The rescheduled Dhaka Premier League 2021 (DPL) is all set to resume on May 31 after the tournament was postponed in March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DPL 2019-20, which was called off after just one round of matches last year, has also been changed from a 50-over tournament to a 20-over competition in order to allow the players to prepare for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

Twelve teams that will feature in DPL 2021: Abahani Limited, Brothers Union, Gazi Group Cricketers, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity, Legends of Rupaganj, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Old DOHS Sports Club, Partex Sporting Club, Prime Bank Cricket Club, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, and The Shinepukur Cricket Club.

The matches will be played in five rounds on May 31, June 1, June 3, June 4 and June 6 scheduled to be played at three venues- Mirpur, BKSP Ground-3 and Ground-4.

Several top Bangladesh cricketers will participate in the tournament including Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad.

Dhaka Premier League 2021 teams and squads

Abahani Limited: Naim Shaikh, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Aminul Islam Biplob, Taijul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Shohidul Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Towhidul Islam Rasel, Munim Shahriar, Shaheen Alam, Rakibul Islam Raja, AKS Swadhin

Legends of Rupaganj: Naeem Islam, Jaker Ali Anik, Mohammad Shahid, Nabil Samad, Ajmer Ahmed, Muktar Ali, Mehedi Maruf, Shadman Islam Anik, Pinak Ghosh, Al Amin Jr, Shamsul Islam, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Al Amin Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Sunzamul Islam, Ruyel Miah

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club: Farhad Reza, Marshal Ayub, Enamul Haque Jr, Sharifullah, Fazle Mahmud Rabbi, Taibur Rahman Parvez, Saif Hassan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Imranuzzaman, Raihan Uddin, Abu Sayem Chowdhury, Asif Ahmed Ratul, Joyraj Shaikh Emon, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Tauqir Khan, Towfif Khan, Shafiqul Islam

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club: Mashrafe Mortaza, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Ziaur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Tanvir Haider, Mohammad Ilyas, Fardeen Hasan Ani, Enamul Haque Enam, Salauddin Shakil, Minhajul Abedin Afridi, Mehrab Hossain Joshi, Suhrawardi Shuvo, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shakil Ali, Abdul Halim

Prime Bank Cricket Club: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mithun, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Rakibul Hasan, Alok Kapali, Rony Talukdar, Amit Majumdar, Arafat Sunny Jr, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Rubel Miyah, Nahidul Islam, Monir Hossain Khan, Nayeem Hasan, Delawar Hossain, Nazmul Islam Apu, Kazi Kamrul, Ali Mohammad Walid, Tariqul Islam

Mohammedan Sporting Club: Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Asif Hossain Mitul, Shakil Hossain, Mahmudul Hasan, Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abu Hider Rony, Abu Jayed Rahi, Nadif Chowdhury, Irfan Sukkur, Mahmudul Hasan Limon. Abdul Majid, Avishek Mitra

Shinepukur Cricket Club: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Sabbir Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyaan, Mohor Sheikh Antor, Pritam Kumar, Robiul Islam, Sajjadul Haque Ripon, Hasan Murad, Tanvir Islam, Sumon Khan, Rabiul Haque, Iftekhar Sajjad Rony, Sheikh Jubair Hossain Sakib, Akishur Rahman Nabil, Avishek Das

Gazi Group Cricketers: Mahmudullah Riyad, Mominul Haque Showrabh, Ariful Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Nasum Ahmed, Zakir Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Sanjit Saha Deep, Akbar Ali, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Nahid Hasan, Mukidul Islam Mugdho, Rakibul Atiq

Khelaghor Social Welfare Society: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Minhazur Rahman, Farhad Hossain, Imtiaz Hossain Chowdhury, Sayed Khaled Hossain, Nur Hossain Saddam, Salman Hossain Emon, Tipu Sultan, Rony Chowdhury, Jahurul Islam Ani, Sadiqur Rahman, Rafsan Al Mahmud, Masum Khan, Irfan Hossain

