Although the ODI series against Afghanistan ended in disappointment for Bangladesh, as they suffered a five-wicket defeat in the third ODI and lost the three-match series 2-1, it marked a promising start in the 50-over format for the country’s newest pace sensation Nahid Rana.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan have traded places in the latest update of the ICC ODI rankings after the three-match ODI series between the sides with the Tigers slipping down one spot to number nine and the Afghans moving above them to number eight.

Ferguson was struck down with the injury soon after becoming his nation's sixth bowler to take a T20 hat-trick as New Zealand won by five runs in Dambulla on Sunday to split the series 1-1.

The 39-year-old played a massive part in ensuring Afghanistan clinched a 2-1 series triumph over Bangladesh in Sharjah on Monday as they registered a narrow five-wicket victory on the back of an eighth ODI century from opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz hinted that dew might have played a big role in his team’s failure to defend their score of 244-8 in the third ODI against Afghanistan and concede the three-match series 2-1 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE yesterday.

The first Test will be played in Antigua from November 22 and the second match will take place in Jamaica from November 30.

In all likelihood, Miraz, named vice-captain, is set to captain the side in West Indies Tests, taking over duties from Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been ruled out of the upcoming Tests due to a groin strain. Shanto, who was also unable to play yesterday due to that injury, talked about Miraz’s innings at the interval.

Mahmudullah Riyad fell in the nervous nineties for the first time in his international career, but not before the veteran smashed a brilliant run-a-ball 98 to propel Bangladesh to 244 for eight in the series-deciding third ODI against Afghanistan in Sharjah yesterday.

Meanwhile, league leaders Sylhet Division took a massive lead of 223 runs after they bowled out Khulna Division for 273 runs in their first innings at the Cox’s Bazar Academy Ground.

Afghanistan need 245 runs to win.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to miss the series-deciding third ODI against Afghanistan today and also the forthcoming two-Test series against the West Indies owing to a groin strain, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) informed through a media release today.

India coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday backed "incredibly tough men" Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prove their critics wrong and find form in Australia.

Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly fractured his hand while batting against Pakistan in the third one-day international on Sunday and will miss the Twenty20 series against the tourists, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will not take part in the third and final ODI against Afghanistan today in Sharjah owing to a groin injury, confirmed a Bangladesh Cricket Board official.

"It is great to spend time in the middle," Buttler said. "I was a bit scratchy for the first few balls but I managed to come through that period and really enjoyed it. It was great to be back out there.

Bangladesh take on Afghanistan in the series-deciding third and final ODI in Sharjah today in the absence of a few key players and their senior-most statesman Mahmudullah Riyad searching for runs.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and Hashmatullah Shahidi – captains of Bangladesh and Afghanistan teams – will be looking to the heavens to win the toss before the first ball is bowled in the series-decider of the three-match ODI series between the sides at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.

Lockie Ferguson unleashed a blistering spell of fast bowling, claiming a hat-trick to power New Zealand to a nail-biting five-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20 at Dambulla on Sunday.

An unbeaten 47 from Tristan Stubbs, and a 42-run partnership with Gerald Coetzee, saw South Africa haul themselves over the line for a three-wicket win over India in their Twenty20 international at St George’s Park on Sunday.

Bangladesh have announced the squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies beginning with the first Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on November 22. As expected Mushfiqur Rahim will not be able to play the Test series following a fracture in the tip of his left index finger.