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Barcelona squandered the lead twice Thursday against Real Betis and needed Marc-Andre ter Stegen's penalty heroics to advance to the Super Cup final.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen didn't celebrate much – at least not yet. He'd just saved the second straight Real Betis penalty in Thursday's shootout, diving low to stifle William Carvalho's attempt. And while Carvalho slumped away, Ter Stegen dutifully took his spot on the byline, waiting for Pedri's eventual winner.

It was only when Pedri finally put an end to a nervy, uncomfortable Spanish Super Cup semi-final for Barcelona that he shouted and embraced his team-mates.

The Blaugrana spent long periods on the back foot, and created fewer chances than Real Betis, despite having far more possession. Barcelona went ahead twice, and squandered it both times to send the game to the penalty shootout.

And there, Ter Stegen played hero, saving two Betis shots.

Robert Lewandowski and Ansu Fati grabbed the goals for Barca before the shootout. The Polish striker tucked away a neat volley to open the scoring on his return to the side, but Nabil Fekir swept a shot into the bottom corner to equalise. Fati appeared to have won it in extra-time with a fizzing strike past Claudio Bravo, but Betis struck again, with veteran striker Loren Moron flicking the ball through Ronald Araujo's legs to tie the game at 2-2.

Next up for Barcelona? A Super Cup final against Real Madrid.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Robert Lewandowski:

The Polish striker started the game by giving the ball away. Five minutes later, he fluffed a back heel. Slightly after he skewed a shot wide despite having acres of space.

But then, inevitably, the goal came. It wasn't a pretty thing, the result of two rebounds and a piece of poor goalkeeping, but the ball hit the back of the net regardless. This wasn't his best performance by any means, but the top strikers always find a way to score, even amidst shoddy showings.

Marc Andre ter Stegen:

It was, in truth, quite an uneven game for the German goalkeeper. He opened the first half with a trio of crucial stops, keeping his team in the game. But he was less reliable in the second, and could perhaps have saved Betis' equaliser. Still, Ter Stegen came into his own during the penalty shootout. After being beaten on the first penalty, he almost saved the second, before stifling the next two. Barcelona were far short of their best in the semi-final, but their goalkeeper made sure that they have a shot at silverware this Sunday. He's a tough figure.

Ansu Fati:

The Spanish striker has often been burdened by the weight of the No.10 shirt, which has led to increased scrutiny for the youngster. Every loose touch is scoured, every miss is criticised. Against Real Betis, though, he delivered a left-footed finish worthy of the famous number. His goal was magnificent, an angled volley into the far corner while running away from the net. It was only his seventh touch of the game, a moment of magic after a spell of anonymity. Xavi has backed Fati to be a regular goalscorer, and it's finishes like Thursday night's that support his assertion.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Jordi Alba:

Jordi Alba has been in steady decline for some time. He hasn't changed much as a player; the Spaniard still makes those signature marauding runs down the left wing. But his ability at the other end is waning. Alba was never a fantastic one-on-one defender, often relying on his pace and engine to track back and limit opposing attacks down his side. As he's aged, those legs have gone, making Alba increasingly vulnerable defensively. Betis right-midfielder Luiz Henrique ran rampant for long stretches against the full-back, with Alba often caught out of position.

Ferran Torres:

If Fati justified his manager's faith, Torres threw it away. The forward looked off the pace after coming on with 10 minutes remaining in regular time, and was near-detrimental to his team's attacking progress. His poorly-timed run in the build up to a wonderful Lewandowski finish saw the goal chalked off. He was caught offside twice more in the final few minutes, halting promising moves on both occasions. Torres has never found form in a Barcelona kit, and it was another puzzling showing for him Thursday evening.

Getty ImagesBarcelona Ratings: Defence

Marc Andre ter Stegen (7/10):

Made one ridiculous save, denying German Pezzella out from a corner. Stopped two further shots in the first half to keep a surging Betis out. Couldn't really do anything about the first goal, but perhaps could have done better for the second. He redeemed himself in the penalty shootout, though, saving two penalties to send his team through.

Sergi Roberto (6/10)

Was reliable, if unspectacular, for 70 minutes. Made one excellent sliding tackle at the far post to stop a certain goal.

Ronald Araujo (7/10)

Showed fantastic pace to tackle Fekir with the goal gaping. Won his aerial duels with regularity and was the most reliable of Barca's back four. Can't be faulted for either goal.

