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On his return to ODI cricket, Steyn top-scored with 60 then took two wickets, before Tahir cleaned up with 6 for 24 to seal the series for South Africa

The Report by Liam Brickhill in Bloemfontein03-Oct-2018Imran Tahir is overjoyed after becoming the fourth South African to take an ODI hat-trick•AFP

Imran Tahir became the fourth South African bowler to take a one-day international hat-trick as Zimbabwe folded for just 78 in the second ODI in Bloemfontein. Tahir removed Sean Williams, Peter Moor and Brandon Mavuta with successive deliveries over two overs to derail Zimbabwe’s chase and finished with a 6 for 24, taking full advantage of a batting line-up softened up by the alarmingly variable bounce extracted by Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi earlier in the evening. Steyn provided a particular fearsome challenge, bowling well above 140kph to rattle the top order. He picked up 2 for 19 on his return to ODI cricket, capping a day in which he also top scored with a career-best 60 to boost South Africa to a total of 198.That already looked like it could be enough when Tahir was brought on in the 14th over, thanks in large part to a pitch that misbehaved all day and became particularly capricious when Dale Steyn opened the bowling under lights. The Willow End, in particular, exhibited variable bounce that made the prospect of chasing look very difficult.Craig Ervine was struck on the glove and the grille by consecutive deliveries from Steyn, while both Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza were made to fend at brutal lifters that reared off a length. With Solomon Mire undone third ball by a full one from Steyn, none of the rest of the top were able to build partnerships and Zimbabwe entered the Powerplay teetering at 28 for 2. The visitors’ last hopes evaporated when Masakadza fell for 27, indecision sewn by the irregular bounce bringing a flat-footed poke to slip off Ngidi.Tahir had, by this point, already started to weave his magic at the other end. Taylor swept a four but then misread a googly to be lbw for 10, Tahir setting off in celebration even as he turned to appeal the wicket. From then on, although the pitch levelled out, Tahir’s variations simply proved too much for Zimbabwe. Williams was drawn out of his crease by one that spun away from him to be stumped off the last ball of Tahir’s third over, while Moor played outside a slider to be lbw to the first of his fourth. The next ball zipped in off a length, right between Mavuta’s bat and pad to spark Tahir’s trademark celebration.Zimbabwe slumped to 59 for 8 with the hat-trick, and the result was now a foregone conclusion. Jarvis slogged across the line at another googly to be bowled for 1, and fittingly it was Steyn who held the final catch to bring the game to an end when Chatara heaved a slider into the deep.The catch completed an almost perfect comeback for Steyn, whose two wickets came after his maiden ODI fifty had carried South Africa out of the depths of 101 for 7. South Africa picked him to bowl, but in his first one-day international in almost two years Steyn’s plucky batting rescued his team. Thirteen years since his ODI debut, and batting for the 48th time in the format, Steyn put on 75 with Andile Phehlukwayo, a new South African record for the eighth wicket against Zimbabwe.South Africa were tottering when Steyn got to the crease, but the mantra being drilled into them is to play positive cricket regardless of the situation and the shots kept coming. Steyn was off the mark with an edge through the vacant second slip, and while he swung merrily Phehlukwayo shrugged off a strong lbw shout to drill Williams over long on for six.An outside edge over slip took Steyn to his highest score in ODIs, and he motored into the 40s with a heave to midwicket – his seventh four. He had scored the bulk of the eighth-wicket stand that rebuilt South Africa’s innings when Zimbabwe finally broke through, Chatara strangling Phehlukwayo down the leg side.Steyn brought up his fifty with a crisp strike down the ground for six off Donald Tiripano, becoming the fourth South African after Lance Klusener, Andrew Hall and Richard Snell to score an ODI half century from no. 9. It was an effort that was desperately needed after three of the top five fell for single figures.Zimbabwe, too, had had some assistance from a pitch that captain Masakadza described as “up and down”, but they had also been rewarded for disciplined application with the ball. The wickets were shared around by their seamers and spinners and Jarvis was particularly probing in his opening spell. Once again, South Africa’s unproven top order stumbled under pressure, and it was left to the two of the oldest men on the field – Steyn and Tahir – to secure the match and the series.

