India wins their seventh Asia Cup title beating Bangladesh by 3 wickets

India beat Bangladesh by three wickets in the final match of the 2018 Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday (September 28). With this triumph, the ‘Men in Blue’ snatched the trophy for the seventh time in 14 events. It was bad luck for team Bangladesh. They reached the Asia Cup final third time in the last four seasons and each time handed a defeat by a narrow margin.

India’s stand-in captain, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and invited Bangladesh to bat first. Riding on Liton Das’ maiden ODI century, the Tigers scored 222 runs losing all wickets in 48.3 overs. The right-handed batsman scored 121 runs off 117 balls. In his innings, he hit 12 fours and two sixes. He made open with Mehidy Hasan Miraz who scored 32 runs before being run out. The opening pair made a 120-run partnership. However, apart from these two players, only Soumya Sarkar could reach the double figure as he scored 33 runs. Because of the poor performances of the middle-order batsmen including Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun and Mahmudullah- the ‘Men in Green and Red’ failed to set a competitive score to defend. Another fact that went against Bangladesh is that they suffered three run outs. 

For India, Kuldeep Yadav claimed three wickets while Kedar Jadhav took two wickets. Both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah took one wicket each.

In reply, India reached the target in the last ball of their innings. For India, Rohit Sharma scored the highest run of 48 runs from 55 balls. Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni played useful innings of 37 and 36 runs respectively. Kedar Jadhav and Kuldeep Yadav remained not out on 23 and 5 and led their team to a thrilling three-wicket win.

For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain took two wickets each while Nazmul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza and Mahmudullah equally shared three wickets.

Scorecard- http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8532/scorecard/1153255/bangladesh-vs-india-final-asia-cup-2018-19

Source- https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/news/184142/Tigers-make-222-despite-Liton-ton

Was Liton Das out?

The dismissal of Bangladeshi cricketer Liton Das in the final match of the 2018 Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday (September 28) created a lot of controversy in social media. Considering it a wrong decision given by the TV umpire or third umpire, Bangladesh cricket fans burst out of anger. Cricket crazy fans claimed that this decision was responsible for Bangladesh’s defeat. They did not stop here. To show anger and hatred towards the cricket’s governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC), thousands of followers raised a storm in social media, including Facebook and Twitter, calling ICC as “Indian Cricket Council”. 

This contentious decision was given in the last ball of the 41st over. Liton Das was batting against Kuldeep Yadav, who gave a googly in the last ball. Beating the batsman, the ball went to the gloves of the wicketkeeper, who instantly broke the wickets and appealed to the leg-umpire for out. Leg-umpire being not sure forwarded it to the TV umpire who then reviewed it from different angles for quite a long time and signaled for out. On the basis that his back toe was on the line and not behind it, he was given out. 

No doubt, this decision surprised the whole world. During the match, commentators said they were not sure if Liton Das was out. They also expected that, in this case, the benefit of doubt would be given to the batsman, but TV umpire Rod Tucker had something else in his mind. It looked like he was biased towards Indian cricket team. I hope that ICC will take some kind of action against the TV umpire to prevent this type of controversial decisions in future.

The 23-year-old right-handed batsman scored 121 runs off 117 balls and single-handedly kept Bangladesh in the match. If he were not given out, more runs could have been added to the scoreboard, meaning Bangladesh bowlers would have had a much better total to defend. However, Bangladesh was bundled out for 222 in 48.4 overs.

Source- https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/icc-liton-das-dismissal-bangladesh-fans-foul-cry-asia-cup-2018-india-vs-bangladesh-1352272-2018-09-29

Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 3 runs and keeps their Asia Cup final hope alive

In Super Four round of the 2018 Asia Cup, Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by three runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday (September 23) and with this victory, they kept their hope of playing in the tournament final alive.

Bangladeshi left-arm fast bowler, Mustafizur Rahman, played the most crucial role. Because of his brilliant last over bowling, Bangladesh could win the match in the end. The Afghans were in need of eight runs to win the match and eventually kept them in the tournament, but Mustafiz gave only four runs. As a result, Afghanistan’s innings ended in 246 for 7 in 50 overs. 

For Afghanistan, Mohammad Shahzad and Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 53 and 71 runs respectively. It was Shahidi’s third consecutive fifty. He along with Mohammad Shahzad added 63 runs for the third wicket stand and then 78 runs with skipper Asghar Afghan in the fourth wicket.

Despite losing these three wickets, Afghanistan looked set for a victory as they required just 58 runs with five wickets left at hand. However, the rest of the players like Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Rashid Khan and Gulbadan Naib tried hard to lead their team to victory, but because of Bangladeshi bowlers, their attempt failed.