Jules Kounde (6/10)

One terrible back pass early on almost gave a goal away, but he recovered. Stepped in for the languid Jordi Alba with aplomb.

Jordi Alba (5/10)

Energetic and chaotic as ever going forward, and always willing to make clever runs. But he was badly exposed at the back and didn't win any of his individual duels.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Gavi (6/10)

Lots of energy, but not as refined as in past games. Played a few loose passes and was often bullied off the ball.

Frenkie de Jong (7/10)

The fans booed when the Dutchman was subbed off, and it's easy to see why. De Jong was excellent for an hour, the centrepiece of a sturdy midfield three. Likely an agreed substitution on the hour mark, though.

Pedri (8/10)

Touched the ball more than any other midfielder on the pitch, won 100% of his tackles, made 10 recoveries. As wonderful as ever to watch. Should've had a goal, too, but Raphinha was offside in the build up. Buried the winning penalty to cap off an impressive performance.

As the new year looms, Goal looks back on some of the best and most significant moments in football during the last 12 months

Getty ImagesMessi's audacious Clasico shirt celebration

Back in April, as the 2016-17 Liga title race was heading towards a heated finale, Real Madrid and Barcelona locked horns at the Bernabeu. Barca came into the clash at the Bernabeu behind their bitter rivals and needed a win to haul themselves back into the title race.

Things got off to a bad start for the Blaugrana as Casemiro fired Real ahead, but Lionel Messi cancelled it out five minutes later. Ivan Rakitic then put Barca ahead mid-way through the second half, but James Rodriguez struck in the final five minutes to haul Madrid level. However, Messi rose to the occasion once again, blasting the winner past Keylor Navas in the 92nd minute. 

What followed was one of the most iconic images of 2017 and certainly one that will endure in the annals of Clasico history as Messi coolly held aloft his shirt in front of Real Madrid fans to mark his 500th Barca goal and the one that saw him overtake Alfredo Di Stefano as the all-time Clasico top scorer.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMessi single-handedly dragging Argentina to the World Cup

As the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification cycle came to a conclusion it looked like Argentina might not make it. Defeats to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador, as well as too many draws, left the Albiceleste needing a win in their final in order to ensure their safe passage to Russia in 2018.

The game against Ecuador in Quito got off to a disastrous start as Romario Ibarra shot Los Amarillos in front after the first minute and it looked like Jorge Sampaoli's men were set to miss out on a place at the world's biggest tournament for the first time since 1970.

However, Messi was in no mood for such a narrative and he scored two goals within 10 minutes to put his country ahead before putting the icing on the cake with his hat-trick strike in the final 10 minutes. The Barcelona star had rescued his country and ensured that his talents will grace a fourth World Cup.

Getty ImagesThe retirement of Francesco Totti

May 28, 2017 was an emotional day in Italy as one of its greatest sporting heroes brought the curtain down on his career. After 25 years, Francesco Totti finally called it a day and he was given his swan song as a second-half substitute in Roma's 3-2 victory over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

The World Cup winner bid farewell to the faithful with a passionate and tearful address, delivered from the pitch and it is a moment that will, no doubt live long in the memory.

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Getty ImagesReal Madrid win consecutive Champions Leagues

Real Madrid are the most successful team in the history of the Champions League and they made yet more history in June 2017 when they became the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the modern era.

Real won the European Cup four years in succession in the 1950s, while Bayern Munich and Ajax each won it three times in a row in the 1970s. AC Milan won it twice in a row in the late 1980s, but notably no club had managed the feat since the adoption of the new format in 1992.

Los Blancos blew Juventus away in the final, easily beating the Italian champions 4-1 in Cardiff, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

Somerset’s players skedaddled away from the Riverside before lunch on Wednesday with a draw in their results column and eight points gained from the match

