'IT'S A VERY EMBARRASSING MOMENT FOR AUSTRALIAN CRICKET'

Bangladesh produced a big upset in first Test beating Australia by nine wickets

Bangladesh batsmen Shadman Islam (2nd L) and Mominul Haque (C) shake hands with Australian players after hitting their team's winning run on the fourth day of their first cricket Test match at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 16, 2026.
AFP

Former Australian cricketers have described Australia’s stunning nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test in Darwin as an embarrassing moment for the team, with calls for changes to the batting line-up.

Bangladesh produced one of the biggest upsets in recent Test cricket on Sunday, beating Australia by nine wickets to register their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the defeat highlights the need for Australia to begin regenerating its Test side, something he had called for at the end of last summer.

“This ends up being a very embarrassing defeat. I think it’s inevitable they have to make change,” Ponting said.

“I was on the record at the end of last summer thinking that this was the ideal time to start to regenerate this team because the performances from some of the players …”

Ponting admitted he has traditionally been reluctant to call for changes to a successful team but felt there was enough evidence to suggest Australia needed to begin rebuilding.

“I’m the last one who wants to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together,” he said.

“It has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren’t going to lose anything, or much at all, by starting that regeneration – by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No. 3.”

Ponting was also surprised by the quality of Bangladesh’s performance, particularly the way their pace attack, spin bowling and batting stood up to Australia.

“I honestly didn’t expect Bangladesh to play cricket this well. The Bangladesh team genuinely shocked me,” Ponting said.

“The way they performed with their pace attack, spin bowling and batting was absolutely outstanding. They dominated Australia in every department and deservedly won the match.

“This is truly a historic and incredible moment for Bangladesh cricket. Their pace attack is genuinely one of the best. Just absolutely brilliant.”

Dominated key phases

Bangladesh’s victory was not simply the result of Australia’s mistakes. The visitors consistently put the hosts under pressure and dominated key phases of the match with both bat and ball.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden was equally stunned by the result and described it as an embarrassing moment for Australian cricket.

“I never expected this kind of performance from Australia. It’s a very embarrassing moment for Australian cricket. Full credit to Bangladesh – they played excellent cricket,” Hayden said.

Changes evident

Former Australia batter Mark Waugh believes changes could now be made to the team, with Jake Weatherald among those under pressure.

“I think Weatherald’s the one under the most pressure, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there were two changes,” Waugh said on Kayo Sports.

“I just think with the South Africa Test series after that, it’d be nice to give someone a Test match before South Africa if you’re going to change the batting order.

“I think you’ve got Inglis, Renshaw, McSweeney. I think they’re the next three batsmen.

“Renshaw, I know, hasn’t been picked in recent times, but he was picked as an opener originally. I think he’s playing pretty well at the moment.”

Former Australia opener David Warner also suggested the batting order could require another reshuffle if the current combination fails to deliver.

“If things don’t pan out down the middle, and Head might have to reshuffle back down there, you have to start all over again,” Warner said.

The defeat has therefore raised serious questions over Australia’s Test combination, with former players increasingly calling for a fresh approach after Bangladesh exposed weaknesses across the hosts’ batting and bowling departments.

- Jaydip Sengupta

BANGLADESH BEAT PAKISTAN BY 78 RUNS TO CLINCH HISTORIC TEST SERIES WIN

Taijul Islam’s six-for helps Bangladesh bowl out the visitors for 328 in their first home series win over Pakistan.

Bangladesh's Taijul Islam was their leading wicket-taker in the second Test against Pakistan [Munir uz Zaman/AFP]

Bangladesh have sealed a historic home Test series win over Pakistan after handing the visitors a 78-run defeat in their second Test in Sylhet.

Spinner Taijul Islam took six wickets to lead the spirited home side’s series win on the fifth day of the match on Wednesday.

Pakistan, who started the day on 316-7 while chasing a record 437, were bowled out for 328 in the first session after Mohammad Rizwan hit a valiant 94.

It was Bangladesh’s first Test series win at home against Pakistan and their second successive sweep after their 2-0 triumph on Pakistani soil in 2024.

