournament final appearance. How will it transpire? Albab Masud lays it out for us.

Asia Cup 2012 Final Preview: Bangladesh vs Pakistan

by Albab Masud

Published: 21st March, 2012

Shakib Al Hasan and Nazimuddin play football during a training session on the eve of the Asia Cup 

Match facts

Game starts on 1400 local time (0800 GMT) on March 22, 2012 at the Shere Bangla Nagar Stadium at Mirpur.

Big picture

The impressive victory over Sri Lanka, which propelled Bangladesh in the Asia Cup finals, is the biggest moment in the youngest test nation’s cricket history. It was a tremendous team effort and showed an unprecedented consistency held by the Bangladesh team. Albeit it was against a tired, jaded Sri Lankan team but this argument could only be used by those who have not watched the game and want to demean the achievement.
However it is all in the past now, what happened on March 20 will be remembered but nothing the Bangladeshi players would like to rely on. Bangladesh comes into the final as serious contenders if not favorites, something that was unthinkable a week earlier. But Bangladesh are here, and more deserving than the teams that have missed out, Bangladesh have played cricket of very high quality, shown great promise throughout the tournament and with such an amazing crowd backing, you never know where the roof of their achievement lies.
When the Bangladeshi team takes the field tomorrow, there will be a different kind of pressure, the pressure to show they can handle massive games, something they are not very well known for. However, the Bangladesh team that has played over the past week has shown significant difference from their ancestors, and one will not be surprised if they pull the biggest bunny out of their hat on Thursday. Pakistan on the other hand, would be happy to see Bangladesh in the finals. As they have a bad track record of losing crucial games to India. However the Pakistani team will not be as relieved as they were when they faced Bangladesh for the first time this tournament. They know the hosts will be upbeat and full of confidence and with a determination to win. When they say the clichéd “we are not taking the opponents lightly”, it will be more than formality one will assume.
The Pakistan team also has a point to prove, despite their unbelievable Test run; their one-day form has not been one to match the tests’. Coming to Asia cup following a whitewash in the hands of England, they will like nothing more than to take the Asia cup home. Winning the Asia cup would certainly prove to be a fine addition to the crown and would certainly be a cherry to top off their revival since the spot fixing tragedy.

Recent results

(Recent first)
Bangladesh: WWLLL
Pakistan: LWWLL

Final thoughts

In all likelihood, Pakistan are still expected to win the game and lift the trophy but the Bangladeshis will know, who have just come out of their biggest cricketing success, that the achievement on 20th March could very well become second best if they somehow manage to sneak past Pakistan tomorrow. In addition, given the sort of form they are in, it will take a brave man to bet against Bangladesh.

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Asia Cup 2012

Asia Cup 2012

Bangladesh fight but Pakistan prevail to win Asia Cup

22 March 2012

Bangladesh fell agonisingly short of winning their first ever major tournament as Pakistan handed the bitter pill to their less experienced opponent by winning the Asia Cup final by 2 runs. Bangladesh needed 9 runs to win the cup in the final over with 3 wickets in hand, but they could only manage 6 runs losing one more wicket in the last over bowled by Aizaz Cheema.

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Tamim Iqbal

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Bangladesh

Full Name: Tamim Iqbal Khan
Date of Birth: Mar 20, 1989, Chittagong
Major Team: Bangladesh, Asia XI, Bangladesh A, Bangladesh Under-19s, Chittagong Division
Playing Roll: Batsman
Batting Style: Left

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Aftab Ahmed

Aftab Ahmed
Bangladesh

Full Name: Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury
Date of Birth: Nov 10, 1985, Chittagong
Major Team: Bangladesh, Bangladesh Under-19s, Chittagong Division, Dhaka Warriors
Playing Roll: Batsman
Batting Style: Right
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium

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Enamul Haque

Enamul Haque
Bangladesh

Full Name: Enamul Haque
Date of Birth: Feb 27, 1966, Comilla, Chittagong
Major Team: Bangladesh, Chittagong Division
Playing Roll: Bowler
Batting Style: Left
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Nick Name: Moni

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Mahmudullah

Bangladesh

Full Name: Mohammad Mahmudullah
Date of Birth: Feb 04, 1986, Mymensingh
Major Team: Bangladesh, Bangladesh A, Bangladesh Under-19s, Dhaka Division
Playing Roll: All Rounder
Batting Style: Right
Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak
Nick Name: Riyad

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Nasir Hossain

Nasir Hossain
Bangladesh

Full Name: Mohammad Nasir Hossain
Date of Birth: Nov 30, 1991, Bangladesh
Major Team: Bangladesh, Bangladesh A, Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy, Bangladesh Under-19s, Barisal Division, Rajshahi Division
Playing Roll: All Rounder
Batting Style: Right
Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak

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Abdur Razzak

Abdur Razzak
Abdur Razzak
Bangladesh

Full Name: Abdur Razzak
Date of Birth: Jun 15, 1982, Khulna
Major Team: Bangladesh, Asia XI, Khulna Division, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Playing Roll: Bowler
Batting Style: Left
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Nick Name: Raj

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Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh

Full Name: Shakib Al Hasan
Date of Birth: Mar 24, 1987, Magura, Khulna
Major Team: Bangladesh, Bangladesh A, Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, Khulna Division, Worcestershire
Playing Roll: All Rounder
Batting Style: Left
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox

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লিবিয়ার প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী দুটি গোষ্ঠীর সংঘর্ষে নিহত ২০

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ঢাকা, মার্চ ২৭: লিবিয়ার দক্ষিণাঞ্চলে প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বী দুটি গোষ্ঠীর মধ্যে সংঘর্ষে অন্তত ২০ জন নিহত হয়েছেন। আল-জাজিরা টেলিভিশনের অনলাইন খবরে বলা হয়েছে আজ মঙ্গলবার দেশটির দুই জঙ্গিগোষ্ঠীর মধ্যে বন্দুকযুদ্ধে ২০ জন নিহত ও ৪০ জনেরও বেশি জঙ্গি আহত হয়েছে।

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এর আগে রোববার থেকেই সাবেক এই দুই বিদ্রোহী গোষ্ঠীর মধ্যে সংঘর্ষ ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। লিবিয়ার চতুর্থ বৃহত্তম শহর শাবার প্রান্তে জঙ্গিরা এই বন্দুকযুদ্ধে লিপ্ত হয়। এ বিষয়ে ওইদাত আল-হিফনাউই নামের এক শাবা যোদ্ধা বলেন, বিমানবন্দর  রোড এবং বিমানবন্দরের প্রবেশ পথকে কেন্দ্র করে এ সংঘর্ষ চলে। এতদিন প্রবেশ পথটি টিবু গোষ্ঠীর নিয়ন্ত্রণে ছিল।

তিনি দাবি করেন, বিমানবন্দরটি এখন পুরোপুরি শাবা গোষ্ঠীর দখলে। তবে, এই মুহূর্তে সেটি অকার্যকর রয়েছে। তবে এ ব্যাপারে টিবু গোষ্ঠীর পক্ষ থেকে এখনো কোনো বক্তব্য পাওয়া যায়নি।

শেয়ারনিউজ২৪....... 

লাফার্জ সুরমা সিমেন্ট এবারও ডিভিডেন্ড ঘোষণা করেনি

ঢাকা, মার্চ ২৭: শেয়ারবাজারের তালিকাভুক্ত সিমেন্ট খাতের লাফার্জ সুরমা সিমেন্ট শেয়ারহোল্ডারদের জন্য কোনো ধরনের ডিভিডেন্ড ঘোষণা করেনি। আজ পরিচালনা পর্ষদের বোর্ড সভায় ৩১ ডিসেম্বর ২০১১ সমাপ্ত অর্থবছরের আর্থিক প্রতিবেদন পর্যালোচনা করে কোন প্রকার ডিভিডেন্ড না দেয়া সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়া হয়।

কোম্পানিটি কয়েক বছর ধরে শেয়ারহোল্ডারদের কোনো ধরনের ডিভিডেন্ড প্রদান করছে না। interior designing


‘জেড’ ক্যাটাগরির এই কোম্পানিটি ২০০৩ সালে পুঁজিবাজারে তালিকাভুক্ত হয়। এর ১১৬১৩৭৩৫০০টি শেয়ারের মধ্যে উদ্যোক্তা পরিচালকদের কাছে ৫৮.৮৭ শতাংশ, প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক বিনিয়োগকারীদের কাছে ৫.৭৭ শতাংশ, বিদেশী বিনিয়োগকারীদের কাছে ১৩.৯১ শতাংশ এবং সাধারণ বিনিয়োগকারীদের কাছে রয়েছে ২১.৪৫ শতাংশ শেয়ার।


শেয়ারনিউজ২৪/আর/পিএস/১৮৩০ঘ.

Sari-wrapped cheerleaders this IPL season!

Tue, Mar 27th, 2012 8:04 pm BdST

New Delhi, Mar 27 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) – The upcoming session of the Indian Premier League (IPL), India's glamour-packed cricket tournament, will see a sartorial anomaly come to life — cheerleaders wrapped in saris.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, has decided to cover their cheerleaders in one of the most traditional Indian outfits — a marked departure from their 2008 wardrobe when a lot of skin, from midriff to thighs, was on display.

