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Former chief justice of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court, Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, will chair the 10-member disciplinary panel that will help conduct the disciplinary proceedings against the nine individuals charged with alleged corruption during this year’s Ba

Mohammad Isam15-Aug-20130:00

Isam: Sense of pride among fans that issue is being addressed

Former chief justice of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court, Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, will chair the 10-member disciplinary panel that will help conduct the disciplinary proceedings against the nine individuals charged with alleged corruption during this year’s Bangladesh Premier League. Chowdhury’s appointment as panel chairman is the first step of the disciplinary process, according to Article 5 of the BCB’s anti-corruption code.Chowdhury, who was chief justice from March 2001 to June 2002, confirmed to the on Wednesday that he had agreed to take up the role. He will now pick the other nine members of the panel, from which the three-member anti-corruption tribunal that will hear the case – if it goes to trial – will eventually be picked.”I have given my consent to the BCB with regards to heading the panel,” Chowdhury said. “I will appoint the other members of the panel, but I have not reached any decisions yet. I have some names in mind but have not yet made any offers; it will take some time.”The nine persons charged have till August 27 to make their pleas – the tribunal will need to be formed and the case goes to trial only if they plead not guilty. In that case, the ICC will reply to them while Chowdhury picks the members of tribunal.While the case is under the BCB’s jurisdiction, ICC chief executive Dave Richardson had mentioned during Tuesday’s press conference that “the prosecution of the case and conduct of the hearing will be carried out on behalf of the BCB by the ICC”. A senior BCB official told ESPNcricinfo that the ICC will assist in an administrative capacity throughout the proceedings because of its resources and experience in the field. “BCB will only have to appoint the chairman of the disciplinary panel,” the official said. “The ICC will do everything else leading up to the hearing.”According to Article 5 of the anti-corruption code, the convenor of the tribunal could call a preliminary hearing with the anti-corruption officials and the persons charged before the hearing begins, “to address any issues that need to be resolved prior to the hearing date”. That date must be within 40 days of the accused having received the charge letters.If there are no exceptional circumstances arising during this time, the full hearing should begin within the third week of September.

N Srinivasan set his gameplan for remaining on top after Sunday’s BCCI election in motion by organising a three-day “outing” for board members at the resort town of Mahabalipuram

Amol Karhadkar26-Sep-2013With the BCCI unanimously stamping former IPL chairman Lalit Modi’s expulsion in Wednesday’s special general meeting (SGM), the next big focus for its president N Srinivasan is the BCCI’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Chennai on Sunday. He set his gameplan in motion by organising a three-day “outing” for BCCI members at the nearby resort town of Mahabalipuram, which is being attended by around a third of the officials.Despite the SGM verdict – where the board was united in getting rid of Modi – Srinivasan realises it will have little bearing on the AGM and that the AGM may not be as smooth a ride for him to get an extension for a year. Despite him having blocked the south zone lobby, which would mean the number game won’t even come into equation even if either of his two predecessors – Shashank Manohar and Sharad Pawar – throws his hat in the ring, Srinivasan isn’t willing to take any chances.As a result, he had offered a three-day “outing” at an exotic resort in Mahabalipuram, a historic city an hour’s drive away from Chennai. The reason cited from the Srinivasan camp was since “many members were going to stay back in Chennai between the two meetings anyway”. Had all the members accepted the junket, the move may have been construed as an attempt to put high-profile voters under house arrest ahead of a crucial motion, an event that’s not a rarity in the Indian political set-up.However, sensing the manner in which the move might be misinterpreted, and to exert pressure on Srinivasan in case two south zone members defect from the president, some of the members decided to make alternative plans. “Around one third unit members would have gone to Mahabalipuram. Some of us have been planning to go and seek blessings at Tirupati, while some are going to stay back in Chennai only,” a BCCI voter who has decided against travelling to Mahabalipuram said.At the same time, many of the key figures in the BCCI have either returned to their respective hometowns or preferred not to attend the SGM. While Jagmohan Dalmiya (Cricket Association of Bengal president) and Niranjan Shah (BCCI vice-president) decided to return to Chennai on the eve of AGM since they had their respective businesses to be taken care of, Arun Jaitley (BCCI vice-president and Delhi & District Cricket Association chief), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association president) and Anil Kumble (Karnataka State Cricket Association president) deputed their representative instead of attending the SGM in person.Even if either Manohar or Pawar – neither of whom have made their intent to contest the presidential election against Srinivasan public so far – decides to contest against Srinivasan, unless the Supreme Court on Friday bars him from contesting the elections, the Tamil Nadu strongman is set for a year’s extension in the BCCI top job.The BCCI regulations require at least two members from the zone of the incumbent president to support a presidential candidate from any other zone. And with Srinivasan having garnered support from all the six south zone affiliates – Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Hyderabad, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa – it looks like there’s no way to resist his supremacy, unless Pawar manages to turn the tide around at the last minute.

