The matter is set for wider discussion at the next ICC board meetings in March when the ICC’s working group on Afghanistan will provide an update on progress in the country

Osman Samiuddin and Tristan Lavalette06-Mar-2023Despite dim prospects for an Afghanistan women’s team being formed so long as the Taliban remain in power, Afghanistan’s status as an ICC Full Member is unlikely to be affected.The matter is set for wider discussion at the next ICC board meetings in Dubai in March, when the ICC’s working group on Afghanistan will provide an update on progress in the country. ESPNcricinfo understands that the group, headed by the ICC’s deputy chair Imran Khwaja, will push for not penalising Afghanistan’s status and shed greater light on the difficulties the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) faces in pushing to develop the women’s game.Khwaja has met with ACB officials and government representatives in Doha twice in recent months, to get a clearer handle on the broader situation for cricket since the Taliban took over, as well as how women can be helped to play cricket. Those meetings are believed to have been “productive”, according to one official who attended.Related

• Human rights question hangs over success story of Afghanistan's men

• ICC board meeting set to discuss India-Pakistan situation and the Afghanistan question

• Pakistan not withdrawing from series against Afghanistan

• CA withdraws from scheduled ODIs against Afghanistan in March

• Afghanistan Cricket Board urges patience with women's initiatives

At the second meeting, in February, the ACB assured the ICC’s working group that the board remains supportive of women’s cricket, but the political reality meant that an overt push for it could still prove dangerous for those involved.”Afghanistan is a delicate situation,” Ross McCollum, an ICC board member (Ireland) and member of the working group, told ESPNcricinfo. “The guys from ACB do want to see things happen with women’s cricket. But it’s not down to them, it’s down to the people in charge.”Forcing women to play cricket could lead to serious repercussions. We have to tread carefully, it will be a slow process.In December the Taliban banned secondary and higher education for females through the country, the latest manifestation of their repressive policies against women. The ICC working group was told, however, that there are differences in opinion within the Taliban about the role of women in society and that there exist exemptions which allow women to work in the medical sectors. That has not yet come through for any sports.Even before the Taliban takeover, little progress had been made on women’s cricket in the country. In October 2020, the ACB had held a national team trial camp and announced their intention to award 25 central contracts for women. Cultural sensitivities, officials pointed out at the time, were such that quicker, deeper progress was proving difficult and Afghanistan had been a Full Member for three years then.The working group has been told that the Taliban are not interfering otherwise in the running of the ACB. The government has apparently provided some funding to a board that had been hit hard after the Taliban took over, as international sanctions made it difficult to send money into the country.Changes to status for Full Members, in any case, are rare and none other than Zimbabwe have ever been suspended or had membership downgraded. But the fact that Afghanistan continues to be the only Full Member without a women’s team, or even a set-up in place – otherwise part of the ICC’s membership criteria – has been persistently highlighted in recent months.Australia cancelled an ODI series against Afghanistan in response to the education ban imposed on females•IDI via Getty Images

They were the only member to not have a presence at the pathbreaking U19 T20 Women’s World Cup in January and then at the T20 Women’s World Cup right after. That point was not lost on the ICC CEO, Geoff Allardice, who said ahead of the U19 tournament that it was concerning no progress had been made on the matter.FICA, the global players’ body, has also called the ban on women’s sport a “significant blow” and pointed out that Afghanistan is “in breach” of its Full Member requirements. But it did not call for a ban on Afghanistan, instead calling on the ICC to “embed its human rights responsibilities as a business in its governance and regulatory frameworks.”A number of Afghan women cricketers have also been very clear in calling for the ICC to play a more proactive role. According to ABC Radio’s , 22 of the 25 cricketers who were part of that original pool have left the country and resettled in Australia. Speaking on the show in January, several of the players asked why the ICC had not been in touch to offer support since they fled.”If we have the support of the ACB, the ICC, the people of Afghanistan and other countries that play cricket, then it is possible for us to keep playing,” one of the players, Firooza Afghan said on the show.”In Australia we have a lot of support – lots of equipment and facilities. But my question is, women have been playing cricket in Afghanistan since 2010 … why did the ICC not send anyone to check on us?”The players wrote to the ICC a couple of months ago, asking for ways in which the global body could help the women form a team. The ICC pointed out that constitutionally any such help would have to go through the member – the ACB – but intend to keep the dialogue open with the cricketers.And considerable thought has been given to the matter within ICC management as it stands, including the idea of funding a women’s team outside of Afghanistan, and one that runs outside of ACB approval. That only represents initial exploratory thinking on the subject and actioning it would require buy-in from the ICC board.On that platform, support and understanding for the ACB remains. At a recent Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, members reiterated their support. Pakistan, in fact, have agreed to play a three-match T20I series with Afghanistan, to fill the hole left by Australia’s cancellation of an ODI series.Cricket Australia is the only board to have publicly acted in response to the Taliban’s policies. They first postponed a one-off Test they were to host Afghanistan in – the first the two countries would have played – and more recently cancelled the ODI series, in response to the education ban imposed on females.Most other ICC Full Members have remained silent on the matter so far, though the majority still see the rise of Afghanistan’s men’s team as a fairytale that should be allowed to continue and grow, rather than be curtailed.”It needs to be discussed seriously (at board level),” McCollum said. “Each Full Member will have their own interpretation. I don’t think it’s a straightforward decision because it’s complex and there are ramifications.”

