All posts by n8rngtd.top

Pakistan have also named five reserves – including Yasir Shah and Naseem Shah – for the Tests, which are set to begin in Rawalpindi from March 4

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2022Pakistan have called up right-arm quick Haris Rauf, while opening batter Shan Masood, who played a Test in January 2021, has been recalled in the 16-member squad for the three home Tests against Australia. Offspinner Bilal Asif, who was part of the squad for the series against Bangladesh, has been dropped.Rauf, who has played ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan but is uncapped in the longest format, was earlier called up for the Tests against South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2021 but did not debut. Masood meanwhile replaces Abid Ali, who is currently in rehabilitation after being diagnosed with a heart condition in December last year.Pakistan have also named five reserves – Yasir Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah and Kamran Ghulam – for the Tests, which are set to begin in Rawalpindi from March 4.According to a PCB release, the players named in the Test squad who are not involved in the ongoing season of PSL will assemble in National Stadium in Karachi on February 16 for a training camp.”We have opted for consistency for the important home series against Australia and changes have only been made where absolutely necessary,” chief selector Muhammad Wasim said. “This is to give the boys confidence, reward them for their impressive performances in the longer version of the game in 2021 and continue to build the side for the future.”These are the best available, most talented and in-form players in the domestic circuit. I am confident they will put up an impressive performance against a formidable Australia side.”The second and the third Tests are scheduled to be played in Karachi from March 12 and in Lahore on March 21 respectively.Pakistan squad: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood
Reserves: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah

Champion tree-climber, swimmer and one-time fast driver Mashrafe Mortaza talks about the things that make him tick

Interview by Mohammad Isam15-Jan-2013We hear you’re an expert tree climber?
I have been climbing trees since my childhood. Whoever has climbed trees will tell you it is very hard to go up coconut and palm trees. One night I fell off a coconut tree and it hurt, but I didn’t break anything. My friends told me that since I wasn’t hurt, I should go up again. And so I did.Did tree climbing ever come handy in your fast bowling?
I think more than the climbing it was my swimming in the Chitra river that helped me. From a very young age I swam in the middle of the river, mainly against the tide. I remember I could do it for two hours at a time, so that has helped make my body very flexible, and helped me recover so many times from injury.Are fast cars still a passion?
Not only cars, I used to ride motorcycles very fast, too. But I have stopped doing both since Manzarul Islam Rana died in 2007.Is it true that Dav Whatmore, the former Bangladesh coach, wasn’t too keen on sitting alongside you while you were driving?
[] Yes, that was the day I was getting married. Dav was one of the invited guests and I picked him up from the Jessore airport. I was driving a Toyota Corolla-G. I put him in the front seat and just took off. I think he was scared, but he didn’t say much!Bangladesh’s most popular bachelor, Shakib Al Hasan, got married recently. As a married man yourself, what is one piece of advice you would like to give to him?
There’s a life outside cricket which is much bigger, so I hope he takes this opportunity to have the benefit of this new phase in his life.Tell us about one wicket you enjoyed planning and taking.

It has to be the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in 2004, which was also the only time I got him out in Test cricket. I had him leg-before off the first ball of the second day. He was in good form after scoring a double-hundred in the first Test in Dhaka, so I just wanted to bowl as straight as possible, stump to stump. The ball moved in and I trapped him.The wicket of Rahul Dravid in the first Test, where I had him bowled, was also one I enjoyed taking, because I had planned it.What is the fastest you have ever bowled?