The Sri Lanka spinner is required to undergo testing on his action within 14 days, but can bowl in international cricket until the results of the tests are out

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2018Sri Lanka offspinner Akila Dananjaya has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the first Test against England in Galle.He is required to undergo testing on his action within 14 days, but can bowl in international cricket until the results of the tests are out, the ICC said.The second Test against England begins on November 14 in Pallekele, so Dananjaya will be eligible to bowl in that match if selected to play. He took only two wickets in the first Test in Galle.Dananjaya, 25, has played four Tests, 30 ODIs and 16 T20Is for Sri Lanka since his international debut in September 2012.

The Australia A tour of India will mark the start of Konstas’ season before a defining month of Sheffield Shield cricket for New South Wales

AAP09-Sep-20250:27

Konstas gone for duck as tough Caribbean tour ends

Sam Konstas doesn’t care for regrets or critics. And by putting himself on a self-imposed social media ban, the teenager hunting an opening spot in a home Ashes series has ensured he will hear as little of the latter as possible.The 19-year-old is set to play two four-day matches in India for Australia A before targeting four Sheffield Shield games for New South Wales with a goal of finding the red-ball form that eluded him on a tough tour of the West Indies.Whatever happens in the next two months, you can be sure the charismatic young gun won’t be giving two hoots over what outsiders say about his approach.Related

• Australia's Ashes questions: Open season, two allrounders, four quicks?

• Konstas trusting advice of his 'inner circle' ahead of Ashes push

• 'Unbelievable' Archer primed for Ashes impact, says McCullum

Konstas dazzled the cricket world on Boxing Day last year against India on Test debut with a flamboyant and audacious 60 off 65 balls. Critics said he would not be able to play that way on a regular basis and succeed.Runs have since proven elusive and Konstas did not pass 25 in his next nine Test innings.  He is competing with a plethora of candidates to partner Usman Khawaja for the opening Ashes Test in Perth but has no regrets about his approach on debut against Jasprit Bumrah and company.”I wouldn’t change it,” Konstas told AAP. “I don’t have any regrets in my life to be honest. I thought that was the right method at the time and it paid off. I don’t get too fixated about what others say. Whatever I feel is right I totally commit to.”My method is someone who is an aggressive batsman that likes to take on the game, while understanding the game situation when I do play well. It is about trying to score runs and win games.”The more experiences I have in different conditions the more I will adapt. I have to find my method and what works best in each situation.”What also works best for Konstas is not having social media. He went from a relative unknown to a global attraction overnight with 281,000 followers on Instagram. Watching the ball and not his phone screen is now the focus.”I never had social media until I was 18. I had it for a year and now I have taken a break from it to be more present and try and get back in the Ashes squad,” Konstas said. “It is just about focusing on myself and trying to give it a good crack.”Everyone uses social media differently but I feel now is the right time to get off it. I don’t read my comments on Instagram. I don’t care what other people say to be honest but everyone has their opinion.”Konstas heads to India with confidence and valuable lessons already under his belt.”I’ve had a few experiences in the subcontinent,” Konstas said prior to taking centre stage at Tuesday’s ASICS kit launch at the SCG. “I was lucky enough to be in the MRF Academy last year and to tour Sri Lanka as well with the Aussie boys. Hopefully I can score plenty of runs and adapt to those conditions.”It is about trying to be in the present moment with any game I play whether it be my club team, NSW or Australia A ahead of the Ashes.”I got so much out of my first time in the Caribbean and facing a quality fast attack. The wickets were tough to bat on.For me it was about trying to find methods for scoring runs in those conditions and understanding the bounce is variable and trying to find another method, if I do go again.”

Chris Woakes has emerged as a new fitness concern for England ahead of the fourth Test in Southampton