Making sound plans and sticking to them was how Pakistan overcame their fielding lapses and an unresponsive pitch in the first Test against Bangladesh

Umar Farooq in Khulna29-Apr-2015There are good days and there are bad days. Neither lasts forever. After spending 15 of the miserable variety in Bangladesh, Pakistan enjoyed a “flawless” one in Khulna according to spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed. The bowlers stuck to plans, catches were taken safely and batsmen chugged along at almost four runs an over. Mohammad Hafeez scored his eighth Test hundred and, with Azhar Ali, led Pakistan to finish 105 shy of Bangladesh’s 332 with nine wickets in hand.Four wickets. Pakistan’s yield after their bowlers had thrown everything at an unresponsive Khulna pitch all through the first day. But on the second, they wrapped up the Bangladesh line-up in a session. Six wickets for 96 runs because Pakistan decided not to let a flat track bog them down.Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah might have economy rates over three, but they shared five wickets between them. Fast bowler Wahab Riaz chipped in with the other three and captain Misbah-ul-Haq had contributed by having the right men patrolling important areas in the field.”It was really tough to get wickets here but quality bowler does adjust in any condition,” Mushtaq said. “Our bowlers knew exactly how to test the batsmen and when to attack and contain.”Pitch at times wasn’t even helping spinners as the batsmen had enough time to adjust and play with freedom. But we had a plan with our field placements for them today to help the bowlers to get wickets. We didn’t believe that Bangladesh would collapse this way as the pitch was slow but our bowlers bowled very well and the fielders today supported them to make it our day.”Yasir was injured during the ODI series and recovered only two days before the Test. Yet his control was admirable and dismissed Bangladesh’s in-form captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Zulfiqar conceded 99 in 32 overs, the most by a Pakistan bowler, but trapped Shakib Al Hasan in the fourth over of the morning.”I was expecting Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar to take more wickets, they deserved it after the way they bowled. But then again we missed a lot of chances the other day and it didn’t go well. But I believe they did well and combined well with the fast bowlers. We have done great to execute the plan.”So what did Pakistan do to reverse a tour where nothing had gone right? “If you focus too much on the opposition strength then you may undermining your strength so we rather spend time to see what we can do better,” Mushtaq said. “What we did between yesterday and today was to motivate players to quickly make up from the mistakes and do their best.””To avoid repeating the fielding mistakes [on the first day], Waqar made a plan to get the right fielders at the right places. So we knew Asad Shafiq is a good fielder at leg-slip. He took another vital catch at midwicket, an outstanding take that repaired day one’s mistake. So despite fielding for 120 overs, players still had the spark.”More of Pakistan’s plans fell in place with the bat. “The idea today was to avoid losing wickets and get as many runs as we can,” Mushtaq said.” This wicket requires some caution, but if you are not positive as well and don’t attack the bowlers, there are limited scoring options. Full credit goes to Hafeez. He played an outstanding innings even with the slowness of the pitch and of the outfield.”

