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Tom Banton’s unbeaten half-century saw Team Vince home in chase of 109

ECB Reporters Network24-Jul-2020Tom Banton showed his class in the field and with the bat after Lewis Gregory and Liam Dawson shone with the ball in England’s second intra-squad match ahead of the start of their one-day series against Ireland.Gregory snared Jonny Bairstow – following a sublime catch by Banton – en route to 3 for 29 while Dawson subdued the lower order in his 4 for 21 as a side led by Moeen Ali succumbed to a meagre 108 all out in 28.4 overs.England captain Eoin Morgan was rested so James Vince led the other team, who slipped to 4 for 3 after eight balls of their chase, but Banton ushered them home with six wickets to spare in 17.4 overs with a stylish 57 not out from 56 deliveries at the Ageas Bowl, the venue of the ODI series which gets under way next Thursday.Jason Roy was also absent from an encounter that was once again supposed to be 40 overs a side as he was nursing a sore back, but he and Morgan are set to feature for England Lions in Sunday’s game against Ireland.While Tuesday’s first warm-up was a boundary-laden affair in which Bairstow and Moeen teed off with abandon, a more sluggish surface here was exploited by some clever bowling allied with some injudicious strokeplay.With Phil Salt and Sam Hain failing to get out of single figures, attention fell on to Bairstow again. A centurion a few days ago, the Yorkshireman could not get into his groove and departed for 13 off 21 balls following a supreme catch from Banton diving full length to his right at backward point.That handed Gregory a wicket in his first over and he would have two in two when Liam Livingstone shaped to run down to third man only to chop on. While Moeen nudged and nurdled his way to 17, his attempt to inject more urgency into proceedings fell flat as he charged down the wicket to Gregory and top-edged to long leg.Salt was given another opportunity at the crease and clubbed Dawson for the first six of the innings over midwicket, but when going for another big mow he merely edged to slip for 25 off 37 balls.From there, spin duo Dawson, on his home ground, and Adil Rashid squeezed the life out of the lower order, the former bowling Brydon Carse and Tom Curran, both attempting to cut, before trapping Saqib Mahmood in front to end the innings with 11.2 overs unused.If there was any thought of a comfortable chase, it was snuffed out when David Willey gained a fraction of inward movement to bowl Ben Duckett and Sam Billings with the first two balls of the reply, before Vince departed in the next over after being adjudged lbw to Tom Curran.But Banton and Laurie Evans rebuilt, slowly at first, the former taking the whip hand with crunching fours through the covers off Willey. Evans was happy to play the auxiliary role but still managed around a run a ball.Willey could not cling on to a chance at deep midwicket that would have rivalled Banton’s earlier grab as the batsman was spared on 32, and thereafter he put his foot down, emphasised when he swivel pulled Mahmood for six.Evans chopped Henry Brookes on to his stumps for 25 to end a 67-run stand but it was of little consequence as Banton passed his 50 before Dawson sealed the win with two fours in three balls in the late evening sunshine.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has received six technical proposals for the national team’s sponsorship rights for the next two years, starting from the India series in June

Mohammad Isam19-May-2015The Bangladesh Cricket Board has received six technical proposals for the national team’s sponsorship rights for the next two years, starting from the India series in June. Board CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that the companies will have to submit their financial proposals a day later, when the BCB will also conduct the bidding process.The base price has been set at Tk 30 crore (approx. US$3.85 million). It is understood that some of the bidders for the previous tender – for the Pakistan series in April and May this year – have participated this time as well.Last month, the BCB awarded Top of Mind, a media planning company, the team sponsorship rights for the Pakistan series. The agreement was completed after the BCB’s four-year contract with Aamby Valley, an affiliate of Sahara India Parivar, was terminated 15 months before it was scheduled to end. The winning quote was reportedly more than Tk 3 crore.Top of Mind and Grameenphone, the team sponsor for eight years before Sahara, were the two highest bidders during that tender but had to bid again as they had not quoted a price favoured by the BCB.The BCB’s deal with Sahara, which included branding rights for the national team and the national cricket academy, title sponsorship and in-stadia sponsorship for 2012-13, was worth $14 million.

