Sports
Shakib, Litton to play in IPL 2023
Bangladesh Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan, along with top order wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das, have been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), in an auction held Friday.
While Shakib is a familiar figure in the IPL, Litton has received his inaugural call to the highly lucrative T20 tournament.
Shakib, one of the best all-rounders of the current age, went unsold when his name was first called at Friday’s auction. Despite his reputation, no team showed interest in signing him. However, Kolkata picked him up for INR 1.5 crores when his name was called again. Litton also found his home with the team owned by Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, going for INR 50 lakhs.
Litton scored 1388 runs with eight fifties in 65 T20I matches he played for Bangladesh. In domestic level T20s, he played 160 games and scored 3443 runs with the highest score of 78 not out.
Undoubtedly what made the difference for him this time is the blazing assault he launched against the Indian attack when Bangladesh and India squared off in October’s ICC T20 World Cup. Opening the innings for the Tigers after India had posted a stiff target of 186 to win for their smaller neighbours, Das threatened to take the game away from the Indians with a 21-ball 50: the second-fastest by a Bangladeshi batsman in T20Is, next to Mohd. Ashraful, who did it off 20 balls against the West Indies.
Once Das was unluckily run out for a memorable 60 off just 27 balls, featuring seven hits to the fence and three that went over it, Bangladesh’s hopes in that game quickly faded.
Shakib’s IPL performance over the span of 2011-2021 has been decent during this period, he played a total of 71 matches for two teams— Kolkata and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He has scored a total of 793 runs with the highest score of 66*, and a batting average of 19.82. He took 63 wickets with the best bowling of 3/17 and an average of 29.19. He has yet to take a five-wicket haul in IPL.
Eight venues in South Africa have been confirmed for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, according to Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki.
In addition to the South African grounds, matches will also be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia, who will co-host the tournament.
Moseki told the South African News24 website that the eight South African venues had been chosen for what he described as “scientific” reasons, including proximity to an airport and the availability of hotel rooms.
South Africa’s regular Test venues – the Wanderers in Johannesburg, SuperSport Park in Centurion, Newlands in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban and St George’s Park in Gqeberha – will all host matches.
The Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in East London will be the other venues.
All eight grounds were used when South Africa previously hosted the World Cup in 2003.
Benoni, Potchefstroom and Kimberley also staged matches in 2003 but were not included for the 2027 edition.
The tournament is scheduled for October and November 2027.
Venue guide
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg: South Africa’s premier venue with a capacity of about 30,000. Hosted the finals of the 2003 World Cup and inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup and a semi-final of the 2009 Champions Trophy.
Newlands, Cape Town: The scenic ground with a backdrop of Table Mountain has hosted more Test matches (60) than any other South African ground. Was the venue for the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup final and a 2007 T20 World Cup semi-final.
SuperSport Park, Centurion: The purpose-built stadium outside Pretoria hosted the 2009 Champions Trophy final.
Kingsmead, Durban: Semi-final venue for the 2003 World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup.
St George’s Park, Gqeberha: South Africa’s oldest Test ground. Hosted a semi-final in the 2003 World Cup.
Boland Park, Paarl: Another scenic venue in the Cape Winelands. Along with the five grounds above, a centre for a team in the SA20 franchise competition. Hosted three matches in the 2003 World Cup.
Springbok Park, Bloemfontein: Five Test matches have been played in Bloemfontein as well as two matches in the Super Six stage of the 2003 World Cup.
Buffalo Park, East London: Infrequently used for men’s international matches in recent years but it has hosted one Test match as well as being a Super Six venue in 2003.
Star cricketer and Member of Parliament Shakib Al Hasan is set to venture into the footwear business with the launch of a new brand, “SAH 75,” in collaboration with Step Footwear, one of the country’s largest non-leather footwear companies.
Under this joint venture, Step Footwear will handle the manufacturing, selling, and marketing of wearable products for the “SAH 75” brand. The products will be available in 95 Step Footwear showrooms nationwide. Shamim Kabir, Managing Director of Step Footwear, confirmed this collaboration.
The formal announcement of the new business venture is scheduled to take place at a hotel in the capital on Sunday.
Sources indicate that Step Footwear will produce certain shoes under the “SAH 75” brand, while additional products will be sourced from both domestic and international markets. These products will be sold through Step’s showrooms.
The product range under the “SAH 75” brand will include shoes, sandals, boots, bats, pads, sportswear, and other wearables.
Step Footwear operates three factories in Narsingdi, where two of them focus on producing trolleys, bags, backpacks, and the third factory specializes in shoemaking equipment. All three factories are currently in full production.
Sports
Major Reshuffling as 22 Companies, Including Khulna Printing, Yeakin Polymers, Enter ‘Z’ Category Deals
In a recent development, ten companies have undergone a change in their categories, transitioning to the ‘Z’ category in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). The information comes from official sources from DSE.
The companies affected by this reclassification include Alltex Industries, Aramit Cement, Aziz Pipes, Delta Spinning, FAS Finance and Investment Limited, GBB Power Limited, Intech Limited, International Leasing, Keya Cosmetics, Khulna Printing, National Tea, Premier Leasing, Regent Textile, Ring Shine Textile, Safko Spinning, Standard Ceramics, Dacca Dyeing, Union Capital, Uttara Finance and Investment Limited, Yeakin Polymer, and Zahintex Industries Limited.
Effective from today (18th February), trading for these companies in the ‘Z’ category has commenced.
Sources reveal that these companies have been transferred to the ‘Z’ category due to their inability to hold the annual general meeting (AGM) within the stipulated time, remaining closed for more than six months, and having higher liabilities than assets.
Before this update, there were 27 companies in the ‘Z’ category at the DSE. With the addition of 22 more companies, the total number of companies in the ‘Z’ category has now reached 49.
It is noteworthy that companies failing to hold the AGM within the specified time, remaining closed for more than six months, or having higher liabilities than assets are moved to the ‘Z’ category after undergoing the necessary scrutiny and reevaluation.