George Dobell28-Aug-20181:10

Bairstow ‘desperate’ to remain England’s wicketkeeper

Chris Woakes has joined Jonny Bairstow as a fitness concern for England ahead of the fourth Test in Southampton. Woakes, who was player of the match in the second Test at Lord’s, has experienced a recurrence of “tightness” in his right quad and missed training with the rest of the squad on Tuesday afternoon.While Woakes played down the severity of the problem and had a gentle bowl in the nets on the nursery ground at the Ageas Bowl, it is an injury that has recurred a few times over the last couple of years and kept him out of all England’s white-ball games earlier in the summer. As a result, the England management may take a cautious approach to his involvement.With Sam Curran, who did not play in the third Test in Nottingham, already with the squad, England have decided there is no need to call-up another bowler as cover at this stage. Jamie Porter, who is on standby, is scheduled to start a Championship match for Essex (against Hampshire) in Chelmsford on Wednesday morning. He can be called out of that game by England if required.Moeen Ali is also with the squad and could come into the side either as a second spinner – an option that has not been ruled out – or to replace Bairstow.Bairstow, meanwhile, returned to training for the first time since breaking a finger during the third Test in Nottingham. While he remains insistent he wants to play a full part in the game as batsman and keeper, he had a relatively brief session with the gloves in training. Instead Jos Buttler, who took the gloves at Trent Bridge and is already England’s limited-overs keeper, spent around 30 minutes practising his keeping. Bairstow batted in the nets as normal.Despite Bairstow’s reluctance to give up the gloves, having worked hard to improve his keeping hugely over the last couple of years, it seems likely the England management will decide to appoint Buttler as keeper for this game in order to reduce the chance that Bairstow’s injury could be worsened by another blow to the finger.It was also noticeable that during England’s catching practice Joe Root slotted in to second slip. Buttler has fielded at second slip recently, with Root at mid-off. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings remained as first and third slips respectively.”The finger feels good,” Bairstow said ahead of training. “The swelling’s gone down and it’s a lot better than I thought it was going to be.”I want to play so if I’m not able to keep wicket I’d like to think I can play as a specialist batsman. I’m still desperate to try to keep my place as the keeper.”Jonny Bairstow was attempting to prove his fitness to keep wicket•Getty Images

It could also be that the England management’s desire to strengthen the batting sees Ollie Pope, who bats at No. 6 for Surrey but has batted at No. 4 in his two Tests to date, dropped down the order a place or two – although Bairstow didn’t seem especially enamoured with the prospect of being promoted.”I’ve not really batted higher than five for Yorkshire,” Bairstow said. “If you look at the stats they suggest I’m better if I keep wicket as well. I’d like to keep my spot as keeper because I like to think it’s gone well over the last 38 or 39 Tests since I’ve been keeping for England.”There are obviously conversations to be had but, at this moment in time, I was asked if I was comfortable batting at five and keeping and it’s been successful.”The England coaches were assisted by Michael Yardy, James Kirtley (both formerly of Sussex and England) and Michael Bates (the former Hampshire and Somerset keeper) on Tuesday afternoon. The surface for the Test looked surprisingly green, though locals expect it to settled down and prove pretty good for batting. Root, who has been a little short of runs in the series, arrived early to have an extra session in the nets.Training was also noticeable for the sight of Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, being asked for ID and threatened with ejection by an enthusiastic steward. Bransgrove, who has invested – lost, might be a more accurate term – more than £10m into Hampshire and the Ageas Bowl ground, eventually proved his identify by pointing out a mural on the wall of the pavilion (the pavilion that bears his name) showing him holding aloft a trophy.

Surrey allrounder desperate to get in on the action, starting with England’s first Test of the summer against Ireland next week

