United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a devastating spell of fast bowling Tuesday, claiming his first career five-wicket haul to tear through Pakistan's inexperienced batting lineup in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Rana, who entered the match with only five wickets in his previous five ODI appearances, took five wickets in his first five overs, single-handedly reducing the visiting side to a vulnerable position. Pakistan, fielding four ODI debutants for the first time since 2008, struggled against the pace attack after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to field. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adopted a cautious approach against new-ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, playing 24 dot balls in the first six overs. However, Rana's introduction in the 10th over immediately changed the game. He removed Farhan (27) with the final ball of his opening over, caught by Afif Hossain at point. In his next over, Rana dismissed debutant Shamil Hussain (4) with a short delivery that Hussain skied to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Rana continued his barrage of short-pitched bowling, removing Sadaqat (18) in the 14th over and veteran Mohammad Rizwan (10) in the 17th over, caught again by Das. He completed his maiden five-wicket haul by dismissing Salman Agha for 5 runs, caught by Tanzid Hasan at short square leg.

Most of Iran's women's soccer team left Australia on Tuesday, with only seven players having accepted offers of permanent asylum. Tense scenes unfolded at Sydney Airport as Australian officials held last-minute private meetings with each player, explaining through interpreters that they could choose not to return to Iran. Earlier, seven players had received humanitarian visas to stay in Australia permanently. Despite emotional appeals and tearful protests from the departing players, no additional team members chose to remain. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the airport meetings as "emotional," adding that one of the seven women who initially stayed behind later decided to return to Iran. The episode drew national attention after the team’s first Asian Cup match, where some players remained silent during Iran's national anthem. Their silence was widely interpreted as a protest or act of defiance, while others viewed it as a form of mourning. Burke said the gesture had “been heard as a roar all around the world” and noted that Australia offered the players a safe choice. The team arrived in Australia before the outbreak of the Iran war on Feb. 28. Following Iran’s exit from the tournament over the weekend, players faced the prospect of returning to a country under conflict. Iranian-Australian groups warned the players could face serious consequences for their actions, even as the players themselves did not publicly explain their silence. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Australia for not offering asylum, although Australian officials confirmed private discussions with the players had already been ongoing. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities insisted the players were safe and that the government would protect them. Burke said Australian officials had made every effort to allow players to decide freely, arranging last-minute discussions, private phone calls, and separation from team minders to ensure decisions were made with dignity. The six players remaining in Australia were relocated for security, guaranteed permanent residency, and provided health, housing, and support. The Asian Football Confederation confirmed the squad had moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where it would continue to receive support until further travel arrangements.

FIFA expects that Iran’s national football team will be able to travel to the United States and take part in the upcoming World Cup, despite the ongoing conflict between the two countries. FIFA President ‘Gianni Infantino’ said on Tuesday that he spoke with US President Donald Trump about preparations for the tournament and received assurances that the Iranian team would be allowed to enter the United States to compete. The ‘2026 FIFA World Cup’, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, is set to begin in about three months. Iran is scheduled to play its group matches in the US, starting against New Zealand in Inglewood, California on June 15. The team will then face Belgium on June 21 before concluding its group stage campaign against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Iranian officials had recently indicated that their participation in the tournament might be uncertain due to the ongoing war. Infantino said he discussed the situation with Trump during a meeting Tuesday night. “We also talked about the current situation in Iran and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” he said, adding that Trump confirmed the team would be welcome to take part in the tournament in the United States. Infantino and Trump maintain a close relationship. Trump was previously awarded FIFA’s inaugural peace prize, an honour many observers believe was created with him in mind. However, Iranian fans had already faced restrictions earlier, as they were included in the initial version of a travel ban introduced by the Trump administration. Infantino said global events like the World Cup are important for bringing people together, particularly during times of conflict, and thanked Trump for his support. Earlier this week, FIFA World Cup chief operating officer ‘Heimo Schirgi’ said the tournament is too significant to be postponed because of the global tensions linked to the ongoing US and Israeli war against Iran. Schirgi said FIFA is closely monitoring developments in the conflict but remains confident that the tournament will proceed as planned. “We are taking it day by day and hope there will be a resolution,” he said. “The World Cup is too big, and we hope all teams that have qualified will be able to participate.”

Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid moved closer to the Champions League quarterfinals with commanding victories on Tuesday, while Liverpool suffered defeat and Barcelona needed a dramatic late penalty to avoid losing. Bayern thrashed Atalanta 6-1 away despite leaving top scorer Harry Kane out of the starting lineup. Atletico Madrid also produced a dominant performance, beating Tottenham 5-2 after racing to a 3-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes. In other matches, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in Istanbul, while Barcelona secured a 1-1 draw against Newcastle thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from teenage star Lamine Yamal. Bayern’s impressive display came even without Kane, who has scored 47 goals this season for club and country but was only fit enough for the bench. Michael Olise scored twice for the German champions, while Serge Gnabry and Nicolas Jackson both scored and assisted. Josip Stanisic and Jamal Musiala also found the net as Bayern overwhelmed Atalanta to take a commanding advantage into the second leg. Tottenham endured a disastrous start in Madrid after coach Igor Tudor opted to drop first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. His replacement, Antonin Kinsky, struggled badly on his Champions League debut. A slip and miskick in the sixth minute allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring for Atletico, before Antoine Griezmann doubled the lead shortly afterwards. Another error by Kinsky gifted Julian Alvarez an easy third goal, and the goalkeeper was substituted in the 17th minute. Vicario replaced him but conceded just five minutes later when Robin Le Normand scored Atletico’s fourth. Although Spurs managed to rally later in the game, the heavy defeat leaves them facing an uphill battle in the return leg. Mbappé misses Real Madrid training ahead of Man City clash; coach hints at return 'soon' “We knew how to take advantage of our opponents’ mistakes to gain a good lead,” Alvarez said, adding that Atletico now head into the second leg with a three-goal cushion. Barcelona were moments away from defeat at Newcastle before earning a late penalty deep into stoppage time. Malick Thiaw fouled Dani Olmo in the box and referee Marco Guida awarded a penalty. Eighteen-year-old Yamal calmly converted in the 96th minute to level the score, and the final whistle followed immediately after. Newcastle had taken the lead in the 86th minute through Harvey Barnes, who also struck the post earlier in the match. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted his side did not perform at their best but said the young squad has strong potential. Galatasaray, meanwhile, secured a narrow advantage over Liverpool in their round-of-16 tie with a 1-0 win in Istanbul. Mario Lemina scored the only goal with a header in the seventh minute, giving the Turkish champions the edge heading into next week’s second leg at Anfield. Galatasaray had opportunities to extend their lead, including a second-half strike from Victor Osimhen that was ruled out for offside, while Liverpool saw Ibrahima Konate’s effort disallowed for handball following a VAR review. Liverpool coach Arne Slot said the tie is far from over, noting that the return leg will be played at Anfield in front of their home supporters.

Pakistan will field three debutants in their top batting order for the first ODI against Bangladesh, as captain Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed claims that veteran batter Babar Azam was dropped from the squad. Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat will open the innings, followed by Shamil Hussain at number three, marking a major top-order overhaul for the visiting side. The absence of experienced players like Azam and Saim Ayub drew scrutiny, particularly after Azam scored a century in Pakistan's recent home series against Sri Lanka. Speaking to reporters in Mirpur on Tuesday, Afridi denied that any players were permanently removed from the roster. "No one has been dropped from this series," Afridi said. "We just wanted to give opportunities to the youngsters, who are our future. We need to prepare the team for the World Cup." The youthful Pakistani squad features six players without an ODI cap, four of whom have no international cricket experience. Both teams enter the series following contrasting recent performances. Pakistan secured series victories against South Africa and Sri Lanka, including a sweep of the latter. Bangladesh, despite a difficult year that included a series loss to Sri Lanka and a sweep by Afghanistan, recently defeated the West Indies at home. "Bangladesh is a good team at home," Afridi said. "They played good cricket and beat the West Indies. As a team, we are also prepared and must maintain the momentum from our last two series."

The Bangladesh national cricket team is implementing a formalized batting order to address recent collapses and stabilize the squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup, with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz moving to the number seven position. Speaking at a press conference in Mirpur on Tuesday before a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, Miraz outlined the strategic shift. The team has struggled to bat through a full innings, completing 50 overs only twice in their last nine outings. These batting failures recently contributed to a home series loss to Sri Lanka and a sweep by Afghanistan. To counter this, management is assigning players to fixed roles. Alongside Miraz's move, Litton Das is slated to bat at number five, followed by Afif Hossain at number six. Najmul Hossain and Towhid Hridoy will anchor the upper-middle order. Miraz, who has batted in every position from one to nine during his career, said he chose number seven to leverage his near-decade of experience batting with the tailenders. "I have batted in the top order a lot, maybe got a lot of runs, but many times the Bangladesh team did not win," Miraz said. The captain said the new lineup will see minimal changes moving forward to allow players to gain experience in their designated roles and build team cohesion for the squad's upcoming 22-match ODI schedule.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said that any leader requires time to properly develop a team, speaking during a press conference Tuesday ahead of a three-match ODI series against Pakistan. The first match is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The series marks the start of a critical year for Bangladesh, which faces a 22-match ODI schedule. The team aims to secure direct qualification for the upcoming World Cup by maintaining a position within the top nine of the global rankings. BCB announces ticket prices for Pakistan ODI series Addressing questions regarding his leadership philosophy and future, Miraz deferred long-term decisions to the cricket board. His current tenure as captain extends until June, and he emphasized his immediate focus is on guiding the team to a strong position during that period. "Whoever is given the captaincy, if given time, can build the team beautifully," Miraz said. "My role, for however long I have been given this responsibility, is to try and take the team to a good place." Miraz holds a difficult record as ODI captain, securing three wins in 13 matches, though two of those victories occurred during the team's recent series against the West Indies. He noted that the upcoming Pakistan series is crucial for the nation's World Cup qualification, prioritizing the team's advancement over his individual captaincy record.

