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Ahead of what has suddenly turned into a critical final, for Pakistan at least, the pressure on Shoaib Malik and Geoff Lawson has been cranked up by the PCB even further. Cricinfo has learnt that the performance of captain and coach is under intense scrutiny; though heads are unlikely to fall should Pakistan lose to India in the Kitply final in Dhaka, the Asia Cup in Pakistan later this month has been set as a deadline of sorts for Lawson, as well as Malik.The development follows a scathing email Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the board, sent to the team management in the aftermath of their 140-run defeat to India earlier in the week – their heaviest defeat ever to the arch-rivals.The match was Pakistan’s first proper test of the year, coming on the back of series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. In the email, which was leaked to the press, Ashraf blasted the team strategy, their body language, the wicketkeeping and various other aspects of the performance.Senior board officials echoed the concerns, telling Cricinfo that the Asia Cup is likely to be the last chance for the Lawson-Malik combination to prove themselves. “There should be pressure on them both, not just Lawson,” one official vented to Cricinfo.”Malik is not doing his job. His team selection is way off. To give you one example, everyone knows we are struggling with openers. Instead of picking a pair of specialists and grooming them, he insists on using Kamran Akmal, who is patently the wrong choice. His ‘keeping is so poor he shouldn’t be in the team anyway.”Akmal has had a miserable couple of years behind the stumps, shelling chances in every country he has played in. On Tuesday, he dropped Virender Sehwag, though he tried claiming the catch, an act which earned the wrath of Ashraf. Malik has publicly backed him through his tenure, even going to the degree of calling him the second-best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world after Adam Gilchrist.Malik’s own tenuous position in the team is also the subject of another official’s ire. “The captain doesn’t realise his place in the team is as an allrounder. He saves himself from bowling; he is not a specialist batsman and he must bowl. If he doesn’t, then he has no place in the team.”Though criticism has swirled around Lawson almost since he arrived, this is the first time any board official has actually put down a deadline. Lawson was appointed on a two-year contract last year, but time is now running out.”We have decided to give him till the Asia Cup,” the official said. “If Pakistan doesn’t do well there, he will be gone. He has been very, very unimpressive since he came. As an ex-bowler, he hasn’t even been able to resolve the issue of extras and has done little else for the side. Players are not happy with him and we aren’t either.”Ironically, Lawson was thought to be the players’ choice at the time of his appointment, his seemingly ‘softer’ approach winning him the nod over the sterner Dav Whatmore. Since he succeeded the late Bob Woolmer, Pakistan have lost Test and ODI series to South Africa and India. He has also had run-ins on several occasions with the selection committee and though he had the chairman’s backing until recently, that support too, it is believed, is now gone.

Lakmal Kasturiarachchige, who was one of the youngest players at the ECC European Championships has been rewarded for the promise he has shown at ECC tournaments, both in youth tournaments and for the senior national team, by being awarded one of three places available at Terry Jenner’s coaching clinic in London to be held in early January.Lakhmal, whilst originating from Sri Lanka, has learnt his cricket during his time in Austria, where he has become an automatic choice for his club Concordia CC. He broke into the National Team in 2002, with an impressive spell against MCC during their tour of Austria in June 2002 showing his calibre. Despite being one of the youngest players in the ECC Championships, he was unfazed by the demands of the tournament, despite it being his first experience of grass wickets, where he was Austria’s leading wicket-taker along with fellow youth team player Aman Deep, 16.Gary Palmer, Austrian National Coach, described Lakhmal as having great natural ability and strong technique, showing a great dealer of promise as a genuine all-rounder rather than just as a legspin bowler. He also commended Lakhmal’s willingness to learn, and believes that it is only a matter of time before Austria really sees his full potential as a matchwinner.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and NatWest, part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, today announced a continuation of NatWest’s sponsorship of one-day international cricket to cover the 2003-2005 seasons. This three-year sponsorship deal will include ‘The NatWest Series’ and a new additional three-match one-day international tournament, to be known as ‘The NatWest Challenge’.Now in its third year, The NatWest Series continues to grow from strength tostrength with England taking on two visiting nations each year. With 10 matches in 17 days during June and July, The NatWest Series gives fans across the country a chance to experience one-day international cricket at its best. In 2003 the two touring nations will be South Africa and Zimbabwe.The new competition, The NatWest Challenge, will introduce an additional three-match one-day international tournament each year which will involve England taking on either a third visiting nation or one of the two principal touring teams in three further one-day international fixtures. In 2003, England will compete against Pakistan. Dates and venues for both of next year’s tournaments will be announced in due course.Ian Henderson, NatWest Director of Retail Marketing said: “NatWest’s sponsorship of cricket from international to grassroots level over the last 22 years has been a huge success. We are therefore delighted to be extending our sponsorship and support. The NatWest Challenge will provide us with a further sporting platform for us to communicate key messages to both our existing and potential customer base.”NatWest will also continue to actively support grassroots cricket, which is a major part of the sponsorship programme. Over £½million has been invested in the last three years through a series of initiatives including the NatWest ‘Get Involved’ programme (part of the NatWest Volunteer Support Programme) and the distribution of 800 Flicx pitches and 10,000 skills balls to schools and clubs across the UK.Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of the ECB, said: “NatWest’s long-standing support of English and Welsh cricket has been invaluable to the game so we are delighted at their decision to continue their sponsorship of international cricket through The NatWest Series and the newly-formed competition, The NatWest Challenge. This new addition will enable England to play a guaranteed nine days of competitive one-day international cricket each summer, supporting the England Team management’s desire to gain further experience in this form of the game.”