Ahead of the only Test in Fatullah, India had their first practice session in Bangladesh, which went on for more than three hours in the heat of Mirpur

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur08-Jun-20150:59

Kohli and team arrive in Bangladesh

The only noise to come on the hot Monday afternoon from Milk Vita Road in Mirpur section 6 was of the screaming and whistle-blowing policemen trying to keep vehicles from getting in the way of the India team bus that chugged in slowly towards the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s entrance.A touring team’s first training session in Bangladesh has been generally to get acclimatised to the heat and humidity, and the pitches. India had originally scheduled only one day of training ahead of the Fatullah Test but a few days before their arrival for their 18-day tour, they added the afternoon session on Monday, a few hours after their plane landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.They had requested the BCB for it to be held in Fatullah, the venue for the Test, but Bangladesh’s training schedule was already set for the afternoon in Fatullah.At the Academy ground in Mirpur, there was a lot of running around of the local team attendants with water bottles, energy drinks and juices while everyone else tried to find a bit of shade. There was very little shade except on the western end of the ground where the slightly higher wall on the side of the road offers a bit of respite. There are no trees around, only a few buildings overlooking the practice area.The ground in Fatullah, despite being almost in the middle of an industrial area, was surprisingly breezy on Sunday morning despite the heat going over 35 degrees even in the shade. In Mirpur on Monday, there was no such breeze but when the sun did go behind a cloud, there was momentary relief.India did a bit of warm-up with some stretching, light jog and then a spot of football, the only time there was some noise from their group during the whole session. The nets went on for more than three hours as they played spin, throw-downs and pace from left to right in three nets.India’s Test captain Virat Kohli batted throughout the first hour, first taking throwdowns and then pace and spin. He hardly missed deliveries but did leave a few fuller ones outside the offstump from the seamers. Rohit Sharma, M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan batted for a long time before R Ashwin also got a hit.Meanwhile, a four-man group took part in a close-in catching session. Varun Aaron was taken aside after a bowling stint to take some high catches at the eastern end of the ground. In the nets everything was happening full pelt, especially Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who bowled for more than an hour.The spinners – Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin and Karn Sharma – bowled for nearly the entire session but they had it slightly easier than the rest as they bowled mostly in the shade. Among the net bowlers provided by the BCB, only one bowled some round-arm left-arm spin. It has usually been Bangladesh’s practice not to give touring sides the comfort of facing left-arm spinners in the nets.Both India and Bangladesh will train in Fatullah on Tuesday. It is the first Test at the venue since 2006 when Bangladesh faced Australia with none in the current home squad having played in that game. India played there in a few ODIs last year but a Test match remains an altogether different proposition. As a result, one of the first questions in their pre-match post conference would certainly be about the short preparation time in Bangladesh, and Fatullah in particular.

Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill and Chris Rogers are all set to join Ryan Harris in an additional tour match ahead of the Ashes in England

Daniel Brettig13-Jun-2015Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill and Chris Rogers are all set to join Ryan Harris in an additional tour match ahead of the Ashes in England. Marsh and Nevill are slated to depart the West Indies before the conclusion of the second Test at Sabina Park.Harris, who missed the tour to be home for the birth of his first child, has flown directly to London and will commence his preparations for the Ashes series by playing for the Elite International Cricket Academy versus a Hampshire XI in a two-day match on the Isle of Wight on June 18 and 19.The tour management has now decided that the reserve wicketkeeper Nevill and the backup allrounder Marsh will fly on day four of the Jamaica Test match to join Harris, while Rogers is hopeful of also taking part despite a short turnaround from the flight to England. Rogers has taken no part in the West Indies series due to the after-effects of a blow to the helmet inflicted by the Dominican net bowler Anderson Burton.”After a while you want to be back in it and you feel a little bit left out when you’re not part of the team,” Rogers said. “But that’s natural and you just have to wait your turn.”Nevill and Marsh are slated as reserves for this tour but both have significant future roles to play. As the anointed successor to Brad Haddin, Nevill can expect to be playing Test matches as early as the October tour of Bangladesh, while Marsh’s place in the order of things will fluctuate in direct proportion to the fortunes of Shane Watson, who has struggled to make an impact on the West Indies series thus far.

