This victory is particularly significant as it marks the first time the Tigers have defeated Pakistan in a Test series and their third-ever Test series win away from home.

Previously, Bangladesh secured series victories against a second-string West Indies side in 2009 and a one-off series against Zimbabwe in 2021.

The win in Rawalpindi also places Bangladesh in exclusive company, as they become only the second team to complete a clean sweep over Pakistan on their home soil in a Test series.

The only other team to accomplish this feat was England, who achieved a 3-0 victory over Pakistan in 2022.

The match was a culmination of outstanding individual and team performances.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim were the heroes on the final day, guiding Bangladesh to a 185-run target in the second session.

Shakib sealed the victory with a match-winning boundary, with both he and Mushfiqur remaining unbeaten on 22 and 21 runs, respectively.

Their composed batting brought Bangladesh across the finish line, building on the solid foundation set by earlier contributions.

The Tigers were well-positioned to chase down the target, having reached 42-0 at stumps on the previous day.

However, they faced early setbacks as openers Zakir Hassan (40) and Shadman Islam (24) were dismissed in the first session.

A crucial 57-run partnership between Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto then steadied the innings.

Despite both Shanto (38) and Mominul (34) being dismissed in the second session, the experienced duo of Mushfiqur and Shakib ensured there were no further hiccups as they guided the team to victory.

Earlier in the match, Bangladesh's comeback was orchestrated by a record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership between Liton Das and Mehedi Hasan Miraz.

With Bangladesh reeling at 26-6 in their first innings, the pair put on a remarkable 165-run stand. Liton’s majestic 138 and Miraz’s valiant 78 helped Bangladesh recover to post 262, limiting the deficit to just 12 runs.

The bowlers then took center stage, with Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana delivering match-defining performances.

Hasan claimed five wickets while Rana took four, dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup and restricting them to 172 in their second innings.

This effort set up the 185-run target, which Bangladesh successfully chased down on the final day.

The match itself was not without challenges, as poor weather conditions wiped out the entire first day’s play, and only one over was bowled in the final session of the penultimate day.

Despite a forecast of rain on the fifth day, the weather held clear, allowing Bangladesh to complete their historic victory.

This clean sweep is not just a testament to the Tigers' growing prowess in Test cricket, but also a proud moment for the nation as they planted their flag firmly on Pakistani soil, marking a new chapter in their cricketing journey.

BBN/TA/AD

BBN file photo

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh’s stocks witnessed upward trend in early hour of trading on Tuesday as some investors are showing buying appetite on sector-wise stocks.

Following the previous day’s upward movement, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) opened higher amid low trading activities.

Within first 15 minutes of trading, the key index of the country’s prime bourse advanced more than 23 points while the CSE All Share Price Index (CASPI) of port city’s bourse rose 17 points at 10:45am when the report was filed.

DHAKA STOCK EXCHANGE
DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by 23.60 points or 0.43 percent to reach at 5,464 points at 10:45am.

The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, also advanced 12 points to reach at 1,922 points. The DSE Shariah Index (DSES) gained 10 points to reach at 1,275 points till then.

Turnover, the important indicator of the market, stood at only BDT 642 million when the report was filed at 10:45am.

Of the issues traded till then, 115 advanced, 63 declined and 36 remained unchanged.

Olympic Industries was the most traded stocks till then with shares worth BDT 200 million changing hands, followed by Khulna Power BDT 47 million, Central Pharma BDT 36 million, Singer BD BDT 23 million and Generation Next fashions BDT 21 million.

CHITTAGONG STOCK EXCHANGE
The port city’s bourse – the Chittagong Stock Exchange – (CSE) also saw upward trend till then with CSE All Share Price Index- CASPI-advancing 17 points to stand at 16,792, also at 10:45am.

The Selective Category Index – CSCX –also gained 10 points to stand at 10,169 points till then.

Of the issues traded till then, 26 gained, 11 declined and 05 issues remained unchanged with BDT16 million in turnover.

BBN/SSR/SR

Chris Gayle pulls one to long leg Getty Images

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Chris Gayle having his legs slightly apart with the bat over his head in his follow through and watching the ball sail over the long-on fielder was one of the most enduring images of BPL 2017.

