Cricket news round-up – 30 October: Shakib banned for two years; Netherlands, Namibia qualify for T20 World Cup

The ICC have imposed a two-year ban on Shakib Al Hasan from any cricketing activity, following which Bangladesh announced fresh squads for their India tour; Netherlands and Namibia have qualified for the 2020 T20 World Cup; and India will host Bangladesh at Eden Gardens for the first day-night Test for both sides.

Shakib banned for two years

The ICC have banned Shakib Al Hasan from all cricket for two years. The decision followed Shakib’s admission to violation of the anti-corruption code on three counts. However, this will include a year of suspended ban, which means that he can return to international cricket from October 29, 2020.

The three clauses violated by Shakib include code 2.4.4, which involves
“failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.”

Shakib was approached by bookies during an ODI tri-series at home in 2017-18 as well as during the 2018 IPL.

Bangladesh announce fresh squads for India tour

Shakib’s ban meant that Bangladesh had to appoint new captains for the India tour. They chose Mahmudullah for the T20Is and Mominul Haque for the Tests. These are the final squads:

T20Is: Mahmudullah (c), Liton Das (wk), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Taijul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Aminul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam.

Tests: Mominul Haque (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Liton Das (wk), Shadman Islam, Imrul Kayes, Saif Hassan, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain.

Netherlands cruise to the T20 World Cup…

Netherlands became the third team (after Papua New Guinea and Ireland) from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier to assure a berth in next year’s tournament after they blew UAE away at Dubai.

Fred Klaassen (3-0-18-1), Paul van Meekeren (4-0-13-2), and Brandon Glover (4-0-12-4) first reduced the UAE to 9/5 in the fifth over. With Timm van der Gugten (3-0-10-2) also chipping in, the UAE middle order was reduced to a crawl: they finished on 80/9.

Netherlands adopted a cautious approach, reaching home in only the 16th over without much fuss. Ben Cooper top-scored with 41 not out in 53 balls.

… as do Namibia

Later at night at the same venue, Namibia recovered from 69/5 to thrash Oman by 54 runs largely due to JJ Smits’ all-round show. After Bilal Khan (4-0-18-4) jolted Namibia, Craig Williams (45 in 41 balls) held one end up as Smit (59 in 25) launched a furious onslaught. Namibia finished on 161/7.

Thanks to Khawar Ali’s 25-ball 41, Oman were in the match at 58/1 in the seventh over. Unfortunately, the middle order capitulated against Bernard Scholtz (4-0-14-3) and Gerhard Erasmus (4-0-19-3) before Smit (3.1-0-12-2) rounded things off.

Eden Gardens to host floodlit Test

The second Test between India and Bangladesh, to be hosted at the Eden Gardens, will be a day-night affair – the first for both countries as well as on Indian soil. The announcement came through after Bangladesh agreed to the proposal on Tuesday.

The Test will take the number of teams to have played pink-ball Tests to ten, leaving only Ireland and Afghanistan. India will also become the seventh country, after Australia, UAE, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and West Indies to host a Test under lights.