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Doug Bracewell has said that New Zealand expect a more competitive limited-overs leg of the series against Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2012In some ways, New Zealand’s last few months can be personified in the journey of one of their new fast bowlers, 21-year-old Doug Bracewell. In four months, Bracewell has won all but one of the matches he has played in, including three Tests, and is part of what is becoming a braver, bolder New Zealand side.”I couldn’t ask for more. I may as well hang the boots up,” Bracewell joked. “It’s been good, it’s been awesome. Hopefully we can continue the form and can continue the momentum into the ODIs and Twenty20s.”An outsider without a central contract a short while ago, Bracewell is now part of all three international squads and has been a significant part of the continuity in the country’s cricket. “I like to play all forms,” he said. “I enjoy the T20s and the one-dayers. I’ve been going alright in T20s for Central Districts and hopefully I can take that form onto the international stage.”
Bracewell took nine wickets and scored 181 runs in the T20 HRV Cup recently and if his domestic form in that format mirrors his performance in first-class compared to Test cricket, New Zealand should ready themselves for a another star.They play Zimbabwe in three ODIs and two T20s and Bracewell said they expect a more competitive limited-overs leg of the series. “They [Zimbabwe] are probably more of a shorter-form team so we won’t be taking them lightly and we’ll want to back up this performance.”Validating one performance with an equal or better showing the next time is something that has become a mantra for New Zealand. After their victory against Australia in Hobart, which was engineered by Bracewell, New Zealand have concentrated on making sure they build on that. “We talked about backing up that Hobart performance and not taking Zimbabwe lightly,” Bracewell said. “Finishing a Test match in three days is unreal and the boys are feeling pretty confident. We’ll take a few days to let it sink in and our next target is to win these one-dayers.”Having been part of the touring party to visit Zimbabwe in November last year, Bracewell has first-hand knowledge of Zimbabwe’s potential. He was not part of the XI that were put to the sword by Zimbabwe’s batsmen in their record chase in the third ODI in Bulawayo but watched from the change room and made this observation. “They’ve got a few guys in the top order that can strike it pretty clean and if they get away, they can be hard to stop,” Bracewell said, alluding to the likes of Brendan Taylor and Malcolm Waller. ‘We don’t give them anything; we have to keep going hard.”While being careful not to show the smaller Southern African side less respect than the bigger one, Bracewell acknowledged that some part of New Zealand’s vision is trained on the series against South Africa. “Zimbabwe coming out here is a good test for us before South Africa,” he said. “Hopefully our batters can get into some form before they come out and our bowlers can do the same.”The bowling group has come under particular scrutiny, after New Zealand opted for a four-seam attack in their last two Tests. A clutch of young pacemen consisting of Bracewell, Tim Southee and Trent Boult are being lead by the veteran Chris Martin and the growing relationship between the four is adding to New Zealand’s strength. “Chris just does his own thing. He doesn’t get too wound up and he just backs himself,” Bracewell said. “He has been pretty good with me and Boultie [Boult]. He is a great bowler and he has a few decent words to say and I respect the way he goes about his game.”

Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis will appear before the ICC’s anti-corruption tribunal that will decide the case against the three suspended Pakistan players

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jan-2011Shahid Afridi and Waqar Younis have been asked to appear before the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing the case of the three Pakistan players who have been accused of spot-fixing.”Both of them will appear before the ICC Tribunal either in person or through teleconference depending on their convenience and subject to their professional commitments,” the PCB said in a statement.Afridi, Pakistan’s limited overs captain, will not be involved in the Test matches in New Zealand, which coincide with the January 6-11 hearings. Younis, the Pakistan coach, will be in New Zealand.Though there was no further comment from the PCB or ICC, ESPNcricinfo understands the players’ lawyers had been informed of the development. The pair will appear, effectively, as witnesses for the prosecution.It is likely the pair will be asked about statements they had made to the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission during Pakistan’s series with South Africa in the UAE recently . Those comments appeared in Pakistani press last week; Younis is quoted as saying that Mohammad Amir’s infamous no-ball during the Lord’s Test had surprised him “greatly” because it was very different from his normal delivery stride. He said he’d taken up the issue with the bowler, only for the then captain, Salman Butt, to intervene before Amir could reply.Afridi was also questioned and subsequently quoted in the report on his thoughts about the three players.The hearing, which will be held in Doha from January 6 to 11, will determine the fate of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. All three have denied their involvement in any spot-fixing.