The fast bowlers have dominated the series so far but it is likely to be less seam-friendly in the series decider

Alex Malcolm21-Mar-2023

Big picture: Can the batters fight back?

Two of the best sides in the world. Two of the deepest batting line-ups in men’s ODI cricket. Yet in the first two matches of this series, the fast bowlers dominated. It is unusual to see back-to-back ODIs in India where the team batting first have failed to reach 200. India were left shell-shocked in Visakhapatnam after a shellacking from Australia to level the series at 1-1. Mitchell Starc tore through India’s top order again taking his 9th ODI five-wicket haul. Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis also took five between them as India were routed for just 117, before Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head mowed the total down in just 11 overs to hand India their largest-ever ODI defeat in terms of balls remaining.What then is in store in Chennai infront of an expected full house? Both teams will be looking for some runs at a ground that isn’t known as a high-scoring venue. There hasn’t been an ODI played at MA Chidambaram Stadium since 2019. Australia last played here in 2017 but it was a rain-affected match.Related

• India's 117 all out leads to their biggest defeat in ODI history batting first

• Starc's five-for, Marsh-Head century stand sink India for 1-1

• Starc among the greatest fast bowlers in ODIs? Most probably

For India, it is their last ODI until the tour of the Caribbean in August and they may only have three more at home before the World Cup begins. They experimented with three spinners in the line-up in Vizag but it was their batting that let them down. Whether they reshuffle the top order, particularly to avoid being so right-hand heavy when Starc is swerving missiles into their front pads, remains to be seen. Rohit Sharma noted after the second ODI that India’s batters know what to expect from Starc and simply need to handle it better.Like India, this is one of Australia’s last opportunities on Indian soil before the World Cup although they may play a warm-up series in October. They too don’t play another ODI until a tour of South Africa in late August. Their middle order hasn’t had much of a chance to settle in this series. In game one they tried to be too aggressive following Marsh’s early onslaught and in game two they were not required. The Marsh-Head opening combination has been a roaring success but David Warner’s impending return is likely to reshape the line-up.

Form guide

India LWWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Australia WLWWW

In the spotlight: Suryakumar Yadav and David Warner

Two balls, two first-ball ducks. Suryakumar Yadav has had a torrid start to this ODI series with Starc pinning him lbw twice in two deliveries with searing inswingers. Rohit has stated that he wants to give the world’s No.1 T20I batter 7 to 10 games to find his feet at ODI level. Former Australia captain Aaron Finch observed that he needed to be sharper in his first few deliveries. For as good as Suryakumar has been at T20 level, he rarely has to deal with swinging conditions but with two new balls in play in ODIs it is different to T20Is. He has twice entered when the new ball has been less than three overs old in this series and Starc has still been swinging it. He has walked out to bat inside the first three overs in three of his last six T20Is, but twice he has faced a spinner first-up bowling with the new ball. Batting No.4 in ODI cricket when the ball is swinging is a different challenge.David Warner has not played since he was subbed out of the Delhi Test with concussion. He also suffered a hairline fracture of his elbow in the same innings. Marsh has made a strong statement in his absence blasting 81 and 66 not out at the top of the order. Warner and Head have been an equally devastating opening combination sharing stands of 284, 269 and 147 in three of the seven innings they have opened together. While Warner’s Test form over recent years has waned, his white-ball returns have been outstanding during the same period. He remains committed to playing in Australia’s next two World Cups across ODI (2023) and T20I (2024) cricket. He batted for around half an hour in the nets on the eve of the match in Chennai and, if in the XI, will have a point to prove to dispel any hint of a thought that Australia might be better served with Marsh and Head remaining at the top of the order.