Wicketkeeper Rizwan kept Pakistan in the hunt for an unlikely win with a 166-ball stay after the visitors had slumped to 162-5 on day four.

Rizwan put on an eighth-wicket partnership of 54 with overnight partner Sajid Khan, who made 28.

Taijul broke through to dismiss Sajid for his 18th Test five-wicket haul, and Shoriful Islam had Rizwan caught in the next over to end Pakistan’s resistance.

Taijul took the final wicket of Khurram Shahzad to return figures of 6-120 and trigger Bangladesh celebrations.

The left-arm spinner also took 3-67 during Pakistan’s first-innings 232.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das scored 126 in their first-innings 278.

Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 137 in the second to guide Bangladesh to 390, with contributions from Mahmudul Hasan Joy (52) and Litton (69).

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, won the opening Test by 104 runs.

- AFP

NASSER HUSSAIN BLASTS ICC FOR PRESSURIZING BANGLADESH, PAKISTAN

LAHORE – Former English cricket captain Nasser Hussain has criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its double standards and political influence in the sport.

Speaking out against the ICC’s handling of the Bangladesh and Pakistan situation, Hussain questioned, “If India had demanded a venue change like Bangladesh did, what would the ICC have done? Would they have excluded India from the event as well?”

He stressed that the ICC needs to treat Bangladesh and Pakistan equally, just as it does with India.

Hussain praised Bangladesh for standing firm on their position and for supporting their players. He also commended Pakistan for backing Bangladesh, calling it a commendable action.

 “Someone has to stand up and say enough with the politics, let’s play cricket,” he added.

Furthermore, Hussain pointed out that India’s sudden decision to exclude Misbah-ul-Haq from the squad due to political pressure was a clear example of politics interfering with cricket.

He emphasized that if Pakistan and Bangladesh are constantly pressured, the future of cricket itself could be jeopardized.

“Despite all the restrictions, Pakistan continues to perform exceptionally well,” he concluded.

- Pakistan Observer 

INDIA FAVOURITES AS T20 WORLD CUP TO BEGIN AFTER CHAOTIC BUILD-UP

Co-hosts India are the defending T20 World Cup champions (Indranil Mukherjee) (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/AFP)

Cricket's T20 World Cup begins Saturday after an acrimonious build‑up overshadowed by political turmoil, with Bangladesh kicked out and Pakistan refusing to face arch-rivals and co-hosts India.

When the first ball is finally bowled after a chaotic lead-in, Pakistan will open the tournament against the Netherlands in Colombo.

Defending champions and tournament favourites India will make their tournament bow in the night match on day one against the United States in Mumbai, carrying the hopes of a billion-plus home cricket supporters.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India will start as firm tournament favourites and are expected to ease into the Super Eight stage from Group A.

But they will be wary of the United States, who are looking to take down another cricketing powerhouse, having shocked Pakistan to make the Super Eights in 2024.

Former champions Australia and England are also strong contenders to lift the trophy and deny holders India the title for a record second straight time.

The 2021 winners Australia have been hit hard by the absence of pace spearhead Pat Cummins, who was ruled out with a lower back injury.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the early stages as he recovers from hamstring and Achilles injuries.

Led by Mitchell Marsh, the Australians should still ease into the next round from Group B against Ireland, who they play first on Wednesday, plus co-hosts Sri Lanka Oman and Zimbabwe.

Harry Brook's England, full of confidence after a 3-0 T20 series win in Sri Lanka this week, are expected to make the Super Eights from a Group C that also features two-time winners West Indies, debutants Italy, Nepal and Scotland.

Brook, under intense scrutiny after having to apologise for an incident with a night club bouncer in New Zealand last year, takes charge at a global tournament for the first time since he replaced Jos Buttler as white ball captain.

England, who start with a match against Nepal on Sunday in Mumbai, won the tournament in 2010 and 2022.

Scotland, after their 11th-hour call-up to replace Bangladesh, will take guard on the opening day when they face the West Indies in Kolkata.

Football powerhouse Italy will make an appearance at a cricket World Cup for the first time, and will kick off against the Scots in Kolkata on Monday.

South Africa, the runners-up in 2024, have never won a white ball World Cup, but are buoyed by winning the World Test Championship last year.