The pressure an India-Pakistan match in a World Cup brings is storied and, on Saturday, Azeem Ghumman and Ashok Menaria will experience it for the first time

Cricinfo staff22-Jan-2010Azeem Ghumman and Ashok Menaria were not yet in their teens when Sachin Tendulkar blitzed Pakistan at Centurion in the 2003 World Cup. They were merely 17 when Misbah-ul-Haq came agonisingly close to snatching the inaugural World Twenty20 from India in 2007. The pressure an India-Pakistan match in a World Cup brings is storied and, on Saturday, these two teenage leaders will experience it for the first time – when their teams clash in the quarter-final of the Under-19 World Cup in Lincoln.Indian and Pakistani sides have traditionally been the form teams at U-19 World Cups. They enter the tournaments as favourites and rarely fall out of contention before the semi-finals. One will tomorrow. Few expected them to come up against each other so early in the competition. Pakistan won all their league games and topped their group. India won the first two but dropped their last against England. If they hadn’t, they would be playing West Indies.”We are seething after the loss [to England], and we’ll take it out against Pakistan,” Meenaria told the . “The world comes to a standstill when an India-Pakistan match is on.”Pakistan perhaps hold the edge. They scored big against West Indies, bowled Papua New Guinea out cheaply, and held their nerve to win a thriller against Bangladesh. They have the tournament’s highest run-scorer, Babar Azam – 260 runs at an average of 130, and the joint highest wicket-taker, Usman Qadir – eight at 15 apiece.The victories India scored were against Afghanistan and Hong Kong and they ensured India’s qualification even before the loss to England. Unlike the 2008 campaign, when Tanmay Srivastava and Virat Kohli led the batting charts, this time India’s highest runscorer – Rahul Kannaur with 117 in three innings – is 15th on the list. Saurabh Netravalkar, their left-arm fast bowler, could prove to be key. He was exceptional against England, rattling the top order and finishing with figures of 3 for 25.There is an external factor – and a significant one – in India’s favour. They are familiar with conditions at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, having played two group matches there. Pakistan only got to Christchurch a few days ago – their group matches were on North Island. The pitch at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval aids seam bowling, and is good for batting when the sun shines. Scoring runs, however, requires a disciplined approach as India found out the hard way against England. They must learn quickly from their errors; Pakistan, however, have no second chances.Another external factor, an uncontrollable one, favours Pakistan. It rained all day in Christchurch on the eve of the match and although Saturday’s forecast is brighter one can never be certain. Should the match end in a washout, Pakistan will go through to the semi-final because of their better group position. There is no reserve day.Pakistan’s manager, Shafqat Rana, says this side is the best U-19 Pakistan side he has seen but he’s aware of the gravity of the contest. “These children have never played India, forget in a World Cup game, but have grown up watching the high-intensity clashes between the two countries,” he told the . “They are aware of the expectations back home. Be it an U-13 India-Pakistan game or a veterans’ contest, it will always remain special.”And then there’s the raging controversy in the subcontinent over the Pakistan players being ignored by the IPL, and maybe it would provide the contest added edge. Rana didn’t think so. “They are kids, they have very little idea about IPL auction and other issues,” he said. The absence of intense media coverage could also help them focus better.Ghumman, Menaria and their team-mates will say they’re approaching the contest like they would any other. They can try, but all will not succeed. Even the wealth of Tendulkar’s experience in pressure situations couldn’t prevent him from living the Centurion match a year in advance. And even he slept poorly for 12 nights before d-day.