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street13-Apr-2016
ScorecardChris Rushworth could have been a threat to Somerset had there been any play on the final day•Getty ImagesThe point about fire alarms is that they go off while the fire can still be put out. Somerset’s players skedaddled away from the Riverside before lunch on Wednesday with a draw in their results column and eight points gained from the match. Durham received ten points for their efforts. At which point even the most passionate former inhabitant of the Stragglers’ Bar might offer a polite cough and a wry smile. The reassuring thing for Somerset supporters was that Chris Rogers would understand that reaction only too well.Heavy overnight rain and a mid-morning shower put paid to any chance of play on the final day of this match. Somerset’s skipper admitted that, on balance, his relief at not having to face Chris Rushworth and Graham Onions outweighed his disappointment at losing two days’ cricket.”We want to challenge ourselves and we want to get better but it was probably a relief to us in many respects because we were behind in the game and it was going to be hard work, particularly against Rushworth and Onions in that last innings,” said Rogers. “On the other hand, it would have been a useful opportunity to see where we’re at.”The more caustic West Country critics might be quick to tell Rogers where they think his team is “at” but they might be wisely advised to listen to what else he had to say. For example, here is his assessment of Somerset’s performance in a game in which they were bowled out for 179 and in which Durham were 53 for 1 after ten overs in their first innings and – the real horror show – 72 for 0 after 11 overs in their second.”Our fielding was top class and our attitude was top class but we disappointed with the new ball and that’s pretty unforgivable at Durham in the first game of the season. But the guys who had that ball in their hands will know that and they will get better. We found it hard with the bat and lost wickets in groups. Then we were shown that it was possible to stick around by our Nos. 7 and 9.”Given the limitations placed on Rogers by the fact that his comments were for public consumption, there is not too much skipper-speak in them. If he described the new-ball bowling as “unforgivable” outside the dressing room one wonders what adjectives he attached to it in private.Rogers is a fighter and he wants to lead a team of players with similar dispositions. He will be delighted to welcome the Overtons back for the game against Surrey at The Oval a week on Sunday. This is him on the challenge of facing Durham’s seamers on the first evening and second morning of this game.”I loved being back in the fight. To be up at Durham against Rushworth and Onions is probably as tough as it gets and I thought I was coming out at the other end of it when I was run out. These things happen. There were a couple of glances at Peter as I was walking off but I’ve done it to other people too, so you just have to cop that on the chin.”And so he did. But he will not be deceived by that return of eight points. One imagines there are some things Rogers will take on the chin and others which he will refuse to accept.”I’ve learned a lot about the guys and there is plenty to work on,” he said. “There is a lot of talent in the squad but how they put that into practice out in the middle is going to be our challenge. Every game’s going to be tough but it comes down to us. We didn’t get it right in this match but it’s a long season.”

New Zealand have fitness worries over two key middle-order players ahead of the second Test at Headingley with allrounder Corey Anderson and wicketkeeper BJ Watling both struggling with injuries sustained at Lord’s

Andrew McGlashan26-May-2015New Zealand have fitness worries over two key middle-order players ahead of the second Test at Headingley with allrounder Corey Anderson and wicketkeeper BJ Watling both struggling with injuries sustained at Lord’s.Watling is only rated as 50-50 to be ready for Friday after picking up a knee injury on the opening day of the first Test which prevented him from keeping for the rest of the match although he did manage gutsy innings of 61 not out and 59. Anderson, meanwhile, suffered a back injury which meant he only bowled three overs in the second innings although he, too, batted well for 67 as New Zealand tried to save the match.”BJ’s not 100%, clearly his knee is still an issue,” coach Mike Hesson said. “He struggles to push off and get a lot of power so he’s a 50-50 at this stage. From Corey’s perspective bowling was painful and so was fielding so we’ll need to monitor that.”New Zealand have plenty of wicketkeeping cover should Watling not recover, in what would be a situation of history repeating itself after he was ruled out of the corresponding Test two years ago after being injured at Lord’s. Tom Latham took the gloves after lunch on the opening day, and collected six catches across the two innings, while Luke Ronchi, who is uncapped at Test level, is part of the squad.Anderson, though, is important to the balance of New Zealand’s side and Hesson acknowledged that his injury had left the frontline bowlers with an excessive workload which had played a part in England’s fightback on the fourth day, which is when Hesson sensed the match was moving away from the visitors.”It was really the fourth day that turned it around, we felt we bowled well enough to get three or four wickets in the morning but Alastair Cook and the way Ben Stokes and Joe Root played took the game away from us. That was the turning point. As a bowling unit we were a bowler light so that put a lot of pressure on other guys so they are stiff and sore and we need to make sure come Friday they are fresh.”In a free-flowing Test, the highest scoring one ever at Lord’s, the run-rates were high for most of the match. Hesson offered his support to offspinner Mark Craig, who finished with match figures of 2 for 173, and Tim Southee who conceded 266 runs in the match – the most ever by a New Zealand bowler in a Test.”Mark didn’t have his best Test, that’s fair, but he’s played nine Tests and won us three so he’s a very important member of our squad and he’ll be better off after this,” he said. “I also felt he got better as the game went on. Tim bowled some great spells and I think he suffered as we were a bowler light and had to bowl a heck of a lot more overs.”