It was on my first tour with Bangladesh, in New Zealand in 2001. I bowled very quick at the time. I was clocked at 145-146kph.Is there a fast bowler you would like to learn one skill from?
My idol is Courtney Walsh, for his personality on and off the field and his greatness as a bowler, but one thing that I have always loved is Glenn McGrath’s line and length. In every condition, he knew where to bowl, and invariably it was the right area. I just admired his consistency, where he always bowled in one place.What is one thing a tourist should never do on the streets of Dhaka?
He cannot be careless about his moneybag and mobile phone.Tell us about a sledge you cannot forget.
I tried to get on Damien Martyn’s nerves during the Fatullah Test of 2006. He wasn’t having the best time with the bat and I kept needling him about getting dropped. He replied a few times but I kept saying things. In the end I think I had him confused with the way our conversation was going!Have you ever done anything on the field for which you got a rap on the knuckles?
During the first over of the Asia Cup final [2012], Mohammad Hafeez was having some issues with his helmet and he kept me waiting a few times. It got on my nerves and I gave away ten runs, I remember. I was quite ticked off, and had I said what I had in mind, I would have been in trouble.What has been the most high-pressure moment of your cricketing career?

I have never really had such a moment, but every time I got out injured and felt helpless because I couldn’t play, it was very stressful. That is when I was under pressure. When a player gets dropped, he can bat or bowl his way back into the team, but I have had ten major operations on my leg and every time I had a layoff, it was a long one.Is there a match from the past where you wanted to be the player who turned the game on its head?

I missed the Multan Test in 2003. I so wish, even today, I had bowled in the Pakistan second innings, especially the closing stages of that game. We were closing in on a great victory against Pakistan but we ultimately lost by one wicket. I still wonder what would have happened if I was given the ball when we needed that last wicket we never got.Tell us something we do not know about you.

I think I would have to say it is my adaptability when it comes to being comfortable with my surroundings. If you tell me to sleep in a cow shed, I think I can sleep well there. I have slept in the best of hotels, but I can adapt better than others.

Sheffield Wednesday have now finally confirmed the capture of former Manchester United striker Charlie McNeill, with that free transfer purchase going down as the club's eighth purchase of a busy transfer window already.

Danny Rohl and Co will want to sign even more top talents ahead of the new Championship season kicking off though, knowing they don't want to be anywhere near the relegation zone again next campaign.

The popular German boss occupying the Hillsborough hot seat could turn to a familiar face to partner McNeill in South Yorkshire, therefore, in another shrewd free agent swoop.

Sheffield Wednesday going back in for former loanee

Sheffield Star report that despite McNeill signing, it doesn't mean a deal for Ike Ugbo to return is dead in the water, with the former Wednesday loanee rumoured to be returning on a permanent deal.

Yet, if Ugbo is still being eyed up by the Owls, this could well mean there's a possibility that Wednesday are still keen to bring back Ian Poveda. Journalist Darren Witcoop speculated in June that Rohl and Co did want the South American winger to come back.

What Poveda could offer Wednesday

McNeill would love to play alongside both of these gems if even more deals can get done this window, with Poveda potentially even partnering the 20-year-old down the right flank if signed, feeding the youthful goal machine with a whole host of chances in the process.

Wednesday supporters will be purring at the idea of the Colombian winger returning also, but he is being watched by the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Luton Town and Cardiff as well reportedly.

Those packed into Hillsborough last campaign saw glimpses of his immense ability in the midst of a tense relegation battle, before Poveda found himself on the sidelines towards the back end of his short loan stint from Leeds United.

The enigmatic South American forward would only manage to line up for the Owls ten times in total last season, but one standout display against Plymouth Argyle to start March certainly caught the attention of fans of the South Yorkshire side.

During the slender 1-0 victory, Poveda would end up completing three successful dribbles as an attacking option constantly wanting to bomb forward, alongside winning seven duels and firing three efforts on the Pilgrims' goal to further reinforce this livewire tag.

Lining up seven times for Leeds too, before being released, the numbers from the table above will make for some initial encouraging reading, especially if Poveda can kick into gear and star over a full campaign for Wednesday.

In contrast, Anthony Musaba – who ended up being a solid starter under Rohl down the right flank – won less total duels on average last season at 2.9 won per game, with Poveda's tenacity and bite down the wings potentially attractive to the German.

Daniel Farke even suggested that Poveda possesses a "touch of magic" when things weren't all going his way at Elland Road, with the 24-year-old being gifted some rare appearances for the Whites as a result.