Pradeep Sangwan, the Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders seamer, has failed a random dope test conducted during the 2013 season of the IPL, PTI has reported

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2013Pradeep Sangwan, the Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders seamer, has failed a random dope test conducted during the 2013 season of the IPL, PTI has reported. Sangwan’s ‘A’ sample has reportedly shown traces of banned substances, the nature of which can only be confirmed after the ‘B’ tests are done.The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has been informed about the tests by the BCCI, but any decision about the offence can only be taken once the results of the ‘B’ tests are available. Sangwan, is reportedly in the UK, undergoing treatment for a shoulder injury.Random tests are conducted during the IPL, like in ICC tournaments. The BCCI, which doesn’t come under the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) or the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency), follow their own anti-doping procedures.*AN Sharma, Sangwan’s first coach, said the problem could have arisen due to treatment Sangwan was receiving for a shoulder problem. “I immediately called him up and Pradeep explained to me what had happened. He had acute pain in his shoulder just before the IPL,” Sharma told . “Since he had no time to consult or visit the BCCI doctor, he saw a local doctor, who gave him an injection. There was instant relief from the pain thereafter and he also managed to play the IPL.”Sharma also said players needed to be more aware of the substances they take while injured. “We have to start stressing this point to the players to be very vigilant about what they are consuming and where they are getting treated,” Sharma said. “It is very important that they understand what substances are being injected into their body during a treatment.”Sangwan, 22, played only two matches for Knight Riders this season and failed to pick up a wicket. He made his first-class debut in 2007 and has played 38 matches for Delhi.* July 19, 6.30am GMT This story has been updated with AN Sharma’s quotes

Relief was the overriding emotion for Alastair Cook after England salvaged a draw in Dunedin despite one the worst starts they have made to a Test in recent times

Andrew McGlashan in Dunedin10-Mar-2013Relief was the overriding emotion for Alastair Cook after England salvaged a draw in Dunedin despite one the worst starts they have made to a Test in recent times and he admitted to being no nearer to an answer on why the team starts so poorly overseas.Led by Steven Finn’s unexpected resistance as nightwatchman – he batted 203 balls in nearly five hours – England negotiated the final day with only a few uncertain moments, largely after tea when Finn and Joe Root fell in quick succession with the lead below 100.It was the second Test in a row where England have batted out nearly two days to save a game following their series-clinching performance against India in Nagpur before Christmas. Although a difference scenario – on that occasion the first-innings scores were almost level so it was always about building a lead – it acted as inspiration for a batting line-up still embarrassed by their demise for 167 on the second day.”We’ve been lucky in one sense to escape with a draw certainly,” Cook said. “That’s a huge reminder that if you don’t perform, you don’t deserve to win anything. When you get bowled out for 160-odd in the first innings on a good wicket you are always going to be struggling and facing an uphill battle just to save the game. After they were 130 for none, it was pretty much damage limitation from there on.”It was about stopping them scoring which we didn’t do as well as we could have done and we knew when we batted again we had to bat 170 overs. It was very similar to the Nagpur situation. That was very evident to see and we reminded the lads that they done it before and there’s no reason, if we applied the same mindset, we couldn’t do that. The character to dig ourselves out of a hole is very pleasing.”While England’s fight bailed them out of a tough situation – as it did at Brisbane in 2010-11 – it would be far more preferable if they did not find themselves in such positions. Excluding Bangladesh, they have not won the opening Test of an away series since beating South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 2004-05. Cook did not have an answer. “We don’t know. That’s the bottom line,” he said.”It’s a thing we talked about before the series, something that we recognise we have started overseas series poorly for a while now. It’s something we wanted to address, but unfortunately our actions didn’t back up our words and it’s very hard to come back from the situation we found ourselves in.”Cook didn’t shy away from what put England into a backs-to-the-wall position in the first place – a series of horrid shots on the second day as the first innings lasted only 55 overs. Cook, himself, was culpable when he cut a short ball to point while four wickets were donated to Bruce Martin.”They put some pressure on us, but if you look at the shots it was pretty poor shot selection, or probably more poor shot execution, you can pretty much describe it as soft dismissals. If you do that against any team you pay the price.”As ever when a team fights back to draw a Test from such a difficult position – England have only saved four matches with bigger first-innings deficits in their history – there are questions about where the balance of power now lies especially with back-to-back Tests. Brendon McCullum was pleased that his team had been able to dictate the match throughout, but Cook felt England could take plenty from their second innings.”It certainly gives us some confidence, especially when you get bowled out for 160 in the first innings, as a batting unit you can start to have negative thoughts – you don’t want that to snowball.”

