Asia Cup 2022 - Ban vs SL - Shakib Al Hasan

Among Bangladesh's several errors, Shakib Al Hasan rued Mahedi Hasan's no-balls the most in their two-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka that knocked them out of the Asia Cup.

Mahedi's first no-ball allowed Kusal Mendis, who was reprieved on four occasions, to bat beyond the seventh over. Kusal who opened the innings, top scored with a 37-ball 60 to lay the foundation for Sri Lanka's 184 chase.

His second no-ball came in the last over when Sri Lanka needed three runs off four deliveries. In a comical turn of events, as soon as Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana ran two, they heard the buzzer that pointed to Mahedi's no-ball. Soon enough, the giant screens flashed the replay and Bangladesh knew their fate had been sealed. This moment was particularly disappointing for Shakib as he reflected on the team's performance under pressure, and their early exit from the competition.

"No captain wants no-balls from their team," Shakib said. "It is a big crime when a spinner bowls a no-ball. We bowled a lot of wides and no-balls today. We were not disciplined. We didn't know what to do when we were under pressure. We knew Kusal (Mendis) plays spin really well, so if we could get him early, it would have set platform for our spinners to come into the game.

"But till he was there, it was hard for our spinners to bowl. He was dropped on two, and then when he was out, it was a no-ball. The spinner bowling a no-ball is a big no-no. Our spinners usually don't bowl no-balls, but today it was proved that we break down under pressure. We are losing in crunch moments. If we won 50 per cent of the close matches, we would have a better record in this format."

What also hurt Bangladesh was Ebadot Hossain's inconsistency in his final two overs which went for 38. The penultimate over, especially, turned the tide Sri Lanka's way as he conceded 17, including a no-ball and a wide. This undid all his good work until then. At the end of his first two overs, he had unreal figures of 3 for 13.

Ebadot Hossain had mixed returns on T20I debut•Getty Images

"Ebadot has never played a pressure game like this, regardless of his experience," Shakib said. "He has a lot to understand. He brought us into the game after his first two overs. We thought it was going to be his day. You expect a bowler to have good rhythm and be positive when he has taken three wickets in his first two overs. It wasn't to be. He can learn a lot from this game.

"Our plan was to get their batsmen out. That's exactly what we did. They needed 25 or 26 in the last two overs. Eight wickets down, you back your main bowlers to defend those runs against their tail."

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Shakib underlined the importance of having to identify the best fast bowlers soon. "This was an eye-opener to see how we bowl in pressure situations," he said. "You can expect good 10-12 overs of fast bowling in this type of pitch. Only those who can deliver will be in the team.

"It is simple math. We looked at four fast bowlers here, and we will look at more in the tri-series in New Zealand so that we have a clearer idea who can do well in Australia."

Shakib then focused on the few positives from the tournament. Like how the move to bump up Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open the innings in his first T20I in nearly four years, worked.

Mehidy responded with an aggressive 26-ball 38, hitting two fours and as many sixes. Shakib said this was something they had contemplated against Afghanistan too, before going in with regulars Mohammad Naim and Anamul Haque.

"He has done well in our domestic tournaments, so we had faith in him," Shakib said of Mehidy's promotion. "Even in the first game, he was in the mix to bat in the top-order. He didn't play the first game. He showed his character today. He wasn't nervous. He was playing after three years so it wasn't easy for him. You have to give him a lot of credit, the way he handled the pressure in the first six overs."

Shakib also asked for a bit of patience from everyone as they try to work out plans going into the T20 World Cup. For starters, he was encouraged by the team's attitude and body language.

"I have returned to T20I captaincy with these two matches. We have a lot in mind when we make a new beginning. Our planning started with the game against Afghanistan, so there will be right and wrong.

"We have a plan in place. We want to reach a goal slowly. But if you notice our attitude and body language in these two games, despite the poor approach in batting in the first game, I think we have improved from our last three or four series."

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84

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Match Preview - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2022, 5th Match, Group B

Big picture

It is a knockout match, so perhaps we should ask the tough question. Is this a real rivalry? Pull on your criss-cross deerstalker hats, Sherlocks. Get your magnifying glass. Clasp your notebooks tight. We about to investigate.