Formerly a star at youth level for Leeds and Manchester City, Poveda will understand the struggles McNeill has also faced in senior football to date, which has seen the ex-Red Devils youngster only score three senior goals when chucked out on loan.

Yet, the South American – who is tricky and creative – could be exactly what McNeill needs to find his goalscoring edge at Wednesday.

The youngster has scored 46 goals at youth level and together with Poveda, will finally hope to replicate those numbers in his new home.

Sheffield Wednesday could sign Musaba rival who's a "driving force"

Danny Rohl could keep Anthony Musaba on his toes at Sheffield Wednesday with this new signing.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 8, 2024

Nine-day tournament starts in Edgbaston on July 29 2022 with the gold medal match scheduled for August 7

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2021Women’s cricket will debut at next year’s Commonwealth Games with a re-match of the 2020 T20 World Cup final. Australia and India are set to lock horns again on July 29 as a nine-day tournament kicks off in Edgbaston with the gold medal match scheduled for August 7.Seven of the eight teams in this competition were confirmed in April earlier this year. The final one will be determined through a qualifying tournament that will be taking place in January 2022. Their first match of the Games will be against England on July 30. The next day will feature a match that brings the entire cricket world to a standstill. India vs Pakistan.The teams have been split into two groups of four and the top two from each group will qualify for the semi-finals which take place on August 6.Save the date: It’s Australia vs India at the Commonwealth games on July 29 2022•Getty Images

England were an automatic pick into the Games as a result of their being the hosts. The other six teams were chosen based on their place in the ICC T20 rankings as of April 1 last year. Barbados became the West Indian representative on the basis that they won the domestic title in 2020. The 2021 competition had to be postponed.”We have seen tremendous growth of the women’s game over the past few years and the Commonwealth Games will undoubtedly be another major moment on that journey,” ICC acting chief executive Geoff Allardice said.This is only the second time that cricket finds a place in the Commonwealth Games, and it will be kicking off the 22nd edition of the event along with Netball.

BCCI president Ganguly had said the board asked Virat Kohli to reconsider stepping down as T20I captain, before Kohli said it was not so

Edited PTI copy16-Dec-2021Sunil Gavaskar feels BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is the best person to clear the air on Virat Kohli’s statement that he was not asked by the Indian board to reconsider his decision to quit the T20I captaincy. Ganguly, though, refused to make any comment. “No statement, no press conference,” he told TV reporters later in the day. “We will deal with it. Leave it to BCCI.”Days after Kohli had stepped down as captain, Ganguly had said the BCCI had asked him to reconsider the decision. Kohli contradicted Ganguly’s statement during his press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the team’s departure for South Africa.Related

• Chetan Sharma: Everyone asked Virat Kohli 'to reconsider' stepping down as T20I captain

• Kohli: Told I won't be ODI captain 90 mins before SA Test squad

• Hamstring injury rules Rohit Sharma out of South Africa Tests

• Kohli: 'No problem at all between me and Rohit'

• Ganguly: 'Had requested Virat not to step down as T20I captain'

“I think it [Kohli’s comment] actually doesn’t bring the BCCI into the picture. I think it’s the individual who has to be asked where he got the impression he had conveyed such a message to Kohli. So, that’s the only thing,” Gavaskar, the former India captain, told .”Yes, he [Ganguly] is the BCCI president and surely he should be asked why there is this discrepancy. He is probably the best person to ask about the discrepancy in what you seem to have to say and what the Indian captain has said.”Virat Kohli walks out of Johannesburg airport•AFP/Getty Images

