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India brush aside Bangladesh to stay unbeaten

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Virat Kohli cruised to his ton, with some support from KL Rahul in the end (Cricbuzz)

India brushed aside Bangladesh in Pune on Wednesday (October 19) to stay unbeaten in the 2023 ODI World Cup. After restricting Bangladesh to a par score of 256/8, India chased down the target with ease after significant contributions from their top order. While Shubman Gill hit a fifty, Rohit scored a brisk 48 before Kohli provided the finishing touch with his 48th ODI century.

Rohit, who has been in scintillating form in the last two games, teed off early yet again. After finding the boundary twice in the very first over, Rohit took on Shoriful Islam again in his next over for a four and a six over deep midwicket to race to 21 off just 13 balls. Gill, who made a watchful start initially, broke free with two sixes off Nasum Ahmed as India got off to an excellent start in the chase.

Hasan Mahmud deployed the short-ball strategy against Rohit and struck to it despite being hit for a four and a six by the India captain. Eventually, the ploy paid off as Rohit tried to keep a ball down but ended up finding the fielder stationed at the deep to fall for 48. However, in the same over, Bangladesh failed to build pressure on the new man as Kohli was handed two free-hits to get going. With India flying, Bangladesh badly needed wickets to storm back into the game. Even though they managed to pack off Gill immediately after he got to his fifty, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer ensured there were no hiccups.

India continued to stay on top of the chase even after Iyer’s dismissal as KL Rahul joined forces with Kohli for the finishing act. The last few overs were all about Kohli getting to his century. At one point when Rahul was batting on 33, Kohli was on 73 with India needing only 28 for the win. When India’s No.3 smashed a six off Hasan, he sensed an opportunity to get to a ton and Rahul duly obliged at the other end. He got to the landmark and finished the game with a six with Rahul staying unbeaten on 34.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh squandered a very good opportunity to post a strong total on the board after the middle order failed to capitalise on the start provided by their openers. India’s new ball bowlers posed questions early on as Bangladesh scored just 10 runs in the first five overs. However, things changed dramatically in the next five as both Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das opened. A flurry of boundaries saw Bangladesh score 53 off the next five to put up 63 on the board in the powerplay.

India were also without Hardik Pandya, who had to leave the field in the powerplay for scans on his left ankle. The two batters continued to milk the bowling attack before Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja came to India’s rescue. Kuldeep broke the opening stand by trapping Tanzid leg-before-wicket and Jadeja ensured the in-form Najmul Shanto, who was also leading in Shakib Al Hasan’s absence, didn’t make an impact. Wickets then continued to tumble for Bangladesh as they went from 93/0 to 137/4.

With the scoring rate also dropping, India were in total control in the middle phase of the innings. The onus was now on the experienced duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to guide Bangladesh to a fighting total. While Rahim did keep the scorecard ticking, India struck again just before he could tee off at the death with a little over seven overs left in the innings. Thankfully for Bangladesh, Mahmudullah managed to fetch boundaries off India’s pace trio in the final five overs to guide his side past 250.

Brief scores:
Bangladesh
256/8 in 50 overs (Litton Das 66, Tanzid Hasan 51; Ravindra Jadeja 2/38) lost to India 261/3 in 41.3 overs (Virat Kohli 103*, Shubman Gill 53; Mehidy Hasan 2/47) by 7 wickets



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Tamim Iqbal elected new BCB president

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Tamim Iqbal attended a press conference after being appointed BCB president [Cricinfo]

Tamim Iqbal has been elected as the new BCB president following the elections held in Dhaka on Sunday. Tamim was the only candidate, and he will serve a four-year term in total, having already completed two months as the ad-hoc committee’s head.

The Bangladesh government called for BCB elections under the interim body in April, following the dissolution of the previous elected body under Aminul Islam.

The day-long election, including physical votes and e-ballots, were held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which is also the board headquarters. A total of 23 directors were elected in three categories and two government representatives were announced later to form the 25-member body.

Tamim is one of the most prominent cricketers to have played for Bangladesh, having appeared in 391 internationals across three formats. He led Bangladesh to 21 wins in 38 matches across formats, including the 2-1 ODI series against South Africa in 2022. After his international retirement in early 2025, Tamim continued to play domestic tournaments but a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League match that year put an abrupt end to his playing career.

The election commission said 88 votes were cast to elect 23 directors in two out of the three categories. The first category includes all the divisions and districts of the country, the second is the Dhaka clubs that participate in the league system, while the third consists of former cricketers, captains, education boards and others. Tamim was one of twelve directors elected from the second category.

The new 25-member body held an election among themselves to choose the president and two vice-presidents. After Tamim was elected as board president, Fahim Sinha was elected as one of the two vice-presidents. The other vice-president hasn’t been selected.

The previous board elections were held on October 6 last year. Aminul was re-elected BCB president under controversial circumstqnces when Tamim, leading one of the panels, withdrew from the polls alleging Aminul of “bias and malpractice”.

Category 1 directors: Sayeed Bin Zaman, Abdullah Al Fuad, Minhajul Abedin, Moyeen Uddin Chowdhury, Shantanu Islam, Shafiqul Alam, Mizanur Rahman, Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, Shakrul Alam, Faisal Amin

Category 2 directors: Tamim Iqbal, Fahim Sinha, Asif Rabbani, Israfil Khasru, Dr Sarkar Mahbub Ahmed, Masuduzzaman, Rafiqul Islam, Sakeef Ahmed, Shanian Taneem, Syed Ibrahim Ahmed, Yasir Abbas, Yasir Faisal

Category 3 director: Sirajuddin Alamgir.