To understand what happened between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the 2018 Nidahas trophy, we must roll the clock back to the previous Bangladesh Premier League, where Nazmul Islam, an unassuming slow left-arm bowler, sought to sex up his workaday act by adding a fun celebration. This is the birth of the now-infamous "Nagin dance". In Nazmul's hands, it was joyful. Innocent even. Little did he know how this was all about to blow up.

When he claimed wickets against Sri Lanka in a limited-overs series early in that year, he busted out his celebration again. Hands cocked above his head, like a cobra, a little body-thrusting action. Why wouldn't he? But then, drama. Danushka Gunathilaka did an imitation of the dance when he got a wicket in that series.

Gunathilaka might say it was all just a little bit of fun, sir, and he didn't mean anything by it. But then you can also see from the Bangladesh perspective, how it might have seemed a mockery.

So when Mushfiqur Rahim hit the winning runs in a big chase against Sri Lanka in Colombo, he did the mock-Nagin dance at Gunathilaka, who was walking past him. Other Sri Lankan players then started doing it to mock Mushfiqur, I guess? Then the whole Bangladesh team started doing it, almost in solidarity with Nazmul and Mushfiqur.

Towards the business end of the series, there was a tense game between the two sides, and after some truly wild gesticulating and on-field arguments, the Bangladesh dressing room door at the Khettarama stadium was left shattered, when they won.

If this sounds like grown men acting childish, like a little celebration being blown way out of proportion, like fans getting riled up over meaningless theatrics, or if you've got dumber reading this preview until now, all of the above are valid feelings

But we are chroniclers here at ESPNcricinfo. It is our job to present facts. Even when the facts are stupid.

But we're in sports media, so I guess we should try hype this up. It could be close? If nothing else, these teams are evenly matched. Between Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin, Bangladesh certainly have a more experienced seam attack. Sri Lanka perhaps have the better spinners in Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. On the batting front, Bangladesh have the experience of Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur. But the likes of Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis have prospered against Bangladesh in the past. There's not a lot to separate the teams

Either way, whoever wins this game advances to the Super 4 round. Whoever loses returns home much earlier than their fans would have hoped.

Celebrations in the Bangladesh dressing room in Colombo went a bit too far in 2018•Andrew Fernando/ESPNcricinfo

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LWLLL Bangladesh LLWLL

In the spotlight

Kusal Mendis has been in excellent Test-match form recently, before extending that to the shortest format, when he dominated Sri Lanka's premier T20 domestic tournament this year, shortly before setting off to the Asia Cup. He seems to have been sent up the order to open the batting in this series. Although his T20I stats are otherwise modest, this is a position he enjoys, striking at 137 when he opens, averaging 32 (career numbers are 121 and 20). He is auditioning to play this role in the T20 World Cup in October.

Amid Bangladesh's struggle in T20s over the last 12 months, Mahedi Hasan has been one of the rare consistent performers. He has the best economy rate in world cricket among bowlers who have played at least 25 innings, proving once again that orthodox offspin can still work. He brings out the side-arm deliveries from time to time, but is generally quite tight with his orthodoxy. Mahedi is also a decent hitter, and could even be used as an opener.

Pitch and conditions

It seems likely that the match will be played on a used surface, which means it might be a little more spin-friendly than tracks we have seen at this tournament. Temperatures will be scorching - likely in the low 30-degree celsius range, even in the evening.

Team news

Sri Lanka might just go in with the same XI, despite the big loss against Afghanistan. They may consider bringing the in-form Ashen Bandara into the middle order, however, perhaps in place of Danushka Gunathilaka. Or they might move Gunathilaka back up to the top of the order, and leave Pathum Nissanka out.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis (wk), 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 5 Danushka Gunathilaka, 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Bangladesh have a batting quandary which could see them change the opening pair again. Mushfiqur Rahim was talked about as one of those options although he would have to agree to this unusual role. Bangladesh also could revisit their bowling attack.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mohammad Naim, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 4 Afif Hossain, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman/Nasum Ahmed

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka have won eight of the 12 completed matches between these teams, but lost two of the last three.

Kusal Mendis has scores of 53, 10, 57, and 11 against Bangladesh, striking at 169 across those four innings. He has opened the batting on all those occasions, twice in Bangladesh, and twice in Colombo.