A leaked document authored by an ICC review group to investigate the USA Cricket Association’s state of affairs described the board as “unprofessional and not trustworthy”

Peter Della Penna01-Jul-2015A leaked document authored by an ICC review group to investigate the USA Cricket Association’s state of affairs described the board as “unprofessional and not trustworthy”. The group, headed by ICC chief executive David Richardson and head of global development Tim Anderson, reached its conclusions through interviews with more than 100 stakeholders. The report also stated that despite “cordial” communications between the ICC and USACA during the two-month information-gathering process, the ICC review group’s survey was hampered by “resistance” from the board with information – particularly related to USACA’s bookkeeping and financial accounts – being “delayed, not provided at all and/or obstructed”.The 40-page document, a copy of which has been obtained by ESPNcricinfo, is dated Wednesday June 24 and was presented to the ICC board during the annual conference in Barbados. On June 26, USACA was suspended following a unanimous vote of the ICC board due to “significant concerns about the governance, finance, reputation and cricketing activities of USACA”. At a press conference confirming the suspension, Richardson said that the comprehensive report on USACA, which was presented to the ICC board, “did not make for very pretty reading.” These are some of the main issues raised in the report.

The alleged bogus leagues in USACA’s fold

• California Cricket League, Illinois Cricket Board, Greater Los Angeles Cricket Association, Seattle Cricket League: Accused of being “paper leagues” with no teams, members or matches. GLACA’s Dr. Asif Ahmad is on the Cricket Holdings America’s board of directors.

• California Cricket Academy, Indoor Cricket USA: Accused of not having the minimum number of players and teams to be legitimate voting members. CCA’s Hemant Buch is USACA’s head of youth development.

• Washington Metro Cricket League: Accused of being a copycat re-registration of the ACF-affiliated Washington Metro Cricket Board. Has no teams.

• Cricket Michigan: Accused of being a copycat re-registration of the ACF-affiliated Michigan Cricket Association, and has no teams. Cricket Michigan’s Sankar Rengannathan was elected USACA Executive Secretary in March.

• Dallas Women’s Cricket League: Has two teams and should be merged under the auspices of a men’s league, presumably the North Texas Cricket Association in Dallas

• Northern California Cricket Association T20 Already operates under the NCCA 40-over league. The T20 segment is not a distinct, separate league worthy of a second vote. NCCA president Sunil Kumar was appointed by USACA president Gladstone Dainty to serve as project manager and tournament organiser for the 2014 USACA T20 Nationals in Florida.

