Marufa Akter’s rise: Bangladesh’s pace gemetching her name in interna…

For a Bangladesh women’s team that has traditionally depended heavily on spin, Marufa Akter offers something different. The right-armer brings pace, swing and the ability to strike early with the new ball, while her growing variations have also made her a more complete bowler.

Her development has been particularly noticeable in recent years. Marufa has worked on her death bowling with coaches such as Robiul Islam, adding yorkers, slower balls and off-cutters to her natural ability to move the ball. The aim has been to make her effective not just in the powerplay but also in the crucial closing overs. amunra-opinie.pl

Her natural swing, however, remains her biggest weapon. With a smooth run-up and a whippy action, Marufa can generate sharp movement with the new ball, particularly into right-handed batters. That ability makes her an important powerplay option for Bangladesh and gives the team a rare fast-bowling threat in conditions where their spinners may not dominate.

Her numbers during the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup reflected that improvement. In four matches, Marufa picked up eight wickets at an average of 9.50 and an economy rate of 5.06, with her best figures of 3/21 coming against Sri Lanka.

One of her most impressive spells came against the UAE. Marufa needed only four deliveries to remove UAE captain Esha Oza, producing an inswinger that beat the batter. She then dismissed Samaira Dharnidharka with a cross-seam delivery that took the outside edge through to the wicketkeeper.

She finished her opening spell with three overs for just six runs, leaving the UAE at 15/2 at the end of the powerplay. When she returned in the ninth over, Marufa completed an impressive spell of 4-0-9-2. It was a perfect example of what makes her valuable and that is early movement, different types of deliveries and the control to keep the pressure on.

Her rise has also been reflected in the ICC rankings. During the September 2026 Women’s Asia Cup, Marufa climbed 19 places to a career-best 18th position in the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings, with a rating of 622. She also became the highest-ranked Bangladeshi bowler in the format.

The progress was not limited to the Asia Cup. At the 2026 T20 Women’s World Cup, Marufa played five matches and took five wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 6.58. While Bangladesh’s spin attack continued to be one of their biggest strengths, Marufa’s pace gave them another dimension.

Sathira Jakir Jesy, speaking exclusively to RevSportz, highlighted exactly why Marufa could become particularly important in English conditions.

“Marufa is a gem for Bangladesh cricket,” Jesy said. “I have played with her and faced her bowling. Even when she started, everyone knew she had something special.”

According to Jesy, the biggest change in Marufa has come through her fitness and mentality. The pacer has become fitter and, more importantly, mentally stronger.

“She is fitter now and mentally very tough,”she said. “Even if the opposition needs only a few runs, she keeps fighting till the last ball. That attitude is very rare.”

That mental toughness could be especially important for Bangladesh. Fast bowlers often have to operate under pressure, particularly when they are defending small totals or bowling at the death. Marufa’s willingness to keep attacking until the final delivery has become an important part of her game.

“English conditions can help her even more because she can move the ball,” Jesy added.

For Bangladesh, that could be a significant advantage. Their traditional strength has been spin, but Marufa gives them the pace factor and is someone capable of making an impact with the new ball, adapting with variations later in the innings and troubling batters when the conditions offer movement.

The numbers are improving, her ranking is rising and her skill set is expanding. More importantly, Marufa is developing the mindset to match her talent and is emerging as one of Bangladesh’s most important match-winning options.

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The post Marufa Akter’s rise: Bangladesh’s pace gemetching her name in international cricket appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.

Boria Majumdar

Seven days left for the Asian Games and the Indian hockey teams, men and women, are in Japan getting ready for a hugely important assignment. They need to win gold to ensure direct qualification for LA28, and unless that happens, Olympic preparations will get impacted. While the women have momentum, the men are searching for it post a failed World Cup campaign.

To ensure the Games go to plan, the players need to be at their best, both physically and mentally. And that’s where the role of Hockey India officials come in. As administrators, they have a responsibility towards the players and the sport. The priority is to win gold and qualify. To do so, they need to ensure their egos don’t take precedence and things don’t go out of control.

Sadly for Indian hockey, that’s exactly what is happening at the moment. The President sends a suspension notice to the Director General asking him to step down. The notice is sent by an advocate who isn’t someone empanelled by Hockey India. And yet he is acting on behalf of the President. In response, the Secretary General sends a stinging response calling the notice illegal and saying the body will not even take cognisance of it. Both letters are in the public domain within minutes and the sport is in the throes of yet another controversy.

With elections approaching, it is natural things will get complicated. Barbs will be thrown at each other and a lot will happen. But then all of it should happen post the Asian Games. Nothing is more important and both Dilip Tirkey and Bholanath Singh should recognise that. Neither Tirkey nor Bholanath can derail the campaign, and by doing what they did last night, they run the risk of costing India two gold medals.

Will the players not get impacted by these shenanigans? Will they not check what’s going on and get drawn in? Does hockey need yet another controversy with just a week left? As President and Secretary, will Tirkey and Bholanath show some restraint and stop washing dirty linen in public?

I am not interested in the right or wrong here. I am not going to take sides either. I don’t know whether Tirkey is right. Nor do I care. As supporters of Indian hockey, all we should care for is how India fare at the Asian Games. Frankly, who heads Hockey India or who wins the election shouldn’t bother us. Tirkey and Bholanath aren’t relevant after a point. The sport is and for some reason that’s what is being sacrificed at the altar of egos.

The jersey controversy ahead of the World Cup was a national embarrassment. Just when it seemed the sport had moved past it, we have this new battle of egos brewing. From what we hear, executive board members have now jumped into it and Commander Srivastava has majority support. Where does that leave Tirkey? For a legend of Indian hockey, how is it looking? Is it helping the sport and India’s campaign? Clearly there is a need for restraint and that’s what is missing.