In five innings in the UAE so far, Mahedi Hasan hasn't been particularly penetrative, taking just three wickets. But he has been economical, even if not quite up to his standards elsewhere, conceding 7.45 an over.

Quotes

"Our opening pair isn't clicking at all. We are missing Litton Das who is injured. I am hopeful the openers can bat to a plan. You can get out trying to hit the first ball, but it hurts us when nobody shows the intent. I want to see the intent. I want to see the change in mindset."
Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud, when asked about the possible batting improvements against Sri Lanka.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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Zim vs Ban 2022 - 2nd ODI - Russell Domingo

Bangladesh's bowlers were out of sync with the plans that had been discussed, and repeated mistakes, according to head coach Russell Domingo, and that was the reason they failed to defend two decent totals in a row in the ODI series against Zimbabwe. Both matches were lost by five wickets, as 304 and 291 were chased down with enough to spare; this, after Zimbabwe won the T20I series too.

This was Bangladesh's poorest bowling performance in an ODI series in the last 18 months. And it came after their best performance, when they beat West Indies 3-0 last month.

"[Zimbabwe] were 60 [62] for 3 and 49 for 4 [in the first and second ODIs, respectively], but the boys didn't deal with the pressure well enough," Domingo said. "Too many knock-ons in the field, too many soft balls, too many balls bowled to the wrong field, wrong options taken. The boys are trying but they are not learning quickly enough. They are making those same mistakes over and over again. That's the most disappointing thing. Good teams will punish you in these conditions, where it is difficult to defend the scores. They got punished by four really good hundreds [two from Sikandar Raza, and one each from Innocent Kaia and Regis Chakabva] in the last two games.

"Bottom line is that you need hundreds to get match-winning scores. Some great lessons learned for us"

Russell Domingo

"You have got to give credit to Zimbabwe, particularly Sikandar, he has played fantastically well. Two of the better one-day hundreds you will find under pressure. We left 20 runs out [in both the ODIs]. It is very difficult to defend in the afternoon. Zimbabwe thoroughly deserved the win in both those matches."

Domingo pointed out Bangladesh could have been in a better position had one or more of their batters played long innings. In the first, Bangladesh's top four got fifties, but Litton Das' 81, before he retired hurt, was the best. In the second, Mahmudullah's 80 not out was the best effort.

"It is very difficult to criticise the one-day team, based on their performance of the last year-and-a-half," Domingo said. "They have had some amazing results and fantastic wins. Batting second here is a bit of a factor but there's a lot of work to be done. Zimbabwe has four hundreds, we have got none. Bottom line is that you need hundreds to get match-winning scores. Some great lessons learned for us.

"The World Cup is still a year-and-a-half away. Fortunately, these games don't count for [World Cup qualifying] points. We have got to see it as a great learning experience."

"We didn't have couple of important players in both formats. We didn't have Shakib [Al Hasan, for the T20Is], Mustafizur and Litton didn't play today. Hopefully they are back and fit," Domingo said. "The confidence is not high in T20s at the moment. Although we have made some improvements in our batting in the last couple of games, we have some way to go. It takes one or two wins in that format to get a bit of momentum."

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Zim vs Ban, 1st ODI, 2022 - Sikandar Raza

Sikandar Raza spent his formative years preparing to become a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). An eye condition prevented him from becoming one, but the time he spent in his childhood dreaming to be a fighter pilot, and the training he went through in the PAF college, have shaped his outlook in life and cricket to become a fighter, he says.

Raza went on to become a software engineer, and then a cricketer after starting quite late in the sport. After nine years in the international circuit, Raza is in red-hot form. In the last few weeks, he has been the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, the Player of the Series against Bangladesh in the T20I series, and the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 135 against Bangladesh in the first ODI on Friday.

Chasing 304, Zimbabwe were 62 for 3 in the 14th over. They hadn't beaten Bangladesh in 19 ODIs across nine years. The way Raza rescued Zimbabwe from there with his knock of 135 off 109 and took them across the line, it showed he wasn't too fazed by the pressure.