Following his announcement on the T20I captaincy, Kohli was also removed as ODI captain earlier this month. Kohli said during his press conference that his removal from ODI captaincy happened 90 minutes before the team’s selection for the South Africa tour. Gavaskar felt there was nothing wrong on the part of selection committee chairman Chetan Sharma on that count.”What is the controversy here. As long as the chairman of selectors had told him clearly that we are not considering you for ODI captaincy now, that’s perfectly fine. It is the selectors who have complete authority in selection committee meetings. The captain is just a co-opted non-voting member,” Gavaskar said. “As long as it’s not something that he [Kohli] has not found out from the media or as it happened in the past that the commander of a passenger flight announced it. I think he has been told by the chairman of the selection committee that he is not going to be the captain, I think that is absolutely okay.”I don’t know what these people wanted to do. As long as there has been communication between the chairman of selection committee and him, it’s the decent thing to do.”Gavaskar said that the BCCI needed to communicate more clearly – and publicly – on big selection decisions in future, to avoid such issues. “Yes, it always helps to have a clear line of communication so that there is no speculation. So from now, from what has happened, there should be a clear line of communication and the chairman of the selection committee can come down and say why [someone] has been picked and why [someone] has not been picked.”Sometimes, even if that is not needed, a press release is also good enough. A good press release giving all the reasons makes life a lot easier.”‘It is not good to point fingers’ – Kapil Dev
Former India captain Kapil Dev, meanwhile, said the current Test captain and board president contradicting each other in public was “not a good thing”. Instead, he said, the focus should be on big tour of South Africa that is coming up. “It is not good to point fingers on anybody at this point in time. The South Africa tour is coming and please pay attention to the tour,” Kapil told when asked about Kohli’s remarks.”I would say board president is board president but yes the Indian cricket team captain is also a big thing. But talking badly about each other in public, I don’t think it is a good thing, whether it is Sourav or Kohli.”

Manchester City and Newcastle could be forced to change ownership if a proposal banning state-controlled clubs passes in Parliament.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Proposal would ban state-controlled clubs
• Added as amendment to Football Governance Bill
• Man City & Newcastle would be affected

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The proposal was put forward by Labour peer Lord Bassam of Brighton in an amendment to the Football Governance Bill, which would see an independent regulator brought in for the sport in England. According to , it is believed the amendment only has a small chance of being agreed, but Premier League teams have called for such a ban from the government.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Newcastle are currently owned by the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while City's owner, Sheikh Mansour, is vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. Were the new proposal to become law, both teams would have to find new owners to be given a licence by the regulator.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Football Governance Bill would see a new regulatory body introduced to oversee English football, bringing in new ownership and directors’ tests and establishing a new process to handle the distribution of revenue throughout the game.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The bill and Bassam's amendment are still up for discussion in the House of Lords over the coming weeks.

Sunderland are set to complete another signing ahead of the transfer window slamming shut as the Black Cats have booked a medical ahead of a new arrival for Regis Le Bris' squad.

Sunderland set for busy day

Having seen Jack Clarke join Ipswich Town last week, Sunderland are set for a busy end to their summer, having welcomed just five new faces so far despite sitting top of the Championship with maximum points as it stands.

Wilson Isidore has headed that arrivals list, joining from Zenit St Petersburg on loan, while the Black Cats have also landed four other new faces on free transfers, with much of their transfer budget having been kept dry.

Le Bris has already hinted that deadline day will be busy for the northeast side, with as many as four new players potentially arriving at the Stadium of Light.

“We are working hard and I hope that at the end we have a more balanced team, more talented players and so on,” he said.

“We don't know exactly yet what the situation will be but I'm confident because I think we have a good team with a strong core – and if we can add some specific elements to this core I think that the balance will be better. We know that this league is very long with many three-game weeks, so in these situations to have maybe two or three elements more will be interesting for us."

Now, he seems set to get his wish as his side close in on a deal.

Sunderland agree loan move to sign defender

That comes amid a report from Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, which reveals that the Black Cats have agreed a loan move to sign Welsh international and Bournemouth centre-back Chris Mepham.

The 26-year-old defender has fallen down the pecking order on the south coast, making just 10 appearances in the Premier League last season, and he is yet to be named in a matchday squad for the Cherries so far this season, underlining that he is surplus to requirements for Andoni Iraola.

Now, he is set to swap the Vitality for the Stadium of Light, with a deal having been agreed for him to spend the 2024/25 campaign with Sunderland. Sky Sports add that there is no option or obligation to buy the player at the end of his spell, but he will be hoping to reignite his career.

