Category: CRICKET

Star cricketer Tamim Iqbal suffered a heart attack before the start of his Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match. He is currently undergoing treatment at KPJ Specialized Hospital in Savar. A blockage was found in his heart, and an emergency stent was placed.

On Monday (March 24), the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a statement wishing Tamim a speedy recovery. Additionally, BCB urged fans not to crowd the hospital to check on him or visit him in person.

Speaking to the media about Tamim’s condition, BCB’s chief physician, Debashis Chowdhury, said, “Tamim’s health has significantly improved so far. However, as per protocol, he will remain under observation for 24 hours. The hospital authorities are providing the best care.”

In its statement, BCB mentioned that Tamim had received prompt and emergency medical attention and remains under doctors’ observation. The board, along with its chief medical advisor’s office, is closely monitoring his condition.

BCB also requested fans not to gather at the hospital, as excessive crowds could disrupt the hospital environment and affect Tamim’s treatment. The board assured that updates on his health would be provided regularly.

Both BCB and Tamim’s family have asked for prayers for his swift recovery.

Tamim’s sudden illness has also deeply affected the entertainment industry. Many celebrities have expressed their concerns on social media, with everyone sharing the same wish—for Tamim to recover quickly.

Jofra Archer has bowled the most expensive spell in IPL history.

In the ongoing IPL season, Rajasthan Royals faced Sunrisers Hyderabad first. As usual, Hyderabad’s batters dominated the opposition bowlers. Ishan Kishan played a blistering unbeaten knock of 106 runs off 47 balls, while Travis Head smashed an explosive 67-run innings.

Facing this batting onslaught, English pacer Jofra Archer delivered the most expensive spell in IPL history. He conceded 76 runs in his four-over quota.

Previously, the record for the most expensive spell in IPL history was held by India’s Mohit Sharma, who had conceded 73 runs in his four-over spell.

The ICC Champions Trophy has set a record as the highest-rated tournament in India’s history. Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, the popularity of this tournament has increased by nearly 23%. It is now the most-watched tournament in India.

In total, 250 billion minutes of the Champions Trophy have been watched. Out of this, 13 billion minutes were viewed on Star Sports, while Jio Hotstar accounted for 110 billion minutes of viewership.

The most popular match of the tournament was the final between India and New Zealand, which was watched by 122 million people on TV. Additionally, 61 million viewers streamed the match on Jio’s digital platform.

The India vs. Pakistan group-stage match also set a record, with 26 billion minutes of total viewership. This even surpassed the Cricket World Cup, where the highest watch time was 19.5 billion minutes.

Moreover, the matches of the Champions Trophy received 10.8% higher ratings than previous tournaments, with 206 million viewers watching the games live.

A few days ago, Shakib Al Hasan received good news—he is now free from restrictions. Following this, the star all-rounder has become eager to return to competitive cricket. He has set his sights on making a comeback through the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to Indian media outlet Sangbad Pratidin, Shakib has already reached out to three IPL franchises.

As per the report, Shakib has contacted three teams that are weak in the spin department, expressing his desire to play for them. These franchises have reportedly given him some assurances. However, since Shakib was not picked in the IPL auction, he will have to wait. He will only get a chance if any team needs a replacement due to injuries or other reasons.

Currently abroad, Shakib has already retired from Test cricket. He was supposed to play in the Champions Trophy, but due to various complications, that did not happen. His return to the Bangladesh national team also seems difficult at the moment. Additionally, the ICC had previously banned Shakib from bowling due to issues with his bowling action.

Shakib failed two tests to correct his bowling action but eventually passed the third one. Following that, he decided to return through the IPL. With his bowling restrictions lifted, he is now eligible to play as a full-fledged all-rounder again. This has opened the doors for him in franchise cricket, and he is keen to seize the opportunity in the IPL.

According to Sangbad Pratidin, Shakib has had preliminary discussions with three IPL franchises—Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has assured them that he is fully prepared to play.

However, getting into one of these teams won’t be easy for Shakib at the moment. He will only get a chance if an existing player gets injured and the team considers him a suitable replacement. Only then might we see Shakib in this season’s IPL.

New rules mean breaking old ones. The IPL has always been ahead in introducing innovative regulations to make cricket more exciting and engaging. This time, two new rules are set to be implemented.

A couple of days ago, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held a meeting with team captains, where they decided that matches will now feature three different balls. Additionally, captains received a sigh of relief: no matter how many times a team fails to maintain the required over rate, no captain will face a suspension. Instead, they will receive demerit points as punishment.

This is certainly good news for players like Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. In the previous IPL season, Hardik Pandya was set to miss the first match due to slow over-rate violations. Considering this, IPL authorities have decided to remove the one-match suspension rule that was applied after three slow over-rate offenses.

Another significant change reported by multiple Indian media outlets is the introduction of a third ball in matches to counter the impact of dew. The specifics of how these balls will be used have also been disclosed.

Since dew is expected to be a major factor in several venues during April and May, especially in night games, the use of three balls aims to balance the playing conditions. The rule remains similar to before but with a slight modification:
• The ball will be changed in the 11th over of the second innings.
• The first innings will still use a single ball for all 20 overs.
• In the second innings, the first ball will be used for 11 overs, and a fresh ball will be introduced for the final 9 overs.