Brothers Union: Mizhanur Rahman, Junaid Siddiqui, Mohammad Shahzada, Habibur Rahman Jony, Zahidduzzaman Sagar, Shakhawat Hossain Saiman, Naeem Islam Juni, Mahedi Hasan, Maisukur Rahman, Tushar Imran, Alauddin Babu, Saklain Sajib, Rahatul Ferdous, Nuruzzaman, Sujon Hawladar, Jabid Hossain, Jasim Uddin, Abdul Gaffar Rony, Rasel Al Mamun, Abdul Qayyum Tuhin

Old DOHS Sports Club: Anisul Islam Emon, Raihan Rafsan, Mohaiminul Khan Sourabh, Mohammad Rakib, Minhazul Abedin Sabbir, Rakibul Hasan, Alis Al Islam, Mohammad Sentu, Hamidul Islam Shimul, Gazi Sohel Rana Sagar, Azaduzzaman Payel, Rahawat Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mohammad Rashid, Rakhin Ahmed, Amit Hasan, Shahnaz Ahmed

Partex Sporting Club: Rabiul Islam, Sagir Hossain Shuvro, Nihaduzzaman, Abbas Musa Alvi, Joynul Islam, Hasanuzzaman, Sayed Alam Rizvi, Moin Khan, Tasamul Haque, Jubair Hossain Likhon, Nazmul Hossain Milon, Shahbaz Chauhan, Dhiman Ghosh, Izharul Islam Kanon, Rony Hossain, Mosaddek Iftekhar Rahi, Shafiul Hayat Hridoy

DPL 2021 schedule, fixtures and live India match times

All times are in Indian Standard Time (IST)

May 31, Round 1

Abahani Limited vs Partex Sporting Club - 8:30 am at SBNCS, Mirpur

Legends of Rupganj vs Old DOHS Sports Club - 8:30 am at BKSP-3, Savar

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club vs Brothers Union - 8:30 am at BKSP-4, Savar

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited vs Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity - 1:00 pm at SBNCS, Mirpur

Prime Bank Cricket Club vs Gazi Group Cricketers at 1:00 pm - BKSP-3, Savar

Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited vs Shinepukur Cricket Club - 1:00 pm at BKSP-4, Savar

Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 Cricket League 2019-20

First Round#BDPDCL #BCB pic.twitter.com/dpgrB3GGwZ

�?Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) May 30, 2021

June 1, Round 2 

Abahani Limited vs Old DOHS Sports Club

Legends of Rupganj vs Brothers Union

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club vs Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited vs Gazi Group Cricketers

Prime Bank Cricket Club vs Shinepukur Cricket Club

Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited vs Partex Sporting Club

June 3, Round 3

Abahani Limited vs Brothers Union

Legends of Rupganj vs Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club vs Gazi Group Cricketers

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited vs Shinepukur Cricket Club

Prime Bank Cricket Club vs Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited

Old DOHS Sports Club vs Partex Sporting Club

June 4, Round 4 

Abahani Limited vs Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity

Legends of Rupganj vs Gazi Group Cricketers

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club vs Shinepukur Cricket Club

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited vs Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited

Prime Bank Cricket Club vs Partex Sporting Club

Brothers Union vs Old DOHS Sports Club

June 6, Round 5 

Abahani Limited vs Gazi Group Cricketers

Legends of Rupganj vs Shinepukur Cricket Club

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club vs Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited vs Prime Bank Cricket Club

Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity vs Old DOHS Sports Club

Brothers Union vs Partex Sporting Club

There will be no telecast or live streaming of the Dhaka Premier League in India.

Featured photo: Twitter

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has tested positive for the global virus after he got tested last week.

"My brother has had a fever for two days. He did the test last night. Today the test came positive. He is at home in isolation," Morsalin, Mortaza's brother, told Cricbuzz.

The 36-year-old is a parliament member and was reportedly in the thick of aid efforts in his Narail constituency, which is also his hometown, in an effort to help tackle the global pandemic ravaging Bangladesh, as it is in the rest of the world at large.

This makes Mortaza the second Bangladesh cricketer to test positive, after Nafees Iqbal's test was also confirmed positive earlier. The elder brother of Tamim, he played 11 Tests and 16 ODIs between 2003-2006 and is currently under home isolation.