Gayle's relentless assault - a record 146* off 69 balls - razed defending champions and pre-tournament favourites Dhaka Dynamites in the title clash. Gayle's 18 sixes - the most in a T20 innings - was a methodical assault, which thrilled the packed Mirpur crowd, reports ESPNcrickinfo.

He cherished his fifth BPL hundred and 20th overall in T20 cricket, calling it one of his best T20 knocks.

"It is a big game, a big occasion to actually stand out and get a century in a final," Gayle said. "You actually look back and say well done. You tap yourself on the back. It is a winning effort as well, which makes it more special for me. So I am glad that we came out on top. I would put it in the top five [among T20 centuries], certainly for the occasion as well. I will have to reflect where this takes place. It is right up there."

Gayle said that Rangpur Riders looked to bat deep into the innings, especially after they had lost previous match-winner Johnson Charles in the second over.
"They [Dhaka Dynamites' started well. We lost Charles a bit early," Gayle said. "We had to give ourselves a chance to bat as deep as possible. It was important for one of us to bat right through the innings. It actually set the momentum for us."
Gayle said keeping Dhaka's key bowler Sunil Narine at bay was also part of Rangpur's plan. "It is a good wicket, once you are set on it," he said. You can score a bit freely. It wasn't the best, fully 100 % batting conditions. They had quality bowlers. We didn't let their best bowlers get wickets.
"Narine is their key bowler. Once you lose Charles early, you play according to the situation, use a bit of experience. Know when to go, when to hold back."
Gayle also credited Brendon McCullum with whom he added an unbroken 201 - the highest stand for any wicket in the BPL.
"Turning over the strike was always going to be important. I thought we did a fantastic job - myself and McCullum," Gayle said. "We worked out what to do in the middle, which bowler to take down, and when.
"When we arrived in Bangladesh, everyone was so excited to see Gayle and McCullum. It didn't happen early on in the tournament, but I am glad it happened when it mattered. It is not about trying to outdo each other. The communication and understanding was very good."
BBN/MMI/ANS

Chris Gayle celebrates yet another T20 hundred Raton Gomes. Photo: ESPNcrickinfo

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The chances of the BPL final being a one-sided affair are fairly high. If even one of Dhaka Dynamites' departments - either the top-order batsmen or the spin bowlers - fire full throttle, then Rangpur Riders will struggle in the finale.

At the same time, if Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum or Johnson Charles repeat what they did earlier in the playoffs, Dhaka could very well be out of the contest quite early, reports ESPNcrickinfo.

Evin Lewis, Joe Denly, Shahid Afridi and Sunil Narine have struck 56 sixes among them, and have batted at a strike-rate of 144.61. Every time they have fired with the bat, Dhaka have cruised to victory. Afridi and Narine also form part of Dhaka's three-man spin attack including the captain Shakib Al Hasan, and the trio has been relentless through the season. Shakib is the tournament's leading wicket-taker while Afridi already has two four-wicket hauls. Narine, meanwhile, has been the tournament's most frugal bowler after Rashid Khan, conceding at five per over in 11 matches.

Gayle, Charles and McCullum have come late to the party, but they have peaked at the right time for Rangpur. Gayle and Charles have both scored hundreds in the qualifiers while McCullum hammered nine sixes in his whirlwind 78 in the second of those matches. Gayle has a bit of an ankle injury concern but according to Mashrafe Mortaza, it is nothing he can't shake off.