For Bangladesh, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman took two wickets apiece while Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah took one wicket each.

Coming to bat first, Bangladesh scored 249 runs for 7 in their stipulated overs. The Tigers could put on this competitive score riding on two fifties from Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes. These two players also made a 128-run partnership in the sixth wicket stand. Mahmudullah scored 74 runs off 81 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Imrul played an unbeaten innings of 72 facing 89 balls. He hit six fours in his innings. With this performance, he showed the management that not selecting him in the squad was a wrong decision.

Opener Liton Das was just 9 runs short from his maiden half century, but his 41-run innings saved Bangladesh from a disaster after losing two early wickets of Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mohammad Mithun within 6 overs. However, Liton Das made a 63-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim in the third wicket stand. Bangladesh innings could have been bigger if Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan were not run out.

For Afghanistan, Aftab Alam claimed three wickets while Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took one wicket each.

Mahmudullah was named the Player of the Match for his match saving innings and the valuable wicket of Shahzad.

Scorecard- http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8532/scorecard/1153252/afghanistan-vs-bangladesh-4th-match-super-four-asia-cup-2018-19

Source-

https://bdnews24.com/cricket/2018/09/23/bangladesh-lose-shanto-mithun

Bangladesh beats Sri Lanka by 137 run in the Asia Cup opener

Bangladesh cricket team started their Asia Cup campaign with an amazing 137-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday (September 15) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

Winning the toss, Bangladesh ODI skipper, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, decided to bat first. Tigers could manage to score 261 runs losing all wickets in 49.3 overs. Mushfiqur Rahim played his career best innings of 150-ball 144, including 11 fours and 4 sixes. It was his sixth ODI century. However, on his way to scoring ODI hundred, he got two lives on 10 and 85. He along with Mohammad Mithun shared a 131-run partnership for the third-wicket stand. Mohammad Mithun scored his maiden ODI fifty. He scored 63 from 68 balls. 

Despite Mushfiqur scoring century, Tamim Iqbal got the maximum media publicity. Photos and videos of this southpaw batting with one hand spread across the social media. His wrist was hit by a delivery from Suranga Lakmal, forcing him to retire hurt. After the departure of Mustafizur in the 47^th over, he came to bat with one hand, allowing Mushfiqur to score as many runs as possible and make his highest ODI score before he was caught on the boundary with three balls left in the innings. He scored 2 runs facing four balls and remained unbeaten.

Lasith Malinga finished with an impressive bowling figure of 4-23 in 10 overs. With this match, the 35-year-old fast bowler made his return to ODI cricket from retirement. He played his last ODI in September last year. Suranga Lakmal, Amila Aponso and Thisara Perera took one wicket each.

In reply, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 124 in 35.2 overs, Dilruwan Perera top scoring with 29 runs. Apart from him, two other players reached 20 for Angelo Mathews’ side. It was Bangladesh’s seventh win in 45 ODI matches against Sri Lanka.

For Bangladesh, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took two wickets apiece while Shakib Al Hasan, Rubel Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain equally shared three wickets.

Scorecard link- http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8532/scorecard/1153243/bangladesh-vs-sri-lanka-1st-match-group-b-asia-cup-2018-19

Source- https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/cricket/2018/09/15/bangladesh-to-bat-first-against-sri-lanka-in-asia-cup-opener

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/45536128

Asia Cup 2018: India declares a 16-man squad without Virat Kohli

Ahead of the Asia Cup 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a 16-man squad in Mumbai on Saturday. This squad will be led by Rohit Sharma because India’s regular skipper Virat Kohli has been given rest after a straining England tour. MSK Prasad, BCCI chief selector, has taken this decision considering the workload of the player. The decision will help the board to preserve some of its valuable players. Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan will be seen playing the role of vice-captain. 

Khaleel Ahmed is the only uncapped player in this squad. The 20-year-old left-arm medium pacer caught the attention of the national team selectors with his performance in the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 taking 12 wickets in three innings, including 3 for 29 against Sri Lanka in the final of the Tri-Nation Under-19 tournament in Colombo.

Ambati Rayudu makes his comeback in the team after two years as the 32-year-old middle-order batsman played his last international match in June 2016. He has replaced Suresh Raina who was also replaced by the same player in the recently concluded England series.

The defending champions, India, will start their Asia Cup campaign with the match against Hong Kong on September 18 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

India squad for Asia Cup 2018: Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan (VC) , KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed.

Source- https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/rohit-sharma-to-lead-indian-squad-for-asia-cup-118090100379_1.html