Former Hampshire and England opening batsman Paul Terry has been unveiled as the county’s new first XI manager, following the sacking of Jimmy Cook midway through last season.Terry, who struck in excess of 25,000 runs and hit 50 centuries during his 18-year career with Hampshire, has been brought into a new position, but will have a hands on role with the team during the season.Capped by England twice, Terry enjoyed an excellent career with the county and is excited about returning. “Hampshire have played a big part in my cricketing like and I’m looking forward to the next step in the journey,” he said.

“Led by the ambition of the Chairman, Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire are looking to go places and with some of the changes that will be in place by next season, I am confident we will have a team ready to challenge again for honours.”The opener, who left Hampshire seven years ago, has maintained links with the club through his highly successful coaching company in Perth, with many players going to him in the winter months and also coaches at nearby Canford School in Dorset during the summer.This winter will be no different, as many of, not only Hampshire’s but players from all across the English counties, will be travelling to learn under Terry’s wing.

Website regular Phil Hogarth was a very happy man when he called in at the County Ground to collect the items that he had successfully bid for in the recent Junior Sabres website auction.Phil, who lives at Hinton Blewitt in North Somerset bid for several items in the auction and was successful with his bids for Peter Bowler’s bat and Keith Dutch’s batting gloves.When he was collecting his items he told me: "I am really delighted to have got Peter Bowler’s bat and Keith Dutch’s batting gloves. The website auction was a great idea because it’s not very often you get the chance to own genuine items like this."Phil told me that he is a Somerset member and his son James, who would be rather envious of his dad when he appeared with his `new toys’, is a Junior Sabre so would benefit from the money that was raised by the auction.The items that he purchased will not however be kept in a show cabinet. Phil is a right handed batsman who plays for Harptree in the Bristol League and has every intention of using his new pieces of cricketing equipment.He told me: "The bat seems to have a good middle on it and feels just right for me. I shall be using next season and if it scores as many runs for me in the rest of my playing days as it did for Peter Bowler last season then I shall be more than happy!"Meanwhile the club has just taken delivery of the new 2003 Club Diary, which is a mine of information and a must for all Cidermen fans.The diary is available from the club office (01823 272946) in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion and is priced £7.50.

