Cricket: Sri Lanka thrash Australia by 8 wickets

ADELAIDE: Sri Lanka took the tri one-day finals series into a decider with an eight-wicket thrashing of Australia in the second final at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Australia won the toss and scored 271 for six off 50 overs, but were easily reeled in by the Sri Lankans, who scored 274 for two off 44.2 overs.

Skipper Michael Clarke hit 117 and opening batsman David Warner 100 in Australia's innings but it was no where near enough as openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and captain Mahela Jayawardene came out blazing for Sri Lanka.

The pair had put on an opening stand of 179 runs by the 28th over with Dilshan hitting 106 off 119 balls and Jayawardene scoring 80 off 76 balls.

Their wickets were the only ones to fall as Sri Lanka coasted to victory with 34 balls remaining to set up a Thursday decider at the same stadium.

Kumar Sangakkara hit the winning runs to remain 51 not out with Dinesh Chandimal on 17.

Match scores: Australia 271 for 6 (50 overs); Sri Lanka 274 for 2 (44.2 overs).

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PCB must organise PPL if not in Pakistan then abroad: Rana

ISLAMABAD: With the influx of Twenty-20 tournaments around the world, former Pakistan pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan believes Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should also organise Pakistan Premier League (PPL) even if they have to host the tournament outside the country.

"I believe the PCB have been looking to organise a tournament similar to the BPL and IPL. Unfortunately the problem we have at the moment is that international teams are reluctant to come and play cricket in Pakistan and fans in Pakistan are being deprived of high quality cricket," Rana told PakPassion.net in an interview.

Rana said that once Bangladesh tours Pakistan this year in April than other countries will also start touring Pakistan.

"Once international tours start taking place in Pakistan, then that will pave the way for tournaments such as the PPL to commence.  If it cannot be organised in Pakistan, then yes the overseas option is also one to think about," he said.

Rana, who was a member of Dhaka Gladiators squad winners of the inaugural edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a successful tournament.

"The BPL was very enjoyable, I had a really good time and it was good to be playing against a number of Pakistani cricketers.      Some of them performed really well in Bangladesh, including Mohammad Sami, Ahmed Shehzad, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir," he said.

Rana who is representing Wapda in the ongoing National One Day Cup division one, said it will be a high standard of cricket, a very tough competition. All of the best departmental teams are in Division One and I'm confident that Wapda can do very well this time around.

Rana said that Wapda reached the semi-finals last time around and he thinks the team can do better this season.

Rana last played for Pakistan 2 years ago in a Twenty-20 international in Australia. Given Pakistan's recent dismal performances in the shorter formats, some observers were keen for Rana to be given a recall.

"I was hopeful after the series in Bangladesh last year that I might be given a chance. My name was being mentioned but it never materialised, but never mind, I wasn't disheartened or disappointed."  "I know that if I am recalled I will perform to the best of my ability and I hope that I'm given another chance by the selectors," he concluded.

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Cricket: Clarke injury concern for tri-series and Windies

ADELAIDE: A hamstring injury is hampering Australian captain Michael Clarke's prospects of being fit for this month's tour of the West Indies.

Clarke will have scans on his left hamstring, which was strained while making 117 in Australia's loss in the second tri-series final against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on Tuesday.

He is unlikely to be fit for Thursday's deciding final in the best-of-three series and could also be in doubt for the looming tour to the Caribbean.

The Australian players are due to fly to the West Indies on Friday with the opening ODI match at St Vincent on March 16.

"I have done something to my left hamstring, I don't know to what extent,"Clarke told reporters after Tuesday's ODI loss.

"But it's obviously not feeling good at the moment, that is for sure.

"We leave for West Indies in three days. I don't want to make a judgment until I make a scan, I think I would be silly to do that."

Clarke only returned to action last weekend from a strain to his right hamstring, which sidelined him for three games.

And the captain admitted he went against the wishes of Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris by returning so soon.

"It's a tough one, I pushed really hard to try and get back for this finals series," he said.

"And I tried my best not to give Alex much of an option, to be honest.

"So I feel for him as well as my left leg at the moment because I know he probably would have preferred me to take it easy.

"But I wanted to be part of this finals series.

"But after straining my right one, I probably favoured my left over the past couple of weeks, 10 days, and I have done a bit of damage there.

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Cricket: Asia Cup 2012 tickets go on sale

DHAKA: Tickets for Asia Cup 2012 cricket four-nation tournament went on sale Tuesday.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh compete in Asia Cup which starts on March 11 with match between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Final will be on March 22.

