Tamim Iqbal ruled out of New Zealand tour

Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Rejaur Raja earn maiden Bangladesh call up for Pakistan Test series

Bangladesh announced a 15 member squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan starting November 26 at Chattogram. While Shakib Al Hasan has been named as probable in the squad and his entry is subject to fitness clearance, Two new names in Batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy and fast bowler Rejaur Rahman Raja have earned their maiden call ups for Bangladesh. The decision to include Joy and Raja have been included as experienced players such as Mahmudullah, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed have not been named in the squad due to retirement and injury concerns. "It is still early days for him but Mahmudul has shown good temperament for the longer version. With injury concerns to Taskin (Ahmed) and Shoriful (Islam), we needed to keep our pace-bowling options open and Raja got the nod. We have been monitoring his performances in first-class competitions. He is strong and energetic and has a knack for taking wickets,” Minhajul Abedin, the Bangladesh chief selector said. Both Joy and Raja did well in the ongoing National Cricket League. While the 21-year-old Joy, who was part of the Bangladesh Under-19 World Cup-winning squad made back-to-back centuries for Chattogram Division, the 22-year-old Raja, who plays for Sylhet Division, took 12 wickets at an average of 16.91, with best match figures of 8 for 82. The rest of the squad has experience in the likes of skipper Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das with the bat and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Eabadot Hossain. Pakistan clean swept the T20I series 3-0 and would look to do the same in the two-match Test series which is part of the World Test Championship 2021-23. Bangladesh squad for first Test: Mominul Haque (capt), Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Ebadat Hossain, Abu Jayed, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shakib Al Hasan (subject to fitness)

Umpire's call is final & we respect that: Mahmudullah on last-ball controversy vs Pakistan

The final T20I between Bangladesh and Pakistan turned out to be an eventful one especially as the last over was marred in controversy in Dhaka on Monday. The visitors needed 8 off the final over and Mahmudullah, the Bangladesh skipper had the ball in his hands. The right-hander picked up three wickets and gave away six runs in the first five balls that he bowled. The equation was now down to 2 off one and Mohammad Nawaz was on strike. But what was witnessed next was a bit controversial as the batter pulled off his stance at the last moment and the ball hit the stumps. The on-field umpires signalled it as a dead ball. Later, Mahmudullah said that he just respected the umpire’s decision and carried on with the game without much of a discussion. "I just asked the umpire whether it's a fair ball or not because he (Nawaz) pulled out late. I just asked this to the umpire nothing else,'' Mahmudullah said after the game. "Umpire's call is final and we do respect umpires. It's a little bit heartbreaking. We went closer but unfortunately it did not happen,'' he further added. Pakistan eventually won the contest by 5 wickets after Nawaz struck a boundary on the final ball to seal the win for his side. The visiting team had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series earlier and completed a whitewash win.

Australia’s chief selector George Bailey withdraws from voting on Paine’s selection

Tim Paine’s position in the Australian cricket team for the upcoming Test series looks in jeopardy post his resignation as skipper after the sexting scandal came to light. Added to it is the bad from that Paine has shown in his return to playing cricket for Tasmania second XI against South Australia. With all things going on around Paine, his close friend and Australia’s chief selector George Bailey has pulled out of voting on Paine’s selection in the playing XI for the first Ashes Test starting on December 08 at the Gabba. "If the panel was not in agreeance on Tim's position going forward, and it was going to come down to a vote, then I would step aside and leave that to Tony and Justin to work through. They're both aware of that," Bailey was quoted as saying in the Cricket Etc podcast. Usually, the selection panel comprises Chief selector Bailey, coach Justin Langer and the recently appointed Tony Dodemaide. Reasoning as to why he is pulling out, Bailey said, "By saying that (he would recuse himself of a vote on Paine), it sounds like Tim is the only close friend I have. Since the day I was given the opportunity to have that role, we've been aware that that's the case. I have strong friendships and relationships that go back a number of years with the players," said Bailey. Bailey and Paine have been friends and playing mates for the last 15 years.

Cricket Tasmania chairman calls CA’s treatment of Tim Paine worst for any Aussie captain in 50 years

Cricket Tasmania has come in full support of its stalwart and recently resigned Australian captain Tim Paine because of the way he has been treated by Cricket Australia post his resignation. CT chairman Andrew Gaggin in a letter of support to Paine, which was filled with criticism of CA, lashed out at the cricket governing body of the country. Gaggin went on to say that it is the worst treatment for any Australian captain in the last 50 years, claiming that Bill Lawry was probably the only captain in recent history to have been treated worse than Paine. "In conversations, I have had in recent days, it is clear the anger amongst the Tasmanian cricket community and the general public is palpable. Tim Paine has been a beacon for Australian cricket over the past four years and instrumental in salvaging the reputation of the national team after the calamity of Cape Town. Yet, at a time when CA should have supported Tim, he was evidently regarded as dispensable. The treatment afforded to the Australian Test captain by CA has been appalling, and the worst since Bill Lawry 50 years ago,” Gaggin said in a statement released on November 23rd. "The Cricket Tasmania Board reaffirmed its view that Paine should not have been put in a position where he felt the need to resign over an incident that was determined by an independent inquiry at the time to not be a breach of the Code of Conduct and was a consensual and private exchange that occurred between two mature adults and was not repeated,” he added saying that Paine was in no way responsible for the second investigation in a closed matter which CA itself oversaw. Earlier, current CA chairman Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley had said that they would have axed Paine as the captain had they been in charge in 2018.