The Cricket Bulletin : Major Talking Points

I am taking this as a challenge to change history: Nigar Sultana

On Sunday Nihar Sultana said that Bangladesh is ready for the challenge of changing the poor World Cup history. Bangladesh have managed only three wins from 25 matches in the global T20 event. “We were coming from a long winless road (in the T20 World Cup),” Nigar told reporters in the pre-tournament presser at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. “But I am not seeing this as a pressure. Rather I am taking this as a challenge to change history,” she added.

She added, “However, since last year, I feel we have developed a much better team combination, and we need to increase our win count. In T20s, more players are stepping up now compared to before. We want to play better on the global stage and win more matches consistently.”

Rwanda rewrites history in Men’s T20 International

Hamza Khan recorded the second-highest individual score in Men’s T20 International history with an unbeaten 164 off just 65 deliveries against Ivory Coast during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier on Sunday. Hamza’s remarkable knock helped Rwanda score a massive 288/2 in 20 overs- the seventh highest team score ever recorded in Men’s T20I cricket. Rwanda eventually bowled out Ivory Coast for just 17 runs in reply, handing them a staggering 271-run defeat. It is currently the third-largest victory in Men’s T20I history.

Hamza’s innings with nine fours and 15 maximums at a thumping strike rate of 252.30 puts him just behind Aaron Finch’s 172 for Australia against Zimbabwe in 2018. The Rwanda opener surpassed Hazratullah Zazai, who had smashed an unbeaten 162 against Ireland in 2019.

India team gets a new manager for Afghanistan series

Veteran cricket administrator, coach and manager Rajesh Dhar from Jammu and Kashmir has been named the Indian team manager for the forthcoming one-off Test and ODI series against Afghanistan. The tour will begin with a Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, from June 6 to 10, followed by a three-match ODI series starting June 13, in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai.

Dhar, a BCCI Level-I certified coach, has been associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) for a long time. He worked as manager of the Ranji Trophy team, senior women’s side manager, U-23 men’s squad manager, U-19 coach and assistant coach of JKCA’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy side.