Mortaza has played 220 ODIs, 36 Tests and 54 T20Is during his international career and has now been restricting himself to One-Day Internationals (ODI) at the international level. Bangladesh was set to embark on a three-Test tour of Sri Lanka in July -- part of the World Test Championship -- followed by hosting New Zealand the month after that.

However, the likelihood of either series going ahead look slim now, due to the various difficulties posed by the global pandemic. September's Asia Cup, where Bangladesh finished runners-up to India in the previous edition, is also looking doubtful, with the deadly global virus having infected over 100,000 in Bangladesh, taking 1400 lives and moving the government to implement area-wise lockdown.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / STR

Bangladesh’s one-day international cricket skipper, Mashrafe Mortaza has asked for two months to confirm his retirement plans, officials said on Saturday.

He was expected to confirm his retirement thoughts after the recent World Cup in England and Wales, where he claimed just one wicket in eight matches.

The 35-year-old seamer missed the latest Sri Lanka tour last month - which the Tigers lost 0-3 - due to a hamstring injury and is facing a long absence from international cricket as Bangladesh are not scheduled to play any ODIs until June next year.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) last week said they were planning to host a one-off ODI sometime in September against Zimbabwe to organise a farewell for Mashrafe. Zimbabwe will be visiting Bangladesh next month to play a tri-nation Twenty20 tournament involving the hosts and Afghanistan.

But the plan has been shelved following Mashrafe's meeting on Saturday with board officials.

"He sought two months to make his final decision and we said that is fine," BCB president Nazmul Hassan told reporters.

The veteran made his Bangladesh debut in 2001 and played 36 Tests bagging 78 wickets before injuries pushed him to retire from the long-format game in 2009.

Dubbed the Narail Express" by his fans, after his birthplace, Mashrafe retired from international T20s in 2017 but kept playing 50-over ODIs despite multiple major surgeries on his knee.

He entered politics last year and won a seat as a member of parliament in the general election.

He has also been running the Narail Express Foundation charity which donates ambulances to hospitals and seeds to poor farmers.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

Bangladesh on Friday named opener Tamim Iqbal as interim captain for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour after regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Mashrafe picked up the injury during a training session shortly after he attended Bangladesh team’s formal press conference in Mirpur ahead of the tour.  

“Mortaza (Mashrafe) injured his left hamstring during training today. He received immediate MSK ultrasound examination which has revealed a grade 1 injury,�?Bangladesh Cricket Board senior physician Debashis Chowdhury said in a statement.

“It is a recurrent injury that could take around three to four weeks to recover from. Therefore, he is ruled out from participation in sporting activity for a month,�?he added.

BCB named Tamim as interim captain in Mashrafe’s absence as regular vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan was rested for the series.

All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin was also ruled out for the series after he aggravated an old back injury, said BCB cricket operations chief Akram Khan.

Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed and all-rounder Farhad Reza were immediately recalled as replacements for Mashrafe and Saifuddin.

Bangladesh will play three one-day internationals in Sri Lanka respectively on July 26, 28 and 31. All the matches are scheduled in R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Mashrafe earlier at the press conference refused to confirm if he would retire after the Sri Lanka series and likened his situation to former India captain M.S. Dhoni.

Mashrafe and Dhoni both were expected to clear their retirement plan after the recent World Cup in England in which they struggled with individual form.

While Dhoni, who made a fifty in India’s losing semi-final to New Zealand, remained silent on his future, Mashrafe chose to continue as team captain.

“To be honest, I don’t feel embarrassed or disappointed with it (retirement talks). It’s normal everyone will consider my performance from their point of view,�?said Mashrafe.

“As a player, I am not close to M.S. Dhoni as he scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs. But at least in every press conference, he has been asked the same question (retirement). I think we should see it normally,�?/p>

“Being a player I could not deliver my best in World Cup, both as a captain and a player and the team also failed to go to the semi-final.

“So it’s normal the question will be raised. I also see it this way. There’s is nothing else to consider,�?he said.

Mashrafe picked up just one wicket in Bangladesh’s eighth-place finish as the team recorded only three wins against fellow strugglers South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

Bangladesh are resting all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan but have retained skipper Mashrafe Mortaza for the three-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka later this month, officials said Tuesday.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and top-order batsman Anamul Haque were also recalled to replace Shakib and batsman Liton Das, who has been rested for personal reasons.  