All in all, it promises to be an intriguing battle between the two teams' spin bowlers and their top orders. Dhaka are the clear favourites, but momentum can act in funny ways.
FORM GUIDE
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Dhaka Dynamites WWWLW
Rangpur Riders WWLWL
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Abu Hider, the left-arm pace bowler, has won Shakib's praise for doing a good job in their spin-heavy attack. Hider has taken 15 wickets at an average of 18.20.
Nazmul Islam is an uncapped left-arm spinner who has a unique celebration style, but apart from that, he has been Rangpur's most effective bowler in the middle overs. He may play a crucial role when Dhaka bat.
TEAM NEWS
Dhaka is likely to stick to their XI that crushed Comilla Victorians in the first Qualifier. There is no merit in meddling with a successful bowling attack although they might try to make room for Mohammad Amir.
Dhaka Dynamites (probable): 1 Mehedi Maruf, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Joe Denly, 4 Kieron Pollard, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Jahurul Islam (wk), 10 Abu Hider, 11 Mohammad Saddam
After the win in the second Qualifier, Rangpur are unlikely to make any changes for the final.
Rangpur Riders (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Brendon McCullum, 4 Mohammad Mithun (wk), 5 Ravi Bopara, 6 Nahidul Islam, 7 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 8 Sohag Gazi, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Nazmul Islam, 11 Rubel Hossain
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
The Mirpur pitches have been mostly under covers due to the steady drizzle of the last few days. There has been some improvement in the bounce of the pitches, according to some players. Rain is likely to stay away on the evening of the final.
STATS AND TRIVIA
Sunil Narine's economy rate of 5.00 runs per over this season is the lowest among bowlers to have bowled at least 40 overs in a single T20 tournament.
Brendon McCullum and Johnson Charles added 151 runs for the second wicket in their last game - now a new BPL record for that wicket - breaking the 150-run stand between Shahriar Nafees and Dawid Malan in 2016.
QUOTES
"We have a good bowling attack, and apart from the three spinners, [Abu Hider] Rony and Mosaddek [Hossain] has also bowled well this season. Our batting too has found consistency now. I think we have the overall consistency and momentum, and we will try to win the final."
Dhaka captain Shakib Al Hasan on how his spin attack is shaping up
"Among the four teams in the playoffs, we were the least favourite."
Mashrafe Mortaza, the Rangpur Riders captain, about their progress into the final.
BBN/MMI/ANS

Photo: cricket.upcomingwiki.com

New Delhi, India (BBN) - India will be hosting 81 matches across formats from 2019-2023, 30 more than the current Future Tours Programme (FTP), but the BCCI on Monday insisted that the number of playing days per year for the ever-busy cricketers will decrease.

The FTP was agreed in principle by the members at the BCCI Special General Meeting here today, reports The Hindu.

The next FTP cycle at home will include high-profile series against England, South Africa and Australia.

Another significant decision taken at the SGM was to host Afghanistan for a first ever Test match between the two teams.

The dates of the historic Test will be chalked out later.
“Afghans were scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 versus Australia but considering the historic relationship between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first Test,” said BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary.
Among other decisions taken at the SGM, the suspension of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) was revoked on the condition that former IPL boss Lalit Modi stays away from its functioning.
The BCCI also remained firm on its stance on dope testing of cricketers, saying there was no need for NADA to test the players as the board is WADA compliant.
BBN/MMI/ANS

Photo: NDTV

Dharamshala, India (BBN) - Thisara Perera-led Sri Lanka bounced back from their Test series drubbing in style by beating India by seven wickets in the opening game of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series at Dharamshala on Sunday.

The Lankan lions left the number two ODI ranked team embarrassed as their bowlers did not allow the famed Indian batting line-up to perform to their capabilities, reports NDTV.

Winning the toss, Perera elected to bowl and put India into bat.

Sri Lanka pacers Suranga Lakmal and Angelo Mathews ripped through the Indian batting top-order in swinging conditions as the home side were bowled out for 112.

India, however, struck early through Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to reignite their hopes of an unlikely win. But a brilliant 49 from Upul Tharanga and a 49-run unbeaten stand between Angelo Mathews (25) and Niroshan Dickwella (26) got the visitors comfortably across the line.
BBN/MMI/ANS

Former Chennai Super Kings captain M.S. Dhoni plays a shot during an IPL match in 2015. Photo: K.R. Deepak

Chennai, India (BBN) - The Governing Council allows Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals (RR), which was also banned for alleged spot-fixing and betting, to retain the players who were on their 2015 roster.

The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday cleared the decks for M.S. Dhoni’s return to Chennai Super Kings, which will make a comeback in the 2018 edition after serving a two-year suspension, reports The Hindu.

The Governing Council, after a meeting in New Delhi, allowed CSK and Rajasthan Royals (RR), which was also banned for alleged spot-fixing and betting, to retain the players who were on their 2015 roster. Dhoni played for the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in the last two editions.