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2019England’s Test cricketers will be feeding off the “buzz” of a historic World Cup win as they prepare to try and regain the Ashes, according to Sam Curran. The Surrey allrounder is set to return to international duty in next week’s maiden Test against Ireland and he said the dramatic scenes at Lord’s on Sunday had set England up perfectly for the second half of the summer.Curran missed out on World Cup selection, but did enjoy a productive first season at the IPL earlier this year. After a hamstring injury interrupted his return with Surrey, he has since played three Championship games as well as making an early impact on the touring Australians with England Lions – Curran claimed 6 for 95 in this week’s game at Canterbury, as well as making half-centuries in each innings.Although Curran was left out of England’s most-recent Test XI in St Lucia, he was Man of the Series against India last summer and looks likely to return to face Ireland. The match at Lord’s, starting on Wednesday, will be England’s first four-day Test since the ICC approved the optional reduction in 2017.”It’s obviously really exciting to be in the squad for the first Test of the summer,” Curran said. “It’s the first four-day Test for England and the first against Ireland which makes it a massive event for them and an awesome thing to be part of. It’s a slightly different England side to be in with a few of the big guns rested after the World Cup, but it’s a really exciting group and we are looking forward to linking up this weekend.”I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it’s probably the greatest cricket match ever, and for that to be the World Cup final was incredible. That will provide a buzz for everyone across English cricket going into the Ashes, which is the biggest series an England player can be involved in in Tests, and this match against Ireland. Days like Sunday get everyone, whether they were involved or not, more excited and desperate to do well so I’m sure it will rub off as we head into the Test part of the summer.”I watched the final with the Lions boys in Canterbury and the excitement was amazing. It was an incredible win and the boys have so worked hard. Having spoken to my brother and a few of the others I think they celebrated pretty hard as well.”As well as his success against India, Curran played an important role with the bat in Sri Lanka last winter, helping to set England up for a 3-0 whitewash. Although his bowling was less successful in the Caribbean, he could play a pivotal role in the Ashes – his haul for the Lions, sparking an Australia collapse of 6 for 17, possibly a sign of things to come.Curran is expected to play in the Vitality Blast for Surrey on Friday night before linking up with the Test squad, and said the “body felt good” after his recent injury.”I feel really good going into the Ireland game,” he said. “It’s been quite a frustrating season really, I came back from the IPL, played my first Champo game and got injured, had a couple of weeks out. I’ve come back and felt good, putting in some decent performances with bat and ball. Confidence is really good, it’s just trying to contribute as much as I can. Hopefully I’m in the XI on Wednesday and I can put in a performance.”Performing against India last summer has given me quite a lot of confidence. It’s a new challenge, a new summer. I can’t rely on that, I need to look ahead and find performances that will beat the Australians in the Ashes. The team is pretty exciting, there will be some great cricket played. I’m really excited to see what this summer holds.”The first aim for the World Cup guys was to win that, and they’ve achieved that. But there’s another big test coming up, and the Ashes are the biggest thing you can play in as an England cricketer, that’s what I’ve always felt. Hopefully we can be lifting the Urn at the Oval in September. We have to take one game at a time and try to contribute as much as you can.”

He was among several Indian players, including Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, who appeared for the fitness test at the NCA in Bengaluru

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Jun-2018Ambati Rayudu is likely to lose his place in the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series in England next month after failing to clear a mandatory fitness test. Rayudu was among several Indian players, including captain Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, who appeared for the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.Rayudu, 32, was one of the architects behind Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning run in the IPL this year. Among the top-five run-scorers, this season was the best IPL Rayudu had, scoring 602 runs at a strike rate of 149.75 including one century.After impressing with his form during the IPL, Rayudu got a berth for the England ODIs, which start on July 12 in Nottingham. However, Rayudu, who last played an ODI in 2016, still had to clear the yo-yo test, made mandatory by the Indian team management and supported by the selectors.Players need to attain the 16:1 mark, the minimum level set for Indian players by the team’s strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu.Although the BCCI is yet to make the news public, it is understood that Rayudu fell short of the minimum cut-off by a reasonable distance. The selectors are set to name a replacement soon.Fitness has become a key parameter for selection for the Indian teams with the selectors and coaches showing no room for compromise. Last week, the BCCI revealed that Sanju Samson and Mohammed Shami had failed the fitness tests and consequently lost their spots. Shami missed out on being part of the one-off Test against Afghanistan which got over on Friday, while Samson failed to be part of the India A squad to tour England in June-July.