Richard McInnes’ first assignment as head coach of Bangladesh’s National Cricket Academy will be to oversee a week-long training camp starting August 8

Mohammad Isam04-Aug-2012Richard McInnes’ first assignment as head coach of Bangladesh’s National Cricket Academy will be to oversee a week-long training camp starting August 8. Ten cricketers have been selected to take part in the camp.Batsmen Fazle Mahmud, Tasamul Haque and Myshukur Rahman, allrounders Mahmudul Hasan and Sabbir Rahman, left-arm spinners Shaker Ahmed, Sanjamul Islam, Nazmul Islam, leg-spinner Tanveer Haider and seamer Kamrul Islam Rabbi are the available cricketers in the country since Bangladesh A and the Under-19s side are currently playing abroad.All ten selected cricketers were part of the Academy squad that toured South Africa last year under McInnes’ predecessor Ross Turner.”He [McInnes] will work with ten players of the Academy who are currently available for a week,” BCB’s game development manager Nazmul Abedin said. “Later when others from the A team and the Under-19 team arrive, whoever is selected will join the Academy squad.”The Academy’s first assignment of the year will be a four-day game against the touring West Indies High Performance team from September 16 to 19 in Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. The visitors will also take on Bangladesh A in another four-day match, three one-day games and two Twenty20s thereafter.

ESPNcricinfo previews the only Twenty20 between South Africa and India at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban

The Preview by Firdose Moonda08-Jan-2011

Match Facts

Makhaya Ntini will bowl in South Africa colours for one last time•Getty Images

January 9, Durban

Start time 14:30 (12.30 GMT, 18.00 IST)

The Big Picture

The cricket is going to be a sideshow to the festivities. It’s Makhaya Ntini’s farewell match, which is enough to charge the occasion with emotion. Sachin Tendulkar is going to be honoured for continued contribution to the progress of cricket. The match also forms part of the commemoration of 150 years of Indians in South Africa and tribute will also be paid to the South African team who toured India in 1991. All that will end with a Bollywood extravaganza.It’s a magical stage for such an occasion. The Moses Mabhida Stadium, best recognised by its arch, has been talked up as one of the most beautiful venues built for the Football World Cup. It’s doesn’t have the dimensions of an international cricket field and the straight boundaries are particularly short, which means boundary hitting may be the order of the day.The pitch, which was laid the day after the World Cup semi-final on 7 July between Spain and Germany, may not be singing the same tune. It’s rumoured to sustain only knee-high bounce and is quite slow. During a practice match in mid-December, players said they found cutters to be effective but not the short ball.The match has been sold out with over 50,000 fans expected to pack into the stadium. It will be the biggest attendance for a cricket match on the African continent.

Form guide

(most recent first)
South Africa: WWWWW
India: WWLLL

Watch out for…

It’s only the third Twenty20 Hashim Amla is playing. The first two were in 2009 and he has since injected a lot of pace into his game. His one-day international strike rate is up to 93.38 and he had a string of powerful performances recently against Pakistan in UAE.Makhaya Ntini has his last chance to impress in international cricket. His is not a veteran in this format, having played just nine internationals. Even if he doesn’t pick up a single wicket in the match, the emotion that will flow from each ball he bowls and every move he makes is going to be electric.Suresh Raina looked like a deer caught in the headlights during the Centurion Test. The floodlights will be on for this game, and this is the format where he feels much more comfortable. He has more than a point to prove, and could not have asked for a bigger stage.

Team news

Graeme Smith has been ruled out of the match because of bruising to his hand caused by a hit from Sreesanth in the Cape Town Test. Morne van Wyk, from the Knights franchise, takes his place. With the wicket calling for at least two spinners, Robin Petersen is certain to play with one of the quicks due to miss out. Lonwabo Tsotsobe is the likely candidate.South Africa (possible): Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, David Miller, Johan Botha (capt), Robin Petersen, Rusty Theron, Wayne Parnell, Makhaya NtiniSachin Tendulkar is likely to be rested. India are also looking to give Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth a well-deserved break. In the absence of the regular openers, Rohit Sharma could open along with M Vijay.India (possible): Rohit Sharma, M Vijay, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (capt), R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha/Munaf Patel

Stats and trivia

• In 40 Twenty20s, Ntini has taken 37 wickets at an average of 29.40 at an economy rate of 7.50.
• India have won three out of four Twenty20s against South Africa. Their only loss was in the 2009 World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge.

