Shakib takes top spot among ODI allrounders

Shakib Al Hasan has confirmed his consistently impressive performances by heading the ICC’s ODI allrounder rankings, the first time any Bangladesh has topped any ICC rankings. His performances in the home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, took him to 380 rating points, helping him surge past last week’s top two, New Zealand’s Jacob Oram (368 points) and England’s Andrew Flintoff (366).

Shakib (21) was the highest run-scorer in the tri-series and the second-highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh, behind Mashrafe Mortaza. He scored 153 runs in the three matches at 76.50, with a strike-rate of 101.32, and picked up five wickets at 13.80.

“It feels great to be ranked No. 1. My only goal is to keep performing and win matches for the Bangladesh team and I feel more inspired and motivated to give my all in the field. I also know that retaining the top spot will be even tougher and it will require lots of sacrifices, consistency, hard work and dedication,” Shakib said.

He is the second Bangladeshi cricketer to break into any top 10 list, after left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who reached the eighth spot in the ODI bowling rankings in November 2007. Shakib, currently ranked number 12 in the ODI bowling charts, is tenth on the list of Test allrounders as well, making him the first from Bangladesh to enter the top 10 in any Test category.

Source: Internet

Kumble calls it a day

India captain Anil Kumble has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, reports BBC.

The 38-year-old decided to stand down during the final day of the drawn third Test against Australia in Delhi after sustaining a finger injury.

The leg-spinner took 619 Test wickets, including all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999, in his 18-year, 132-Test career.

Kumble’s successor has not been named but is likely to be Mahendra Dhoni.

The wicketkeeper led India to an emphatic 320-run win in Mohali in the second Test after a shoulder injury had ruled Kumble out.

His replacement Amit Mishra took seven wickets at the PCA Ground, heaping further pressure on Kumble, who had been wicketless in the drawn first Test in Bangalore.

The veteran had previously suggested he would retire on his terms after he faced constant questioning on the subject from the Indian media.

But he admitted a finger injury sustained on day three attempting to catch a difficult Matthew Hayden chance proved to be the catalyst for his decision.

“It was tough, especially after 18 years when you have been so competitive, but the body gave me the decision and the injury helped,” said Kumble, who needed 11 stitches on his little finger of his left hand.

“I had already made the decision yesterday (Saturday), I knew I would not be fit (for the Nagpur Test) and I don’t want to let the team down.”

Kumble stands third in the all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket, behind fellow spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.

He remains the only bowler to emulate Jim Laker’s feat of taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings with a match-winning 10-74 in Delhi nine years ago.

India lead the series 1-0 with one Test match to go, which starts in Nagpur on 6 November.

Bangladesh Cricket team off to SA

Bangladesh National Cricket team left the city yesterday night for South Africa to play three One Day International (ODI ) matches, two Test matches and a Twenty20 match against South Africa National Cricket team in South Africa.

Besides, Bangladesh National Cricket team will face South Africa A team in a two-dayer match.

Bangladesh team will meet South Africa team in a Twenty20 match at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on November 5.

The Tigers will face the Proteaous in the first ODI,which will be a day-night affair at the Senwas Park in Potchefstroom on November 7.

Bangladesh team will play against South Africa team in the second ODI at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni on November 9.

The Tigers wiil meet the Proteaous in the third ODI, which will be also a day-night affair at the Buffalo Park in East London on November 12.

Bangladesh team will take on South Africa A team in a two-dayer match, which is scheduled to be held in Kimberly on November 15-16.

The Tigers will face the Proteaous in the first Test match, which begins on November 19 at the Outsurance Oval in Bloemfontein.

Bangladesh team will meet South Africa in the second Test match scheduled to be held at the SuperSport Park in Centurion from November 26 to November 30.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on last Tuesday the 15-member ODI and Twenty20 squad which will play against South Africa in ODIs and Twenty20 match.

Bangladesh Squad : Mohammad Ashraful (captain ), Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-captain ), Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain (Junior ), Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Nazmul Hossain, Mahbubul Alam, Roqibul Hassan and Imrul Kayes.