Keith Fletcher expresses fury at CDC verdict after incident in April

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2024Essex’s faint hopes of victory in this year’s County Championship are effectively over after the club was docked 12 points by the Cricket Discipline Commission, after one of their players, Feroze Khushi, was found to have used an over-sized bat during their opening match of the season in April.The sanction, which had been anticipated at Chelmsford for much of the season, has been accepted by the club in an official statement. However, there is also fury behind the scenes, with Keith Fletcher, the former Essex and England captain who is now the club president, telling the The Times that the decision was “absolutely stupid”.The issue arose during Essex’s second innings of their opening Championship fixture, against Nottinghamshire on April 6. Khushi, who had made 21 at the time, when the onfield umpires, Tom Lungley and Steve O’Shaughnessy, found that his bat became stuck in their measurement gauge.Essex went on to win the match by 254 runs, but have now lost 12 of the 20 points that they took from that fixture, meaning that they trail Surrey by 56 points with two rounds remaining, including what could have been a critical final-round clash between the two clubs at Chelmsford.Essex lodged an appeal when the original charge was raised by the Cricket Regulator, and in a 31-page judgement issued by the CDC, it was acknowledged that some of the gauges used to assess Khushi’s bat “did not comply precisely with the specifications”.In his evidence to the Regulator, Khushi said that he had trusted his bat manufacturer to provide equipment that confirmed to MCC’s regulations, with Law 5.7.2 stipulating that a bat’s width should be 10.8cm. He added that he never intended to use a non-conforming bat, but received a reprimand for his part in the issue.”Essex CCC regrets the outcome and, although disappointed with the appeal decision and subsequent sanctions, accepts the charges of the CDC panel,” a club statement said.”The club remains fully committed to upholding the integrity of the game and ensuring strict compliance with all relevant regulations moving forward.”In light of the concerns raised during the appeal, the club will be writing to the CDC, Cricket Regulator and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to formally highlight the matters which arose during the process, such as those raised by the club in relation to the bat gauges.
“Essex CCC hopes that these concerns will prompt action to address inconsistencies and enhance the fairness and transparency of future regulatory processes.”Speaking to , Fletcher accused the appeal panel of “trying to flex its muscles”, adding that the whole side had been penalised by the process.”We realise we are not going to catch Surrey now and there is money at stake for the players and prestige for a non-Test-match club such as ourselves involved in where we finish,” he added. “We are always up against it with the Test-match clubs, which already have the money to attract the best players.”Anu Mohindru KC, the Essex chairman, added: “We appealed the initial judgment and it was supported by the cricket regulator, but the initial decision was upheld.”Since then, no other bat has been tested. My issue is with the apparatus for testing not being standard. I’m not suggesting we did not fail the final test and I don’t have any criticism of the umpires and match referee but it is not a level playing field if we are all using different gauges. I would like to think we are not being singled out in this matter.”

Cheteshwar Pujara also fires to help visitors finish day three with significant lead

Matt Roller04-Sep-20215:31

Laxman: Rohit’s adjustments more in his mindset than technique

It was worth the wait. Rohit Sharma’s first Test hundred away from home took India into a dominant position against England at The Oval, leaving them well-placed to push for a 2-1 lead in the series.Rohit shared partnerships of 83 and 153 for the first and second wicket with KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, pressing on through the third morning after seeing out 16 overs on the second evening. He batted within himself for most of the day in gloomy, overcast conditions but moved from 94 to his hundred by swinging Moeen Ali for six over long-on.

Rahul fined for dissent

India opener KL Rahul was fined 15% of his match fee for violating the ICC Code of Conduct by showing dissent at an umpiring decision.
The incident occurred during the third day of the fourth Test, in the 34th over of India’s second innings, when Rahul showed dissent on being adjudged caught behind following a review. He was also handed one demerit point for the offence, his first in 24 months.
The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf, third umpire Michael Gough and fourth official Mike Burns. Rahul admitted to the Level 1 breach and accepted the penalty imposed by match referee Chris Broad, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

He was eventually dismissed in bizarre fashion, heaving a pull straight to long leg when Ollie Robinson dug the second new ball into the pitch, and when Robinson had Pujara caught in the slips via an inside edge into his back thigh five balls later, England were back in the game. But Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja – retaining his spot at No. 5 – battled through before bad light brought an early close shortly before 5.45pm local time.Rohit rode his luck at times, offering two chances to Rory Burns at second slip, but neither was taken. The first came on the second evening when he had made only six: he edged James Anderson into the cordon, but Burns appeared not to pick the ball up against the backdrop of the crowd and only realised it had come in his direction once it had brushed his foot on its way to the boundary.Rohit Sharma deposited one in the stands at long-on to get to his century•Getty Images

The second came on 31, when Ollie Robinson had him poking defensively at a wide-ish ball on a good length. Third slip had been moved into the covers shortly before, meaning Burns had to fling himself to his right; he could only get a fingertip to it, pushing it down towards third man.Anderson made the breakthrough shortly after Burns’ second drop, inducing an outside edge from Rahul. Rahul had started brightly, driving Chris Woakes down the ground for four and pulling him for six, but England bowled dry to stem the flow of runs. Anderson found a hint of movement away off the seam as Rahul came forward to defend; the on-field decision was not out, but the DRS showed a healthy outside edge.Related