All these sari-clad cheerleaders would be "local hires" and will dance to classical Bengali music in between boundaries and fall of wickets. The team management is of the opinion this will help connect with Bengali cricket fans and improve ticket sales.

This is not the first time an IPL team has shunned short skirts and pompoms for a more conservative costume. Last year, the newest addition to the IPL franchise — Pune Warriors — had classical dancers, called 'cheer queens' in ethnic clothes. The owners had said these 'cheer queens' would showcase India's rich and diverse culture on an international platform.

But could it be that this change in attire has less to do with a new-found respect for Indian culture, and more with economics? Since the 1920s, some analysts have believed that during times of economic hardships, hemlines drop dramatically. The theory, known as the hemline index, has been put to test recently. In recession-hit 2008, full-length dresses had been in vogue. In 2010, as stock prices rose, mini-skirts made a comeback.

When the IPL burst on the scene in 2008, it was all about big salaries and high TV ratings. The heady cocktail of high-profile team owners, swashbuckling players, scantily dressed foreign cheerleaders and after-match parties had the nation hooked. For a while, that is. Over the last four years, the league's image has been tarnished by a series of scandals, TV ratings have dropped and team owners are still figuring out how to make the most of their investments.

So, is this switch to the sari a coincidence or does it reflect troubled times in what was called India's biggest sporting extravaganza? Will shorts and cartwheels make a comeback if the franchise's fortunes improve, or will the nine-yard fabric triumph?

bdnews24.com

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`Special gratitude to foreign friends`


Tue, Mar 27th, 2012 1:39 pm BdST


Dhaka, Mar 27 (bdnews24.com) –President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Haisna on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the foreigners who had supported the causes for the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

"I am offering my gratitude to all those, who offered us humanitarian and moral aids during our fight for freedom," president Mohammad Zillur Rahman told a function organised to honour the foreign friends at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"You stood by us from across the globe and encouraged us," he said.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said, "It is a singular honour for me to be in your midst at this solemn ceremony of awarding Bangladesh Liberation War Honour and Friends of Liberation War Honour to those who we owe a debt of gratitude for our hard-earned freedom." Hasina told the honouring function.

"In our pride, the foreign contributors to our liberation war in 1971 have been equal partners," she added.

The president and the prime minister gave the awards to 83 of the foreigners who stood for Bangladesh in the fight against Pakistani forces in 1971. Many had raised their voices against repression, genocide and put pressure on then the West Pakistan.

While India took bold steps in support of Bangladesh's struggle, many foreign politicians, diplomats, artistes, authors, journalists and students from across the world had come forward to back Bangladesh's causes for freedom in the face of widespread violation of human rights and war rules.

"It is matter of pride for us that many of our foreign friends sympathised with us, many took part in the 1971 liberation war," the prime minister said.

Representatives of heads of state or government of eight countries received the Liberation War Honour from the president.

Bangladesh, then the eastern wing of Pakistan, gained independence through a nine-month bloody war that ended with the surrender of thousands of Pakistani soldiers on Dec 16, 1971. The war cost the lives of about 3 million people while about 200,000 women were raped and nearly 10 million people took shelter in refugee camps in India.

Foreign minister Dipu Moni helped the president and the prime minister give the awards on Tuesday.

The chief justice, ministers, advisors to the prime minister, MPs, chiefs of the three forces and top government officials attended the programme.

bdnews24.com

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ACC rejects Bangladesh`s appeal

Tags: Asia Cup 2012, Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Aizaz Cheema, Mahmudullah Riyad, Asia Cup final
ACC rejects Bangladesh`s appealDhaka: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Monday rejected a complaint from Bangladesh that Pakistani pacer Aizaz Cheema deliberately blocked their batsman Mahmudullah Riyad in the last over during the tense chase in the Asia Cup final.

Chasing 237 for a victory in the Asia Cup final in Mirpur last week, Bangladesh fell short by two runs as they needed four from the last delivery. And the BCB had later appealed to the ACC about Cheema indulging in unsporting behaviour.

But the complaint was rejected as the ACC claimed that the incident was not reported by on-field umpires.

"We had received Bangladesh`s complaint but since the incident was not reported by the on-field umpires nothing can be done," Ashraful Huq, Chief Executive of the ACC, told AFP. Ashraful, himself a Bangladeshi national, also said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had also turned down the complaint.