Quotes

“It will be an emotional game. It would be an emotional moment for anybody. Finishing and saying goodbye to something that you love….that will make it a special day.”

Nottinghamshire’s chances of winning a Championship title have all but vanished after rain washed out the entire third day’s play at Old Trafford

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2010

ScorecardHeavy cloud and persistent rain ruled out any play on the third day•Getty Images

After rain washed out the entire third day’s play at Old Trafford, Nottinghamshire’s chances of winning the Championship title now rest on the hope that Lancashire can be convinced to play a shortened game on the fourth day, with both sides needing to forfeit an innings, in order to engineer a result.If Somerset lose to Durham, Nottinghamshire could also sneak to the title if they get nine points by scoring 400 – they are currently 89 for 2 – and then taking three Lancashire wickets and drawing the match. That would be a breakdown of five batting bonus points, one bowling bonus point and three for the draw. The other way is, obviously, more unconventional.”Our only chance is Somerset [and Yorkshire] not winning,” admitted Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s head of cricket. “We need nine points, which we could get in bonus points. Or we could have some sort of run chase with Lancashire tomorrow.”The word from the ground on the third evening was that there remained a chance that could happen, but any target would have to significantly favour Lancashire for them to accept. In what could be a controversial end to the Championship race, Nottinghamshire will gain 16 points if they can pull off an unlikely victory, but also need Durham to fight out a draw with Somerset at Chester-le-Street. Of course, this entire scenario also rests on the weather and while it’s likely that the sun will be out at Chester-le-Street tomorrow, intermittent showers are expected in Manchester.”We’ve been sat talking quite a lot this afternoon,” added Newell. “We’ve already started looking at that situation. That looks like the best option at the moment in terms of trying to get a minimum of nine points. If Lancashire are prepared to chase a score tomorrow afternoon then that discussion is going to have to take place.These two teams have form in that department, with Lancashire setting Nottinghamshire a contrived 260 in 64 overs on the final day at Trent Bridge last month in a match they had to win. The hosts won by three wickets.”You’ve got to keep the integrity of the game to the extent where you can’t give anything away. We chased 260 off 64 at Trent Bridge a couple of weeks ago. That, to me, would be a similar amount off maybe a few more overs.””At the moment I wouldn’t like to plan too far ahead for anything because I think it might rain again,” explained Lancashire coach Peter Moores. “What happens tomorrow, I don’t know. We’ll see if the weather’s set fair and if we’re going to get a day’s cricket.”Then you decide where you are from there like you would in any game. There’s a responsibility to make the sure the integrity of the game and competition is kept. We’ll cross all those bridges tomorrow when you sit down with the captain, look at conditions, the pitch and then take it from there and then make your call.”Nottinghamshire will have been keenly aware of events at Chester-le-Street, where Somerset remained in pole position in the Championship by claiming a full hand of batting bonus points after James Hildreth’s seventh Championship hundred of the season. His knock ensured a six-point lead over Nottinghamshire and took Somerset to 426 – a lead of 140 over Durham. Nottinghamshire have been left needing a miracle.

Salman Butt is not convinced that returning Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan to the Test team would be the right move