He has been the subject of strong praise in the past, with former Cherries boss Scott Parker singling him out for plenty of praise after he helped them to a win over Coventry in 2022.

"He was fantastic. I constantly say you need to be ready for when your opportunity comes. Chris Mepham last week, if you’d had said he’ll be coming on for 20-odd, 30-odd minutes against Coventry, he probably would’ve laughed at you and thought 'absolutely no chance, I’m at the training ground on Saturday, not even being in the squad."

Breakthrough: Sunderland agree deal for £13k-p/w international midfielder

Sunderland are on the verge of completing a signing before Friday’s deadline.

By
Brett Worthington

Aug 29, 2024

Still just 26, he has just one year left to run on his £35,000 a week deal at Bournemouth, which makes a return there unlikely in 12 months time, suggesting that he could become a free agent unless he is willing to pen a new contract before departing for the north east.

For Sunderland, it could be the first signing of what promises to be a busy deadline day for Le Bris and co, as they look to build a squad capable of sustaining a promotion charge.

Plus: T20 winning streaks, and carrying the bat in T20Is

Steven Lynch08-Mar-2016Was UAE’s 81 against India the lowest score by a team facing its full quota of overs in a T20 international? asked Vikram from India

United Arab Emirates made 81 for 9 in their 20 overs during the Asia Cup match against India in Mirpur last week. That’s the fourth-lowest by a team that faced the full allocation of 20 overs, but the second-lowest by a team that didn’t lose all ten wickets. Bermuda were bowled out for 70 by Canada in Belfast in August 2008, while Nepal struggled to 72 against Hong Kong in Colombo in November 2014. And, on a difficult pitch in Port-of-Spain in February 2010, West Indies managed only 79 for 7 against Zimbabwe. The lowest total in all T20Is is Netherlands’ 39 all out (in 10.3 overs) against Sri Lanka in Chittagong in the World T20 in March 2014. For the full list, click here.India’s win in the Asia Cup final was their seventh in a row in T20 internationals. Is this a record? asked Harshit Goyal from the United States

India’s run of seven successive wins – which could well be improved once the World T20 gets under way – has been bettered only twice. And you’d do well to name the two teams involved if you were asked to do so in a quiz: England won eight in a row between May 2010 and January 2011 – a run that included winning the World T20 in the West Indies – while Ireland also won eight on the bounce in 2012, admittedly all against other Associate nations. Both England and Ireland’s runs were preceded by an abandoned game, so they went nine matches without tasting defeat. But that particular record is held by Australia, who went 12 matches without losing in 2009 and 2010, that run including a no-result and a tie. Zimbabwe endured 16 successive T20 defeats between May 2010 and March 2013.Is Dennis Amiss still the only England batsman to score a century in his first one-day international? asked Matthew Hayes from England

Dennis Amiss was the first man to score a century on his one-day international debut, with 103 against Australia in the inaugural ODI in England, at Old Trafford in 1972. Even more unusually, Amiss also scored one in his match, with 108 against Australia at The Oval in 1977. Only nine others have reached three figures in their very first one-day international – but one of them was another England player. Michael Lumb made 106 on his debut, against West Indies in North Sound early in 2014 – but played only two more matches before being jettisoned, seemingly for good.Chris Gayle: the only batsman to carry his bat in a completed innings in a T20I•Getty ImagesDoes Martin Crowe still hold the New Zealand records for most runs and centuries? asked David Lauder from New Zealand

The much-missed Martin Crowe scored 5444 Test runs, which was a New Zealand record when he retired in 1995-96, but has since been surpassed by Stephen Fleming (7172) and Brendon McCullum (6453). However, they played many more matches than Crowe’s 77; Fleming won 111 caps and McCullum 101. Crowe’s national record of 17 Test centuries is still intact – and should remain so for a while yet, although Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson are closing in, with 13 apiece so far. McCullum and John Wright both scored 12, while Nathan Astle made 11.Has anyone carried their bat in a T20 international? asked Keith Barrett from Australia