Medium pace Abu Jayed, who was part of World Cup squad but did not play any games, was the other player to miss out.

Read | Bangladesh first team to tour Sri Lanka since attacks

"Now that the World Cup chapter is over and we are starting a new season. This series is very important for us," said Minhajul Abedin Nannu.

"We didn't make big changes from the World Cup squad here. As we don't have Shakib and Liton, we included two players in their places and dropped one player," he said.

Mashrafe, who claimed just one wicket in eight matches, shouldered the responsibility for the team's lacklustre performance, but the BCB has kept faith on him.

Read | New Zealand to tour Sri Lanka

Bangladesh will become the first team to tour Sri Lanka since the deadly Easter attacks in which 258 people were killed.

The teams will play three one-day internationals on July 26, 28 and 31 at the Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.

Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (Capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarker, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza Sunday said he regretted his team let down its supporters and that he took responsibility for failing to reach the World Cup final four.

"We are definitely disappointed. If some results had gone our way maybe we could have reached the semi-final," Mashrafe told reporters after the team’s return to Dhaka.

"Overall, the way we played was very positive�?but we couldn't fulfill our expectations," he said.

"If we had won the last match, we could have finished fifth. But I’m sure all spectators and players wanted the team to finish in the top four," he said.

Bangladesh dropped down to eighth place at the end of the league phase of the World Cup after South Africa defeated Australia in the last match before the semi-finals, at Old Trafford.

Bangladesh defeated South Africa, West Indies and Afghanistan and narrowly lost to some top teams to stay in contention for a semi-final place until their penultimate game.

They ended the competition with successive defeats against neighbours India and Pakistan.

Read | Mortaza coy over future after Bangladesh's World Cup exit

Mashrafe said a lack of consistency by some of the players, coupled with poor luck, hurt the team's prospects in the tournament.

"Until the India match, we officially had a chance for the semi-finals. But other than Shakib (Al Hasan) and Mushfiq (Mushfiqur Rahim)" there was a lack of consistency, he said, adding allrounder Mohammed Saifuddin played "outstanding cricket".

"One whole week was interrupted by rain, which hampered us and helped some teams."

Shakib finished the World Cup with 606 runs and 11 wickets while paceman Mustafizur Rahman was among other top Bangladeshi performers, claiming 20 scalps.

Mashrafe himself struggled with form in the tournament, picking up just one wicket in eight matches.

The 35-year-old medium pacer has refused to speak clearly about his future plans.

"As a captain, if I fail to lead the team to expected results, there will always be criticism. I have to take responsibility for the entire team. That’s normal," he said.

"I take full responsibility as I should. But I would like to say that players face criticisms all around the world, especially after a tournament or series."

"And it happening after the World Cup is very normal," he added.

Subjected security clearance, Bangladesh are likely to visit Sri Lanka for a three-match one-day international series at the end of this month for their next assignment.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Olly Greenwood

With the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup finally reaching its penultimate round, the semi-finals, fans have been at the receiving end of some extravagant moments over the month. Right from Mitchell Starc’s artistry with the ball to Rohit Sharma treating the spectators to mere perfection, this tournament has well and truly delivered what was promised.

In the midst, however, several disappointments have overshadowed the positives of the tournament. For the starters, the chagrin West Indies suffered after beating Pakistan in their opening fixture certainly wasn’t what the fans had hoped. Unvaryingly, many veterans have fallen flat as well. That being said, here is Stumped’s Worst XI from the league phase:

Note: At least one player has been picked from each country.

Openers: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Arriving on the back of total domination of England bowlers during the latter’s tour of West Indies earlier this year, a lot was expected of the self-proclaimed ‘Universal Boss.�?A career spanning 20 long years, however, ended in a total catastrophe. 242 runs in nine games (eight innings) at 30.25, which included just two half-centuries, summed the all-rounder’s final World Cup of his career. The southpaw was majorly inclined towards getting a loud cheer from the audience rather than actually speaking when it mattered the most.