USACA Membership only represents “20-25%” of stakeholders in the USA
Much of the report’s focus is on detailing the ICC’s targets to develop both the grassroots and commercial market potential of cricket in the USA and how USACA has been an impediment to those missions. Specifically, the ICC says USACA is an important contributor to this potential not being realised. The report produces data which shows that USACA can definitively claim membership to only 35 of 94 hard-ball leagues in the country while another 55 leagues comprising women, youth and softball teams fall outside its fold. Hence, USACA is affiliated with 35 of 149 leagues (23%) in the USA.”There is a real need for cricket in the USA to be led by a governing body that is respected and trusted by the large majority of cricket playing stakeholders in the country,” the report said.The ICC review group reportedly met with the USACA board for more than 10 hours, after which it requested names of people and leagues to speak with. According to the report, USACA never provided any names. Instead, the USA board wrote to member leagues “suggesting that they do not respond to the survey until [USACA] had clarified certain matters with the ICC.” Only 40% of USACA leagues responded to the ICC survey, compared to 85% of American Cricket Federation affiliated leagues. Accusations of election fraud
The report also included detailed evidence of USACA’s inconsistent data submissions – both through internal USACA meeting minutes as well as evidence supplied from USACA to the ICC – which raise questions on the legitimacy of sections of USACA’s membership base and allegations of election fraud. Specifically, the ICC lists 11 leagues which it claims are “ghost” or “paper” leagues that do not engage in cricket activity. Alternately there are leagues that don’t meet Full Member criteria and attached voting rights under the USACA constitution but were still allowed to vote in the 2015 election.The list also includes leagues whose prominent officials have also held specially designated roles in USACA or Cricket Holdings America LLC over the last several years. Further, the report describes an interview with a current USACA board member who alleged that the Seattle Cricket League was a fake league registered solely for the purpose of gaining a vote.Obstruction to financial oversight
USACA came under heavy criticism for its near complete refusal to cooperate with requests to open its financial accounts for review. The requests were made by ICC chief financial officer Faisal Hasnain and general counsel Iain Higgins, who were also part of the review group. It was revealed that USACA owes investors in Cricket Holdings America, including Indian businessman Rajiv Podar and Australian cricket agent Neil Maxwell, $2.6 million.As for the $200,000 loan the ICC gave to USACA in June 2013, the ICC made a direct inquiry to find out whether USACA used any of this money to pay off legal or settlement fees as part of court battles the American board fought during its 2012 general election. USACA failed to provide an adequate response or evidence that the loan was not misused to pay off legal fees instead of its intended use for other development functions.”In response to early questions on this issue, a simple list of transactions was provided as representing the manner in which the loan was utilised,” the report said. “However, no further supporting documents or bank details were provided.”USACA’s treasurer has replied, ‘Per my review of USACA’s financial records, funding received from all of our sources are deposited in our general banking account and payments for obligations are made when due. ICC funds are not accounted for in a separate fund or bank account. In each year were [sic] we have paid legal fees and settlement amounts, funding from other sources have covered those fees.'”However USACA’s federal tax returns indicate that their only sources of income outside of the $200,000 loan from the ICC in 2013 amounted to $572,000. Out of that, nearly $400,000 came from ICC Associate scorecard grants and $90,000 from membership subscriptions. USACA’s legal fees that year were listed as $362,000 in addition to $630,000 in legal fees from 2012.

Hampshire, bottom of Division One, have announced that Jimmy Adams has stepped down as captain of their Championship side to find form with the bat.

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2015Hampshire, bottom of Division One, have announced that Jimmy Adams has stepped down as captain of their Championship side to find form with the bat.The decision has been made with six matches remaining in the 2015 season and Hampshire 22 points adrift of the two sides above them – Worcestershire and Sussex.James Vince, Hampshire’s one-day captain, will now take over in all competitions for the rest of the season. He succeeded Adams as captain in 50-over cricket in April and in the T20 format last year.Adams is only averaging 29.15 in Division One – and, although Vince can claim to have a higher average it is only by one-hundredth of a run. His own batting returns have also been vastly disappointing considering that he is regularly presented as one of England’s brightest young batting talents.Hampshire’s director of cricket, Giles White, said: “Jimmy feels that the most important thing right now is for him to focus on his batting and to get back to scoring runs at the top of the order. While this is the case Vincey will lead the team.”Hampshire’s promotion under Adams last season, as Division Two champions, was their fifth trophy in as many seasons. The county’s first official Hampshire-born captain since the war is the most popular of beneficiaries, although this is also bound to have taken its toll, as is a run of defeats and the birth of a second child earlier in the summer.

Netherlands have picked 20-year old right-arm medium pacer Vivian Kingma and 21-year old batsman Rahil Ahmed for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League games against Scotland

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2015Netherlands have picked 20-year old right-arm medium pacer Vivian Kingma and 21-year old batsman Rahil Ahmed for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League games against Scotland. Right-arm pacers Timm van der Gugten and Ahsan Malik, who were part of the squad for the last Intercontinental Cup, have been excluded.