City Bank Limited, ticketing partners of Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB, are responsible for selling and distributing tickets across Bangladesh. "Tickets are sold through 21 branches of City Bank in six divisions. We successfully completed ticketing operations of high-profile events like ICC Cricket World Cup and BPL. We hope to make entire process easier and more convenient for spectators at Asia Cup," said Dewan Shafiul Arefin, member secretary Asia Cup 2012 tournament committee.

Micromax Informatics Limited bagged title sponsorship for Asia Cup tournament for second consecutive year. Nimbus Sport & Micromax entered into agreement and event will be titled as Micromax Asia Cup 2012. Deepak Mehrotra, CEO, Micromax said, "We are proud to be part of Asia Cup 2012, which is one of most coveted cricket championship in Asia. Cricket is not just another sport, but a culture that connects youth beyond boundaries."

Itinerary:
11 March: Bangladesh v Pakistan
12 March: Reserve Day/ Rest Day
13 March: India v Sri Lanka
14 March: Reserve Day/ Rest Day
15 March: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
16 March: India v Bangladesh
17 March: Reserve Day/ Rest Day
18 March: India v Pakistan
19 March: Reserve Day/ Rest Day
20 March: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh
21 March: Reserve Day/ Rest Day
22 March: Final
23 March: Reserve Day for Final

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Cricket: Sri Lanka thrash Australia by 8 wickets

ADELAIDE: Sri Lanka took the tri one-day finals series into a decider with an eight-wicket thrashing of Australia in the second final at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Australia won the toss and scored 271 for six off 50 overs, but were easily reeled in by the Sri Lankans, who scored 274 for two off 44.2 overs.

Skipper Michael Clarke hit 117 and opening batsman David Warner 100 in Australia's innings but it was no where near enough as openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and captain Mahela Jayawardene came out blazing for Sri Lanka.

The pair had put on an opening stand of 179 runs by the 28th over with Dilshan hitting 106 off 119 balls and Jayawardene scoring 80 off 76 balls.

Their wickets were the only ones to fall as Sri Lanka coasted to victory with 34 balls remaining to set up a Thursday decider at the same stadium.

Kumar Sangakkara hit the winning runs to remain 51 not out with Dinesh Chandimal on 17.

Match scores: Australia 271 for 6 (50 overs); Sri Lanka 274 for 2 (44.2 overs).

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Cricket: Watling injury gives van Wyk Test debut for NZ

WELLINGTON: New Zealand will give South African-born wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk his Test debut against the Proteas on Wednesday after a hip injury sidelined regular gloveman BJ Watling.

Black Caps physiotherapist Paul Close said a problem with Watling's right hip joint meant he was unable to play in the first Test in Dunedin.

"The nature of the injury is such that we were concerned about BJ's ability to get through the match, based on the high workloads required by a wicket-keeper batsman," he said, adding that it was unclear how long Watling would be sidelined.

The injury gives van Wyk, 32, who was born in South Africa and moved to New Zealand in 2006, an opportunity at the top level late in his career.

The Proteas have dominated the home team during their first trip to New Zealand in eight years, winning the Twenty20 series 2-1 and cruising to a 3-0 whitewash in the one-day series.

A whitewash in the three-match Test series would see them overtake England as the number one team in the ICC world Test rankings

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South Africa aim for clean sweep to claim No 1 ranking

South Africa will be aiming to carry the winning momentum from its ODI series into the three-Test series against New Zealand starting in Dunedin on Wednesday which will earn it the status of the number-one Test ranked side in the world in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table at the 1 April cut-off date for the first time since the Test rankings were introduced in 2001.

Second-ranked South Africa trails top-ranked England by just one rating point. And to move ahead of Andrew Strauss's side, Graeme Smith's men have to win all the three Tests. A 3-0 win will put South Africa one ratings point ahead of England on 119 while any other series result will not be enough to help the Proteas make history.

Though England and Sri Lanka go head-to-head in a two-Test series from 26 March in Galle, the series outcome will not affected the Test Championship table as the series will conclude on 7 April in Colombo.

If South Africa wins all the three Tests, it will celebrate the achievement by receiving the prestigious Reliance ICC Test Championship mace which is presented to the side which tops the Championship table at the 1 April cut-off date, along with a cash award of US$175,000.

However, if South Africa fails to achieve the desired series result, then England will retain the mace it won at The Oval last year after defeating India 4-0, as well as a cheque of US$175,000 whereas South Africa will once again have to settle with the runner-up prize of US$75,000.