They will be a threat but must first emerge from a tough-looking Group D that contains dangerous opponents in New Zealand and Afghanistan.

They begin against Canada on Monday in Ahmedabad, with the UAE the other team in that group.

The top two teams from each of the four groups of five teams will advance to the Super Eights, with the top four making the semi-finals.

- Politics, pullouts -

There will be relief at the weekend when the action gets under way finally after weeks of political posturing that has dominated the build-up to 10th edition of the showpiece tournament.

Bangladesh refused to play in India, citing security concerns, as relations between the two countries soured and were kicked out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from England's Group C.

The ICC is led by Jay Shah, the former Indian cricket board secretary and son of the powerful Indian home minister Amit Shah.

Pakistan, who had backed Bangladesh's plea to have their games moved to Sri Lanka, were cleared to play by the Islamabad government but they ordered the team not to play the marquee group clash against fierce rivals India on February 15.

According to media reports, the ICC is still waiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the boycott, leaving the door slightly ajar for a last-minute deal to get the game on.

If India are awarded a walkover, Pakistan will lose two points and take a big hit to their net run rate.

If any of their other three Group A games are lost to the weather then it could make it almost impossible for Pakistan to qualify.

Pakistan's pullout will result in a loss of millions of dollars in revenue for broadcasters, and will be a huge letdown for fans on both sides.

The crisis was triggered last month when India's cricket board ordered the IPL's Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, a move that deepened political strains between the neighbours.

The tournament will conclude with the final on March 8 in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go that far.

- Faisal KAMAL

MAHBUB ALI ZAKI LEAVES HALF OF HIS LAND FOR MOSQUE

   

Former Bangladesh national cricket team head coach and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Dhaka team coach, Mahbub Ali, passed away after suffering a fatal heart attack on the ground while supervising players’ practice, just ten minutes before the start of a match. He was childless.

According to reports, Mahbub Ali collapsed suddenly during the training session and could not be revived. His funeral prayer was offered at the Dhaka Cricket Ground, where a large number of people, including Bangladeshi cricketers, coaches, and fans, were present.

Before the funeral prayer, Mahbub Ali’s wife—who is a respected professor at Dhaka University, one of Bangladesh’s most prestigious institutions—handed over a written will to Mufti Musa, who led the funeral prayer. The will stated that half of Mahbub Ali’s land should be dedicated for the construction of a mosque, while the remaining half belongs to his wife.

The will further revealed that Mahbub Ali owned ten shops in Dhaka, five of which belong to his wife and five to him. It was instructed that the rent generated from his five shops should be permanently used for the imam’s salary, electricity bills, and other operational needs of the mosque to be built on his land.

When the will was read out during the funeral, many people present—including Bangladeshi cricketers—were overwhelmed with emotion and broke down in tears.

Bangladesh star cricketers Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim addressed the gathering, saying that Mahbub Ali was their cricket mentor and teacher. They stated that whatever recognition they have achieved in the cricketing world is due to his guidance and dedication. Both players announced that they would personally ensure the construction of the mosque, regardless of the cost involved.

According to Bangladeshi media reports, the land designated for the mosque has already been set aside in accordance with the will, and construction work is expected to begin within the next three days.

Disclpp aimer: This content is shared solely for awareness, educational, public information, andpurposes.0pstic purposes.

- Dekhl

DHAKA CAPITALS COACH MAHBUB ALI ZAKI DIES AFTER COLLAPSING ON FIELD AHEAD OF BPL MATCH

Zaki's dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of fast bowling and Bangladesh cricket will be remembered with profound respect and gratitude,' the Bangladesh Cricket Board posted on X

Dhaka Capitals assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki died on Saturday after collapsing on the field ahead of his team's Bangladesh Premier League game against Rajshahi Warriors in Sylhet, with local media reporting he suffered a heart attack.

Zaki, 59, fell while the teams were warming up. He was rushed to hospital, but news of his death reached the ground after the match had already kicked off.

"Mahbub Ali Zaki's dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of fast bowling and Bangladesh cricket will be remembered with profound respect and gratitude," the Bangladesh Cricket Board posted on X.

