Bangladesh Name Uncapped Gazi for Windies Test

Bangladesh have named uncapped off-spinner Shohag Gazi in their 14-member squad for the first Test against West Indies beginning in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Hasan, a 20-year-old fast bowler from Sylhet, has played four Twenty20 internationals for Bangladesh this year. In six first-class games, he's taken eight wickets at 43.37 apiece. Gazi, 21, has 87 wickets at an average of 24 from 18 first-class games for Barisal.
Gazi's selection was a reward for his impressive performance in the ongoing National Cricket League where the 21-year-old claimed 11 wickets in two matches, including a hat-trick, and hit a century.
Pace bowler Rubel Hossain returned to the side, led by stumper Mushfiqur Rahim, after a long injury lay-off.
There was no such joy for former captain Mohammad Ashraful, who was replaced by Naeem Islam in the side.
Khulna hosts the second and final Test from November 21.

Bangladesh Test squad:

• Mushfiqur Rahim (captain & wk)
• Mahmudullah (vice-capt)
• Tamim Iqbal
• Junaid Siddique
• Shahriar Nafees
• Shakib Al Hasan
• Naeem Islam
• Nazimuddin
• Nasir Hossain
• Elias Sunny
• Shahadat Hossain
• Rubel Hossain
• Abul Hasan
• Shohag Gazi

Kiwis Take on Bangladesh at Pallekele

Two giant-killers who have a reputation of disturbing set calculations will be up against each other when New Zealand and Bangladesh clash in their opening Group D match of the World Twenty20 on Friday.
Both Bangladesh and New Zealand are known to raise the bar when it comes to performing at major ICC events and it would be interesting to see which of the two manages to go a notch higher in the one-on-one battle.
New Zealand's build up to the event has been far from ideal as three of their key players, including inspirational former skipper Daniel Vettori and pacer Tim Southee, have been laid low by gastroenteritis.
The Kiwis' warm-up campaign was also disappointing as they lost both their matches. It has been a far from ideal stay in the island nation so far for them but New Zealand's cricketers are well known for fighting through the odds and put up creditable performances.
Led by an in-form and explosive Ross Taylor, the Kiwis seem a decent Twenty20 side with hard-hitting stars such Brendon McCullum and veteran all-rounder Jacob Oram.
In Kane Williamson, they have discovered a top-order batsman who can provide steady starts. But their major problem remains inconsistency and the failure to click as a unit.
Despite a seemingly balanced line-up on paper, the Kiwis have more often than not been guilty of throwing it away from strong positions.
Their bowling department is faced with similar problems but Vettori could prove to be their trump card on the turning tracks here.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, are a sprightly mix which lost one and won one practice game heading into the big event.
Most of the team's players are in their early 20s and what could work to their advantage is the comfort of the playing in home-like conditions.
The likes of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim hold the key to their batting fortunes while Mashrafe Mortaza and Abdur Razzak will be leading the bowling department.
What the Tigers would be banking on is the element of surprise they bring in. Diminutive they might be in physical appearance but their lion-hearted approach to the game has won Bangladesh's cricketers many an applause.
Given their similar fearless approach, it seems to be an interesting clash of the underdogs.

Teams from

Bangladesh: Abdur Razzak, Abul Hasan, Al-Amin Hossain, Alauddin Babu, Alok Kapali, Anamul Haque, Elias Sunny, Enamul Haque Jnr, Farhad Reza, Imrul Kayes, Jahurul Islam, Junaid Siddique, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain & wk), Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Sohag Gazi, Tamim Iqbal, Ziaur Rahman.

New Zealand: Ross Taylor (captain), Doug Bracewell, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.

Pitch and conditions
The weather, however, could ruin the contest, as there is forecast of rain in the area at noon on Friday.

Zimbabwe Score 264/2, Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh Watch Cricket

Zimbabwe vs BangladeshWatch Cricket Score Ball by Ball  Click Here  &  Click Here

Zimbabwe marked their return from a six-year exile by racking up an impressive 264 for two against Bangladesh on the first day of a one-off Test at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
All four of Zimbabwe's top batsmen made runs with Hamilton Masakadza finishing the day unbeaten on 88 with seven fours and a six as he closes in on a second Test century.
Masakadza made his first century 10 years ago on his debut at the age of 17, scoring 119 against West Indies on this same ground.
New skipper Brendan Taylor was also undefeated on Thursday, having made a steady 40 off 108 balls.
Debutant opener Tinotenda Mawoyo made 43 while Vusi Sibanda smashed 78, with seven fours and one six, as the two put on 102 for the first wicket.
"I cannot compliment our guys enough," said Taylor. "The way the openers stuck it out and the platform of Hamilton and myself in the final session was perfect - you cannot ask more than that. Tomorrow we must stay focussed."
After losing the toss, and being put into bat on a greenish wicket by Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hassan, Zimbabwe constructed a foundation for what could be a winning score.
Zimbabwe's batsmen mixed caution with aggression, allowing few chances especially after a scare in the second over of the day when Sibanda was very nearly run out.
Bangladesh, already defeated by a Zimbabwe X1 in a three-day tour match at the weekend, looked shell-shocked by the day's end.
Only 21-year-old medium-pacer Rubel Hossain got wickets and finished with two for 58 off 18 overs.

Mawoyo was the first to fall, caught by Mahmudullah at deep backward point with Sibanda the second to go, midway through the afternoon session, when he edged a short ball to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
Despite the return of Test cricket, the match only attracted fewer than 1,000 people.
But the performance of the Zimbabwe had International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat feeling optimistic over the team's future in the five-day game.

Brief scores
Zimbabwe 264 for 2 (Masakadza 88*, Sibanda 78, Hossain 2-58)

Bangladesh Close in on Warm-up Win in Zimbabwe

Bangladesh's batting crumbled for a second time at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday but the tourists remain on course to win their only warm-up game against a Zimbabwe XI before next week's one-off Test.
At the close of the second day, the hosts were struggling in their quest for the 223 they need for victory having scored just three runs for the loss of opener Tino Mawoyo and number three Kyle Jarvis.
Resuming on 42 for four in their first innings, Zimbabwe slipped to 113 all out on Sunday morning, conceding a deficit of 75, as Shafiul Islam and Rohiul Islam took three wickets each.
When Bangladesh batted again, they continued to find it hard going on a pitch that Zimbabwe bowling coach Heath Streak described as "two-paced and rather unreliable."
Shakib Al Hasan top-scored with 40 as the Bangladeshis were bowled out for 147, setting the hosts 223 to win.
The match is being played under special rules that allow 13-a-side with only 11 batting and 11 on the field at one time.
Zimbabwe are fielding only five of the possible Test team that will face Bangladesh here from Thursday. It will be Zimbabwe's first Test since they were thrashed by New Zealand on home soil in 2005.

The two sides will also play five one-day internationals.

Brief scores
Bangladeshis 188 and 147 (Shakib 40, Utseya 3-25)
Zimbabwe XI 113 and 3 for 2 (Islam 1-0)
Status Zimbabwe XI need by 221 runs to win