Abdullah Al Mehdi

22-year-old Afif Hossain is one of the young cricketers who managed to emerge out of Bangladesh cricket’s ongoing gloom.

The wicket of Mehedi Hasan Miraz cannot be considered a prized scalp by any measure, although it was just the kind of early breakthrough that Chattogram Challengers needed from Mehedi Hasan Rana as they romped to a six-wicket win over Khulna Tigers yesterday.

Dhaka Platoon upstaged Khulna Tigers in a close Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) match at the Sylhet International Stadium yesterday even as Khulna skipper Mushfiqur Rahim played an exceptional innings under pressure to take his side close.

The Sylhet phase was expected to induce more excitement in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) with more power-hitting on the menu to entertain a larger turnout of fans compared to the Dhaka phase matches.

Sabbir Rahman was once considered one of Bangladesh’s most formidable promising prospects. His ability to find more time when facing faster bowlers was counted on by the team management and his progress in away conditions saw his star rise in Bangladesh cricket after coming onto the scene in 2014.

Bangladesh succumbed to their fifth successive Test loss as India romped to an innings-and-46-run win in the second and final Test in Kolkata yesterday.

Bangladesh wilted under the Kolkata sun, surviving for just 47 minutes on the third to lose the second Test at the Eden Gardens by an innings and 46 runs yesterday.

If you ask a batsman where their off-stump is, they will tell you. But nobody quite ‘knows’ where their off stump is when they play a delivery.

Having won the toss, Bangladesh elected to bat first in the historic pink ball Test against India at the Eden Gardens yesterday. There was yet another batting collapse from the Bangladesh team as they were bundled out for 106 in 30.3 overs and the pink ball had nothing do with it.

Ahead of the second Test against India -- a day-night affair with a pink ball to start from today -- Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque wanted to correct the mistakes that undid his team during the first Test in Indore.

Pink fever has taken over Kolkata and myriad arrangements were in full flow for Bangladesh and India’s first ever pink-ball Test, which will get underway from 1:30pm (Bangladesh time) today.

Bangladesh will play their first Day-Night Test when they take on India in the second Test at Kolkata from November 22. The Tigers practiced during the morning yesterday with India’s practice scheduled for the afternoon and ahead of the Test at the City of joy, the Eden Gardens began its pink transformation.

Bangladesh’s demanding tour of India reached its last stop yesterday when the Tigers landed in Kolkata at around 3:00pm to take part in the second and final Test against India at the Eden Gardens from November 22.

Like India, Bangladesh were gearing up for their first ever pink-ball Test for the second and final match of the series in Kolkata.

Bangladesh pacer Abu Jayed, who impressed with his ability to swing the ball during the first Test against India, insisted that he kept a discerning eye on India pacer Mohammad Shami during the match to learn key aspects of swing bowling.

“I don’t think there was any lack in preparation. If you look at the eight players that arrived for the Test series, all of them played four-day matches before coming. I didn’t think there would be a problem. I thought they would be able to adjust well.”

Bangladesh took to the field in the morning session on Day Two hoping to find means to thwart the India batting line-up from getting a big score after starting the day with an overnight score of 86 for one.

India were firmly on top against Bangladesh as the hosts piled on the runs to take a huge 343-run lead with four wickets in hand at the end of the second day of the first Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore yesterday.

During the evenings in Indore, you better have an empty stomach. With a myriad of food outlets strewn across the city, sustenance is never a concern. However, even amongst this plethora of options to choose from, one place in particular called ‘Chappan Dukan’ stands head and shoulders above the rest.

A cool breeze blowing across the ground in the morning comforted the players in otherwise hot and sunny conditions as Bangladesh elected to bat in the first Test against India at the Holkar Stadium in Indore yesterday. There was however no respite from the heat generated by a rampant Indian pace trio for the Bangladesh batsmen.