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Porterfield brimming with confidence

Ireland captain William Porterfield is confident his side can build on the recent good form to be one of the two sides to qualify from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 scheduled to be held in UAE from 13-24 March.

The tournament will see 16 teams from across ICC's five regions competing for the remaining two places at the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 which will be staged from 18 September to 7 October in Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele.

Ireland is placed in Group B of the competition. The side is presently training in Port Elizabeth, South Africa after finishing a tour of Kenya which also featured three Twenty20 Internationals.

"We were in Kenya for the Intercontinental Cup and after those matches we played three T20 games and won all three. The camp in Port Elizabeth has been about fine tuning our Twenty20 skills. The past few weeks have been a good reminder about our abilities. We are confident that we have covered all aspects of our game," said Porterfield.

On the Kenya tour Ireland also became only the 11th side and first Associate Member to enter the Reliance ICC Twenty20 Rankings Championship table after completing the criterion of having played in eight or more T20I matches since August 2009.

Porterfield believes this is a positive development going into the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier."It is great to be on the table. We had been working towards that, now if we maintain our momentum then it will help us to qualify. We need to continue to play good consistent cricket. It will be a tight competition but we are confident. All teams have dangerous match winners, so it is going to be hard to pick the qualifiers," added Porterfield.

The recent Twenty20 International series between Pakistan and England held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been a great pointer for all the 16 teams in the Qualifier. Porterfield believes his side has the personnel to build on the pointers gained from the Pakistan v England series.

"We are a happy squad with competition for spots. We have quite a few all-rounders which gives us lot more options with the ball. We have good spinners who can exploit the slow pitches in Dubai because they will be hard to get away. There could potentially be low-scoring games as during the Pakistan-England series. So putting runs on the board will make any side competitive," reckoned Porterfield.

Ireland had qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 2010 through a similar global qualifier held in UAE. However, Porterfield believes his side has made rapid gains in terms of experience and exposure in the Twenty20 format since then.

"We have played a lot more cricket against the major teams and have shown that we belong. In addition our lads have played a lot of Twenty20 cricket for counties in England. So all that experience is going to help the side in the tournament," opined Porterfield.

Ireland will be based in Port Elizabeth till 8 March before flying out for the competition. Porterfield believes a place in the ICC World Twenty20 2012 will be a step in the right direction for Ireland cricket.

"It will be massive because that's where we want to be competing with the best teams. It is part of our long-term goals. So all our effort will be channelised towards achieving that dream," concluded Porterfield.

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Cricket: Bangladesh drop Tamim for Asia Cup

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket chiefs on Tuesday axed aggressive opening batsman Tamim Iqbal for the Asia Cup one-day tournament starting in Dhaka on March 11.

Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza returned to the 14-man squad after steering Dhaka Gladiators to victory in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 competition.

Tamim, widely regarded as Bangladesh's number one batsman, was overlooked despite being declared fit from a groin injury he sustained during the BPL.

Chairman of selectors Akram Khan told AFP that Tamim's name was not approved by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Mustafa Kamal.

"It's a decision of the president," Khan said. "He selected the final squad, not us."

The return of Mortaza, a right-arm fast bowler who had been out of the national side for a year because of a recurring knee injury, will bolster the bowling attack of the hosts.

Alok Kapali, Rubel Hossain, Naeem Islam, Shahriar Nafees and Farhad Reza were not considered for the Asia Cup after being involved in matches against Pakistan towards the end of last year.

Opener Anamul Haque is the only uncapped player in the squad, while batsman Mohammad Nazimuddin, wicketkeeper-batsman Jahurul Islam and seamer Shahadat Hossain earned recalls after good showings in domestic leagues.

The BCB said it will announce the name of the captain later.

Defending champions India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the other teams competing for the Asia Cup.

Bangladesh squad:

Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Haque

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Clarke, Warner tons as Australia score 271-6 in ODI

ADELAIDE: Skipper Michael Clarke and opening batsman David Warner scored centuries as Australia hit 271 for six off 50 overs in the second tri one-day series final against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Clarke, once again inconvenienced by back trouble, hit 117 off 91 balls and Warner reeled off his second consecutive century with 100 off a more sedate 140 balls to set Sri Lanka a testing target to level the series.

Sri Lanka must win the match to take the tri-series finals into a third and deciding match in Adelaide on Thursday.

Sri Lanka didn't help their chances with five dropped catches and a sloppy out-fielding as Clarke and Warner shared in a 184-run stand for the third wicket after Matthew Wade (14) and Shane Watson (15) fell cheaply.