Team news: Spin to win

India will consider three spinners again despite the conditions conspiring against them in Vizag. They may go back to the well again with the same team to give the batting group and the three-spin combination another chance in friendlier conditions in Chennai.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Washington Sundar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Mohammed SirajAustralia will continue to experiment. If Warner and Glenn Maxwell are fit both are likely to return. Warner would open and Marsh could slide to either No.3 or 4 depending on how they want to structure the middle order. Marnus Labuschagne would likely miss out. Australia could trial an all-rounder-heavy line-up again. Marcus Stoinis did not bowl in the last game which may have been in part due to workloads but also because Nathan Ellis played as a fourth specialist bowler, meaning he was not needed. Ashton Agar could be a chance if the pitch looks like it will take spin with an all-rounder at No.8, two spinners and one quick an option Australia could consider.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Mitchell Marsh, 5 Alex Carey (wk), 6 Cameron Green, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Marcus Stoinis, 9 Sean Abbott/Ashton Agar/Nathan Ellis, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and conditions

It rained in Chennai on Monday which interrupted Chennai Super Kings training but it is expected to clear on Wednesday. It could be hot and humid again though so there is the prospect of more swing and seam movement available, although MA Chidambaram Stadium is known to be far more spin-friendly in limited-overs cricket in recent years, especially in the IPL.

Stats and trivia

• India and Australia played the first ODI ever at MA Chidambaram Stadium in 1987, which was a World Cup thriller where Marsh’s father Geoff Marsh starred making 110. Australia have played four ODIs in Chennai since but only once against India.
• Batting second has proved very beneficial in the series so far but 13 of the 22 ODIs in Chennai have been won by the side batting first. But West Indies beat India chasing in the last ODI here in 2019.
• KL Rahul has 1954 runs in 50 ODI innings. If he scores another 46 on Sunday, he will be the joint second-fastest Indian behind Shikhar Dhawan (48 innings) to reach the landmark.
• Smith is 61 short of 5000 runs in the format. If he gets there in his next innings, he will be the joint second-fastest for Australia.