Government representative directors: Ruhul Amin, Sarfaraz Ahmed

[Cricinfo]

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West Indies look to level series in rainy Kingston

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Wanindu Hasaranga takes off after striking [Cricinfo]

With no play possible in the second ODI, both teams go into the third game well-rested. Perhaps this is a chance for the IPL returnees in particular to have caught their breath. The rain, though, may not have cleared in Kingston completely. According to the forecast, showers are likely in the afternoon and also possible in the evening, though there may be dry spells in between. There is a chance this will be a stop-start match in which DLS calculations come into play.

With a series win now beyond them, West Indies will be especially motivated to avoid being blanked at home. There is also the matter of their current 10th-placed ranking, which is not enough for them to gain automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup (cut-off is end of March next year). They need every ranking point they can get over the next two months. Sri Lanka are slightly more comfortable, at sixth position, and about 12 points clear of the current cut-off. But they’ll want to build more of a cushion themselves.

In the first ODI, Sri Lanka’s dominance in the middle overs is what had won them the match. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga were economical on a helpful surface, where West Indies’ frontline spinner Gudakesh Motie had been hit out of the attack. And Sri Lanka’s top six also showed serious hustle, picking up the tempo and keeping the runs flowing after Sri Lanka had had a poor powerplay with the bat.

These remain two relatively evenly-matched teams, however. With a little more discipline from their bowlers, West Indies are capable of leveling the series.

Although his Test average remains outstanding, Kamindu Mendis is yet to find a home in limited-overs cricket. Partly this is because his batting is so versatile, coaches and selectors have tended to yank him up and down the order as the team’s needs evolve. So far in ODIs, he has done his best work at No. 7 and 8, but he has now been asked to open the innings alongside Pathum Nissanka. His first innings at the top of the order brought only 12, but Sri Lanka are unlikely to ditch the strategy after one game. Can batting in the powerplay be the change he needs to kick his white ball career into high gear?

Over a fledgling international career, Keacy Carty has demonstrated promise at No. 3, where he averages 45.18. What he doesn’t have, so far, however, is the kind of body of work a long-term No. 3 should ideally built. So far, he has two tons apiece against England and Ireland, but is yet to put up serious numbers against other oppositions. Runs against an attack of Sri Lanka’s quality would add to his confidence.

Rain will potentially dictate conditions on Monday. If there’s rain around, teams tend to prefer to chase. Not only do they prefer to be batting while DLS calculations are in play, but a wetter ball is also more difficult for bowlers to grip, particularly spinners.

West Indies may think about bringing Shimron Hetmyer into the XI to shake up the batting a little.

West Indies (possible): John Campbell, Justin Greaves,  Keacy Carty,  Shai Hope (capt.)(wk),  Shimron Hetmyer/Sherfane Rutherford,  Roston Chase, Matthew Forde,  Gudakesh Motie,  Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph,  Jayden Seales

Sri Lanka may keep their winning XI, but with so many quicks to choose from, may be tempted to give Eshan Malinga a run, especially if it’s a shortened match.

Sri Lanka (possible): Pathum Nissanka,  Kamindu Mendis,  Kusal Mendis (capt.)(wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage,  Wanindu Hasaranga,  Milan Rathnayake,  Dushmantha Chameera,  Asitha Fernando/Eshan Malinga

[Cricinfo]

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Huge crowds throng Madrid streets for Pope’s open-air mass

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Pope Leo held the service on the second day of his official visit to Spain (BBC)

More than a million people lined the streets of Madrid on Sunday as Pope Leo XIV held an open-air mass in the Spanish capital, the Vatican said.

Crowds descended on the city as the pontiff arrived for the service on the second day of his official visit to the country at the Plaza de Cibeles, with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia among the congregants.

The pair welcomed the pontiff to the royal palace on Saturday, as he began his trip by praising the Spanish government’s opposition to global conflicts and its support for migrants.

The Pope waved as he made his way through the city early on Sunday, where authorities mounted a major security operation for the mass and subsequent procession through central Madrid.

People waved flags and shouted “long live the Pope”, with some throwing petals as he arrived at the square.

Large crowds had similarly gathered in the city as he began his trip on Saturday. He was later joined by some 500,000 congregants – most of whom were young people – for a prayer vigil near Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium which stretched into the night.

“In the face of the emptiness of indifference and compliance, before the violence of war and lies, you must be the sparks of a new humanity,” he told those gathered.

EPA/Shutterstock Pope Leo XIV waves to faithful from his popemobile as arrives to Cibeles Square to celebrate mass
The Vatican said 1.2m people lined Madrid’s streets (BBC) 
Reuters Faithful wait ahead of a Holy Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at Plaza de Cibeles
Large crowds could be seen hours before the Pope’s arrival (BBC)

His remarks echoed those he delivered during his royal reception, in which he praised Spain’s commitment to peace and its “faithful adherence to international law”.

The country’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has clashed with US President Donald Trump over the US and Israel’s war against Iran, and with Israel over the war in Gaza. The Chicago-born pope has also drawn criticism from the president over his anti-war views.

His trip to Spain – the first by a pope in some 15 years – will also feature an unprecedented address before the Spanish parliament and a meeting with victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo is also due to visit the Canary Islands with Prime Minister Sánchez later in the week, where they will honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe.

(BBC)

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