Nagraj Gollapudi at Trent Bridge01-Aug-2010Salman Butt has a question for those of us who feel Pakistan are hitting themselves in the foot by continuing to ignore the Ys – Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan – out of the batting ranks. “Having seen the past results can anybody over here tell me how many wins Pakistan had with the people who were previously playing?” Butt shot the query at the media after Pakistan’s embarrassing defeat in Nottingham.He probably meant Pakistan’s record in England, as out of the five and six Tests Younis and Yousuf have played respectively in this country, they were part of only one victory – at Old Trafford in the summer of 2001 when Inzamam-ul-Haq bolstered the middle-order with his calm presence. Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s current coach, was then leading an experienced side, which also featured Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Saqlain Mushtaq.However, Butt, if he has been referring to the stats books, would also be aware of the Y-pair’s outstanding record in England: Yousuf has compiled 716 runs at 65.09 including a double-century and Younis has logged 470 runs at 52.22 with one hundred and a highest of 173. Those are big runs and Pakistan could do with such stone-walling efforts, going by the fragility of their batting order this summer.The call for their return is bound to get louder if you consider the fact that in the six innings so far on this trip, Pakistan’s middle-order, comprising Nos. 3-7, has recorded a solitary half-century. Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal have have all wobbled and succumbed to pressure easily.Yet Butt and Waqar have stressed that Pakistan possess the best possible unit at the moment and it was only healthy and apt to think beyond the Ys. “Whoever is in the Pakistan side is there because of his ability and needs to be given time to show what they are capable of,” Butt said. “Had we been winning with them in the team in the past two years then it could’ve been a mistake. But the results were the same. In fact these guys pulled off a victory after 15 years [against Australia last week at Headingley]. So people are not seeing the reality.”Waqar was more direct on Saturday evening, when Pakistan had lost their top three wickets in a matter of minutes. Asked if he felt the inexperienced middle order needed reinforcement in the form either Yousuf or Younis, or both, he did not entertain the thought too much. “Look, one is retired [Yousuf]. We can’t really bring somebody back from retirement. The other one [Younis] has got serious issues with the cricket board [PCB],” Waqar said with a smile.Waqar said he was disappointed at some of the shots his batsmen played but felt this team was on the right track, in light of what he had witnessed in the past few years where Pakistan cricket had been marred by relentless controversies. “If you compare the Pakistan side from the last two to three years to this one it is a big improvement,” Waqar said. “We want to make this into a big unit. We might have to take a couple losses but this unit looks good.”Pakistan’s biggest problem on this trip has been the weak spine the batsmen have shown in the face of challenging seaming and swinging conditions. Their ineptitude to raise a challenging score has only hurt and eventually demoralised their fast men – Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul, who have put in stellar performances. Butt accepts the blame. “Yes, because we have got out very quickly today and we lost seven wickets in an hour’s time you can say we have the problems against the seaming (swinging) ball.”Butt himself was a failure, getting a single-digit score in both innings. Ironically for Butt, though just two matches old as captain, he is Pakistan’s highest run maker this year and so remains the man to lend a direction for the rest of the batting order. “All of us need to take responsibility having played a bit more cricket than some others in the team,” Butt said.However Butt is not willing to pull the pin on any of the batsmen. “I am just two games old: we have won one and lost the other. So I can never think of saying they have not responded. I can’t be that impatient,” Butt said. According to him, expecting Pakistan to win every match is asking for the moon. “What do you expect from them – win every game? That will not happen. This is the time when you back your players. It is just a matter of putting up a performance whether it being bowling, fielding, batting. The faith I have in them, I know they can make a comeback.”

Cricket South Africa has named a 15-member Under-19 squad for the tri-series against India and Sri Lanka, as well as the youth World Cup in New Zealand next year.

Cricinfo staff17-Dec-2009Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced a 15-member Under-19 squad for the triangular series against India and Sri Lanka, as well as the ICC U-19 World Cup to be held in New Zealand in January 2010.Northern’s wicketkeeper batsman, Joshua Richards will captain the squad, which also includes run-machine, Colin Ackerman. Richards previously led the SA U-19 Invitational XI against England U-19 in January and is solid behind the stumps. Ackerman was the leading run-scorer in the CSA U-19 three-day competition, where he averaged 200 with two centuries.Announcing the team in Benoni, the U-19 convener of selectors Shafiek Abrahams expressed confidence in the selected squad. “I am very excited with the squad that we have selected and I am confident that they will do the country proud,” he said.South Africa U-19 Sqaud: Joshua Richards (Northerns, Captain), Samuel Mofokeng (Northerns), David White (EP), Colin Ackerman (EP), Matthew Kennedy, (EP), Simon Khomari (FS), Stephan Smit (FS), Bokang Mosena (FS), Dale Deeb (Gauteng), Graham Hume (Gauteng), Malcolm Nofal (Gauteng), Dominic Hendricks (Gauteng), Cody Chetty (KwaZulu-Natal), Rabian Engelbrecht (Boland), Jerry Ngolo (Border).