Dan Mousley the one bright spot on gloomy day for Warwickshire

David Hopps27-Apr-2023How revered will Kemar Roach be when the next history of great West Indies fast bowlers is written? Not quite in the pantheon perhaps, but worth considerably more than an afterthought. At a time when county cricket is more vulnerable than ever to a rapidly-changing landscape, his presence for Surrey provides encouragement that all is not lost. A player who insists county cricket should value what it has, not yearn for what is now unachievable.Late-career Roach is a long way removed from the original bat out of hell fast bowler (less Meatloaf, more using his loaf). He is a handful on days like this, his natural inswing given more venom by movement off the pitch.He is fifth on West Indies’ all-time Test wicket-taking list now, ahead of acknowledged greats such as Garner, Holding, Roberts and Hall and, if his average is a little higher, and if he has never won the same acclaim, he has had to contend with an era when Test cricket no longer absorbs West Indies in the way it once did. He has often found himself playing a lone hand in a hopeless cause. It is a lot easier to hunt in a pack when the force is with you.Alongside him, Dan Worrall makes up the other half of a relentless Surrey new-ball partnership of impressive pedigree. Worrall never won an Australia Test cap, and, at 31, doubtless never will unless there is a mass incident of food poisoning on the eve of an Ashes Test (Stuart Broad’s fire-hit pub, the Tap and Run, has not quite reopened, but come to think of it that would be quite a Welcome Back night). But Worrall is a redoubtable campaigner for all that. His alliance with Roach is a formidable one.Three wickets for Roach, two for Worrall, one for Tom Lawes and, vitally, two-in-two for Jordan Clark just before bad light prematurely ended a rain-affected first day made up a day of Surrey superiority. Warwickshire, 143 for 8 in 51 overs, need equally grim Friday weather in the hope that Chris Woakes and co can respond in kind. “The toughest conditions we have faced this season,” their captain, Will Rhodes said.Surrey dispensed with Hampshire a fortnight ago and if they do the same to Warwickshire at Edgbaston, two of their likeliest challengers would be put in their place by the end of the month. There is an awful lot of poetry written about how divine April is, but that’s poetry for you – you just can’t trust it. As Lee Anderson might say one day.One Warwickshire batter was steadfast in his resistance, however. Dan Mousley, a 21-year-old leftie, looks as judicious as any young batter in the country. This is the county where Sam Hain has been frequently lauded but never selected, but Mousley is definitely worthy of attention from an ECB apparatchik. He emerged unscathed from a highly difficult day with an unbeaten 55 from 125 balls, and assessed conditions with great maturity. He struck an unselfish 94 against Kent at Edgbaston earlier in the season, with a declaration looming, so he appears to have a flexible mindset.Ian Bell, as loyal as anyone to the Bears’ cause, named the emerging talent of young players like Mousley as a good reason for him to retire and, in a neat passing of the flame between generations, they combined in a memorable stand together in Bell’s farewell innings.Jonathan Trott felt exactly the same as he, too, stood down, the only difference being that Trott stayed on as part of the Warwickshire coaching staff and kept breaking Mousley’s fingers in fielding routines: three breaks in two seasons were an unfortunate introduction to the hazards of a cricketer’s lot.If Mousley wondered whether his fingers were vulnerable, he can find relief in the fact that he has now withstood a clank on the helmet with no ill effects. He was struck when 20 as he failed to crouch under a short ball from Lawes, who can be more waspish than he first appears. After passing concussion protocols, he played subsequent bouncers with equanimity, including the predictable, leery one in the following over from Clark.He also gave a chance on 16 – a fast catch to third slip off Lawes, put down by Ryan Patel. His square driving was particularly well-honed; his riskiest shot perhaps when he stole a yard down the pitch to whip Roach through midwicket soon after lunch even though the ball left him off the pitch.”He has a very different technique to what I am accustomed to and is a very busy cricketer who looks good,” Roach said. “Well played to him.”There was a time early in his career when Roach looked out-of-sorts against left-handers, but now he swings the ball away from them without a care in the world. As Surrey’s bowling day began, it took him eight balls to remove Rob Yates for nought, leaving him off the pitch to force a catch at fourth slip.There was nothing special in Rhodes’ edge to slip off Worrall, just a ball angled across. Roach then struck again three balls later. Alex Davies had batted with great deliberation, but then his true self announced itself and he was late on a pull and sliced it high to the wicketkeeper. Ollie Pope at slip, Ben Foakes behind the stumps: two England players fed and watered early.That Warwickshire were resolved to prove their worth was also apparent in Hain’s stubborn 10 from 42 balls, but he played around a full inswinger from Lawes. Ed Barnard and Mark Burgess went their way soon after lunch as Roach and Worrall returned for seconds – Barnard surrendering to Worrall’s insistent length and edging to second slip, and Burgess athletically picked up in his follow-through by Roach. There are not many fast bowlers at 34, nearly a decade after a serious car accident, who could pluck the ball, one-handed, from the turf while executing a forward roll.Then, as the groundstaff hovered by the covers, two successive leg-befores for Clark – Chris Woakes and Hasan Ali – to confirm it was Surrey’s day.The previous evening, Warwickshire’s coach, Mark Robinson, had proclaimed: “The overriding emotion for me and the players is excitement; we want to take on the best and test ourselves.” A day later, the overriding emotion was concern. One part of the country wants this lousy April weather to continue a little longer.