Skipper will remain available for T20I cricket on a casual arrangement but will not be centrally contracted

Alex Malcolm17-Jun-2025New Zealand captain Sophie Devine will retire from ODI cricket at the conclusion of the 50-over World Cup in India and Sri Lanka later this year, but will remain available for T20Is under a casual playing agreement with New Zealand Cricket.Devine, 35, made the announcement just a day before New Zealand’s 17-player women’s contract list is set to be unveiled given she will not be part of the centrally contracted group. Devine will captain the side in the World Cup and a new ODI skipper will be appointed ahead of the home summer.Devine has been one of the world’s premier allrounders over a stellar 19-year ODI career that began way back in 2006 when she debuted as a 17-year-old. She is New Zealand’s second-highest capped women’s ODIs player behind Suzie Bates and sits fourth on New Zealand’s all-time women’s ODI run-scorers list but will almost certainly pass 4000 runs and move to third, ahead of Debbie Hockley, by the end of the World Cup. She also currently has eight ODI centuries, the second-most for New Zealand behind Bates.Related

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She also currently sits second on New Zealand women’s all-time ODI wicket-takers as one of only two players with more than 100 wickets alongside Lea Tahuhu.Devine is keen to continue playing T20I cricket but will only do so on a casual basis given she holds a number of franchise contracts overseas.”It feels like the right time for me to start stepping away,” Devine said. “I feel very fortunate to have NZC’s support in finding a solution that means I can still give to the White Ferns.”It’s important that everyone knows I’m focused and dedicated to giving this group everything I can before I step away.”I’m really excited by where this young group’s going and I’m looking forward to playing my part in the next six to nine months.”Head of women’s high performance Liz Green said Devine had NZC’s full support in making this decision.”Sophie’s given nearly 20 years of service to the White Ferns and NZC is fully supportive of her quest to find more balance at this stage in her career,” Green said. “We’re pleased to be able to reach an agreement that means she can continue to be involved with the White Ferns on a case-by-case basis, whilst opening up the opportunity for another player to be contracted in full.”NZC chief executive Scott Weenink praised Devine’s contribution to the White Ferns ODI team.”Sophie has been an extraordinary leader and ambassador for the White Ferns,” Weenink said. “Supporting her move to a casual playing agreement will allow her to continue contributing to the White Ferns environment.”Her legacy as one of the game’s greatest allrounders and her commitment to nurturing the next generation makes this a positive step for both her and the White Ferns.”

In their second innings, India also struggled against spin but had a lead of 478 by stumps

Vishal Dikshit15-Dec-2023After dominating the first day with the bat, India bossed the second day’s play even more fiercely in Navi Mumbai, by spinning a web around England and bowling them out for just 136 in reply to their first-innings total of 428. It was Deepti Sharma’s use of generous flight and turn that started England’s dramatic collapse of 7 for 28 as soon as she came to bowl on a 19-wicket day, of which 15 fell to spin. Deepti finished with stunning figures of 5 for 7, her maiden five-for, from just 5.3 overs that included four maidens and made England look completely clueless.India didn’t enforce the follow-on despite a massive lead of 292, and even though they didn’t stitch partnerships as they did on the first day, they continued to score at well over four an over to finish the second day on 186 for 6, extending their lead to 478 with two days still left in the game. It is possible, though, that their first-innings top-scorer – debutant Satheesh Shubha – may not bat because of a hairline fracture on her left hand.Related

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At lunch, England were in a decent position of 67 for 2. Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt brought up a half-century stand but once Beaumont fell to a direct hit from Vastrakar, who swooped to square leg from short midwicket to end any hopes of a quick single, England couldn’t put on any more sizeable partnerships.Debutant Renuka Singh had bowled Sophia Dunkley with an inducker for 11 and Vastrakar had removed captain Heather Knight by trapping her lbw in the first session. From 28 for 2, England were primarily led by the ever-reliable Sciver-Brunt, who started with a flurry of boundaries and collected more of them whenever the bowlers were too full or too short. After lunch, India returned with a renewed aggression, though.Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a fighting half-century•BCCI