Bangladesh head coach not worried about lack of context around the Test; Trott excited as Afghanistan get back to red-ball cricket after two years

Mohammad Isam13-Jun-2023Even if the one-off Test is not part of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and even if Bangladesh and Afghanistan haven’t played Test cricket in a long time, representing your country and winning Tests remains the primary “motivation” and “ambition,” according to the head coaches of the two teams, Chandika Hathurusinghe and Jonathan Trott. The two sides square off in a one-off Test starting Wednesday in Dhaka with questions around the match’s importance given it is being held during Bangladesh’s monsoon season.However, Hathurusinghe and Trott believe players across the two sides are looking forward to some red-ball cricket.”You are playing for your country, aren’t you?” Hathurusinghe said ahead of the Test. “Forget about the Test Championship; that came four years ago. Before that, playing Tests for your country was the dream, when you are nine or 11 years old.Related

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“If there’s a problem [playing a Test for your country], then he is in the wrong place. Winning for your country is enough for myself and the players. It is the motivational factor.”Trott was of a similar opinion. “I think there’s an ambition to play Test matches, being a Test nation. But I think it is also important that every Test match we go into, we try to win as well,” he said.The lack of Test matches has been an issue for both teams. Bangladesh have played only one Test this year, while Afghanistan’s last was more than two years ago. The monsoon, the school exams in Bangladesh, and the lack of context because it’s a one-off series, could all affect the viewership of this Test.Both sides are also missing key personnel in their line-up. While Afghanistan have rested Rashid Khan, their best bowler, to prioritise his “long-term fitness”, Bangladesh are without Shakib Al Hasan whose finger injury put him out of action last month. Tamim Iqbal was also ruled out of the game on the eve of the match with lower back pain.For Hathurusinghe, though, just representing the country in a Test match should be motivation enough for the players.”Playing for the Tigers is an honour. I think we don’t look beyond that,” he remarked. “Overall, if you ask my opinion, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game no matter how the other formats are going to be in the future. Your skills as a cricketer are tested in Test cricket, as a bowler, batter and fielder. Your mental skills and resilience is tested. There’s no better format for any cricketer if you really want to be proud of representing your country.”Trott, who took over as Afghanistan’s head coach last year, will oversee his first Test with them. He said his players, who become more famous playing T20s around the world, have ambitions to play Tests too.Rashid Khan has been rested for the one-off Test against Bangladesh•Abu Dhabi Cricket

“We haven’t played for a while, Bangladesh have played quite a lot of Tests recently,” Trott said. “I think it is always good to develop the players’ mindset of being ambitious and playing Tests, along with all the other formats. Being competitive in red-ball cricket just as much in white-ball cricket.””I think [Afghanistan players are] just as ambitious as Bangladesh were when they started playing Tests. You see Bangladesh now going on to beat other teams at home. I think it’s important to have that ambition. I think it is what drives the game. All Test cricketers will tell you they like playing Test cricket. They will say it is their favourite format, because of the challenge and test it creates between the two sides. Also individual as well. It is something that I am looking forward to seeing tomorrow.”A bigger concern for the Afghanistan coach will be to replace Rashid. Trott kept his cards close to his chest, but the make-up of the side suggests that a few newcomers are likely to make their debuts, including 19-year-old legspinner Izharulhaq Naveed who impressed in last season’s Big Bash League.”It is very difficult to replace a guy like Rashid,” Trott said. “He has vast experience in playing all around the world in different competitions and different variations of the game. He has played Test cricket. So yes, that’s obviously missed.”But I think him having time off, obviously there’s a lot of cricket coming up. Asia Cup and World Cup is coming up. I certainly see this time off for him now to get his back sorted out, with a view to the future, in the competitions in a few months’ time.”Afghanistan players have a chat with coach Jonathan Trott at training•Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images

He underlined that Afghanistan have a confident unit that could give Bangladesh a run for their money. “I think any team playing at home will have a bit of an advantage. I think certainly a team that has played more Tests by a long stretch will also have a bit of advantage. It doesn’t mean tomorrow they will play better than us. We prepared really well. I feel the players have trained exceptionally well. They are excited to play a Test in Bangladesh,” he said.”Whatever has happened in the past, whoever is favourite or the conditions, it is all about what happens tomorrow and who does it the best. It is my job to make sure everyone is ready for the Test starting tomorrow”.Meanwhile, the hosts are keen to develop a playing style rather than just focusing on the result of this game. “We discussed before the Ireland series that we want to play a certain brand of cricket regardless of the result,” Hathurusinghe said. “Our aim is to get the result but we want to understand how our skillset lasts five days in different conditions, challenging ourselves in certain ways.”We might do different things tactically if we have to earn points in the WTC. This game is giving us the opportunity to play on a sporting wicket. Regardless of playing the Championship or not, we will find the way best suited for us to play at home. We have to keep an eye on how we want to play away from home.”