Martin Guptill, on the other hand, was a mere disappointment as well. Apart from his unbeaten 73 off 51 deliveries in New Zealand’s tournament opener against Sri Lanka, the 32-year-old did nothing to give his side a worthy start ever since. A figure of 166 runs in eight innings sums up how his tournament became nothing but a damp squib.

Number 3: Hashim Amla (South Africa)

AFP / Oli Scarff

Even though he has wished to continue, there is absolutely no denying the fact that this was Hashim Amla’s final World Cup appearance. Thus, not just South Africa, but even the neutrals had hoped for a better tenure. As it turned out though, he returned with a figure of 203 runs in seven innings, registering just 16 fours in the midst, as South Africa once again failed to assert their authority in an ICC tournament.

Number 4: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)

Arriving on the back of a decent blend of youth to that of experienced campaigners, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis was expected to his lead his batting contingent, which was struggling for grip in the middle. Following a decent start �?37 against South Africa and 24 against Australia �?the 24-year-old failed to provide anything worthy. In seven innings he has played in the tournament, Mendis has scored mere 143 at a lowly 20.42. His 68-ball 46 is his only positive highlight of the tournament.

Number 5: MS Dhoni (India)

Former captain, MS Dhoni has been a subject of massive backlash from the fans, especially after his substandard performance at the World Cup. Sure he has been India’s only glaring light in their shaky middle order, but the 38-year-old hasn’t really lived up to the expectations, and the fact that he has scored mere 223 runs in seven innings, which includes a solidary half-century, is a perfect testament of it. And not to forget the countless dot balls. It has been said before, but maybe the time has come for him to hand the battalion to someone else.

Numbers 6: Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Coming on the back of dismantling the Pakistan bowling attack just before the World Cup, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was supposed to back his team in case of top-order collapse. And although the Aussies hardly came at the receiving end of such misfortune, he failed bitterly whenever given the stage. After nine innings, the 30-year-old has scored just 155 runs at 22.14. Even with the ball, he has failed to scalp even a single wicket.

Number 7: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Afghanistan’s very own, Rashid Khan has done little justice to live up the hype which surrounded him ahead of the World Cup. Following a decent return in the Indian T20 League, the 20-year-old was expected to set the tournament ablaze. He rather delivered a subpar performance with both bat and surprisingly with the ball. His only highlight, however unfortunate it is, remains conceding 110 in nine overs against England. He has travelled back home with just six wickets in eight innings, with a personal best tally of 2/17. Furthermore, his bowling average of 69.33 is worst amongst the bowlers who have picked at least five wickets in the tournament.

Number 8: Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh)

While he was expected to lead a rejuvenated Bangladesh unit right from the front, captain Mashrafe Mortaza fell flat in his attempts to an extent that solidary wicket against England where he conceded 68 runs, in Cardiff, on June 8 remains his only high of the tournament.

Number 9: Adil Rashid (England)

Having entered the tournament as England’s front-line spinner with a hope of bamboozling his opponent, 31-year-old Adil Rashid has rather failed to deliver what was promised. A return of just eight wickets in nine games, and a bowling average of 54.12 particularly remains a below-par repay for a bowler of his standard.

Number 10: Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

Hasan Ali was decoded by England during the Pakistan series just before the World Cup. Yet playing him at such grand tournament was arguably the biggest risk the Men in Green took. And it took them four matches to figure out Ali wasn’t performing the way he was expected to. An average, economy and strike rate of 128.00, 7.75 and 99.0 respectively was registered by the bowler after scalping just two wickets in his kitty.

Number 11: Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

Having picked 25 wickets in 12 Indian T20 League games just ahead of the World Cup, Rabada was expected to dazzle even the best batsmen in England. A truly disappointing tenure for South Africa, however, saw the 24-year-old falling from the grace to an extent that he only managed 11 wickets in eight innings, recording a personal best of 3/56 at an average and strike rate of 36.09 and 42.5 respectively.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza admitted he needs time to decide his future amid speculation he will retire or resign following his team's World Cup exit.

Mashrafe's side lost by 94 runs against Pakistan at Lord's on Friday in a disappointing conclusion to their World Cup campaign.

Attention turned to Mashrafe's future at the post-match press conference, but the 35-year-old wasn't ready to reveal his plans.

"My future plan is obviously going home from here, and then I'll rethink," he told reporters.

