The Tigers' interim head coach was also happy with the preparation that Shakib has come with despite being out of the national team for a while.

Pant suffered a horrific accident in December 2022 when his car hit a central divider.

The right-arm off-break spinner has represented Afghanistan in two One-Day Internationals.

Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat stated that being the first Bangladesh umpire to make the cut in ICC's Elite Panel of umpires "is a matter of great honour".

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.

Riyan Parag's unbeaten 45-ball 84 propelled Rajasthan Royals to 185-5 and sealed a 12-run win over the Delhi Capitals in IPL on Thursday.

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who had initially opted to sit out the Sri Lanka series owing to fitness issues, joined the Bangladesh Test squad on Thursday ahead of their second and final match against the Lankans in Chattogram on Saturday. Having already suffered a 328-run thumping in the first Test in Sylhet, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto would be delighted to have the all-rounder available for the crucial contest. Shakib returned to the longer format after nearly a year-long absence. He last played a Test against Ireland in Mirpur in April last year and has not even played any longer-version domestic cricket since then. Photos: Rajib Raihan

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, suffered a 328-run hammering at the hands of the Lankans following an abysmal batting performance in the series opener in Sylhet. 

The leg-spinner has so far claimed nine wickets in three matches for Shinepukur.

“It is a great honour to be named on the ICC Elite Panel. To be the first from my country on the panel makes it extra special,” Sharfuddoula was quoted in an ICC media release.

Former Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan said that he believes the Tigers have the capability to do well and even win their upcoming Test against Sri Lanka.

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi said that his son-in-law Shaheen Shah Afridi deserves to be given enough time to prove his credentials as the T20I captain of the national team.

Mumbai Indians missed a trick by holding back Jasprit Bumrah in the opening six powerplay overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Heinrich Klaasen said after his side pummelled the five-times champions to post the highest Indian Premier League (IPL) total.

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis and spin bowler Ashton Agar have been dropped from Australia's contracts list for the 2024/25 season after falling out of favour with selectors.

Former national captain Mohammad Ashraful emphasized more importance on Shakib's experience rather than the numbers.

“I am totally surprised because we have not played this kind of cricket in the last six months. You can accept mistakes in one or two areas, but the whole team played differently; and that put us on the back foot. We could not perform 10 percent close to our ability,” Joty said at the post-match press conference.

It was records galore as the match also featured the highest run aggregate of 523 runs in 17 years of the IPL.

Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 277-3 for the highest-ever Indian Premier League total in a match against Mumbai Indians with Heinrich Klaasen unbeaten on 80 off 34 balls on Wednesday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi hinted at a change in leadership in T20Is ahead of the T20 World Cup in June. 

Kasun Rajitha will not be available for the second Test match as the player has suffered an injury to his left upper back area, said a press release from Sri Lanka Cricket today