Once Beaumont was run out for 10 in the third over after the break, four boundaries from Danni Wyatt against Vastrakar gave England hopes of another steady stand. But Deepti dashed any such aspirations. Her second ball had Wyatt caught at short leg off an inside edge for 19, and even though Sciver-Brunt brought up her fourth Test fifty next over, Deepti returned with two wickets in an over, the first of which was aided by luck. A pull from Amy Jones hit Smriti Mandhana on the helmet at short leg and ricocheted to Shafali Verma at leg slip for a sitter. Two balls later, Deepti turned the ball in sharply and it kept low to knock back Sophie Ecclestone’s off stump for a duck.At 126 for 6, Sciver-Brunt was England’s only hope, but she too lost her off stump in the next over when Sneh Rana tossed the ball up generously and turned it in viciously to beat the batter. Deepti and Rana kept tossing the ball up around 70kph, and the flight and turn from outside off kept beating the batters. Charlie Dean was lbw when she left one just outside off against sharp turn from Rana, Kate Cross handed a return catch to Deepti before Lauren Filer also lost her stumps after being beaten by the turn. England were all out in just 35.3 overs, losing their last seven in just 10.2 overs to spin.Despite having a lead of almost 300 and having bowled for just over a session, India surprisingly came out to bat again. England also gave the second over to a spinner this time, but Ecclestone’s first ball was smacked over wide long-on for six by Mandhana in an 11-run over. When Knight dropped Shafali’s thick edge at second slip off Lauren Bell in the next over and another fell short of first slip, it looked like it was going to be another day of chances either not going to the England fielders’ hands or not sticking. England, however, changed that later in the last session by holding on to four catches, but not before Mandhana and Shafali took the lead past 350 with their fifty stand.Smriti Mandhana scored quickly at the start of the second innings•BCCI

Mandhana continued to attack Ecclestone whereas Shafali muscled Charlie Dean for a six over long-on and also used a review to get the on-field lbw decision overturned in the next over by Cross to pile on more agony on England. Ecclestone’s return for her second spell started with a six from Shafali but the left-arm spinner had Mandhana caught at short leg in the same over to finally end the opening stand.India promoted Yastika Bhatia in the absence of Shubha but she and Shafali fell in consecutive overs to England’s spinners. First, Shafali holed out to long-on for 33 and then Bhatia couldn’t account for the extra bounce Ecclestone extracted and handed another catch to Beaumont at short leg. Since the England spinners bowled much fuller and quicker than their counterparts, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues used the drives and sweeps. Rodrigues was more brisk but when Dean slowed one down a fair bit, the flight and drift took her inside edge to short leg where Beaumont pouched her third.Dean was soon on a hat-trick when she trapped Deepti, who tried one sweep to many, and had Rana bowled for a golden duck. What was otherwise a precarious score of 133 for 6 wasn’t too troubling for India because their lead had sailed past 400, and with Harmanpreet solid at one end on 44 at stumps, they will be looking to set an even stiffer target on Saturday.Earlier in the first session, England took under 40 minutes to pick up India’s remaining three wickets for just 18 runs, despite putting down two more chances, both by close-in fielders off Ecclestone. Deepti first got a life on 62 in the third over of the day when Beaumont put one down at short leg and Renuka was later dropped at silly point by Dunkley. Bell, however, tempted Deepti to drive with full and swinging deliveries from around the wicket and got her outside edge to have her caught behind for 67 to finish with 3 for 67. Ecclestone soon wrapped up India’s innings by yorking Renuka and then having Rajeshwari Gayakwad caught at silly point.