It’s mighty tight at the top in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League’s individual performance award competetions.Just four runs separate Bashley’s Luke Ronchi from BAT teenager Damian Shirazi in the Premier 1 batting stakes.And Dan Goldstraw, the BAT left-arm paceman, and Havant’s Malcolm Hobson are neck and neck in the bowling department, with 26 victims apiece.But both Charles Forward and Purbrook’s Willem Prozesky are beyond reproach in the Divisions 2 and 3 run scoring stakes.The June Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month awards were won by BAT pair Damian Shirazi and Dan Goldstraw (BAT Sports), Charles Forward (OTR) and Damian Carson (US), and Willem Prozesky (Purbrook) and Bashley-Rydal II’s veteran spinner Bob Paul.Latest figures – Premier 1
Batting: Luke Ronchi (Bashley) 472, Damian Shirazi (BAT) 468, Matt Swarbrick (Bournemouth) 436, Russell Rowe (South Wilts) 408, Paul Draper (South Wilts) 374, Neil Thurgood (Bashley) 356, James Hibberd (Calmore) 352, Roger Miller (Andover) 344, Alistair Gray (Liphook) 310.Bowling: Dan Goldstraw (BAT) 26, Malcolm Hobson (Havant) 26, Richard Dibden (BAT) 24, Terry Rawlins (BAT) 19, Richard Hindley (Havant) 19, Paul Drapr (19), James Hibberd (Calmore) 19, Kirk Stewart (BAT 18, Kevin Nash (Bashley) 18, Christof Bothma (Calmore) 18.Premier 2
Batting: Charles Forward (OTR) 500, Iain Brunnschweiler (Academy) 399, Aaron Heal (Lymington) 373, Danny Peacock (Lymington) 366, Owen Dawkins (Hungerford) 356, Jeff Anning (Rowledge) 356, Max Smith (OTR) 333, Jason Laney (Hungerford) 330, Gary Hounsome (US) 329, David Wheeler (Academy) 316.Bowling: Nick Wood (OTR) 25, Damien Carson (US) 22, Aaron Heal (Lymington) 20, Steve Green (Easton) 19, Jeff Anning (Rowledge) 19, Shaun Green (Easton) 17, Danny Peacock (Lymington) 17.Premier 3
Batting: Will Prozesky (Purbrook) 563, Matt Digweed (Hartley Wintney) 469, Mike Howard (Leckford) 426, Mark Parker (St Cross) 403, Colin James (Paultons) 396, Ian Hunter (Purbrook) 336, Steve Watts (New Milton) 335, Chris Baumann (Waterlooville) 335, Simon Greenfield (Havant) 330, Martyn Isherwood (Leckford) 327, Ian Turner (Hambledon) 317, Michael Heffernan (Alton) 313,Richie Morgan (Alton) 301.Bowling: Nathan Collins (Gosport) 24, Neil Dodds (Ventnor) 21, Ben Neal (New Milton) 20, Julian Ballinger (Alton) 20, Bob Paul (Bashley) 20, Andy Cattle (Leckford) 19, Andy Snellgrove (New Milton) 18, Nick McMurray (Flamingo) 18, John Barrett (Hambledon) 18, Matt Truckle (Redlynch) 18.All divisions
Wicketkeeping: Martin Miller (Bournemouth) 15, John Burton (Redlynch) 14, John Harris (Hursley Park) 14, Dave Banks (BAT) 14.Catches: Richard Hindley (Havant) 10, Stu Tulk (OTR) 9, Damian Shirazi (BAT) 8, Ben Adams (St Cross) 8, Richie Morgan (Alton) 8, Steve Watts (New Milton) 8.

Zimbabwe are increasingly looking like a team that can perform consistently over a period of time. They are renowned for pulling off the occasional upset, but then consistency is something that they have been working on.The emphatic six-wicket victory at Kochi goes to prove that they are a side to reckon with. They hold all the aces up their sleeve going into the fourth one-dayer at 2-1, with a good a chance of closing the series out at Hyderabad itself.After the game, both sides addressed the media. First, it was the turn of a shy 22-year-old youngster from Harare by the name of Douglas Tafadzwa Hondo to address the media. Obviously delighted at his success (4/37) that won him the Man of the Match award, Hondo said, “I just wanted to play well. I tried my best to keep things simple and bowl a good line and length.”When asked about the three weeks he spent at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai under the watchful eyes of the legendary Dennis Lillee, the young fast bowler said, “At the MRF Academy, I tried to fix my action. I have been working with the video (from the Academy) and trying to work on my action.”Hondo found the going very tough in Kochi with the heat and humidity. Obviously he didn’t mind the fact that he picked three top-order wickets and bowled his side to victory, but the young fast bowler was more disappointed about the pitch than the sticky weather. “The wicket was flat,” he said.Hondo has a cool head on his shoulders, and this quality will help him and Zimbabwe for many more years to come. When asked about his place in the team, the youngster said, “I have to keep on performing well to be a regular in the side.”Then it was Zimbabwe skipper Stuart Carlisle’s turn to talk to the press. Looking pleased by what his team did on the day, Carlisle said, “We took most of our catches today, the guys did very well to put pressure on them.” The skipper was quick to commend Hondo on his achievement and went on to add that there was a brief period in the middle of the Indian innings when things looked like slipping away. “Our spinners bowled well and luckily we took the catches.”Carlisle also revealed that the team had a meeting the previous evening. There were separate meetings for the batsmen and the bowlers, where they were reminded about the importance of keeping things simple.The Zimbabwe skipper thinks that it was a good toss to lose at the end of the