"There's pressure to do well and win the game, there's pressure. I won't lie," Raza told ESPNcricinfo on Friday. "Of course, it helps that I am from an Air Force background. We don't give up. I get hit, I get hurt, broken fingers, toes, etc. I don't care. I personally feel it helps spending the three-and-a-half years in PAF college. I will always be a fighter within myself. I couldn't become a fighter pilot. But I think as a person, I will always be a fighter. The training mentally and physically is paying dividends now."

Zimbabwe were chasing with the knowledge that the hard-hitting Ryan Burl, who suffered a side strain while bowling, may not bat. Raza was batting with the newcomer Innocent Kaia, and against a Bangladesh bowling attack hungry for wickets. He was also fighting pain after an inside edge slammed into his inner thigh earlier.

"I usually go out with a blank mind," Raza said. "I want to watch the ball. It is an ODI so I want to leave well if I can. Just play a couple of shots that will give me my boundary options. Otherwise, I make sure my shape is good. Make sure I am picking the length early enough.

"The innings was starting to flow. Innocent was playing magnificently, so the pressure was off me. We hit a few boundaries and then it was just momentum. The plan was to win the game but we broke it down to small parts. We wanted to achieve those small targets, and take it from there."

Raza was going well until the 25th over when the Zimbabwe pair seemed to have hit a wall. They batted quietly for about five overs but when Raza blasted Mustafizur Rahman down the ground for a six to bring up his half-century, Zimbabwe had turned a crucial corner.

"I think the secret to my six-hitting is my cricket bats," he explained. "I don't do anything different than what the other guys do. I just have good enough bats.

"I look for one or two balls that gives me the boundary. I make sure I time the ball well. Once I start timing the ball well, Allah has blessed me with the fact that if I hit it well, I can clear the big boundaries. Once you have the confidence, and you get the ball that you wanted, it is what it is after that. There's no real secret, basically."

Raza was also full of praise for Kaia, who struck his maiden hundred in only his fourth ODI. "He played a proper quality and class knock. It was a special innings. We play franchise cricket together. We spend a lot of time with him. I always told him that when the opportunity comes, I know that he will shine. His century was very satisfying to watch from the other end."

This was a big win for Zimbabwe, particularly in a format they have struggled in lately. "It was great to break that shackle. We didn't beat Bangladesh in nine years," Raza said. "They were 19-0 up on us. The wins are coming at the right time. India is coming. We are going to Australia. We have the World Cup to look forward to. It is a good time for Zimbabwe."

Raza, however, remained wary about Bangladesh's quality as an ODI side with two games still left in the series. "We can't take away the fact that Bangladesh is a big cricket country. They are sitting No. 1 or 2 in the [World Cup Super League] table. They won 2-1 [3-0] in West Indies. I refuse to disrespect Bangladesh. They are a powerhouse. Zimbabwe would love to win the series on Sunday. We want to turn up with the right attitude."

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Zim vs Ban - Fractured finger puts Bangladesh captain Nurul Hasan out of remainder of Zimbabwe tour

Nurul Hasan, Bangladesh's new T20I captain, was ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe tour following a finger injury during his side's seven-wicket win in the second T20I in Harare on Sunday. Nurul fractured his left index finger while keeping against fast bowler Hasan Mahmud, according to team physio team Muzadded Alpha Sany.

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Fresh clashes erupt in Guinea despite ban on protests

Protesters in capital Conakry suburbs burn tyres, overturn rubbish bins and throw stones at police vehicles as anger grows against junta and its handling of plans to return to democracy.

FNDC, an influential political coalition, called for the demonstrations to denounce the junta's "unilateral management" of the return to civilian rule (AFP)

Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces have erupted in Conakry despite a ban by the junta on demonstrations amid discontent with the regime's planning to transition back to democracy.

The latest clashes came after protests against Guinea's junta and its handling of plans to return to democracy brought the capital to a standstill on Thursday, with organisers claiming that one person was killed.

Protesters in the Conakry suburbs on Friday burned tyres, overturned rubbish bins and threw stones at police vehicles with officers responding with teargas, according to an AFP news agency journalist.

Thursday's protest took place ahead of comments by the chair of a regional bloc who claimed to have persuaded the junta to shorten its timeline for a return to democracy. The junta has not confirmed his comments.

The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), an influential political coalition, called for the demonstrations to denounce the junta's "unilateral management" of the return to civilian rule after it seized power in 2021.