Players of both teams observed a minute's silence during the innings break to pay respect.

"We are deeply saddened by this irreparable loss. May his soul rest in peace and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," Dhaka Capitals posted on Instagram.

- Reuters

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BANDLADESH OPT TO BOWL FIRST AGAINST PAKISTAN IN DEAD RUBBER

Mirpur – Bangladesh skipper Litton Kumar Das has won the toss and opted to bowl first against Pakistan in the third T20I in Mirpur on Thursday evening.

It is a dead rubber as the hosts have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Harris (wk), Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, Salman Mirza

Bangladesh Playing XI: Litton Kumar Das (c & wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Naim Sheikh, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Md Saifuddin, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed.

- Pakistan Observer 

ZIMBABWE EDGE OUT BANGLADESH IN LOW-SCORING TEST

Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 10 wickets for the match, but Zimbabwe won the first Test. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Opener Brian Bennett hit his second half-century of the match to set up Zimbabwe's thrilling three-wicket victory in the opening Test against Bangladesh.

Chasing 174 for victory in Sylhet on Wednesday, Zimbabwe got off to a strong start against the home side, with Bennett (54) and Ben Curran (44) adding 95 for the opening stand.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5-50) broke the partnership and triggered a collapse to inject fresh excitement into the low-scoring contest.

The offspinner, who claimed 5-52 in the first innings, removed both openers and ran through the Zimbabwe middle order to keep alive the home side's hopes of an improbable win.

With wickets tumbling at the other end, Wessly Madhevere, who made a patient 19 not out from 55 balls, stepped on the gas to help the tourists reach their victory target, finishing on 7-174.

Madhevere sealed Zimbabwe's first Test victory in four years with a reverse-swept four off Mehidy.

Zimbabwe paceman Blessing Muzarabani was named player of the match after following up his 3-50 in the first innings with 6-72 in Bangladesh's second dig.

The second Test in Chattogram starts on Monday.

- Reuters 

TEAMS TO TAKE 20 SPIN WICKETS IN A TEST: PAKISTAN'S 60/60 RUN SETS NEW WORLD RECORD

Pakistan secured a 127-run win over West Indies in the first Test in Multan, taking all 20 wickets through spin to set a new world record.

On day three of the first Test, after Pakistan set a target of 251 runs in the first Test against West Indies, off-spinner Sajid Khan removed West Indies' top five batters, adding to his tally of four wickets in the first innings.

Noman Ali chipped in with one wicket, trapping Justin Greaves lbw after he had taken five wickets in the first innings. Abrar Ahmed then took four wickets, demolishing the lower order in a hurry to help the hosts wrap up a 127-run win. He finished with five in the match.

20 wickets via spinners in a Test: Pakistan set new world record

In their last home series, Pakistan had hosted England for a three-Test series. After losing the first Test on a flat track by an innings, courtesy of a triple century by Harry Brook, the Pakistan management shook up their formula of seamer-friendly tracks and deployed extremely spin-friendly pitches in the remaining two Tests. Their spinners then ran riot, taking 40 out of 40 wickets in those two Tests to help the hosts win the series 2-1.

With another 20 wickets taken by spinners in this Test, Pakistan have now achieved the feat of taking 20 wickets via spinners for three straight home Tests, and five times in total including two instances from the 20th century. India held this particular record previously, with four instances.

The unique 60/60 wickets to spin record in Pakistan's last three home Tests has been led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who have taken 26 and 28 wickets respectively. Abrar Ahmed has taken five, and Zahid Mehmood one.

Full list: Instances of a team taking 20 wickets through spin in a Test

Apart from the last three Test matches at home, Pakistan took 20 wickets via spinners against West Indies in Faisalabad in 1980 where Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Nazir, and Abdul Qadir completed the rout.

In November 1987, it was England who fell victim to Pakistan's slow bowlers as Abdul Qadir took 13 wickets, Tauseef Ahmed took four, and Iqbal Qasim struck thrice in the second innings.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have done this three times each, and England once. India are the only team ever to achieve this away from home, against New Zealand in Auckland, in 1976.

On that occasion, Erapalli Prasanna took 11 wickets, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar eight and S Venkataraghavan one to complete the set.