“An IPL Franchise is eligible to secure up to 5 players by virtue of a combination of Player Retention [Pre Player Auction] and Right to Match [RTM] [During the Player Auction],” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement after the meeting.

“The player pool available for CSK and RR for retention/RTM will be the players’ who played for them respectively in IPL 2015 and who were part of RPS and Gujarat Lions squads in IPL 2017,” he said.
RTM refers to a franchise’s right to match the highest bidder for a player.
The Governing Council also hiked the salary budget of the franchises from Rs. 66 crore to Rs. 80 crore for the next year’s auction, tentatively set for February.
“The minimum spend will be 75 per cent of the salary cap for each season,” the BCCI said.
BBN/MMI/ANS

Delhi Toxic Smog: India-Sri Lanka cricket match was disrupted thrice on Sunday. Photo: NDTV

New Delhi, India (BBN) - Unprecedented visuals of Sri Lankan cricketers wearing face masks on the cricket field have reignited debate about hosting major sports in heavily polluted New Delhi, where doctors are increasingly vocal about the health risks posed by smog.

Doctors have urged cricket's governing body BCCI to revise its rulebook after a Test match between India and Sri Lanka went ahead in the capital despite players wheezing for air and saying they were vomiting, reports NDTV.

The cricketers returned on Monday for day three of the third Test even as air pollution at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla stadium soared to hit 18 times the World Health Organization's safe level.

Play had been disrupted three times on Sunday as Sri Lankan players complained of illness, but umpires ruled the match would proceed.

The Indian Medical Association condemned the decision, warning that playing in such conditions puts athletes' health at serious risk.
"This match should not have taken place in the first place. It is time the ICC (International Cricket Council) comes up with a policy on pollution," said IMA president K. K Aggarwal.
"You have fast bowlers, batsmen and fielders out there exposed to these very harmful pollutants over five days at a stretch. It takes a serious toll on your health in the long run," he said.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI, declined to comment. It has accused Sri Lanka of making a "big fuss", pointing to Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who hit a record sixth Test double century despite the smog.
But the US embassy website on Monday urged Delhi residents to "avoid all outdoor exertion" as concentrations of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants known as PM2.5 soared to hazardous levels.
These tiny particles -- a fraction the size of human hair -- lodge deep in the lungs and are linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease.
The concentration of such particles Monday hit 448 -- compared to a maximum level of 25 considered safe by the World Health Organization over a 24-hour period.
Even limited exposure can cause shortness of breath and make the eyes weep and throat burn.
WAKE UP CALL
Pollution levels generally rise during the winter in Delhi and across northern India fuelled by crop burning in the region and the fact that cooler air traps particulates close to the ground.
The smog has become especially alarming in the past two years, casting doubt on the future of sports events.
Doctors and public health campaigners have escalated their fight against sports events in Delhi in recent years.
Last month more than 30,000 runners competed in the Delhi half-marathon -- just days after smog shut schools amid a public health emergency in the capital.
Doctors warned of dire health consequences and challenged the race in court but it went ahead, with runners complaining of burning eyes and sore throats.
Greenpeace lobbied in October against India hosting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, warning it posed unacceptable risks to the world's youngest soccer stars.
It also proceeded but schedule was adjusted to avoid Delhi at its worst.
"Others should also think about athletes health first," tweeted tournament director Javier Ceppi after images of Sri Lankan cricketers wearing face masks went around the globe.
Other events in Delhi like an Asian tour golf title in November and Indian Super League football matches attract less controversy but doctors say pose no less risk.
"Ideally, sporting events should not be scheduled in the winter months in Delhi," chest and lung cancer specialist Doctor Arvind Kumar told AFP.
"We cannot expose our athletes to inhuman levels of pollution just because a few hundred crores (tens of millions of dollars) is at stake."
The Test debacle in Delhi is not the first time cricketers have complained of air pollution in the capital, with Australia citing smoggy air following their loss to India in 1996.
BBN/MMI/ANS

Play was held up briefly due to the smog in Delhi BCCI. Photo: ESPNcrickinfo

New Delhi, India (BBN) - India were almost forced to declare their innings in bizarre circumstances as Sri Lanka ran out of players healthy enough to field in the polluted Delhi air on day two of the Test.