Netherlands squad changes

In:Thijs van Schelven, Vivian Kingma, Rahil Ahmed
Out:Timm van der Gugten, Daniel Doram, Ahsan Malik

Van der Gugten was Netherlands’ top wicket-taker in their last game against Papua New Guinea with six scalps. Malik was pulled up for a suspect bowling action the last time the two sides met, in the World T20 qualifiers, and is yet to be cleared to bowl in international cricket. Daniel Doram, the 17-year old left-arm spinner has also been left out of the squad and Thijs van Schelven has been called up.Netherlands will play a four-day game against Scotland at The Hague from September 8-11 as part of the Intercontinental Cup and then meet them for two WCL games in Amsterdam.Netherlands squad: Peter Borren (capt.), Wesley Barresi (wk), Rahil Ahmed, Mudassar Bukhari, Ben Cooper, Quirijn Gunning, Vivian Kingma, Paul van Meekeren , Roelof van der Merwe, Stephan Myburgh, Max O’Dowd, Michael Rippon, Thijs van Schelven, Pieter Seelaar.

Jesse Ryder scored a breezy hundred, Ravi Bopara made a rather more steadfast 99 but James Anderson’s four-for ensured that Lancashire remain in with a sniff of conjuring the victory required if they are to overtake Surrey

Alan Gardner at Chelmsford23-Sep-2015
ScorecardJesse Ryder scored his second Championship hundred of the season•Getty Images

It was a day for high-class operators at Chelmsford. Jesse Ryder scored a breezy hundred, Ravi Bopara made a rather more steadfast 99 but James Anderson’s four-for ensured that Lancashire remain in with a sniff of conjuring the victory required if they are to overtake Surrey and claim the Division Two title.As England’s leading Test run-scorer, Alastair Cook can probably count himself in high-class category too but he managed only 1 off seven balls before losing his duel with Anderson. Forced to watch on from the Essex balcony, it is possible some of the day’s entertainment might have been lost on him. “I didn’t get a smile at lunch,” Anderson said afterwards.Anderson sat out the last two Tests of England’s Ashes victory due to a side strain but he looked to have found his groove again here, a week before the squad flies out to the UAE.”I’ve missed playing so it’s been nice to have a couple of games for Lancashire,” he said. “It was frustrating missing maybe six weeks with injury but I think once you get a little bit older and more experienced it’s easier to come back and settle back in to four-day cricket. I’ll hopefully continue to get better rhythm and take more wickets in this game.”The last time Lancashire played here, in 2013, they bowled Essex out for 20. At 14 for 2 and then 29 for 3 after being put in on a damp September morning, there were dark murmurings that the home side would implode again. They were rescued by stands of 186 and 95 for the next two wickets, before Anderson returned with the second new ball to leave things in the balance. It is not inconceivable that a deal could be struck later on, should Surrey fail to put away Northamptonshire at The Oval.Essex may have appeared in trouble but Ryder does not seem to let too much worry him these days. After showing Anderson and Glen Chapple due deference, he tucked in against the change bowling, the bat swinging insouciantly through the line as he recorded his second Championship century of the season.Ryder has found tranquillity in Chelmsford after the turbulence that marked his earlier career. He looks like finishing short of 1000 first-class runs but the supporters do not lack for excuses to applaud his lazily destructive batting or handy seam-up bowling (he has taken another 44 wickets this season). Tom Bailey felt the brunt of his attack, conceding 37 off the 27 balls he bowled to Ryder, which included a couple of sixes swatted beyond the boundary boards.He brought up his hundred from just 115 deliveries, having also threatened the fencing at the Hayes Close End with another maximum off Luis Reece. Then, a ball after pulling Bailey dismissively over square leg, he played leadenly at a straight one to be bowled for 116, his appetite sated.Bopara looked less at ease throughout, which is perhaps to be expected after a season in which his previous top score in the Championship was 69. Anderson was peeved not to be awarded an lbw decision against him on 27 and Bopara nearly ran himself out on 78, having to dive for his crease as Bailey chased the ball into the leg side in his follow through but missed the stumps.In between times, he threaded a number of silken drives through the covers and down the ground, while Ryan ten Doeschate contributed to the flow with an aggressive 59 during a partnership of 95. He eventually spooned Anderson to mid-off and Bopara, after spending 26 balls in the 90s and five overs on 99, followed him two overs later when he got something on a rising delivery and Phil Mustard sprawled to take the catch.The fact this is now effectively a three-day match, after Tuesday’s washout, lent an old-fashioned feel to proceedings. The involvement of so many international players was also slightly retro – Lancashire’s new-ball pair had 321 England caps between them (albeit Anderson had 320 of them).Cook got off the mark with a push into the covers off Chapple but only survived one delivery from Anderson before being pinned in front. Cook once recalled that the first time he played against Anderson a decade ago “he called me everything under the sun” but he would surely have put up with the potty mouth if it had meant significant time in the middle ahead of England’s UAE tour. The next time Anderson wants a rest with England, he may have to ask his captain extra nicely.Chapple then picked up wickets 983 and 984 of his illustrious first-class career. Will he play on next season to reach the four-figure mark? It seems even he is unsure. But a demanding opening spell of 12 overs in which he had Tom Westley, Essex’s England Lions batsman, caught behind and Nick Browne, their leading scorer this season, taken at third slip, suggested he still has the skill and stamina to contribute as Lancashire attempt stay in Division One.