day. He was ready to admit that he had made a mistake in his judgement of the pitch the previous evening. He was under the impression that the toss would play a crucial role, and luckily for him it turned out the other way around. He was quick to praise his two senior batsmen, Alistair Campbell and Grant Flower, as well.Andy Flower is one player on whom Zimbabwe has relied a lot over the years. Carlisle said, “I have been saying it is time that the rest of us started contributing better. Obviously it is a great bonus to have Andy in the team.”On Andy Flower’s hip injury and the possibilities of him playing in the remaining one-dayers, the Zimbabwe skipper said that it is up to the physio to decide about Flower’s fitness. “He maybe available for the Hyderabad one-dayer, but he certainly will play in the fifth match in Guwahati.”According to Carlilsle, it was the wicket of Sourav Ganguly that was the turning point. “He has been in good form. We knew that we were going to have some luck our way. In the last two matches we have had some close chances against him. I think it is always nice to get the opposition captain out.”Indian skipper Ganguly looked clearly dejected after the loss in Kochi. He said, “It wasn’t a bad pitch. We lost too many early wickets and never recovered. We batted badly.”When asked about the injury to a few crucial players, Ganguly said, “We can’t help it if they are injured. That is how it goes, you have to play with what you have. It is up to the players to decide if they can go through the pain.”Earlier Carlisle had said that the heat and humidity was a major factor. “It was very tough towards the end, and it looked that the Indians were very tired. Maybe the heat got to them as well.” Talking on the same subject, Ganguly said, “We are used to the heat. Last time in Kochi we chased a score of above 300 after being in the field for 50 overs.”Talking about the two remaining matches, Carlisle said, “We just can’t go out and relax. We would want to look at it as the fourth game, but to look at it as the next game. We don’t want to put ourselves under pressure. Most sides will wilt under pressure. You always get chances; whether you take your chances is what matters.”Ganguly, though, is a worried man and he said, “Both the next games are very crucial. We have to win both the games.” Coach John Wright was more candid on the subject; he said, “There is always pressure. If you have to win at this level, you have to do it under pressure.” Wright went on to say that it hardly mattered at what point of one’s career one was in, and that the prime objective for every cricketer, once picked to play for the country, is to perform well under any given situations.”You have got to take responsibility under pressure and perform. You must be able to handle pressure. Today’s performance is unacceptable,” he said.Wright was quick to add that pressure situations also throw up some positives. “It is a great opportunity (for the players) to play well under pressure and make a name for themselves. That is what we need. Kaif had a good opportunity, and he blew it.”Wright also believes that the youngsters in the Indian team have no excuses to make with regard to playing under pressure. “Look at the young Zimbabwe players,” he pointed out. They are perhaps the words of a disenchanted coach trying to deal with a bunch of cricketers who are not willing to pay heed to his advice.The most interesting comment of the day came from the Indian skipper. When asked about the Indian fielding, after the customary long thought, Ganguly replied, “Our fielding has improved from before.”

Central Zone could not have been too disappointed with their bowling effort on the second day of their Duleep Trophy match against South Zone, but their batting on the third day at Jaipur certainly left something to be desired.That was, in part, thanks to M Suresh Kumar, who took five wickets for 54 runs with his left-arm spin, hastening the end of the innings by decimating the tail for next to nothing.Central’s first wicket fell with the score on just one, but Jyoti Yadav and Paresh Sutane added 83 runs in 20.4 overs for the second wicket, and South Zone were struggling to come back into the match.The breakthrough was finally made by Vijay Bharadwaj, who had Sutane caught by Venkatesh Prasad for 32 off 64 balls. Yere Goud, next man in, made 23 off 56, but he and Jyoti Yadav departed in quick succession, leaving Central staggering at 136 for four.The wickets continued to fall after Devendra Bundela was dismissed with the score on 159. Jai P Yadav hit a steady 33 off 58 balls, but he was the only other significant contributor, and Suresh Kumar’s spin proved too much for the tail. Central were bowled out for 193, a deficit of 48 runs.That deficit only widened as Sridharan Sriram continued his fine form. A centurion in the first innings, he ended the day unbeaten on 57 off 79 balls with seven fours. His opening partner, MSK Prasad, was run out early, but first A Nand Kishore and then Arjun Yadav gave him good support.At the close of play, South were 99 for two, with Arjun Yadav unbeaten on eight. South now lead by 147 runs, and this match may yet see a result on the final day’s play.