So far there has only been one instance of an opening batsman carrying his bat through a completed innings in a T20I. It happened in the semi-final of the World T20 in England in 2009, at The Oval, when Chris Gayle batted throughout West Indies’ disappointing total of 101, finishing with 63 not out when the innings ended in the 18th over. It was very much a solo effort – none of his team-mates made it into double figures, although there were 11 extras. There have been many other instances of an opener batting through the full 20 overs, but his side not being bowled out – for example, in that Oval semi-final Tillakaratne Dilshan finished with 96 not out in Sri Lanka’s 158 for 5.Further to the recent question about captains finishing their Test careers with a century, how many made a duck in their last Test? I can think of one, at The Oval in 1948… asked Neil Dutton from England

That famous zero by Australia’s Don Bradman at The Oval in 1948 was the fifth of 16 instances of a captain making a duck in the last Test of their career. The list includes some other famous names: Ray Illingworth (1973), Mike Brearley (1981), Imran Khan (1991-92), Waqar Younis (2002-03), Brian Lara (2006-07) and Michael Vaughan (2008). The last to do it was Mashrafe Mortaza, for Bangladesh against West Indies in Kingstown in 2009. AB de Villiers actually bagged a pair in his most recent Test (against England in Centurion in January) but presumably will, barring accidents, play another one soon.Send in your questions using our feedback form.

Manchester City suffered yet another defeat in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

The loss marks Pep Guardiola’s ninth in his previous 12 matches, which represents the worst run of form since he took over at the Etihad back in the summer of 2016.

What is going wrong at the Champions? Obviously, they are missing the presence of Rodri at the heart of their midfield, but elsewhere, nothing is happening.

Against Villa, the club managed 12 total shots, yet could only find the back of the net once, which came as the match was entering the dying embers.

It is evident that something is lacking up front and Erling Haaland has looked like a shadow of his former self in recent months, scoring just three Premier League goals since the end of September and this run extended on Saturday.

Erling Haaland’s stats vs Aston Villa

The striker was once again tasked with leading the line for City, looking to add to his 13 league goals.

Unfortunately, it was yet another dismal display by the Norwegian hitman. Throughout the course of the match, he managed to complete just eight of his 12 passes, while taking only 18 touches.

Indeed, this was 19 touches fewer than goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, showing just how little he was actually involved against Unai Emery’s side.

Haaland registered just one shot, which was off target, while he failed with his only dribble and lost possession six times. Hardly the performance that Guardiola was expecting from his number nine, especially as a couple of goals would have bolstered his confidence.

Charlie Gordon of the Daily Express gave Haaland a match rating of just 4/10 for his display, stating that he ‘offered very little and his hold-up play was poor. Haaland’s torrid run continues’ and the manager will have to turn to the drawing board.

Pep Guardiola must drop Erling Haaland

The obvious thing to do would be to drop the former Borussia Dortmund striker to the bench for the next game, but it isn’t as clear-cut as that.

Indeed, who could replace him? City sold Julian Alvarez in the summer and Guardiola doesn’t have a like-for-like option to slot in Haaland’s place.

He could perhaps go with a false nine instead, utilising someone like Phil Foden in that role to good effect.

The Englishman is hardly enjoying the form of his life either, however, which makes this change more risky than it should be, but he did find the back of the net in this defeat, which could spark his and City’s season into life.

Could this see the club dive into the transfer market for another striker to give Haaland some much-needed competition? Only time will tell.

The manager has to change something, as the way it stands, they won’t even qualify for the Champions League next season.

Cost £0: Man City hit the jackpot with Pep's star who's now worth £38m

The Man City star is another academy ace

By
Joe Nuttall

Dec 20, 2024

“They didn’t use the bouncer for the sake of using it. They have come a long way and I am very pleased”

Mohammad Isam19-Jun-2023Bangladesh’s fast bowlers showed maturity during the one-off Test against Afghanistan, something that impressed head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. The pace trio finished with their best match haul as the home side beat Afghanistan by 546 runs. It was a significant win, particularly at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, regarded as Bangladesh’s spin stronghold.During his first stint, Hathurusinghe zeroed in on the spin strategy at home, which resulted in Test wins against England and Australia. It, however, made pace bowling almost redundant. Even after his exit, the home strategy was to focus on spin until slowly, the fast bowlers’ progressive white-ball performances and the Mount Maunganui Test win influenced the team management.Related

• How Najmul Hossain Shanto found the light at the end of the tunnel

• With no Shakib and Tamim, Bangladesh's mammoth win tastes even sweeter

• Stats – Bangladesh's record win and a new high for their pacers

• Taskin Ahmed grabs four as Bangladesh annihilate Afghanistan in their biggest Test win

Hathurusinghe, who joined in February this year, said that the fast bowlers showed maturity in their attack plan against the Afghanistan batters. He said that their use of the bouncers was smart, and showed that they understood their opposition.”Previously our strength was spin,” Hathurusinghe said. “Now we have options to explore the other way, using the fast bowlers and win matches depending on the opposition. It was pleasing to see them not get carried away on the fast, bouncy wicket. The way the bowled was so good. It was a very professional approach. They didn’t use the bouncer for the sake of using it. They bowled mostly on the front foot. Those little things show the maturity of fast bowlers. They have come a long way. I am very pleased.”Hathurusinghe said that they will use fast or spin bowling at home depending on the strength of the opposition. “We will decide the best way that we can win the game. We are blessed with spinners and fast bowlers, which is a really good situation as a coach and for the team. Bangladesh cricket is a healthy place at the moment,” he said.Hathurusinghe said that the new opening pair of Zakir Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy also impressed him. They were put together in the last minute after Tamim Iqbal pulled out due to a back injury. Zakir and Joy scored a fifty each, although each of them also got out early in at least one innings.”I was very impressed actually. I was seeing Zakir bat for the first time. You know that he got injured after that India game. So he had a really good start to his Test career. He is good against pace and spin. Very rarely are openers good against both.”Joy showed good temperament the way he batted. His record also says that if he gets a start, he goes big. I am also very pleased that Mominul coming into runs as well.”Zakir Hasan made 51 in the second innings of the Test•Associated Press

Hathurusinghe added that he is ready to give a longer rope to Zakir and Joy as he believes they are ready for the highest level.”Definitely those two guys (Joy and Zakir) will get a long run. They have done well. Zakir has played three matches, scoring a hundred and two fifties. Joy has a big hundred and fifty away, and here as well. They can play at this level.”Bangladesh have also scored at an unusually high tempo in their last two Tests. They went at 4.58 to score 369 runs against Ireland in April but in this Afghanistan Test, they batted at 4.44 and 5.31 in the respective innings. Their 425 for 5 declared in 80 overs in particular was eye-catching. Hathurusinghe said Bangladesh would bat the same way if such conditions and opportunities arrived again.”If the conditions helps us, we will definitely do that. That’s how we trained. That’s how we gave them freedom to score runs. Name of the game is scoring runs. If the condition is difficult we will be smart enough to bat the way the condition allows us to bat.”In the same way, we must give credit to Shanto. How he batted in that Test two innings. Especially the first two hours, him and Joy, the way they batted, calmed the nerves of everybody in the dressing room,” he said.Hathurusinghe also hailed the team’s preparation and execution, especially how well the Mirpur curator Gamini Silva had managed to change his method of preparing the pitch.”I put on social media that it is more than a Test win. What I meant was that the way we prepared for this game, we haven’t done before. Everything. We prepared a fast and green wicket. So I thought it was a big win for us, to play on that type of wicket and then come out with flying colors. It is a big mental barrier that we broke.”Before the game, I felt a lot of people had doubt about the way we will go. So the curator Gamini (Silva) gets credit for preparing that kind of wicket. I think it’s more than a Test win. New heroes emerged from the win.”