Bangladesh steady on Day 1, post 236/4
KHUlNA (Bangladesh): Mominul Haque steered Bangladesh to 236-4 against Pakistan, hitting a well-composed 80 before falling at the end of the first day of the opening Test on Tuesday. Haque, who struck eight fours in his 162 ball-knock, joined Sachin Tendulkar and England’s John Edrich in scoring a half-century in 10 successive Tests. AB de Villiers holds the record of 12 straight Tests. Opener Imrul Kayes contributed 51, and Mahmudullah 49 to help Bangladesh recover from a cautious start on a placid pitch against controlled Pakistan bowling. Shakib Al Hasan was 19 not out when Haque was caught plumb leg before off a magnificent delivery by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar off the scheduled penultimate ball of the day, and the umpires promptly drew stumps. All four wickets were shared on a day when Pakistan dropped a load of chances but bowled with discipline to keep the run-rate down. Bangladesh predictably elected to bat first on a favorable surface, but struggled against good line-and-length bowling. Kayes and Tamim Iqbal shared a watchful 52 runs in a 27-over opening stand, Bangladesh’s highest opening stand against Pakistan.
Brief Scores — Bangladesh 236/4 (Mominul Haque 80, Imrul Kayes 51, Mahmudullah 49) vs Pakistan.
Patel suspended from Baroda CA, to move court
Vadodara: Former BCCI president N Srinivasan on Tuesday received another jolt as one of his closest confidant Sanjay Patel was removed from his primary membership by the Baroda Cricket Association on allegations of financial irregularities. However Patel is not taking things lying down as he is all set to take legal recourse to revoke the decision of the BCA’s managing committee taken on the day. Former Test opener and Patel’s bete noire Anshuman Gaekwad said, “Sanjay Patel’s primary membership has been cancelled for financial irregularities. There was a sanction of Rs25 lakh for renovation of dressing room and BCA office. However the bills ran upto Rs89 lakh. No approval was sought for spending such amount. Therefore the managing committee decided to suspend the primary membership of Patel, Arun Gandhi (another secretary and treasurer Sachin Dalvi after an inquiry committee headed by Anant Tendulkar submitted the report,” Gaekwad added.
Patel on his part said, “I will be moving court. I am not surprised as Anshuman and my differences go back a long way. I will obviously move court as these are absurd allegations. Also let me tell you when Rs89 lakh was spent, everyone from president Chirayu Amin to all other members were aware about it.”
controversy around Pujara’s dismissal
Headingley: India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara’s contentious dismissal in an English County Championship match between Yorkshire and Warwickshire created a mini-controversy as some of the home team fans booed the umpires at the end of the day’s play. The Saurashtra right-hander, who is playing for Yorkshire, was looking good during his innings of 23 which was studded with four boundaries, before Ireland speedster Boyd Rankin induced an edge which was taken by Peter McKay. It was clear from the replays that McKay had taken the catch on the bounce as there was no conclusive evidence of a clean catch. However, umpire Steve Garratt after consultation with the square leg umpire Jeremy lloyds decided to give Pujara out. Once Pujara started walking back towards the Headingley dressing room, a section of Yorkshire supporters started booing the Warwickshire players for not showing enough sporting spirit, while the umpires were also not spared as they made their displeasure known at the end of the second day’s play.
Cricketer Rahul Ghosh discharged from hospital
Kolkata: Rahul Ghosh, the 20-year-old cricketer who was hospitalised last Tuesday after being hit on the head while fielding in a local league match, was discharged on Monday night after doctors declared him “stable”. “He will be resting for the next three weeks, but not bed rest. He can walk around the house if he wants to,” Dr. Buddhadev Saha, who has been attending to Rahul, said on Tuesday. As Rahul was brought out of the hospital, a gathering that included family and friends greeted him. Even the ambulance that was used to send Rahul home was packed to the capacity. “He is fine now but he will have to report to us after three weeks,” added Saha.