But a PCB official tells ESPNcricinfo that the board has emails from BCB and SLC saying they have no issues playing in Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2023The PCB presented its “hybrid” solution for hosting the 2023 Asia Cup again to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), believing that this time it had resolved logistical and technical concerns the ACC had raised. Officials from both sides met in Dubai on Tuesday, but it emerged that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have both objected to holding a part of the tournament in the UAE.The hybrid model was the solution the PCB had proposed to account for the fact that India would not travel to Pakistan for the tournament because of ongoing political tensions between the governments of the two countries. The proposed solution will have India playing all their games in the UAE, with the rest of the tournament played out in Pakistan.But ESPNcricinfo understands that the BCB and SLC cited logistical challenges involved in travelling between Pakistan and a second country during the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be played in September, a month before the ODI World Cup is held across India. Both boards also pointed out that the extreme heat in the UAE in the first half of September was a deterrent, too.Related

• PCB wants four out of 13 Asia Cup matches to be played in Pakistan

• Pakistan could play their World Cup matches in Bangladesh

“We have written to the ACC to say that we are against the hybrid model,” Mohan de Silva, the SLC secretary, told ESPNcricinfo. “But beyond that, no final decision has been reached. It’s very hot in the UAE at that time of year.”In what is becoming an increasingly vexed issue, a PCB official countered by claiming that the board has emails from both BCB and SLC confirming they have no issues playing in Pakistan. The official also pointed out that last year’s Asia Cup was played from August 27 to September 11 in the UAE – the same window the boards are objecting to this time. In 2018, a 50-over version of the Asia Cup was also played in the UAE, from September 15-28. Both those events moved to the UAE as an alternative; in the first instance the tournament was supposed to be played in India but was moved because of India-Pakistan political tensions; last year it was shifted from Sri Lanka because of the political and economic turmoil the country was going through at the time.One suggestion is for the PCB to follow the example of SLC, which retained the hosting rights for the 2022 edition but host it outside the country. This time, Sri Lanka has been talked about as a probable neutral venue and de Silva said SLC was ready. “If the offer is there to play the tournament in Sri Lanka, we will take it,” he said. “Pakistan will be the official hosts.”But the PCB remains adamant that its solution works for everyone. “The PCB presented a hybrid model that resolves issues of logistics and travel and production,” a PCB official told ESPNcricinfo. “The board reiterated its position that we would not play the Asia Cup if the Pakistan-plus-neutral-venue model is rejected.”Afghanistan, meanwhile, are neutral. “In the previous two ACC meetings, we have strongly emphasised the importance of conducting the event at the scheduled time,” an Afghanistan spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “As for the venue, we are abiding by the decisions made by the ACC and have no interest in favouring or objecting to any particular board’s stance on the matter. Our priority is to ensure a fair and competitive tournament that benefits the growth and development of cricket in the region.”India and Pakistan have been grouped together along with Nepal in the six-nation Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in the 50-over format as preparation for the World Cup. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in the other group. A total of 13 matches, including the final, will be played across 13 days. Like the format from 2022, the top two teams from each group advance to the Super 4s and the top two teams then contest the final. That leaves open the possibility of India and Pakistan playing three times, should both make it to the final.

For now he’s in a “very happy state of mind” and focusing on keeping himself fit should an India call-back come

PTI10-Aug-2023India batter Shikhar Dhawan was a “bit shocked” at being left out of the squad for the Asian Games, but is not giving up on making a comeback.India’s first-choice players will not be going to the Games in Hangzhou next month, with the World Cup starting soon after; instead, the BCCI named a second-string squad for the Games, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. On four previous occasions when first-choice players were unavailable, rested or engaged in a concurrent series elsewhere, Dhawan had taken charge of the second team.”When my name was not there, I was a bit shocked. But, then, I was like they have a different thought process, you just have to accept it,” Dhawan to PTI. “Happy that Rutu [Gaikwad] will lead the side. All the young boys are there, I am sure they will do well.”Dhawan, who has not added to his 167 ODIs since December last year, said he was keeping fit should a call-back materialise. “I will be ready, of course. That is why I keep myself fit. There is always a chance whether it is 1% or 20%.”I still enjoy training and I still enjoy the game, these are the things in my control. Whatever decision is made, I respect that.”I have not spoken to any selector [about my future]. I keep going to National Cricket Academy [in Bengaluru]. I enjoy my time there, the facilities are great. NCA has shaped my career and I am grateful for it.”Dhawan captains Punjab Kings at the IPL, and for now he’s happy to work towards success there. “I am in a very happy state of mind. I am very blessed to have such an amazing career and contribute to the Indian team.”At this stage, you go year by year. Physically I am very fit and I have an IPL to win for Punjab Kings. Hopefully, we can do that next year.”