"It could have happened then and there, in the final but since umpires and match-referee did not take any action then, so the matter is closed," said Ashraful. "I think the Bangladesh team played so well in the whole tournament, beating India and Sri Lanka -- World Cup 2011 finalists -- was no mean achievement and although they lost the final, the Bangladesh team won millions of hearts," he added.

The BCB had earlier said that it was planning to appeal with the ACC to award five penalty runs to the Bangladesh team and reverse the result of the Asia Cup final.

"We have repeatedly seen video recordings of the incident and are convinced Cheema tried to block Mahmudullah," Enayet Hossain Siraj, the chairman of the BCB cricket operations committee, had told reporters earlier.

ICC rules state that if a player is found to have blocked his rival deliberately while completing a run, the batting side is awarded five penalty runs and if a run-out has happened during the course of it, it is not given.


The delivery itself is not to be counted but the run will be accounted for even if the batsmen have not crossed each other. But whether the blocking was done deliberately is decided by the on-field officials.

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Bangladesh arrive in the big league
Published on Tuesday , March 27, 2012 at 11 : 54


Brave Bangladesh stumbled at the winning post. But had the team, which played so consistently right through the Asia Cup, so much as won the tournament there would have been wicked whispers. While Pakistan has a history of tanking against Bangladesh a millennium ago - well just 1999 actually - conspiracy theorists were also linking the India vote at the United Nations Human Rights Commission to Sri Lanka's lackluster show against the hosts.

Truth to tell, the form book was not turned upside down. The hosts had played mighty well against Pakistan in the league game too and if not for Umar Gul getting rid of, in the nick of time, a partnership progressing dangerously and Aizaz Cheema bowling Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh may well have sprung an early surprise. The Indians were overwhelmed by the emotional occasion of Sachin Tendulkar's century of centuries to concentrate on winning the match. Their focus was off for a couple of hours, sufficient for a performing team with a belief in itself to shape a fine challenge.

The Sri Lankans had shot their bolt after having come within 16 runs of winning the tri-series finals in Australia. A tour of that country is the most draining of mind and body and it takes a while to recover from its stresses and strains. By the time they ran into Bangladesh, the Sri Lankans, even under the far more inspirational Mahela Jayawardene, were a spent force. To see them lose to the hosts' smart strategy of choosing to chase whenever they could was to see the form book being upheld rather than being upturned.

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The locals know how mush more comfortable it is to chase when the dew seems to let the ball slide on nicely or sit up and beg to be hit if pitched short. And there were plenty of Indian bowlers willing to pitch it short because they had no better ideas and the Bangladesh late middle order knew exactly what to do with such good offerings. It's a pity then that Abdur Razzak should miss that pull against the Cheema delivery that had all the markings of a winning boundary written on it. Nerves got the better of the chasers on their biggest big night out.

There was really no need for the stewards to order an enquiry. But it's not as if the ICC ever does anything like ordering reviews after a tournament. They would rather wait for some media sting operation to spill the beans before pretending to express concern for the welfare of the game and to justify all those sums spent on the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit. Also, it has become a fashion to point fingers at the illegal betting market of Asia to keep repeating ad nauseam its reach, its clout, its honey traps and its modus operandi.

The fact remains Pakistan has started playing honestly to win and much has changed in Asia since then. However narrow the margin, winning the Asia Cup proved many things for Pakistan cricket. If they so much as draw a lesson from what Misbah-ul-Haq's team has achieved in playing to win, they would not disturb the arrangement and start looking for replacement captains who will soon enough be announcing their retirements in the style of Shahid Afridi who to date has had more farewells than Dame Melba.

What added the intriguing twist to the tale was the heroic effort of Bangladesh in staying in the Asia Cup until the very last ball in their dash for victory that was foiled only by their own lack of imagination at the winning post. They needed a finisher and unfortunately none had stayed on the vital occasion. Until they actually win a competition at this level, the final will always be the one that got away.

Given the background of all the in which the cup was held, it was a fair enough result at the end. There are always gratuitous comments, including from Asians like Ehsan Mani who headed the ICC, on what the gambling market of Asia must do or what the governments must do to legalise betting. The latter is an utopian solution, which will never be countenanced in countries that cannot, for various historical reasons, show the political will.

The truth is cricket has to do far more to secure itself from extraneous influences and that can come only with proper surveillance on players. In the Asian environment, the cricketer is god and hence no one would act against them. With the rise of Bangladesh, Asia has a full house now and to ensure that such politically disparate nations can engage in sport without politics is a grand notion and cricket must strive to keep it that way. More competitions like the Asia Cup with a heart-stopping finish would do nicely to up the image once again.

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