Dhawal Kulkarni, returning from injury, and Shardul Thakur combined well to leave Saurashtra at 192 for 8 on a green track in Pune

The Report by Shashank Kishore in Pune24-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSaurashtra’s batting effort followed a similar script to their showing in the final against Mumbai three seasons ago, for most parts of the day. A combination of stage fright and lack of application on a green track that demanded patience over flamboyance allowed Mumbai’s pace battery to dictate terms. Two youngsters then put together a stodgy display to keep Saurashtra afloat, but only by just, on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final in Pune.Arpit Vasavada, the left-hander, persisted with despite poor returns this season, and Prerak Mankad, the debutant whose technique suggests he could bat higher than No. 9, joined hands to build an 84-run partnership. This meant that Saurashtra, who began like they were running blindfolded on a freeway, regained some lost ground. The returning Dhawal Kulkarni’s last roll of the dice with the second new ball, however, threw a spanner in Saurashtra’s designs as they closed the day at 192 for 8.Vasavada, who had managed only 192 runs in 11 innings prior to this outing, started off like a locomotive, before slowly dead-batting his way as wickets fell at the other end. He was seemingly untouched by the carnage triggered by Kulkarni and Shardul Thakur, as he scored 77 fighting runs. Mankad, meanwhile, rode his luck, having survived two run-outs while trying to pinch non-existent singleS and a half-chance at slip. Mankad slowly settled down and built his base around an array of strokes brought about by supple wrists and superb hand-eye coordination, to walk back 55 not out.Just as the gotten-out-of-jail feeling was starting to surface in the Saurashtra camp, Kulkarni struck with a brute of an outswinger that left Vasavada late to take the edge as Suryakumar Yadav pouched one at second slip to galvanise Mumbai. They, however, surprisingly tailed off as the day progressed, deep point in place for large parts, even as the eighth-wicket pair were fed with a generous offering of leave-me-alone deliveries in the final session. It took some sheen off a bowling attack that threatened to wipe out Saurashtra even before tea.Aditya Tare’s glee at winning the toss was unmistakable, and that feeling resonated in the camp as Kulkarni, having recovered from a groin injury, held his own by probing on and around the off stump. Mumbai were rewarded soon enough as the openers were dismissed within eight overs. While Avi Barot mistimed a flick to be caught at square leg, Sagar Jogiyani nicked one to the wicketkeeper.Cheteshwar Pujara, who missed Saurashtra’s maiden Ranji final three years ago, was greeted by a chirping slip cordon. Kulkarni set him up with a succession of incoming deliveries. After jabbing at two deliveries, Pujara was left playing inside the line to be beaten by a couple of sharp in-cutters. Tare then employed a silly point in his eyeline, only for Pujara to be put off as an away-swinger which he couldn’t reach out for resulted in an uncharacteristic push that was pouched in the slips. At 36 for 3, the heat was on Saurashtra.Sheldon Jackson, Saurashtra’s only batsman in the top-ten run-getters list this season, stuck around for 26 painful deliveries, often caught in two minds with his footwork. His luck ran out off his 27th delivery when Balwinder Sandhu induced a drive was well taken by Akhil Herwadkar at third slip. With a horror script unfolding in front of them even before the battle was truly on, Saurashtra’s chances went up in smoke.Jaydev Shah, the captain, set himself to repair the damage by blunting the bowling for 45 minutes, before the lunch break disturbed his concentration, and led to him fishing outside with an angled bat, only to nick behind. Chirag Jani and Deepak Punia also followed their captain’s footsteps in combating the late swing watchfully, before a rush of blood resulted in indecisive footwork and eventually an edge that was taken in the cordon.On an absorbing day that was marked by an intensity a final demanded, it was Mumbai’s experience that prevailed, even as Saurashtra would feel short-changed by the manner in which their top order caved in.