The Victorian Bushrangers have defeated the Queensland Bulls by sixty-three runs in the sides’ Mercantile Mutual Cup match here at the `Gabba ground in Brisbane after thoroughly dominating the day’s play. The Bulls could only muster 206 in reply to the Bushrangers’ 7/269 in an innings that was hampered by continual rain interruptions, surrendering a bonus point in the process.Earlier in the day, it had been the efforts of Victorian opening batsman Matthew Elliott (107) that laid the platform for Victoria’s triumph – only its second in seven attempts in this season’s domestic one-day competition. Elliott was in complete control from ball one, striking nine boundaries and two massive sixes on his way to a lovely century that spanned a total of 106 deliveries.Starting with a bang, Elliott and opening partner Jason Arnberger (20) took the attack up to the Bulls bowlers, punishing loose deliveries and finding the boundary with ease. Elliott included seven of his boundaries and both of his sixes inside his first fifty runs as he and the remainder of the top order set about capitalising on a rare victory for captain Paul Reiffel at the toss.Normally tight bowlers Ashley Noffke (0/61 off eight overs) and Andy Bichel (0/33 from four) proved anything but. They were rapidly hit out of the attack as a result of Elliott’s onslaught – an onslaught which compelled Queensland captain Stuart Law to call on his ever-reliable pairing of Michael Kasprowicz (1/45 off eight) and Adam Dale (2/47 from ten) to try and salvage something from the situation.As they sought to control a run scoring rate which had already reached seven per over, the pairing enjoyed near-immediate success. Dale removed Arnberger and Kasprowicz claimed the wicket of Brad Hodge (28), who had been another to come out firing. The loss of wickets forced Elliott to steady his innings and collect singles rather than take any undue risks. It led to a production of a century from 101 balls.Although the match was already quickly slipping away from them, the Bulls did have reason to smile during the middle stages of the Victorian innings. Debutants James Hopes (4/43 from ten overs) and Nathan Hauritz (0/38 off ten) each contributed excellent spells where their far more experienced teammates had been abjectly unable to do the same. With fine displays of medium fast and off spin bowling respectively, the pair was able to bring the Bulls back into the game by taking wickets consistently and dramatically slowing the scoring rate. Although Hauritz’s off breaks failed to claim a wicket, his tight bowling in a pressure situation against batsmen who were set clearly aided his bowling partner, whose final figures were a tribute to his own accuracy and speed.For the Victorians, Simon Dart (38), Darren Berry (27*) and Reiffel (22*) all built upon the work of their previously fallen teammates to accelerate the scoring rate again once Hopes and Hauritz had finished their visits to the bowling crease.In pursuit of a difficult-enough total, the Bulls then faced the added pressure of having to maintain a rate ahead of the Duckworth/Lewis par score as showers began to fall across the ground. Jimmy Maher (30) exploded out of the blocks before skying a ball to deep mid wicket and another disaster greeted the Bulls just two balls later when Matthew Hayden (8) was dismissed in unusual circumstances.At the other end to Maher, Hayden had taken nearly six overs to open his individual scoring account and appeared frustrated. It evinced him to play a lofted cover drive at the bowling of Ian Hewett (3/47 off ten overs) and he appeared to be caught by a diving Mick Lewis at extra cover. However, as Lewis hit the ground, so the ball popped out. Yet Hayden was blissfully unaware of this, seemed ready to concede the fact that he had been caught, and began to exit the crease. Lewis was then left with an easy throw to wicketkeeper Berry to effect the run out.All-rounder Lee Carseldine (20) joined skipper Law (46) and the pair began to construct a very good partnership around a twenty-minute rain delay. It brought the Queenslanders sixty-seven runs in quick time before the former was dismissed.A reshuffle in the batting order saw the hard-hitting Bichel (36) come in at number five to try and boost the run rate. Before he could begin a partnership with Law, though, the Bulls captain was the victim of a catch deep in the leg side field. This put the Bulls well behind the eight-ball, even with regular number three Martin Love (28) joining Bichel.Love was soon on the way back himself and it triggered an even steadier trickle of wickets thereafter. Just to compound the home team’s agony amid a season of generally unimpressive one-day performances, Reiffel (3/28 off seven overs) entered the attack late in the innings to claim three wickets.Bichel provided some glimmer of hope for the Bulls in a personal best score. But the task was just too much. Kasprowicz (10*) and Dale (10) added a brave twenty for the final wicket; by then, though, the side’s hopes of preventing the surrender of a bonus point to their opponents – let alone staving off defeat – had been rendered slim.In the end, the Bulls were only ten runs short of denying the Victorians the full five points on offer. But there was no denying the Elliott-inspired Victorians’ right to claim the maximum reward for their performance.