There were two stoppages - 17 minutes and five minutes - before the eventual declaration even as Sri Lanka trainer Nick Lee changed into his whites to step in as the 11th player on the field, reports ESPNcrickinfo.

The fielding coach Manoj Abeywickrama was also prepared to take the field.
In the post-lunch session, at least five of their fielders came out wearing masks. At 12.32pm, fast bowler Lahiru Gamage expressed concerns to his team, the physio walked out and looked after him, which caused a 17-minute delay.

One more stoppage later, the other fast bowler Suranga Lakmal just walked off, leaving only 10 Sri Lanka players on the field. At 1.28pm, Virat Kohli, the India captain who fell for 243 during this stop-start period, called his unbeaten batsmen back in, seemingly suggesting they were okay to field in these conditions.

Pollution in Delhi has been a major health concern in recent winters. In November this year, the government had declared a public health emergency; schools were shut for a week, and the Delhi half marathon almost didn't go ahead.
Back then, the air quality in Delhi had almost reached severe levels. On Sunday, air quality in some parts of Delhi was reported to be hazardous, and very unhealthy in the ITO area adjoining Feroz Shah Kotla.
During the interruptions, the match referee David Boon was seen talking to a doctor, who had a stethoscope around his neck, presumably for advice on how big a health hazard the current pollution was.
Animated discussions between players and the match officials took place during these interruptions. At one point, India coach Ravi Shastri walked out to the middle. Nic Pothas, the Sri Lanka coach, was also seen talking to the umpires.
A Ranji match between Bengal and Gujarat was called off last year because of heavy smog, but the air quality was much worse at that point.
Air Quality Index (AQI) in India is measured considering eight particularly harmful pollutants. The index ranges between 0 and 500.
During the health emergency last month, the AQI nudged 400, which is considered severe. The air quality on Sunday was higher than 350 in most parts of Delhi, but in the early 200s in the surroundings of Feroz Shah Kotla.
The Central Pollution Control Board rates such conditions as "very poor". According to CPCB, exposure to them for a prolonged period can trigger respiratory illness. The most dominant pollutants are PM2.5 and PM10. These are ultrafine particulates, 30 times finer than a human hair. The concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 were 223 and 383 micrograms per cubic metre at 1pm. The acceptable highs are 100 and 60.
It didn't help that Sunday was a still day. Breeze usually helps dissipate the particulate matter in the air. Even the sun couldn't properly break through the haze. Floodlights were turned on around quarter past one in the afternoon.
BBN/MMI/ANS

The 28-year-old was captain of the T20I side that toured Pakistan in October. Photo: Sportskeeda

Colombo, Sri Lanka (BBN) - All-rounder Thisara Perera will replace Upul Tharanga as Sri Lanka’s captain for the ODI series against India, set to be held after the conclusion of the ongoing three-Test series.

He will also be the skipper for the three-match T20I series that follows the ODIs. The 28-year-old will address the media on Wednesday at Colombo, reports Sportskeeda.

Sri Lankan captaincy has been a game of musical chairs lately, with the selectors having looked at a number of options before zeroing in on Perera. Before Perera, Tharanga was the captain during India’s tour to the island nation in July-August, under whose captaincy the Lankan side suffered three 5-0 whitewashes this year itself.

Angelo Mathews, one of the most experienced players in the side, had stepped down from captaincy last year, post which the selectors decided to make separate captains for Tests and ODIs.

Dinesh Chandimal took over the reins of the Test side, whereas Tharanga took over for the ODIs, with several critics questioning Sanath Jayasuriya (the then selection committee head) in choosing the not-so-vocal Tharanga as the ODI skipper.
There were also talks of re-instating Mathews as the ODI captain, but the all-rounder, who has been ruled out from bowling in the ongoing Test series, has had his share of injuries, and always presents the risk of breaking down midway.
Perera was recently the captain of the T20I side against Pakistan (in October this year), when Upul Tharanga, along with Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella and Chamara Kapugedera, withdrew from the tour citing security issues.
BBN/MMI/ANS