Derbyshire have added to their collection of overseas players for 2015 by bringing in New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2015Derbyshire have added to their collection of overseas players for 2015 by bringing in New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford to cover for the absence of Tillakaratne Dilshan in June and July. Rutherford is in the UK with New Zealand’s Test squad but is not expected to be involved in the limited-overs leg.Martin Guptill’s Test recall has left Derbyshire currently without an overseas player, although the arrival of Hasim Amla on a short-term deal is imminent. He will then be succeeded by Dilshan, who will be replaced by Rutherford during Dilshan’s spell in the Caribbean Premier League. Nathan Rimmington has also signed to play in the NatWest T20 Blast.Rutherford, 26, has previously played county cricket for Essex. He will join up with Derbyshire in the middle of June and will be available across all three formats until the end of July. In total, he will be available for seven NatWest T20 Blast fixtures, three Championship matches and four Royal London Cup games during his stay.”Hamish is a talented top-order batsman who already has experience playing county cricket in English conditions,” Derbyshire performance director, Graeme Welch, said. “He has international pedigree in both the long and shorter formats, which will be key as he joins us at what is a busy part of the summer. He will join us fresh from a Test series versus England so he will be used to the conditions, match fit and raring to go.”Together with Guptill, Rimmington, Amla and Dilshan, we have now been able to reinforce our line-up with experienced overseas players across the entire season, which provides us with real options in all formats of the game.”

Derbyshire have signed one of cricket’s most renowned yorker bowlers, the Melbourne Renegade Nathan Rimmington, for the 2015 NatWest Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2015Derbyshire have signed one of the doughtiest T20 death bowlers, Nathan Rimmington, for the entire 2015 NatWest T20 Blast. The signing puts effectiveness ahead of glamour with Derbyshire convinced they have secured one of the most parsimonious bowlers in the closing overs in the T20 game.Rimmington will variously combine with two international batsmen – New Zealand international Martin Guptill and Sri Lanka’s veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan – during the campaign.During his time with Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, Rimmington, 32, has built a renowned reputation for closing out an innings with his trademark perfect yorkers gaining much attention.In 59 Twenty20 fixtures since the Big Bash began in 2011, he has claimed 65 wickets at 21 apiece, with an economy rate of just above seven runs an over. He starred in the longer format, too, and was also named in Cricket Australia’s Sheffield Shield team of the year.Derbyshire’s elite performance director, Graeme Welch, said: “Nathan brings a wealth of experience bowling at the death which will be vital as we look to progress in the NatWest T20 Blast.”People will have watched him in the Big Bash and know the quality he will bring to the side. Not only will he be a valuable asset at the end of the innings, he will also provide us with a proven strike bowler with the new ball.Derbyshire are trying to get Rimmington to England early so that he can warm up with some league cricket ahead of the Blast and ensure those celebrated yorkers are inch perfect from the outset.

BJ Watling praised the New Zealand quicks’ perseverance on what was a drier day for them than the previous one, in which they had taken 10 wickets

Andrew Fidel Fernando at Hagley Oval28-Dec-2014BJ Watling praised the New Zealand quicks’ perseverance on what was a drier day for them than the previous one, in which they had taken 10 wickets.The hosts’ seamers only claimed half that amount on day three, but conceded just 209 runs. Sri Lanka had battled towards parity with big partnerships for the third and fourth wickets, but Trent Boult claimed two wickets in his last spell and further strengthened New Zealand’s dominance.”The boys kept running in there and we’ve bowled a lot of overs there now,” Watling said, “But to see Tim Southee and Trent Boult coming in at the end there was pleasing. To not let them get away on us was crucial, and then to get the bang-bang tonight just put us in a position where we felt more comfortable.”That final spell was a great example of how much the bowlers have improved. Tim did not get the rewards today and Trent did. To come that hard after 30-odd overs, and get enough nip, swing and ask a lot of questions was great. He did that to the new guys coming in as well, and put them under pressure.”Watling said New Zealand had expected the visitors to fight harder than they had so far in the Test, and praised Dimuth Karunaratne’s 152, which has left Sri Lanka within 10 runs of wiping out the 303-run first innings deficit.”They definitely batted a lot better today. I think the wickets is day three and has got a bit better. Karunaratne played extremely well to deny us his wicket for the majority of the day, and it took a great delivery from Trent to finish him off. It was frustrating not to get him. He played an exceptional innings in the circumstances.”Watling said that while the pitch was getting better for batting, there was still plenty in it for the bowlers to exploit. Seam movement has been prevalent throughout the match, but offspinner Mark Craig extracted substantial turn on day three as well.”I thought pidge bowled beautifully without a lot of luck. He was getting a few balls to spit, which was good. He is a tall bowler and got a lot of bounce. He asked good questions and tied up an end for us. There were a lot of balls going past the edge still, and a few half-chances popping around.”Sri Lanka have Angelo Mathews at the crease, not out on 53, alongside nightwatchman Tharindu Kaushal. Prasanna Jayawardene – the final recognised batsman – is yet to bat. Though Sri Lanka are still behind New Zealand, Karunaratne said there was hope of pulling off an unlikely win.”We saw, in the latter part, some turn in the wicket,” he said. “Angie is there and Prasanna also is there. If we can score another 150 to 175, it would be a good score with this wicket. If the fast bowlers can get a few wickets with the new ball then, we will be in a good position.”