Kylian Mbappé did not train with Real Madrid on Tuesday ahead of the crucial Champions League tie against Manchester City, though coach Álvaro Arbeloa said the French striker could return soon. Mbappé has been sidelined since February 21 due to a knee problem, which also ruled him out of Madrid’s win over Benfica in the Champions League playoffs. “Well, he’s better. Obviously, we have to take one day at a time and see how he is evolving,” Arbeloa said through an interpreter. “But this week has been positive. He’s back giving a good feeling. And we are looking forward to having him back soon.” Madrid confirmed that Mbappé, along with other injured players, did not participate in training. It would be a major surprise if he features against City on Wednesday, despite earlier suggestions from Arbeloa that he could return within days. The French forward’s absence adds to Madrid’s injury woes. Midfielder Rodrygo is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, and Jude Bellingham, who has been sidelined for over a month, also did not train on Tuesday.

Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team have received humanitarian visas in Australia after concerns were raised about their safety following their refusal to sing the Iranian national anthem during an Asian Cup match. Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke said the players were moved to a secure location by police before their visa applications were approved early Tuesday. He confirmed the athletes as Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi. Burke said the players had stressed that they were not political activists but athletes seeking safety. After several days of discussions, authorities were informed on Monday that the five women wanted to remain in Australia. They were subsequently taken from their hotel to a secure place, where the minister later approved their transition to humanitarian visas around 1:30am local time. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later confirmed the decision, while the government said the remaining members of the team would also be allowed to stay if they chose to do so. Humanitarian visas in Australia provide long-term protection and allow recipients to live, work and study in the country. Concerns over the team’s safety intensified after the players declined to sing the national anthem before their Asian Cup match against South Korea last week. The move sparked criticism from conservative voices in Iran, with some commentators calling the players “traitors” and demanding punishment. Supporters gathered outside the stadium in Gold Coast over the weekend, chanting “save our girls” as the team bus left the venue. Activists and members of Australia’s Iranian community have urged authorities to offer protection to players who fear repercussions if they return home. The issue also drew international attention after US President Donald Trump publicly called on Australia to grant asylum to the players, saying the United States would consider accepting them if Australia did not. Human rights advocates said athletes competing in international tournaments should have the freedom to express themselves without fear of retaliation. Former Australian football captain Craig Foster said activists had serious concerns about the safety of the players, many of whom have families in Iran. Despite strong support from fans, it remains unclear whether other members of the Iranian squad will also seek protection or return to Iran after the tournament.   With inputs from BBC

Iraq’s head coach, Graham Arnold, has appealed to FIFA to postpone his team’s intercontinental World Cup playoff due to the disruptions caused by the escalating war in Iran. The Iraqi squad faces major challenges ahead of their winner-takes-all match against either Suriname or Bolivia, set for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1, Arnold’s team — mostly made up of domestic league players cannot fully assemble. Many players are also unable to secure visas for Mexico because of embassy closures, while Arnold himself is stuck in the United Arab Emirates amid the conflict. “Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of Iraq,” Arnold, a former Australian national team coach, told the Australian Associated Press. The turmoil has already forced the cancellation of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold said relying only on overseas-based players is not a viable solution. “It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best squad for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said. Arnold has suggested a strategic delay: let Suriname and Bolivia play their preliminary match this month, but postpone Iraq’s final playoff until a week before the World Cup starts. “This would give us time to prepare properly and allow FIFA to see how the situation with Iran develops,” he said. “If Iran withdraws, we go to the World Cup, and it also gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, time to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.” Iraq Football Association president Adnan Dirjal is reportedly working tirelessly to make the World Cup dream a reality, and Arnold stressed that a quick decision from FIFA is crucial.