READ MORE: ECOWAS ‘convinces’ Guinea to two-year transition of power

Rough return to democracy

A junta led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, which overthrew president Alpha Conde in September last year, has pledged to hand over power to elected civilians within three years. 

But regional powers have rejected this timeline, with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspending Guinea after the coup.

Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at a briefing in Bissau on Thursday, the ECOWAS regional bloc chair Umaro Sissoco Embalo said he had recently convinced Guinea's junta to hasten the return to democracy.

"I was in Conakry with the president of the commission (of ECOWAS) to make the military junta understand the decision of the summit of heads of state that the transition cannot exceed 24 months", Embalo said.

"They had proposed 36 months, but we succeeded in convincing them," he added.

But Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, a Guinean minister and spokesperson for the transitional government, told AFP that "neither the government nor the presidency confirms this information about the duration of the transition in Guinea".

READ MORE: Guinea junta leader announces 39-month transition period

Source: AFP

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ZIM vs BAN - T20Is

Zimbabwe will miss the services of fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh at home. The rest of the squad, though, is similar to the one that won the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier earlier this month, in Bulawayo.

Muzarabani sustained a tear in his thigh while Chatara suffered a collarbone fracture during the tournament that saw Zimbabwe book one of the last two spots for the T20 World Cup that will be held in Australia in October.

With their two spearheads ruled out, Zimbabwe have roped in pacer Victor Nyauchi in the 15-member squad. While Nyauchi has played only six Tests and a solitary T20I, he has a decent T20 record with 25 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 18.92. Allrounder Tony Munyonga and fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga, who had replaced Chatara and Muzarabani respectively in the squad during the qualifiers, have also been retained.

Zimbabwe had an excellent time at the qualifying tournament, where they remained unbeaten through the group stages before knocking off PNG in the semi final to book their place in the marquee tournament. They then brushed aside Netherlands in the final by 37 runs to lift the trophy, with Sikandar Raza starring with the ball.

The series against Bangladesh, which consists of three T20Is and three ODIs, sets off a busy couple of months for Zimbabwe, who will be hosting India in mid-August before travelling to Australia for three ODIs - their first visit to the country in 18 years.

The three T20Is against Bangladesh will take place on July 30, 31 and August 2. All matches will be staged in Harare.

Squad: Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva (wk), Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine (capt), Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams

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Former Paraguay leader faces travel ban over corruption

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday slapped a travel ban on Paraguay’s former president Horacio Cartes, accusing the businessman-turned-politician of corruption and links to “terrorist” groups.

Cartes, who led the South American nation from 2013 to 2018 and runs a business empire that has included tobacco and soccer teams, denied the allegations as “unfair and unfounded.”

The State Department declared Cartes and his three adult children ineligible to travel to the United States.

It said that Cartes “obstructed a major international investigation into transnational crime,” a reference to a money laundering scandal for which Brazil has sought the extradition of the former president.

“These actions undermined the stability of Paraguay’s democratic institutions by contributing to public perception of corruption and impunity within the office of the Paraguayan president,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

“Additionally, these actions enabled and perpetuated Cartes’ recently documented involvement with foreign terrorist organizations,” he added.

He did not specify further, but Paraguay’s Vice President Hugo Velazquez has accused the former leader of ties with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has allegedly profited on the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes through Paraguay and its porous three-way frontier with Argentina and Brazil.

Argentina in June grounded an airplane with Venezuelan and Iranian crew after Paraguayan intelligence linked a passenger to Iran’s elite Quds Force, which backs Hezbollah.

But Argentine President Alberto Fernandez later said it was a false allegation.

Cartes in a statement said he was ready to provide “all the supporting and first-source information that authorities need” to prove his innocence.

His lawyer, Pedro Ovelar, said at a press conference in Asuncion that Cartes “suffers persecution from the government” of his successor Mario Abdo Benitez, his rival for leadership of the Colorado party in internal December 18 elections.

Ovelar said the State Department’s decision was based on “biased information resulting from strong lobbying by his political opponents.”

Despite the alleged Hezbollah links, Cartes pleased the United States as president by making Paraguay one of the few nations to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, which the Palestinians also want as a future capital.

The decision was reversed by Abdo Benitez.

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