Clarke, frequently flexing his troublesome back, smashed four sixes and five fours in his blazing century, while Warner, passed fit before the match from a groin strain, backed up his 163 in Brisbane with another ODI ton.

Warner played more conservative with four fours and a six to raise his 100.

Clarke, clearly troubled by the back injury which forced him to miss two preliminary games, received three let-offs from the Sri Lankan fielders.

The most notable was on 77 when Lasith Malinga spilt a chance on the deep square leg boundary with the ball flicking out of his fingers over the ropes for six.

Clarke thrived from his let-off to smash Farveez Maharoof for 23 runs off the 44th over clubbing six, four, six and four from successive deliveries.

The run flurry enabled Clarke to beat Warner to a century and the Australian captain hobbled from the field when run out by Rangana Herath after being unable to push his running between wickets in the latter stages of his knock.

Malinga, who also finished the innings in discomfort, finished with three for 40 off 10 overs.

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Cricket: Runako Morton killed in car crash

LONDON: The West Indies Cricket Board on Monday paid tribute to Runako Morton, after the former Test and one-day batsman was killed in a car accident.

"Our deepest condolences to Runako Morton's family. Such devastating and tragic news," the board said on its official Twitter account, after the 33-year-old's death was announced.

Morton, who played 15 Tests for the West Indies, scoring 573 runs at an average of 22.03, died when he lost control of his car and careered off the road in Trinidad on Sunday, according to the Trinidad Express newspaper's web site.

His last appearance for his country came against Australia in a Twenty20 international in 2010.

Morton's career was blotted by disciplinary breaches.

He was expelled from the West Indian Academy in July 2001, and a year later was called up to the injury-plagued West Indies squad as a replacement for Marlon Samuels.

He pulled out of the ICC Champions Trophy in September 2002, after lying about the death of his grandmother. His career slipped further when he was arrested (though released without charge) in January 2004, following a stabbing incident

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Australia win toss, bat in second ODI final

ADELAIDE: Australia won the toss and chose to bat in the second tri-nation series one-day international final against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka must win to keep the best-of-three finals series alive after losing the opening game by 15 runs in Brisbane on Sunday.

David Warner, who scored 163 in a man-of-the-match performance in Brisbane, will play for Australia after proving his fitness following a groin strain.

In Australia's only team change, Clint McKay came in for fellow pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene strengthened the team's batting by replacing fast bowler Dhammika Prasad with middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedera.

Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera both remained unavailable through injury.

If Sri Lanka win they will take the series into a decider in Adelaide on Thursday.

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ICC declines comments on BD tour

International Cricket Council (ICC) refusing to comment on Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan said that any talks about it would be premature.

Talking exclusively to  ICC's spokesman Sami-ul-Hassan Burney that the Council would announce its plans after BD's tour of Pakistan.

The ICC has no role regarding security issues during BD's Pakistan's visit- the security matters would have to be settled by the Cricket Boards of the two countries, he added.

ICC plays role in the security matters pertaining to its own events, he added.

Pakistan has invited Bangladesh for a tour in April. A security delegation of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCP) lead by its chief Mustafa Kamal visited Pakistan and returned extremely sataisfied with the security arrangements.

BCP would present its report of the its government which would make final decision about BD's tour Pakistan.

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Mustafa Kamal asks Zaka to initiate PPL

President of Bangladesh Cricket Board Mustafa Kamal advised the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf to
initiate Pakistan Premier League.

He disclosed this while talking to channel interview exclusi
VelY. He also expressed satisfaction at the security arrangements and measures for Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan
during the visit of BCB's delegation
which he lead and which visited Pakistan to witness the security arrangements.

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Cricket: Intikhab hopes Whatmore will enhance team’s performance

KARACHI: Pakistan hopes new cricket coach, Australia's Dav Whatmore, can find a magic formula to transform the country's talented players into a team that enjoys sustained, match-winning success.

The team's peaks and troughs are infamous. Last month's Test whitewash of England was followed by a flop in the limited overs series, losing 4-0 in the one-day games and 2-1 in the Twenty20s.

Frequent changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board and sackings of captains and coaches have halted progress.

But Sunday's appointment of Whatmore -- who guided Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996 -- could change all that.

Former captain and ex-coach Intikhab Alam is pinning his hopes on Whatmore.

"I think the missing 'more' in Pakistan cricket will be achieved through Whatmore," Alam told AFP. "With his perfect record in the past I hope he will enhance the team's performance, though it will take some time."