The Stump Mic crew discusses the drama in Bangladesh cricket, India’s first Test in the West Indies, and more

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2023

Brits’ career-best 78 took South Africa to 150 but Maroof, Ameen and Riaz kept their composure in a chase that went down to the last ball

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Sep-2023Tazmin Brits’ career-best 64-ball 78 proved insufficient as 30s from Sidra Ameen and Bismah Maroof followed by Aliya Riaz’s finishing act helped Pakistan chase down their highest score in T20Is in a last-over thriller against South Africa.Chasing 151, the batters kept Pakistan in the game all through. While four run-outs did not help the cause, they stitched important partnerships as Pakistan got over the line off the final ball with Riaz heaving one away to deep midwicket.Sent into bat, South Africa openers Laura Wolvaardt (44) and Brits crafted an 85-run opening stand. Marizanne Kapp and Brits then got together adding 58 off just 37 for the second wicket with the latter being the aggressor. Brits brought up her eighth T20I fifty off 44 balls and opened up her shoulders soon after.In all, she struck nine fours and a six before falling in the last over. South Africa pumped 54 runs in their last six overs to reach 150 for 3.Pakistan, however, went about their reply in a professional manner. They lost Shawaal Zulfiqar early to Kapp but Ameen and Maroof added a stand of 30 for the second wicket to keep the chase going before Ameen started the run-out spree, falling in the ninth over. Ten balls later, it was captain Nida Dar who was found short of her crease.Maroof and Riaz then got together and stabilised the required rate with an 18-ball 34 stand for the fourth wicket. After another run-out ensued, Riaz and Muneeba Ali added a 43-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take Pakistan closer.Muneeba fell off the final ball of the 19th over leaving Pakistan with eight to win in the 20th. But Riaz kept her cool and alongside Fatima Sana, completed the win.

He also said he was reluctant to take on the captaincy ahead of the Asia Cup and plans to resign after the World Cup

Mohammad Isam28-Sep-2023Shakib Al Hasan has outlined his retirement plan, saying the 2025 Champions Trophy might be his final assignment as an international cricketer. He said he plans to quit T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup, and could retire from Tests after the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.”The 2025 Champions Trophy for ODIs and the 2024 T20 World Cup for T20Is. Tests may be sooner. Maybe (after the World Cup),” Shakib said. “I will retire all at once, but I will stop playing each format one by one. I will announce my retirement after the 2025 Champions Trophy.”In an interview with , in which he criticised Tamim Iqbal in the aftermath of his omission from Bangladesh’s World Cup squad, Shakib also revealed he had nearly quit the captaincy after returning from the Asia Cup earlier this month but stayed on for the World Cup following conversations with the team management.He said he had initially refused the captaincy for the Asia Cup too, after Tamim resigned in early August, but took on the responsibility thinking about the team.Related

• Tamim hits out at BCB; claims he would have been fit in time for World Cup

• Shakib: Tamim 'childish' and 'not a team man'

“Given the current reality, I am captain only till the World Cup. Not a day more,” Shakib said. “I resigned from the captaincy on the 17th [of September]. I informed Papon and emailed the CEO that I don’t want to be the captain. The reasons were the same when I didn’t want to captain ahead of the Asia Cup. I don’t think my captaincy is adding value at this stage of my career. I wanted to just bowl my ten overs, give my best in fielding, and do my batting.”The easiest thing to do for me would have been not to take the captaincy. When he offered me the job, I immediately told him I don’t want to do it in this situation. At this age, I didn’t want to take this pressure. I want to smile, enjoy my game, perform for Bangladesh.”[Papon] described the situation to me. A captain has to do the job on and off the field. When I learned that the BCB, coach and team management were unanimous in their decision about me, then I took the captaincy.”In his second stint as full-time ODI captain, Shakib has led Bangladesh so far only in the Asia Cup, where they beat Afghanistan and India in five matches. Bangladesh are now in India for their World Cup warm-up fixtures against Sri Lanka and England on September 29 and October 2 in Guwahati. Their first match of the tournament is against Afghanistan on October 7 in Dharamsala.