Former captain says team’s T20I decline started in 2016, and urges “all stakeholders” to come together and find a way forward

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Oct-2022Kieron Pollard has described West Indies’ failure to make the Super 12s of the 2022 T20 World Cup as a “sad day” for Caribbean cricket. The former captain, who retired in April, said he was both “surprised” and disappointed at West Indies’ exit and agreed that head coach Phil Simmons will now come under pressure to keep his job. Pollard, however, stressed that the blame had to be shared by all stakeholders and not any individual.”A bit surprised, to be honest that [West Indies] weren’t able to get over the line against the other teams,” he told , a Trinidad-based radio station last weekend. “But again, that speaks volumes of where our cricket as is at the moment. I feel it. I feel it for the guys because they are the ones that are going to get the bashing. And it’s not all their fault.”Having already failed to secure direct entry into the Super 12s (permitted to the top eight-ranked teams at a pre-determined cut-off date as well as the hosts Australia), Nicholas Pooran’s team struggled badly in the first round, notching a solitary win, against Zimbabwe, while losing to Scotland and Ireland which forced them out of the tournament.Related

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The shocking exit invited derision both at home and abroad. Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt issued a scathing statement saying a “post-mortem” would be carried out immediately, while former Australia captain Ricky Ponting described the team’s performances as a “disgrace.”Pollard, though, was not interested in hauling up Pooran and his men. Instead he highlighted a wider point, especially on selections, which he said played a part in their dismal showing at the 2021 T20 World Cup as well, where he was the captain. West Indies crashed out of that competition with a solitary win alongside four defeats.”We have a young captain, we have young players, guys who would have played only a handful of [matches in] T20 cricket and now they are in the World Cup,” Pollard said. “And when I look back at it, I sit back and I have a smile on my face. Because I remember some of the things that was said last year around this time, when some individuals weren’t selected.”I just had to remind these people that there was a World Cup we were going to [in 2021] and another bilateral series [in New Zealand]. And now some of the individuals get the opportunity to play in the World Cup. And, again, look what has happened. It’s no fault of theirs. But when we tried to sort of protect them and let people understand [in 2021], they were not ready for that, we were lambasted. There were a lot of things that were said that were very derogatory at times. It’s a sad day for West Indies cricket and all of us.”Just like last year’s World Cup, West Indies’ selections became a big talking point. The Desmond Haynes-led panel named a 15-member squad that did not feature the two best T20 players in the Caribbean: Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. At the time, Haynes explained this decision by saying Russell was not performing the way they would like and Narine appeared disinterested in playing for West Indies.The CWI then dropped Shimron Hetmyer for failing to get on a rescheduled flight to Australia. Only two players, Pooran and Evin Lewis, were part of the original 15-member squads in both 2021 and 2022. Along with Rovman Powell, they were the only three with at least 50 T20Is under their belt. Jason Holder has 49, and is a former captain and a World Cup winner. After that, West Indies were struggling for experienced campaigners. This was in contrast to the 2021 squad which featured Pollard, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Russell and Lendl Simmons.”Experience means a lot. And we take that for granted in the Caribbean,” Pollard said. “[There] has been a notion over the years [that] as soon as you reach a certain age, you should be done away with. And when you have guys in the team, they want you to get out of the team or when the guys are not there, they understand the importance of the guys. And this is another situation of not having couple of experienced guys around to help the youngsters, to help the youth.”Haynes had pointed out that form in the 2022 CPL would play a key role in the World Cup squad selection. Pollard said that while that was fine, other parameters needed to be considered.”Not just based on form. It’s a holistic sort of approach on what you bring in all different facets and dimensions of the team. A guy might not be in form, but the experience and the knowledge that he can bring and share and help someone can be valuable as well. But again, we as a people, we go with what we see in front of us. So the last thing we would have seen maybe would have been the CPL before the team was selected. And whoever did well in two games, they should be selected. And that’s not how that’s not how it goes.”Pollard believes West Indies have gone “downhill” ever since their triumph in the 2016 T20 World Cup•Saurabh Das/Associated Press

“Decline started after the 2016 T20 World Cup win”

According to Pollard, West Indies’ “decline” in T20 cricket is not a recent occurrence. It had begun in 2016, immediately after they became the first team to win two T20 World Cups. Since that tournament six years ago, West Indies have won 33 out of the 99 T20Is they have played, including 58 defeats. During Pollard’s tenure as T20I captain, West Indies won 13 out of 39 matches with 21 losses. Under Pooran, who replaced Pollard this May, West Indies have won eight out of 23 matches including 14 defeats.Pollard blamed the “culture” for failing to have former cricketers as part of the system and helping it grow.”We dominated in the 80s, which was all well and good [but] what did we do for the future? We went downhill. We won our last World Cup in 2012 and 2016. The decline of our T20 team started in 2016. The then captain, Daren Sammy, played his last game in 2016. All the guys who played and won that World Cup did not play cricket together for how many years after that – that is where the decline of our T20 cricket started. Since then we moved from the No. 1 in a space of months to No. 7. Why?”Coming back to the present, Pollard expects coach Simmons to face some heat, but believes that letting him go wouldn’t solve any problem.”I won’t get into all of that right here and now. The easiest thing for us to say and to do [is]: ‘fire coach, fire the captain, change the players and that’s going to be a difference.’ That’s not going to happen.”A better way, Pollard stressed, would be to have all stakeholders have an honest discussion to find a way forward to help West Indies cricket.”All stakeholders need to come together. When I say all, I mean everybody and sit down and decide where we want to take cricket in the Caribbean We need to improve our facilities. We need to have academies. We need to put things in place for the younger ones, so they can be the ones to do West Indies proud. And if we don’t do that and we just continue to fight, politicise, be insular, then we are going nowhere.”

Eleven players and support staff received their first dose, while two squad members received their second dose

ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2021Thirteen members of West Indies’ red-ball training squad and management have received their vaccinations against Covid-19, CWI confirmed on Wednesday. The West Indies players and support staff are currently in a bio-secure bubble in St Lucia, preparing for the upcoming Test series against South Africa.In a statement, CWI said that they were able to secure Covid-19 vaccines for “all interested squad members” through the support of the Ministry of Health and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).”Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health measures in the management of infectious diseases,” Dr. Sharon Belmar-George, St Lucia’s chief medical officer, said. “Cricket is an important sporting activity in the region and ensuring that it can be facilitated safely, is of importance to us in St. Lucia. We welcome the teams here and look forward to successful and safe activities over the coming weeks.”Eleven players and support staff received their first dose of the vaccine, while two squad members also received their second dose. CWI stated that several members of the training squad had already received their first doses in their home countries, and will receive their second dose later in the summer. Last week, the West Indies women’s squad had received their first doses of the vaccine while training in Antigua.West Indies are scheduled to host South Africa for two Tests, as well as five T20Is next month.