Bangladesh had already been eliminated from the race to qualify for the semi-finals, but had hoped to finish the tournament on a high note.

Instead, they succumbed to a limp defeat that left them with three wins from nine matches in the tournament.

Asked how he rated Bangladesh's campaign, Mashrafe conceded they had been exposed at times in their sloppy fielding, while his bowlers found it hard to thrive in English conditions.

"I think the players tried their best. As I said, there were a few areas we could improve a lot. We knew what our weaknesses were," he said.

"If we play in Asia, I think it will be a far better bowling site than here. So we need to find our best ways to bowl them out or maybe restrict them.

"Batting hasn't been an issue before the World Cup. I think the boys are clear what they can do. Fielding, it has been concern there all of my career ... This is the part the players can change. We really need to improve fielding."

The World Cup's round-robin format -- with each of the 10 teams facing each other once before the top four move into the semi-finals -- has received mixed reviews, but Mashrafe relished the opportunity for Bangladesh to play all the top sides.

"That format I loved, because every team has been exposed to everyone else. And to be honest I think some people will not be very happy with that," he said.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Olly Greenwood

Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes said he was proud of the way his team had fought against top sides at the World Cup even though they had ultimately fallen short.

Mashrafe Mortaza's side lost to India by 28 runs at Edgbaston on Tuesday to end their hopes of a place in semi-finals.

Bangladesh impressed during wins over South Africa and the West Indies and put in a spirited effort against defending champions Australia.

The Tigers fought back to limit India to 314 for nine in Birmingham on Tuesday after Rohit Sharma's 104 but they could only manage 286 all out despite 66 from star batsman Shakib Al Hasan.

"You know, it could well have been 370, 380, even 400 at one stage," said Rhodes. "So, we were delighted that we showed a lot of spirit and a lot of fight to come back.

"It was pleasing to see some fight. I think it's a reflection of the team. We've only picked up the three victories.

"I'm very proud of the way we've played against a lot of the big teams, and I think that maybe we'll be the people's team for the amount of fight that we've shown."

Bangladesh take on Pakistan in their final league game on Friday and Rhodes said it would be a competitive match.

Pakistan will reach the semi-finals if hosts England lose to New Zealand and Sarfaraz Ahmed's side get past Bangladesh.

"I'm really looking forward to that game. I think we beat them in the Asia Cup, and they'll want to change that (Bangladesh won by 37 runs in 2018)," said Rhodes.

"We showed in some of the games we played this year that we're going to be a difficult side for Pakistan to beat.

"We know we'll have to play well again because they've run into a little bit of form in the back end of the tournament. But we're confident."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Glyn Kirk

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza says Bangladesh will have to raise their game against a strong India side on Tuesday if they are retain any chance of reaching the World Cup semi-finals.

Mashrafe's side have seven points after three wins and a washout, three points behind fourth-placed England.

To retain any chance of qualifying from the 10-team group phase they need to win both of their final fixtures, against India and Pakistan, and hope results elsewhere go in their favour.

"India are very strong in this World Cup and it is not going to be easy but we have to play hard and be at 100 percent in every area," he said.

"Are we going to still be in it? Maybe, maybe not. Let's see but we have to play better than what we have done so far."

Shakib Al Hasan, the world's top-rated all-rounder in one-day internationals, has scored 476 runs and picked up 10 wickets in the tournament.

"Shakib has been doing whatever he can do," said Mashrafe. "He has been doing everything in batting, bowling and fielding. He has been the best performer at this World Cup.

"There is much left and hopefully he can do whatever he has done and finish on a good level."

England handed India their first defeat of the tournament at Edgbaston on Sunday, blunting their spin attack to rack up 337-7, with the home batsmen making the most of a short boundary on one side.

But Mashrafe, whose side will take on India on the same ground in Birmingham, said they had their own plans against the two-time champions.

"The Indian spinners are doing a lot better if you look at their stats in the last two, three years. Both (Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav) are doing very well," said Mashrafe.

"We can't think just because England did it we will and get success. Our batting has been very good and we will stick to the plan.

"Maybe against New Zealand we could have done better but the way we are playing we should stick to our plan. England stuck to their plan, we stuck to ours."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis