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Fazle Mahmud’s evolved batting was the main reason behind his selection in Bangladesh’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe, according to selector Habibul Bashar. Bashar said that Mahmud has become a far more stable batsman in the last three years, having begun as a big-hitter many years ago.Mahmud struck two fifties in three innings for Bangladesh A in Ireland in August, catching the attention of Bashar, who was the selector on tour. He also made 708 runs at an average of 47.20 in this year’s Dhaka Premier League List-A tournament, to top off a good run in the last three years in domestic cricket. Bashar said that Mahmud offers the “complete package” with his left-arm spin, fitness and fielding, apart from his batting.”He’s had an interesting career,” Bashar said. “[Fazle Mahmud] Rabbi was in the high-performance squad about five or six years ago as a promising player. But then he lost his form. He has been in the runs again in the last three years, and there is a noticeable change in his overall game. He batted well in the A team tours. He is slightly on the older side, which we see less of when players get their first call-up. But he is a fit cricketer. We needed a batsman and although he is not like Shakib, he bowls a bit.”He started as a flamboyant, aggressive batsman in his early days, but I have noticed in the Ireland tour that he can bat according to the team’s needs. He rotates the strike, but he still has the big shots. He is now a complete batsman, which had a big influence in his selection. He is also a good fielder and bowls spin, a complete package.”Mohammad Saifuddin, the other new inclusion in the ODI side was a slightly more experimental pick, according to Bashar, as the Bangladesh thinktank wanted a bowling allrounder lower down the order. Despite the presence of Ariful Haque in the current side, Saifuddin is more likely to get the spot because of his bowling ability.”We have been looking for a bowling allrounder at No. 7 in the Zimbabwe ODI series,” Bashar said. “[Soumya Sarkar and Ariful] are batting allrounders. We expect batting first from them, and then bowling. We picked Saifuddin because he is a bowler who can contribute with the bat.”Over the years Ariful focused on batting although he came on to the scene as a bowling allrounder. Currently, we can’t expect him to bowl 10 overs. He has played as a batting allrounder, but we want someone who can bowl 10 overs and bat well too.”Bashar also said that Mominul Haque, one of three batsmen to be dropped after the Asia Cup, should not let thoughts of a permanent ODI place affect his Test batting. Mominul and Soumya made 14 and 33 runs in two matches respectively, while Mosaddek Hossain could muster only 39 runs in three outings. Mosaddek had replaced Sabbir Rahman at No. 7 while Soumya – and Imrul Kayes – were included midway through the Asia Cup by BCB president Nazmul Hassan after openers Liton Das and Nazmul Hossain Shanto failed on three occasions.Mominul, who earlier this year became the first Bangladeshi batsman to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match, earned his place in the Asia Cup squad through his 182 in a List-A game against Ireland A in August. Bashar feels Mominul is shifting his mindset towards the shorter format.”It would have been great had Mominul been in the runs,” Bashar said. “I have noticed that his batting has changed quite a lot recently. I am not sure whether his ODI-minded batting will affect him in Tests. If it happens, it certainly wouldn’t be desirable. We haven’t seen him do well in Tests in recent months, although he is one of our most important Test players. We need him in that format more than we need him in ODIs.”Bashar stated said that Mominul was still “unlucky” to miss out on the ODI squad where the focus was also on seeing how some of the fringe players fared at the highest level. “I feel bad for Mominul who was unlucky to miss out on selection,” Bashar said. “His ODI career is far from over. We basically had to see some other cricketers, and this is our best opportunity ahead of series against West Indies and New Zealand and the World Cup.”He had two knocks in the Asia Cup, which I feel isn’t enough for a batsman. It would have been beneficial for him had he made runs but since he couldn’t and we needed to see some new players, we had to drop him.”Bashar, however, was far less sympathetic towards Mosaddek. “We are not happy with Mosaddek’s form. He hasn’t been able to bat functionally. We are giving him a break, and we hope he returns among runs in domestic cricket.”

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The scorecard suggested nearly total domination from Pakistan. After all, they finished the day at 255 for 3, thanks to a 205-run opening stand from Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq. They made Australia wait for the opening wicket in the first innings of a Test longer than they’ve ever done – 63 overs, to be precise.And yet, anyone who tuned into the final session would have wondered how Pakistan had amassed those runs, so complete was the Australian bowlers’ command. Pakistan scored 56 runs in 29 overs for the loss of three wickets in that session on an attrition first day in Dubai.Test cricket in the UAE is a game of phases. In other parts of the world it might be harder for teams to get back into the game once they’ve fallen behind, but surfaces here give teams an opportunity to bounce back. And so, even as Hafeez, who scored a century in his first Test in two years, and Imam accumulated the fifth-highest opening stand batting first against Australia, the visitors’ bowlers came roaring back into the contest, with a chance of bowling Pakistan out under 350.It began with Nathan Lyon, expected to grow in importance as the game and the pitch wears on, tempting Imam to cut a ball that was a bit too full, drawing a faint edge through to Tim Paine. At the the other end, Peter Siddle bowled a scintillating spell, justifying his inclusion in the side. Vicious reverse swing combined with relentless accuracy slowed down Pakistan’s merry progress. Siddle finally got one to beat Hafeez’s defences, with a beauty that just kept coming in, hitting the opener halfway up his shin, right in front of middle.With both openers gone, Pakistan’s scoring rate almost ground to a halt altogether – at one stage, they managed 16 runs in 16 overs as Haris Sohail and Azhar Ali dug in, desperate to see it through to stumps. All that work, however, was undone by a moment of madness from Azhar. Having gutsed his way to 18 off 79, he lofted a drive off Jon Holland, nowhere near middling it as Mitchell Starc dived forward to complete the catch. Nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas and Haris took their side to stumps without any further damage.Pakistan had settled into a formidable position by the first evening on a flat Dubai surface, with both openers still around when tea was called. Hafeez, who scored his tenth Test century was instrumental in pushing the run rate up right from the outset, and ensuring the Australians were always on the back foot. He regularly forced the bowlers to adjust their lines and coaxed Tim Paine into introducing spin as early as the ninth over in the day. He wasn’t afraid to come down the track against spin, either, without losing control of his shots.The run rate picked up after lunch as the openers shook off any nerves or fears they might have had about the pitch or the Australian attack. Hafeez also went after Nathan Lyon, who was the most economical bowler for Australia in the first session. There was a period, midway through, when he lost his focus, playing a series of false shots, displaying the concentration lapses that have prevented him taking the next step in his career and becoming the batsman he could have become. While the sun beat down, lady luck, too, was smiling at him, as a lofted cover drive off Holland was put down at long-off.Imam’s innings, meanwhile, was almost chanceless. He appeared to be mentally ready for the grind of Test cricket in this inhospitable weather. His footwork against the spin, in particular, was excellent, moving back and forward to the rhythm of the pitch of the ball with the deft expertise of a tap dancer. However, It wasn’t just in service of defensive strokes, with a couple of charges down the pitch against Holland earning him two sixes.Australia bowled well despite the unhelpful conditions, with Starc the most menacing for much of the day, getting swing early on while regularly coming close to finding Hafeez’s outside edge. The odd yorker kept the batsmen on their toes, and on another day in another country he might have finished with a five-wicket haul. Here, he ended the day wicketless.But the day would end on a very different note. Life seemed to have crept back into this pitch, and, by extension, this Test match.

Ben Manenti has masterminded a 4 for 7 collapse to spin South Australia into a strong position at the halfway stage of their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at Adelaide Oval.The offspinner was the central figure behind the visitors’ 45-delivery collapse from 59 for 0 to 66 for 4 in the middle session, before wicketkeeper Sam Harper saved his side from embarrassment, joined in the middle late in the evening by Peter Siddle.Related

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Manenti had Jonathan Merlo caught at backward square leg by Lloyd Pope, before bowling Ashley Chandrasinghe, then taking a sharp catch at second slip to dismiss Campbell Kellaway. Manenti dismissed Peter Handscomb, squeezing a catch to Henry Hunt at short leg, and added Tom Rogers to his list, miscuing a pull shot to Pope at backward point.Victoria captain Will Sutherland feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, as did Mitchell Perry, Liam Scott striking immediately with the second new ball.Harper, who has looked in decent touch, remained the key scalp for SA.In the corresponding fixture last summer, Harper thumped nine sixes in an astonishing 151 off 109 balls to lead Victoria to a thrilling, low-scoring victory.”We’ve still got to get these last three wickets,” Manenti said after stumps on Saturday. “Harps is batting nicely and Sids has been around for years – he can obviously chip in as well.”Get these last three, then get to work with the bat and give ourselves a real good shot tomorrow afternoon or early day four to have a crack and put ourselves in a position to win it.”After resuming at 286 for 9 overnight, SA’s stubborn tail frustrated the Victorian attack on the second morning before their innings concluded when No.11 Pope, who scored a personal-best 17, edged Cameron McClure to Harper.Evergreen ex-Test quick Siddle, who turns 40 this month, was the pick of Victoria’s bowlers, capturing 3 for 57.

West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has retired from international cricket, ending a career that began in 2012. The 36-year-old played 59 Tests, 25 ODIs and two T20Is picking up a total of 202 wickets.”During the past 12 years,” Gabriel said on Instagram on Wednesday, “I have dedicated myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies. Playing this beloved game at the highest level has brought me immense joy, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Today, I am announcing my retirement from International cricket.”Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to God for the numerous blessings and the opportunities my family and I have received during my time playing for the West Indies. Secondly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies administrators, coaches, and staff members. Words cannot adequately convey the appreciation I have for your hard work and support over the years. Last but not least, I am grateful to my teammates and all those who have stood by me and supported me along the way. You have made my journey to the top truly special.”Moving forward, my plan is to continue representing my country [Trinidad and Tobago], club, and franchise teams around the world with the same love and passion I have shown throughout my career.”2:31

Archive: What’s the big deal about Shannon Gabriel?

Gabriel was at his best in Test cricket, where he used his height and his strength to great effect, sometimes even on lifeless pitches. He holds the fourth-best match-figures for a West Indian – 13 for 121, which he picked up at home against Sri Lanka in June 2018. His ability to generate pace and bounce were impressive enough that West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh compared him to Patrick Patterson and Ian Bishop. It took a while for him to tap into these gifts consistently but by 2017 he became a regular member of the team and was part of famous wins like the one against England at Headingley.The other big moment of Gabriel’s career came with the bat, when he took strike in Dominica with West Indies nine down against Pakistan. There were only seven balls left to draw the Test, and with it, the series. He went for a big slog and got bowled. This was 10 days after he put in a Player-of-the-Match performance to help West Indies to a bounce-back victory.Gabriel ran into further trouble in 2019 when he was banned for four ODIs after making an apparently homophobic remark at Joe Root. He accepted the sanction and apologised for his behaviour but did insist, later, that the incident was blown out of proportion.Gabriel last represented West Indies in July 2023 but has since been active in domestic cricket, playing for Trinidad and Tobago. Last year, he was part of the Abu Dhabi T10 as well.

Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson has been ruled out of the T20I series against Scotland and England next month after picking up a side strain in the Hundred with Oval Invincibles.He will be replaced by New South Wales allrounder Sean Abbott who had initially only been due to be part of the ODI squad for the five matches against England.Related

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It had been a lean Hundred campaign for Johnson who claimed just two wickets in six matches although he did produce an impressive display against Northern Superchargers with 1 for 10 from his 20 deliveries.Johnson, who emerged quickly through the BBL with Brisbane Heat, has played five T20Is and one ODI since making his debut against South Africa last year. He is viewed as a likely replacement for Mitchell Starc in the T20 side when that opening becomes permanently available.Starc has been rested from the T20Is against Scotland and England but will feature in the ODIs. Pat Cummins will miss the entire tour but Josh Hazlewood is part of both squads.Spencer Johnson has so far had a handful of opportunities with Australia•Getty Images

Abbott, who has appeared in 15 T20Is, has been unfortunate not to play more for Australia. He is the leading wicket-taker in BBL history with 165. Abbott has also featured in the Hundred where he has taken nine wickets in seven matches for Birmingham Phoenix.Xavier Bartlett, who burst into international cricket last season, and Nathan Ellis are the other frontline seamers in the T20I squad alongside allrounders Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis.Australia’s selectors have one eye on the next T20 World Cup in 18 months’ time although have not drawn a line through either Starc or Cummins in the format.Johnson’s aim will now be to recover in time for the start of the Australia domestic season where he plays for South Australia. After the UK tour, Australia’s next T20Is are a three-match series against Pakistan in mid-November which could be another opportunity for Johnson as the Test quicks won’t feature due to the proximity of the first Test in Perth.After the Pakistan series, Australia are not scheduled to play T20Is until next July in West Indies.

Australia T20I squad vs Scotland and England

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Mumbai broke Vidarbha’s resistance on the fifth afternoon and secured their 42nd Ranji Trophy title and first since 2015-16. Spin-bowling allrounder Tanush Kotian and fast bowler Tushar Deshpande crushed Vidarbha’s dream and dismissed them for 368, in an unprecedented chase of 538, after captain Akshay Wadkar and rookie Harsh Dubey had played out a wicket-less morning session.Fittingly, it was veteran Dhawal Kulkarni who sealed victory for Mumbai in what was his last game for them. With his captain Ajinkya Rahane and the Wankhede crowd warmly cheering him on, Kulkarni bowled Umesh Yadav to give himself a winning send-off. Having picked up a fourth-innings five-for in his first Ranji final, against Uttar Pradesh, back in 2009, Kulkarni signed off as a bona fide domestic stalwart for Mumbai.He leaves Mumbai’s seam attack in the safe hands of Deshpande, who bullied Vidarbha with around-the-wicket bouncers on the fifth day and Mohit Avasthi, who was Mumbai’s joint-highest wicket-taker this season with 35 strikes in eight games. Avasthi wasn’t available for the final because of injury, with Kulkarni taking his place.