A round-up of the Under-19 World Cup action on January 21, 2020

Sreshth Shah in Bloemfontein21-Jan-2020ScorecardIndia took under two hours to bowl Japan out for 41, the joint-second-lowest total in the history of the Under-19 World Cup, and then took just 29 balls to chase the target down and secure their second win in Group A and virtually confirm their place in the quarter-finals.Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, who was recently bought by Kings XI Punjab for IPL 2020, took 4 for 5, including two wickets in his first two deliveries, to wreck Japan’s middle order. Right-arm seamer Kartik Tyagi also took three wickets, of which two came with the new ball. Left-arm pacer Akash Singh collected two lower-order wickets while Vidyadhar Patil, playing his first game of the tournament, had one as the Indians were all over Japan.The highest contribution to Japan’s total – 19 – came from extras, of which 12 were wides as India’s new-ball bowlers looked for the yorker but erred in line, making wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, the birthday boy, to dive and scramble time and again.Opener Shu Noguchi and No. 8 Kento Dobell top-scored for Japan with seven apiece while five batsmen were out for ducks.Bishnoi was clearly the pick of the Indian bowlers, using his wrong’uns frequently and clean bowling two top-order Japanese batsmen in similar fashion.Tyagi and Singh initially bowled outside off, looking to get some movement, but seeing that the Japan openers weren’t to be tempted, soon changed their line to full and straight. That paid off for Tyagi, whose yorker knocked over Japan captain Marcus Thurgate. He then welcomed No. 3 Neel Date with another yorker and the batsman was trapped lbw for a duck. The total of 14 for 2 soon became 14 for 4 after Bishnoi’s introduction, and by the time Japan reached 19 they had lost seven wickets. A 13-run partnership between Dobell and No. 9 Maximillian Clements (5) took Japan past what is the lowest-ever Under-19 World Cup score [22, for Scotland against Australia in 2004], but then Singh and Tyagi returned to finish the innings for the same total that Canada managed against South Africa in 2002.Kumar Kushagra, who also played his first game of the tournament, opened the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal during the reply. Jaiswal struck five fours and the game’s only six in his 18-ball 29 while Kushagra chipped in with 13 in 11 deliveries. Shashwat Rawat, the other India player appearing in his first game, ended up playing no major part in the match.Rakibul Hasan ran through the Scotland lower order•ICC via Getty

ScorecardAnother poor batting performance meant another heavy defeat for Scotland in Group C of the Under-19 World Cup, as they lost by seven wickets to Bangladesh in Potchefstroom, the same margin as their loss to Pakistan earlier.Batting first after winning the toss, like they had against Pakistan, Scotland again got off to a wobbly start, losing four wickets for just 21 runs before fighting back a bit through Uzzair Shah and Daniel Cairns. Uzzair was the dominant partner in the 31-run stand, with Cairns contributing just 7 runs in 37 balls, but it helped Scotland hold Bangladesh off for a while.Uzzair continued till the 28th over before becoming the ninth man out for 28, but by then left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan, the Player of the Match, had started to weave his magic, tying the batsmen up in knots and running through the lower order. Jamie Cairns did hit a quick 17, but there was no stopping Hasan as he returned 4 for 20 in just five-and-a-half overs.The reply from Bangladesh wasn’t all smooth, as they lost Tanzid Hasan off the first ball of the innings, caught behind off Sean Fischer-Keogh, who went on to pick up all three wickets to fall in the chase. But there wasn’t a lot of penetration from the rest of the bowlers, and Parvez Hossain (25 in 15 balls) and Mahmudul Hasan (35* in 48) made sure Bangladesh earned full points, finishing the job in 16.4 overs.

The match has been rescheduled twice in the last 48 hours, mainly due to some technical problems with one of the light towers. It will now start at 12.30pm local time

The Preview by Mohammad Isam16-Dec-2018

Big Picture

With both Bangladesh and West Indies looking to get their preparations into gear for next year’s World Cup, one wonders what context a T20I series holds for them and the fans. What will they do with these three matches?Yet for West Indies, the T20Is offer some hope on an otherwise difficult tour. They need to take full advantage of their favoured format to find some sort of form in Bangladesh. The visitors have won only one match so far, the second ODI in Dhaka, having been trounced 2-0 in the Test series, and 2-1 in the ODIs. Shai Hope has been their stand-out performer but the other batsmen have been below par. Among the bowlers, Oshane Thomas looked fiery at times but he was, shockingly, “rested” from the third ODI.For Bangladesh, the series is important for players like Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, among others. It is becoming far more important for these players – apart from the experienced ones like Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah – to have match-winning performances. If not as big a role as the senior quartet, they should look to make telling contributions, at least.The match has been rescheduled twice in the last 48 hours, mainly due to technical problems with one of the light towers. It will now start at 12.30pm local time, but a forecast of rain could end up playing a bigger role in the selection of the XI.

