Ekush Tapader

The ball isn’t finding the middle of the bat; the timing is all wrong. This has been the story of Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy for a while now.

The day after a match, Bangladesh players usually avoid practice sessions. Considering the UAE heat and the packed tournament schedule, not heading off to the field on the only gap day between matches against Hong Kong and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi made even more sense.

"Nagin, Nagin!" shouted some fans at Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga from the gallery of the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The leg-spin bowling all-rounder didn't notice the chants at first, when he did, he responded with a faint smile.

Bangladesh are set to begin their Asia Cup campaign against Associate Nation Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi today. The Litton Das-led side enter the continental tournament on the back of a decent run of form, but even during Tuesday’s practice session, some familiar issues resurfaced.

For years, the Tigers' T20 story has been one of cautious cricket and squandered chances.

While Litton and Mustafizur bask in family time and freedom, some of their teammates are staying close to the grind.

Several fans expressed dismay at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday after discovering that food and water brought from outside was no longer permitted inside the venue -- a reversal of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) earlier decision that had allowed it for just one match.

Shanto didn’t lash out. He didn’t name names. But his departure is a loud, unmissable protest.

Bangladesh last played a Test in Colombo in 2017 -- at the P Sara Oval -- celebrating their 100th Test with a historic win over Sri Lanka.

That’s a question only time will answer. But there are other pressing questions we can’t ignore.

Canada-based midfielder Shamit Shome is set to make his Bangladesh debut in the Asian Cup Qualifier against Singapore on June 10. The 26-year-old, born to Sylheti parents, follows in the footsteps of Jamal Bhuiyan and Hamza Choudhury as another expatriate embracing his roots.

A few expatriates have made their way into Bangladesh football in recent times, with Canada-based Shamit Shome being the latest addition after England-based Hamza Choudhury, Fahamedul Islam from Italy, Finland-based Tarik Kazi, and Denmark-based Jamal Bhuiyan.

For any structure – a physical one like a skyscraper or an abstract one like Bangladesh cricket – the most important part is its foundation as once the foundation crumbles the structure is bound to come crashing down.

I In 2007 as the inaugural edition was about to start, Twenty20s were still widely viewed as the ‘fun’ version of cricket. Its reputation as the ‘fun’ version, prompted the ‘serious’ cricketers to distance themselves from it. Perhaps seeing something like a ‘bowl out’ decide the fate of tied matches inclined them to stay away from such frivolity.

Shanto’s strike rate is the second lowest among all captains of the 20-team T20 World Cup, barring the Uganda skipper Brian Masaba (108), who is a bowling all-rounder.

Bangladesh will begin their five-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe today at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on an outfield that has certainly seen better days.

“This many people usually don’t turn up to see a fitness test at six in the morning. I’m sure they are here because it’s happening at the Bangabandhu [National] Stadium,” said Shahriar Nafees, the current cricket operations manager, after the national team’s fitness test at the famed venue yesterday.

As I’m earning now, I have to give more. And I really enjoy doing it and also giving gifts to my family members. I have a younger brother, I have nephews and nieces from my sister’s side. I enjoy doing it for them

Just four years ago, Rana was nowhere near competitive cricket. The 21-year-old, who picked up a cricket ball for the first time after crossing 18, has made it to the national team in express speed.

When the Bangladesh team began their two-day training ahead of the first Test in Sylhet, pacer Shoriful Islam was in Dhaka, with the physicians trying to determine whether he was fit enough to play the match.