The PCB has asked the ICC to set a date for offspin-bowling allrounder Mohammad Hafeez to have his action officially reassessed

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2015The PCB has asked the ICC to set a date for offspin-bowling allrounder Mohammad Hafeez to have his action officially reassessed. The test has been set for February 6 in Brisbane*, with the PCB hoping to have Hafeez cleared to bowl in time for the World Cup that begins on February 14.While Hafeez is part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad, he will not be allowed to bowl in the tournament unless cleared, having been suspended from bowling in international cricket in December. Pakistan are already without the services of Saeed Ajmal for the World Cup, who has also been banned.Hafeez’s action was tested at an ICC accredited centre in Loughborough, England. The analysis, an ICC statement said, found the flex in his action to exceed the 15-degree limit for all deliveries. Later, he was sent to Chennai to undergo remedial work and unofficial tests on his bowling action at Sri Ramachandra University. He had failed one of those unofficial tests, in January; he bowled 11 deliveries in that test, and of those the flex in six deliveries was above the 15-degree limit.If he fails the official test, the ICC’s Bowling Review Group (BRG) will specify a period during which Hafeez will not be entitled to approach the ICC for reassessment.Hafeez was first reported while playing for Lahore Lions during the Champions League T20 in September, but that sanction did not apply to international cricket. He was reported again after the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in November.Ajmal, who is not part of the World Cup squad, will undergo official ICC testing in Chennai on January 24.* January 23, 2015 11:15 GMT: The story has been updated with the date of Hafeez’s test

Anamul Haque and Nasir Hossain will be unavailable for the first Test against Zimbabwe, after they were both picked in the BCB XI side that will take part in the Acharya Memorial Trophy in Kolkata from October 25 to celebrate 150 years of the Eden Gardens

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2014Anamul Haque and Nasir Hossain will be unavailable for the first Test against Zimbabwe, after they were both picked in a BCB XI side that will take part in the Acharya Memorial Trophy in Kolkata from October 25 to celebrate 150 years of the Eden Gardens. Both players were part of Bangladesh’s Test squad last month against West Indies.Bangladesh will also be without the services of Elias Sunny, who too was selected in the BCB XI squad that will take on teams from Mumbai, Bangalore and the hosts Kolkata.Anamul has been made captain of the team, with Naeem Islam appointed his deputy. The make-up of the BCB XI squad means that the rest of the players will be kept in consideration for the first Test which also begins on October 25, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.Nasir is one of several Bangladesh players whose poor form this year has been under the scanner. The West Indies tour was seen as crucial for the likes of him, Mahmudullah, Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes and even Tamim Iqbal. While Mahmudullah and Tamim have done well and Shamsur Rahman and Imrul Kayes now remain in contention for the first Test match, the axe has fallen on Nasir and Anamul, who had started the West Indies tour with an ODI century.But since then, Anamul only managed scores of 7, 0, 19*, 15, 9 and 0 in the remaining games. Overall, he averages 9.12 in Test cricket. Nasir, on the other hand, is suffering his first bad season after making his debut in 2011. He averages 14.14 in four Tests this year, having made just 99 runs.This leaves the door slightly open for the likes of Shamsur, Imrul and Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury to be retained in the Test squad. Marshall Ayub, having not been named in the BCB XI, can also be considered to be competing for one spot. Among the bowlers, seamer Shahadat Hossain and legspinner Jubair Hossain are likely to be fighting for a single spot.BCB XI squad: Anamul Haque (capt) , Liton Kumar Das, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarker, Nasir Hossain, Naeem Islam, Nurul Hasan (wk), Arafat Sunny, Elias Sunny, Mohammad Shahid, Abul Hasan, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Taskin Ahmed, Muktar Ali