• Rohit Sharma walks the tightrope to his hundred

• Stats – Rohit Sharma's first overseas Test century

Rahul gestured to the umpires that he had flicked his back pad with his bat on the way through, but replays confirmed the ball had hit the bat after that. England reviewed an lbw appeal shortly before lunch with Rohit on 42, but DRS confirmed it was an optimistic shout.Pujara started his innings brightly, admittedly helped by some loose bowling from England’s change bowlers, but had to overcome an injury scare shortly after lunch. He rolled his ankle turning at the non-striker’s end and underwent seven minutes of treatment from the physio with heavy strapping before resuming.Rohit punched Craig Overton off the back foot for two to bring up his fifty and Pujara continued to bat fluently, cutting two boundaries in the space of three balls off Overton – the second a deft, late upper-cut over the vacant gully region. Rohit cruised through the 90s, pulling Anderson for four and then bringing up his hundred with a straight six, celebrating in restrained style.Rohit’s comparative struggles overseas compared to in India have often been used as a stick to beat him with but this was further proof that he is still one of the best all-format players in the world. This was his third 50+ score in the series and his eighth Test hundred in all – three of them brought up with a six.Cheteshwar Pujara brings out the upper cut during his knock of 61•Getty Images

Pujara brought up his own half-century – his second in three innings – by steering Overton away behind square after tea, as England tried out a short-ball strategy with the second new ball looming to no great effect. The crowd were subdued, with the partnership extending past 150 as Moeen and Root’s offbreaks were milked.But Robinson struck twice in the first over bowled with the new ball to change the complexion of the day and enliven the crowd. The first was an innocuous ball, a back-of-a-length loosener which hardly got up above waist-height, which Rohit inexplicably pulled straight to long leg; five balls later, Pujara was cramped for room playing off the back foot and inside-edged to third slip via the back thigh, given out on review.Jadeja walked out to join Kohli, keeping his position at No. 5 after his surprise promotion in the first innings, and the pair saw India through to the close with Kohli again looking in superb form, creaming two cover drives away for four. They will resume with a lead of 171 on the fourth morning and while the pitch appears to have flattened out, India will be much the happier side overnight.

They have called for an indefinite boycott of the Dhaka leagues

Mohammad Isam08-Oct-2025Dhaka cricket clubs’ officials have called for an indefinite boycott of the Dhaka leagues in protest of the recently held BCB elections, which they are calling “illegal”. These are the same clubs that withdrew from the polls held on October 6 after claiming interference in the electoral process.Tamim Iqbal, who withdrew from the race before the election, was among the club officials present at the press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday. Masuduzzaman, the BCB councillor from Mohammedan Sporting Club, said that they had a majority of the clubs united in the boycott, which he said would also include district-level cricket.”Starting from the third-division cricket league, including the second and first-division leagues and the Premier League, all the organisers who are participating, we saw how the beauty of cricket got lost,” Masuduzzaman said. “Therefore, if you continue like this, we will not play cricket. We will also boycott cricket at the district level.Related

• Tamim accuses board president of 'interference'

• Tamim withdraws from BCB elections: 'I cannot be a part of this'

• Aminul Islam rules out government interference in BCB election

• Aminul Islam re-elected BCB president

• BCB director removed hours after being elected to his post

“We will all remain united in announcing that cricket will be temporarily closed. We didn’t accept the elections. We said many times that this election should not be allowed to happen. But no one listened. In our opinion, he [Aminul Islam] has conducted an illegal election.”Hours later, BCB chief Aminul Islam said that they would protect the interests of the cricketers. “The betterment of Bangladesh cricket and the well-being of those who matter most – the cricketers – are the main objectives and goals of the BCB. We are all in this together; those within the board and those outside share the same philosophy and passion,” he said in a BCB press release.According to reports, at least 38 clubs are behind the boycott, including seven Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) teams. These include defending champions Abahani Limited and their arch-rivals Mohammedan. The other DPL clubs are Legends of Rupganj, Gulshan Cricket Club, Brothers Union, Partex Sporting Club and Shinepukur City Club.Dhaka’s league structure has the DPL at the top of the pyramid, followed by the first-, second- and third-division leagues in a professional system that is the heartbeat of Bangladesh cricket. It is the competitive system that has sustained the country’s cricketers since the 1950s.As a result, the Dhaka clubs also enjoy the majority of positions in the BCB’s board of directors. Ahead of the elections this year, however, the Tamim-led faction had complained of interference, particularly after the BCB president issued a controversial letter on September 18, in which he asked the sports ministry to send a fresh list of councillors from the districts and divisions category.

