BCB XI lead to victory

Sport
Shamsur Rahman and Shuvagata Hom both struck 50s as Bangladesh Cricket Board XI (BCB XI) kept Zimbabweans on the field the whole day and earned a 11-run lead on the second day in Fatullah

FATULLAH — Shamsur Rahman and Shuvagata Hom both struck 50s as Bangladesh Cricket Board XI (BCB XI) kept Zimbabweans on the field the whole day and earned a 11-run lead on the second day in Fatullah.

BCB XI had lost Shadman Islam on the first evening, but the team started the day well with the second wicket pair of Shamsur and Rony Talukder adding 93 runs. Rony made 46 off 81 balls with six fours. Shamsur then added 48 runs with Marshall Ayub, before giving leg-spinner Natsai M’shangwe his first of four wickets. Shamsur made his 69 off 158 balls with nine fours and a six.

M’shangwe took the next three wickets to fall — Marshall, captain Naeem Islam and Asif Ahmed — as the visitors found some rhythm.

But in the afternoon session, Shuvagata added an unbroken 36 with Taibur Rahman to ensure no more wickets fell till the end of the day. Shuvagata was unbeaten on 53 off 124 balls with seven fours, while Taibur was 15 not out.

Meanwhile, the BCB yesterday declared Bashundhara Cement as the title sponsor of the Test and One Day International (ODI) series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Hosts Bangladesh, in the 45-day-long bilateral series, will play three Tests and five ODIs against the visitors. A logo unveiling ceremony was held on this regard at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday where senior dignitaries of both the BCB and Bashundhara Group were present.

The first time the conglomerate came up to support cricket was during Bangladesh’s home series against Pakistan in 2009. However, the BDR tragedy in that year forced the series off.

Bashundhara Group advisor Major General Mahbub Haider Khan, head of marketing of the group Jashim Uddin and GM of Bashundhara Cement Khondoker Kingshuk Hossain were present in the logo unveiling ceremony. Media committee chairman Jalal Younus and CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury represented BCB in the ceremony.

— Cricinfo