The 57-year-old, who played seven Tests and one limited over international for Australia, also guided Bangladesh to the second round of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean where they beat giants India.

Alam said a lot will depend on the players, some of whom resisted Whatmore's appointment in 2007 when an inexperienced Geoff Lawson was chosen instead.

"It is the coach's responsibility to bring more consistency, which is missing, but at the end of the day it is important players also do their best and listen to the coach," said Alam.

Pakistan has also signed Julian Fountain as fielding coach, which Alam believes will help in their weakest area.

"Fountain comes with rich experience and has served England, the West Indies and Bangladesh so I hope with him around, much-needed improvement in fielding will also come about," said Alam, coach of Pakistan's World Cup-winning team in 1992.

Another former captain, Aamir Sohail, also believes Whatmore can help the team overcome recent mistakes, even if the challenge is huge.

"I wish him the best of luck in his endeavours and hope that he will take notice of our recent mistakes in one-day cricket," said Sohail.

"When you take responsibility in international cricket you are bound to face pressure but you need to be objective and I hope everyone rallies behind him in support to achieve the targets," he said.

Whatmore himself on Sunday acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead.

"We want to be consistent. We don't want peaks and troughs," Whatmore said.

"We want the team to be at a good level for a long period. When we're brilliant there will be peaks, but we want to still perform and win games when we're not brilliant.

"We want to eliminate the bad performances. But you can't do that by focusing on the result. You have to focus on the process."

Whatmore's first task is the four-nation Asia Cup in Dhaka later this month, an event that includes a high-profile match against India on March 18.

A positive performance will give a first hint of Whatmore can bring to Pakistan cricket, but defeat will bring immediate pressure from fans and media.

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WICB sends condolences to Morton's family

President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte said that it is with deep sadness that the West Indies cricket family received the news of the tragic passing of Runako Morton.

"Runako's passing, still in the prime of life, leaves us all in shock," President Hunte said

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as we all try to come to terms with his loss," President Hunte added.

"He will be remembered as a fierce competitor on the field who gave no quarter whether he was playing for West Indies, Leeward Islands, Nevis or Trinidad and Tobago," Hunte noted.

Morton passed on Sunday night after being involved in a motor vehicle accident in Trinidad where he lived with his family. Born on July 22 1978, he was 33.

The robust right handed middle order batsman represented the West Indies Under 19, West Indies Under 23, West Indies B, West Indies A and West Indies Test, ODI and T20 teams. He emerged while playing for his native Nevis and the Leeward Islands but switched to representing Trinidad and Tobago in 2011.

Morton died three days after the sixth anniversary of his debut international century - 110 v New Zealand at Napier.

Morton played in 15 Tests, 56 ODIs and 7 T20s for the West Indies. He scored two ODI centuries and 10 half centuries along with four Test fifties. His most notable performance was a West Indies top score of 90 not out against Australia in Mumbai in the Champions Trophy of 2006. Morton won the Man of the Match award for his match winning innings.

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South Africa to play India in a one-off T20I

South Africa will play a one-off T20 International against India for the New Age Cup at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday, 30 March.

"This will be a wonderful way to welcome our Proteas home from New Zealand after what has been an extremely successful tour so far," commented Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola. "I believe their form in the two limited-overs formats against New Zealand has grabbed the imagination of cricket fans, notably the brilliant debuts of Richard Levi and Marchant de Lange.

"This match is a follow-up to last year's successful T20 match at Moses Mabhida Stadium and in discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) we have agreed to make this an annual fixture.

"The BCCI have given us an assurance that they will be sending their strongest available team and I would like to thank both them and our sponsors, The New Age, for making this exciting prospect a reality.

"It will bring down the curtain on our home international season on an appropriate note before many of the players depart for India for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL)."

The match is held to celebrate the bilateral ties between South Africa and India.

The inaugural event was held last year at the iconic Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, and attracted the largest cricket audience on the African continent. On that occasion President Jacob Zuma called for the match to become an annual event.

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Bangladesh names squad minus captain and vice-captain

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the squad for Asia Cup

The players including standbys will begin training at the SBNCS, Mirpur from 7 March under head coach Stuart Law.

The captain and vice-captain will be declared shortly.,

Squad: Imrul Kayes, Nazim Uddin, Jahurul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmud Ullah, Nasir Hossain, Masrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Md Elias, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Anamul Hoque.

Standby: Tamim Iqbal, Shuvagata Hom, Farhad Reza, Enamul Haque, Muminul Haque, Abul Hasan.

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