Gloucestershire opener adds unbeaten fifty second time around as hosts follow on

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Jul-2025Gloucestershire 381 (Charlesworth 160, Phillips 64, Hartley 6-116) and 98 for 0 (Charlesworth 61*) trail Lancashire 557 by 78 runsTom Hartley produced another stellar performance to put the skids under Gloucestershire as Lancashire made the running on day three of the Rothesay County Championship match at the College Ground, Cheltenham.Having posted a career-best innings of 130 with the bat on day two, the England slow left-armer returned notable figures of 6 for 116 – his best for Lancashire – to again steal the Festival show. Replying to Lancashire’s mammoth 557, the home side were dismissed for 381, conceding a first-innings deficit of 176.Ben Charlesworth staged an outstanding season’s-best knock of 160 and Joe Phillips weighed in with 64 as Gloucestershire advanced confidently to 296 for 3. But Hartley then induced a collapse which saw the hosts lose their last seven wickets for 85 runs in 26 overs.Lancashire captain James Anderson enforced the follow-on and Gloucestershire made a better fist of things second time around, Cameron Bancroft and Charlesworth safely negotiating 30 overs to stage an unbroken opening stand of 98. Gloucestershire still trail by 78 runs and Bancroft (35 not out) and Charlesworth (61 not out) will be called upon to muster further resistance on a pitch offering some assistance to spin when they return in the morning.The day had begun full of hope for Gloucestershire. Resuming on 179 for 1, Charlesworth and Phillips set a new county record partnership for the second wicket in matches against Lancashire, eclipsing the 160 registered by Bill Athey and Paul Romaines at Bristol in 1984. Phillips perished soon afterwards, superbly held at short square leg by Keaton Jennings off the bowling of Chris Green as Lancashire effected an early breakthrough and terminated a profitable alliance of 171 in 47.3 overs.Charlesworth and Ollie Price applied themselves diligently to the task of cussed defiance and, in between performing the hard yards, these two took advantage of sufficient poor balls to post a half-century stand from 104 balls. Desperate to make something happen, Lancashire were indebted to Hartley, who persuaded Price to slice a cut shot to Luke Wells at backward point in the 72nd over. Price had contributed 31 to a stand of 58 for the third wicket, and Gloucestershire were 249 for 3, still 308 runs behind and with further graft required. Charlesworth was joined by Cheltenham-born Miles Hammond and these two advanced the score to 259 for 3 by lunch.With the new ball available upon the resumption, Anderson returned at the Chapel End, only for Hammond to greet him with an off-driven four and another boundary behind square. Charlesworth then crunched the former England man through the covers off the back foot to bring up his 150 from 233 balls with his 20th four.But Charlesworth’s resistance ended soon afterwards, the 24-year-old left hander inexplicably advancing down the pitch to Hartley and being stumped by Phil Salt with the score 296 for 4. His dismissal sparked an alarming collapse in which the home side lost six wickets for the addition of 62 runs in 21.1 overs.Hammond had traded almost exclusively in boundaries, his brisk 36 including six fours and a six, when he miscued an attempted drive and offered a return catch to Hartley. On a roll by now, Hartley struck again in his next over, dismissing Graeme van Buuren lbw without scoring, before persuading James Bracey to pop a catch up to short square leg to complete a remarkable five-wicket haul.Having seen their middle order blown away by Hartley, Gloucestershire’s tailend fared no better against Lancashire’s back-up spinners. Zaman Akhter fell lbw to Green and Ajeet Singh Dale succumbed in near-identical fashion to Wells’ legbreaks. Hindered by a hamstring strain, Marchant de Lange emerged with Phillips as a runner and the big man suggested a possible escape route for Gloucestershire by smiting two huge sixes. But Hartley returned to have the South African held in the deep, leaving Todd Murphy high and dry on 22 not out, as the hosts fell 27 short of saving the follow on.Bancroft and Charlesworth restored calm during a final session that, in stark contrast to what had gone before, failed to yield a single dismissal. Watchful in the face of a new-ball examination at the hands of Anderson, Gloucestershire’s openers initially focused their efforts on occupying the crease and taking up time. But as Lancashire’s bowlers began to tire, so the opening partnership flourished.Picking up where he left off in the first innings, Charlesworth went to 50 from 64 balls with seven fours and a six, his antics causing the threat of further collapse to recede into the distance. His captain proved rock-solid, Bancroft chiseling an unbeaten 35 from 86 balls to serve notice that Gloucestershire remain in the fight.