• It was the 1545th Test match in cricket history.
• It was Zimbabwe’s 50th and Bangladesh’s third Test.
• Enamul Hoque was making his Test debut. He became 16th player to represent Bangladesh in Test cricket.
• Umpires Doug Cowie and Russel Tiffin were officiating in their 21st and 19th Test respectively.
• Alistair Campbell and Andy Flower were playing their 50th Test. They became first and second Zimbabwean and 168th and 169th player overall to do so.
• Campbell and Flower also became the 35th and 36th player to appear in 50 Test matches at a trot. India’s Kapil Dev and Australia’s Ian Healy had two separate sequences of 50 consecutive Test matches. Among the contemporary cricketers who are still continuing with their streak of consecutive matches, only Australia’s Mark Waugh (90), India’s Sachin Tendulkar (82) and England’s Alec Stewart (55) are ahead of these two Zimbabweans.
• The catch of Akram Khan in first innings was 50th for Campbell. He became first Zimbabwean and 68th fielder (excluding wicket-keepers) to do so.
• When Guy Whittall was run-out in the first innings, this was the sixth instance of getting out in this fashion for Whittall – maximum for Zimbabwe. He was earlier at level with Alistair Campbell who had been run-out on five occasions in 85 innings. Just for the record, Australia’s Allan Border with 12 run-outs (in 221 innings) holds the record of most such dismissals.
• Heath Streak’s while making his highest Test score (bettering the 67 in the first innings of first Test against Bangladesh) recorded the highest innings by a Zimbabwean at number seven. The previous highest was 81 by Andy Flower against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 1992-93.
• Four fifties in Zimbabwe’s first innings equalled the record of most fifties in an innings for Zimbabwe. The other two occasions being versus India at Nagpur in 2000-01 and versus Bangladesh at Bulawayo in the last Test. Incidentally the Test record is of seven fifties made by England against Australia at Manchester in 1934.
• The four catches in the match by Campbell equalled the existing record of most catches by a fielder in a match for Zimbabwe. It was the second such instance for Campbell. He had also taken four catches against England at Harare in 1996-97. Others to take four catches for Zimbabwe are Mark Dekker against Sri Lanka at Harare in 1994-95 and Grant Flower against England at Nottingham in 2000.
• Guy Whittall, on 40 in second innings, completed his 2000 runs in Test cricket. He became fourth Zimbabwean after Andy Flower (3721 runs from 50 Tests), Grant Flower (2647 from 48) and Alistair Campbell (2249 from 50) and 207th batsman in Test annals to reach this landmark.
• With 50 wickets on his name Whittall also became the first Zimbabwean to complete the allround double of 2000 runs and 50 wickets in a career. He also became the 35th allrounder in Test chronicles to achieve this milestone.
• Mohammed Sharif and Manjural Islam suffered the ignominy of bagging a pair in the match. They became first and second batsman from Bangladesh to suffer this fate. Other batsmen to bag a pair in a Test against Zimbabwe are Pakistan’s Manzoor Elahi at Harare in 1994-95 and Mushtaq Ahmed at Peshawar in 1998-99 and West Indian Adrian Griffith at Port-of-Spain in 1999-00.
• The five ducks by Bangladesh batsmen in the match is the maximum by any side against Zimbabwe. The previous record was of four ducks recorded by three teams-Pakistan (twice), New Zealand and West Indies on four occasions.
• The series win by 2-0 margin ended Zimbabwe’s streak of nine consecutive series without a win from 1999-00 series with Australia to 2000-01 series with New Zealand.
• At the end of the series: Zimbabwe’s overall Test record : played 50, won 5, lost 25 and drawn 20.Heath Streak’s captaincy record: played 7, won 2, lost 3,drawn 2.Bangladesh’s overall Test record: played 3,lost 3.Naimur Rahman’s captaincy record: played 3,lost 3.