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AFGAN PLAYER ACCUSED OF FAKING INJURY

 Gulbadin Naib was accused of faking injury to waste time before taking a wicket that helped secure Afghanistan’s first World Cup semi-final, eliminating Australia and sparking scenes of joy in Kabul.

Afghanistan needed to beat Bangladesh to take their place in the World Cup semi-final at Australia’s expense − and they won a rain-affected classic in St Vincent to set up a last-four clash with South Africa.

Afghanistan’s eight-run win (using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method) was not without controversy.

Bangladesh had stumbled to 81 for seven in the 12th over in response to Afghanistan’s 115. With rain starting to fall, Afghanistan’s head coach Jonathan Trott, the former England batsman, was seen on the boundary telling his players to slow the game down in the hope the umpires would take the players from the field. Afghanistan, at that point, were ahead on DLS.

Veteran Gulbadin, fielding at slip to the spinner, took Trott’s instruction very literally and suddenly fell to the ground clutching his leg, appearing to feign a hamstring injury.

Moments later, the players were being taken from the field, with Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan appearing unhappy with his player’s behaviour and Bangladesh batsman Litton Das mocking Gulbadin.

A short rain delay followed, with the players returning having lost one over and Bangladesh’s target adjusted to 114.

Rashid bowled his last over (finishing with brilliant figures of four for 23) and soon turned to Gulbadin, who had bowled superbly in the win over Australia on Sunday. With his second ball, he picked up the eighth wicket of Tanzim Hasan Sakib before Naveen-ul-Haq took the final two wickets amid scenes of high drama.

The win is a seismic moment for Afghanistan cricket, whose men’s team have emerged as a real force in the game over the last decade (the ruling Taliban, meanwhile, have banned their women’s team from playing). They are now one win away from a World Cup final.

For Australia, it is a brutal blow, though. They made a flying start to the tournament and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood even wondered aloud whether they could engineer England’s elimination by deliberately underperforming against Scotland. But after Super 8 staged defeats to Afghanistan and India, Australia are heading home, with England through to the semi-finals. They will face India on Thursday in Guyana.

- Nick Mulvenney

KHOLU HITS SUBLIME HUNDRED AS INDIA CRUSH BANGLADESH

Reuters 

Virat Kohli smashed a century as India maintained their perfect record in their 50-overs home World Cup and cruised to their fourth consecutive victory with a clinical seven-wicket win against Bangladesh on Thursday.

Bangladesh had to conjure up something extraordinary to upset an India team who went into the match after three successive wins, and the task became even harder in the absence of skipper Shakib Al Hasan was injured.

Electing to bat, Bangladesh could not capitalise on a 93-run opening stand between Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan, making 256-8 on a good batting pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

It was a clinical effort by India's attack, considering they were one bowler short from early in the match after Hardik Pandya twisted his ankle in his first over.

Skipper Rohit Sharma led India's rapid reply and Kohli ended with an unbeaten 103, hitting a six to reach his hundred and secure India's win with 51 balls to spare.

ENGLAND HAPPY TO AVOID INJURIES ON DIFFICULT DHARAMSALA OUTFIELD

Reuters 

England all-rounder Sam Curran said they were thankful to have come through Tuesday's World Cup win over Bangladesh without picking up injuries after players struggled to keep their feet due to the state of the Dharamsala outfield.

While the venue, located in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, is considered one of the most picturesque grounds in the world the state of the outfield left a lot to be desired, with bowlers and fielders forced to exercise caution on the uneven grass.

MALAN SMASHES 140, ENGLAND AMASS 364-9 VS. BANGLADESH

Reuters 

Opener Dawid Malan smashed 140 and forged century-plus partnerships with Jonny Bairstow and Bangladesh to help England rack up 364-9 against Bangladesh in their second match of the 50-overs World Cup on Tuesday.

Malan combined with Bairstow in a 115-run opening stand to give England a terrific start after being put into bat by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan.

Even after Bairstow departed for 52, there was no respite for Bangladesh as Malan raised 151 runs with Root, whose 82 followed his 77 in the tournament opener against New Zealand.

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