BCCI and team captains believe this change will mitigate the dew problem, ensuring fairer playing conditions.

With one trophy in sight, the 10-team battle begins tomorrow. The tournament consists of 74 matches, including the group stage, qualifiers, and the final. A total of 13 venues will host the games. IPL 2025 kicks off on March 22 and will conclude on May 25.

Shakib Al Hasan is finally free from his suspension. His bowling action was previously deemed illegal, but he has now passed the test on his third attempt. This news has brought immense joy to the cricketing community, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially confirmed the update through a statement. Shakib’s childhood coach, Saddam Hossain Gorky, is particularly delighted with the development.

With the ban lifted, Shakib now faces no obstacles and can bowl in all formats of cricket. He is also eligible to represent the national team once again. Reacting to the news, coach Gorky urged the BCB to consider Shakib for selection, stating, “Shakib has played for so many years, and it was unfortunate that his bowling action was declared illegal at the very end of his career. Now that he is back, it’s truly a moment of joy.”

Gorky hopes that Shakib will get the opportunity to make his return in national colors. “The BCB should consider him. He has contributed immensely to the country’s cricket and taken Bangladesh to great heights,” he added.

Following an extensive bowling action test in England, Shakib’s suspension has been revoked. However, during his suspension period, he missed the Champions Trophy, a tournament where he had initially planned to retire from international cricket. Now, fans may once again witness the world’s best all-rounder back in action.

In a statement, the BCB confirmed that Shakib had successfully modified his bowling action. As a result, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has lifted his suspension from all competitive county cricket and The Hundred. The ECB is expected to release a detailed media statement on the matter soon.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to kick off in just two days. On March 22, Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Before the match, a grand opening ceremony will take place, featuring a galaxy of Bollywood stars.

According to several Indian media reports, Shah Rukh Khan will be present to support his team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Salman Khan is expected to attend to promote his upcoming movie Sikandar. Other celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra, Vicky Kaushal, Shraddha Kapoor, and Sanjay Dutt, will also be part of the event.

The star-studded opening ceremony will feature Katrina Kaif, Ananya Panday, Madhuri Dixit, Janhvi Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Sara Ali Khan. The American pop band OneRepublic has also been invited to perform at the grand event.

Singers Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal will take the stage, while Karan Aujla, Disha Patani, Shraddha Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan are also set to perform. OneRepublic is expected to share the stage with Karan Aujla and Disha Patani. Several top cricketers will also be present at the ceremony.

This 18th edition of the IPL will feature 10 teams competing for the title. A total of 74 matches, including group stage, qualifiers, and the final, will be played across 13 venues. The tournament begins on March 22 and will conclude on May 25.

Legends of Rupganj suffered yet another defeat as Abahani strengthened their position at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Gazi Group Cricketers maintained their second spot by defeating Mohammedan. In Mirpur, Prime Bank secured a victory against Dhanmondi Club.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto finally ended his long century drought after more than a year. On Tuesday, in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match against Legends of Rupganj, Shanto scored 101 runs off 108 balls. His brilliant batting helped Abahani secure a comfortable victory.

Batting first after losing the toss at BKSP’s No. 3 ground, Rupganj posted 292 runs for 6 wickets. Chasing a target of 293, Abahani lost a wicket in the very first over as Parvez Hossain Emon was dismissed for a duck. However, Shanto and Zisan Alam built a crucial 107-run partnership. Their stand was broken when Zisan got out for 43 off 46 balls.

Later, Shanto and Mithun added 50 more runs before Mithun departed after scoring 34 off 37 balls. Shanto, however, reached his century in the 35th over but was dismissed on the very next ball by Sheikh Mehedi.

Najmul Hossain Shanto had last scored a century on March 13 last year, when he made 122 runs against Sri Lanka in Chattogram. After a long wait of 370 days, he finally reached the three-figure mark again in List A cricket.

Following Shanto’s dismissal, Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 35 off 32 balls, while Mahfijur Rahman Rabbi contributed 31 off 25 balls. Their solid finishing helped Abahani chase down the target in 48.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand.

For Rupganj, Saif Hassan top-scored with 67 runs, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy made 58, Soumya Sarkar scored 27 off 31 balls, and Zakir Ali Anik added 35 off 35 balls.

With the ball, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan and Shariful Islam took 2 wickets each, while Saif Hassan and Afif Hossain Dhrubo claimed one wicket each.

After 29 years, Pakistan hosted an ICC event on home soil, but it turned out to be a significant loss for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Ahead of the Champions Trophy, PCB spent double the initial budget to renovate stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Pakistan had two group-stage matches on home soil: against New Zealand in Karachi and against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. However, the match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain. Pakistan had to play against India in Dubai. Consequently, the host nation played only one match at home.

Pakistan was eliminated early from the tournament, bowing out within five days. This led to a loss of interest among local fans, resulting in empty stadiums and decreased ticket demand. Sponsors also backed out, leading to a reported loss of 8.69 billion Pakistani Rupees for PCB.

The impact extended to domestic cricket. Reports indicate that players’ salaries for the upcoming National T20 tournament have been slashed by 90%. Previously, players earned 40,000 PKR per match, which has now been reduced to 10,000 PKR. Similarly, for domestic red-ball cricket, the per-match fee has been reduced from 40,000 PKR to 30,000 PKR. However, PCB has yet to make an official statement regarding this.