Form guide

Bangladesh WWLLL (last five T20Is, most recent first)
West Indies LLLLLALSO READ: Bangladesh’s need for cooler heads and a better top order

In the spotlight

Liton Das did well against West Indies in the previous T20I series between the two sides, but throwing away his wicket after a good start is becoming an issue. His tendency to hit boundaries in the first few overs has often been followed by a sudden dismissal with a cross-batted shot.Shai Hope‘s ODI form is one of the few things West Indies can rely on as they head into this series. He may not be the most aggressive batsman but Hope’s tenacity means that West Indies have some stability at the crease, even as they would want the other batsmen to forge partnerships.

Team news

Rubel Hossain and Nazmul Islam will be in consideration, but only if Bangladesh want to leave out one genuine batsman. Shakib also received a foot injury during nets, and received treatment for it.Bangladesh: (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Liton Das, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mohammad Mithun, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur RahmanEvin Lewis will slot into the opening position while allrounder Sherfane Rutherford also offers a batting option. Kesrick Williams, who has returned to the T20I squad, could be a handy bowler, having done well in the Bangladesh Premier League.West Indies (probable): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Shai Hope, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Shimron Hetmyer 5 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6 Nicholas Pooran, 7 Carlos Brathwaite (capt), 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Khary Pierre, 11 Oshane Thomas

Pitch and conditions

The track will likely be batting friendly, although there could be some early help for spinners. A drizzle is forecast, so the toss may be crucial, too.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies have won only two out of their 12 T20Is this year, while Bangladesh have won four out of their 13 games.
• Denesh Ramdin is the only player in the West Indies squad with more than 50 T20I appearances.

Quotes

“They keep surprising me by coming up with some great performances. Now we have got some continuity with regards to winning series, so wonderful news for Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes
“[West Indies] just need to know the method of winning more consistently.”
West Indies assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed

The India batsman will be available until January 15 and will miss the last stages of the tournament to prepare for the national team’s tour to South Africa

Shashank Kishore18-Oct-2017Batsman Veda Krishnamurthy has been signed by the Hobart Hurricanes for the third edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, which starts from December 9. Krishnamurthy will be part of the Hurricanes’ overseas contingent, alongside England’s Lauren Winfield and West Indies’ Hayley Mathews, and will be available until January 15 before returning for national duties.Currently, Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur are the two Indian players in the WBBL line-up, with the latter set to continue her stint with the Sydney Thunder. ESPNcricinfo understands allrounder Deepti Sharma is also in negotiations with a number of franchises, while Smriti Mandhana, who represented the Brisbane Heat last year, could miss out this season. It is not yet clear if the franchise will renew her contract.Krishnamurthy has stated she is available for ten matches and will miss the last stages of the tournament to prepare for India’s tour of South Africa, which starts from mid-February. The WBBL final is scheduled for February 4.”The offer came about a month ago. I was pleasantly surprised because I wasn’t expecting it,” Krishnamurthy told ESPNcricinfo. “Because our South Africa tour dates weren’t announced then. We were expecting it [the tour] to be in January, so there was some confusion if I’d be able to take up the offer.”Initially, they wanted my availability for the full season. But now, they are okay with me missing the last stages to accommodate the South Africa tour in February. At the moment, I’ll be playing 10 games for Hobart Hurricanes.”I spoke to Harman and Smriti about what to expect. It’s exciting to play in a brand new country, interact with new cultures. I think this is a direct result of ICC promoting the game well. With the World Cup being so well received, new avenues have opened up for cricketers from around the world. This deal is a direct recognition of India’s performance at the World Cup. To play in that environment with some of the world’s best will surely add a new dimension to my game.”Krishnamurthy was a key member of India’s squad that finished runners-up at the 2017 Women’s World Cup. Her unbeaten 45-ball 70 in a must-win game against New Zealand helped India secure a semi-final berth.