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The post With Asian Games one week away, Indian hockey once more trapped in a controversy appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.

India will begin their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with the reigning T20 world champions looking to put their recent struggles behind them.

The Indian team returns to home conditions after an inconsistent run in T20Is. They swept Zimbabwe 3-0 in July but struggled during their tour of Europe, where Ireland and England both beat them in their respective series.

The top order will be under the spotlight once again. Abhishek Sharma has struggled for runs in recent matches, while Sanju Samson’s place in the side has come under pressure. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s emergence has added another option at the top, while Ishan Kishan has strengthened his case for the No. 3 position with a strong run of form.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant set for ODI return? Team India face selection dilemma as Asian Games clash with West Indies ODI series

Kishan’s 270 in the Duleep Trophy final was the latest highlight in what has been an impressive period since his return to the national setup. His form could make it difficult for the team management to leave him out.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, have enough quality in their bowling attack to test India. Their spin department remains one of their biggest strengths with several of their players having extensive T20 experience around the world.

Captain Shreyas Iyer will be hoping to start his home season off to a winning start as he also prepares to take his side to the Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya.

India Predicted 11 vs Afghanistan for 1st T20

Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

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Joe Root led from the front as England survived a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series whitewash.

The home team, chasing just 130 to win, were in deep trouble when openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the first over, bowled by Mohammad Abbas. Root was given a huge reprieve when he chopped onto the stumps off Mohammad Ali, only for the umpire to signal a no ball.

Root had another let-off when he edged an Abbas delivery between first and second slip. England reached their target in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Jordan Cox 59 not out.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

पाकिस्तान के खिलाफ तीसरे टेस्ट में अर्धशतक लगाकर इंग्लैंड के कप्तान जो रूट ने इतिहास रच दिया है. जो रूट अब टेस्ट क्रिकेट के इतिहास में सबसे ज्यादा अर्धशतक (फिफ्टी) लगाने वाले बल्लेबाज बन गए हैं. एजबेस्टन में खेले गए तीसरे टेस्ट की दूसरी पारी में रूट ने 9 चौकों की मदद से नाबाद 62 रनों की मैच विनिंग पारी खेली. यह टेस्ट में उनका 69वां अर्धशतक रहा.

जो रूट बने टेस्ट में सबसे ज्यादा अर्धशतक लगाने वाले बल्लेबाज

जो रूट ने क्रिकेट के भगवान सचिन तेंदुलकर के सबसे ज्यादा टेस्ट अर्धशतक के रिकॉर्ड को तोड़ दिया है. सचिन के नाम टेस्ट में 68 अर्धशतक थे. अब रूट ने 69वां अर्धशतक लगाकर यह रिकॉर्ड अपने नाम कर लिया है. एक्टिव क्रिकेटरों में कोई भी जो रूट के आस-पास नहीं है.

टेस्ट में सबसे ज्यादा अर्धशतक लगाने के मामले में जो रूट 69 फिफ्टी के साथ पहले नंबर पर आ गए हैं. 68 अर्धशतक लगाने वाले सचिन तेंदुलकर इस रिकॉर्ड लिस्ट में दूसरे नंबर पर हैं. वेस्टइंडीज के दिग्गज बल्लेबाज रहे शिवनारायण चंद्रपॉल 66 अर्धशतक के साथ इस लिस्ट में तीसरे नंबर पर हैं. चौथे नंबर पर एलन बॉर्डर और पांचवें नंबर के राहुल द्रविड़ के नाम 63-63 अर्धशतक हैं.

टेस्ट क्रिकेट में सबसे ज्यादा अर्धशतक लगाने वाले 10 बल्लेबाज

1- जो रूट (इंग्लैंड): 69 अर्धशतक
2- सचिन तेंदुलकर (भारत): 68 अर्धशतक
3- शिवनारायण चंद्रपॉल (वेस्ट इंडीज): 66 अर्धशतक
4- एलन बॉर्डर (ऑस्ट्रेलिया): 63 अर्धशतक
5- राहुल द्रविड़ (भारत): 63 अर्धशतक
6- रिकी पोंटिंग (ऑस्ट्रेलिया): 62 अर्धशतक
7- जैक्स कैलिस (दक्षिण अफ्रीका): 61 अर्धशतक
8- एलिस्टेयर कुक (इंग्लैंड): 57 अर्धशतक
9- महेला जयवर्धने (श्रीलंका): 50 अर्धशतक
10- इंजमाम-उल-हक (पाकिस्तान): 46 अर्धशतक

इंग्लैंड ने 8 विकेट से जीता तीसरा टेस्ट

तीसरे टेस्ट में पाकिस्तान की टीम अपनी पहली पारी में सिर्फ 133 रन ही बना सकी थी. इसके बाद इंग्लैंड ने अपनी पहली पारी में 453 रन बनाकर विशाल बढ़त हासिल की. पहली पारी में इंग्लैंड को 320 रनों की मैच विनिंग बढ़त मिली थी. इसके बाद पाकिस्तान ने दूसरी पारी में 449 रन बना डाले, और इंग्लैंड के सामने 130 रनों का लक्ष्य रखा. इंग्लैंड ने 2 रन पर 2 विकेट गिर जाने के बाद भी 8 विकेट से यह टेस्ट मैच जीत लिया. इसके साथ ही तीन मैचों की सीरीज इंग्लैंड ने 3-0 से अपने नाम की.

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पहले टी20 में ऐसी होगी भारत-अफगानिस्तान की प्लेइंग इलेवन, जानें पिच रिपोर्ट और मैच प्रिडिक्शन