Nihaduzzaman, who played for Bangladesh at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, was injured in a bus accident near Sirajganj on Wednesday

Mohammad Isam11-Sep-2015Bangladesh Under-19 cricketer Nihaduzzaman was one of nearly 40 individuals to suffer injuries in a bus accident near Sirajganj, about 100 km northwest of Dhaka, in which seven people died. Nihaduzzaman needed 12 stitches to his skull and forehead and said he was released from hospital under the condition of full rest at home in Rajshahi.He was heading back after completing a BCB High Performance training programme in Bogra when the incident happened. The bus, run by Desh Travels, collided with another one, and within seconds a truck rammed into the rear of the Desh Travels bus.Nihaduzzaman said medical help had been scarce and thanked his friend Naeem Islam jnr for making sure he did not lose consciousness until he was put on a bus to Natore, the nearest town in the area. Naeem hurt his leg in the ordeal.”I was bleeding from my forehead and two other places,” Nihaduzzaman told ESPNcricinfo. “Naeem called our physio Moon who told him to make sure that I don’t go unconscious or start to vomit. I was losing a lot of blood but there was nothing in sight, not even a hut.”So I wrapped my head with my T-shirt while Naeem tried to get me into the ambulance. The problem was, seven people had died and more than 40 people were injured so there was not enough room for me in the ambulance. After about two hours we got a bus and were taken to Natore town nearby. I couldn’t find my phone but thankfully Naeem was there. I really needed someone to help me to the bus to Natore.”In Natore, the doctors hurriedly gave me the stitches, but it wasn’t great. I couldn’t blame them since they were only three and we had about 40 people looking for medical attention. I managed to call a friend in Rajshahi, who came quickly and picked me up. I was admitted to Islami hospital in Rajshahi where they re-did my stitches and I was released this afternoon. I am at home now.”While trying to locate him, this reporter spoke to his father who said, “It is Allah’s grace that he is still among us. It was a horrific accident.”Nihaduzzaman said he was feeling better and was out of danger. He will undergo a CT scan and pass on the results to the BCB by Saturday. “I think I have to submit all my medical reports to the BCB. I am not sure if I will be going to Dhaka though. The Rajshahi divisional team’s first National Cricket League (first-class) game is in Rajshahi so I don’t know if I should stay here. The doctors have asked me for rest. I still have pain in my head.”The BCB has offered him full support, and is likely to ask him to come to Dhaka for precautionary measures.