United News of Bangladesh

Towhid Hridoy finished unbeaten on 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, passing Tamim Iqbal's long-standing record for the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi. With this, Hridoy has also become the first Bangladeshi to make a first-class triple century outside the country. He went past Tamim's 334 on the final day of the four-day affair. Tamim set that mark for East Zone against Central Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League at Mirpur in 2019. Bangladesh A declared on 676 for eight, with Hridoy having faced 481 balls. Rejaur Rahman, who held up an end late in the innings, was 31 not out from 110 deliveries. Wickets fell around Hridoy through the day. The eighth went down with him on 225, leaving him to push the score along with the tail. He and Rejaur then batted through to the declaration. South Africa A, 164 behind on first innings, began their second innings with less than a session left, giving Bangladesh A no realistic chance of bowling them out.

Bangladesh fast bowler Khaled Ahmed has signed for Kent for the last four matches of their County Championship season.  In his first County assignment, he will bowl alongside compatriot Hasan Mahmud. Kent announced the deal on Tuesday, subject to regulatory approval, as the club chase promotion from Division Two. The 32-year-old right-arm seamer joins Hasan, who is back at Canterbury after an earlier spell this season. Hasan took 12 wickets in two matches in June, including 9-101 against Lancashire at Stanley Park, before leaving for international duty. "It's an honour for me to play county cricket and join a club with a big history such as Kent," Khaled said. "This is an important part of our season and I am determined to help the team achieve promotion." He added that Hasan and his agent had spoken well of the club, which made the decision an easy one. Khaled made his first-class debut for Sylhet in 2015 and has 190 wickets from 70 matches. He has taken 34 wickets in 18 Tests since making his debut for Bangladesh in 2018. Kent are second in Division Two, level on points with Northamptonshire and 40 points behind leaders Durham. Director of cricket Simon Cook said the club had been looking for another bowler to add depth for the closing weeks. "With three of our final four games at home, we can stick with a formula that worked well in the first half of the year, while also having the flexibility to rest and rotate our frontline bowlers," Cook said.

A proposed move by United States international Folarin Balogun from Monaco to Everton appears to have fallen through after a problem reportedly emerged during his medical examination. The Athletic reported that the transfer was called off on Tuesday, the final day of the Premier League transfer window. Balogun was reportedly at Everton's training ground but did not sign a contract. Everton did not immediately comment on the situation. Earlier reports, including from Britain's Press Association, said Everton had offered around 40 million pounds ($54 million) for the 25-year-old striker. Balogun has two years remaining on his contract with Monaco. He attracted significant attention this summer after scoring three goals for the United States at the World Cup, making him the team's leading scorer in the tournament. He also made headlines after receiving a red card and a one-match suspension during the United States' 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. FIFA later deferred the suspension following intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, allowing Balogun to play in the round of 16. He featured in the United States' 4-1 defeat to Belgium, which ended the team's World Cup campaign on home soil. Trump's intervention led to a formal complaint being filed with FIFA's ethics investigators. Born in New York, Balogun grew up in Britain and came through Arsenal's youth academy. He later played for Middlesbrough before moving to France, where he joined Reims and eventually Monaco. Balogun scored 13 goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended three individuals, including former Director Mokhlesur Rahman, over allegations of corruption and match-fixing during the 12th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The BCB announced the suspensions in a news release on Tuesday and gave the accused 15 days to respond to the charges. Mokhlesur, a former director of the board led by Aminul Islam, faces allegations of trying to influence the outcome, progress or conduct of BPL matches, or being involved in efforts to fix matches. He is also accused of encouraging or helping others involved in the tournament to take part in corrupt activities. The BCB further alleged that Mokhlesur failed to report a corrupt approach to anti-corruption officials and deleted or destroyed communications that could have been relevant to an investigation. Mokhlesur had stepped down from his role with the BCB’s audit committee after fixing allegations surfaced during the previous BPL. The other two suspended individuals are former BCB security liaison officer Zakir Hasan and Rakibul Islam Sani, a former member secretary of the board’s audit committee. Zakir is accused of trying to influence the outcome or progress of matches and of encouraging others to become involved in corruption. He also allegedly failed to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation without reasonable justification. Rakibul, a former Bogura district councillor who served as member secretary of the audit committee, is accused of failing to report an approach to engage in corrupt activities and of not cooperating with an anti-corruption investigation. The suspensions are provisional. The three have 15 days to submit their responses to the allegations.  

Seventeen-year-old Thea Frodin is set to play one of the biggest matches of her young career when she takes on world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in her first US Open singles appearance. It is a huge challenge for the Los Angeles teenager, who once had another connection with one of tennis’ greatest stars — Serena Williams. Frodin served as the on-court body double for Serena’s character in the 2021 film King Richard. Actor Demi Singleton played the younger Serena Williams, while Frodin performed the tennis scenes. Now, instead of copying Serena’s game for a movie, Frodin will step onto the court as herself. “I've worked so hard to try and get to this level, and to have an opportunity like this is just really special for me,” Frodin said. She earned a wild card into the US Open after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships. Her journey into Hollywood also began through tennis. As a young player in California, Frodin won sectional titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the 10-and-under level. Her success later led to an audition for King Richard. Frodin spent six months on the film set, working alongside several actors, including Will Smith, who won an Oscar for playing Richard Williams, the father of Serena and Venus Williams. Having watched Serena throughout her career, Frodin found it relatively easy to copy the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s strokes. However, she said playing Serena for so long briefly affected her own technique. “After I was done with the movie, I got into the habit of playing with her strokes, and I couldn't switch back to mine,” she said, adding that it took time to return to her natural style. Frodin played in the US Open doubles last year but has never met Serena or Venus Williams. Wednesday’s match against Rybakina will be her first at the WTA Tour level. Earlier this year, she lost in the qualifying round in Miami during her previous attempt to reach a top-level tournament. With one year of high school still remaining, Frodin has not yet decided what comes next. But if Hollywood offers another opportunity, she would be open to balancing acting with tennis. “Tennis has always been my No. 1 focus,” she said. “But I loved being in that acting environment. If it’s possible to balance both, I’d definitely be interested.”

Lionel Messi announced Monday that he is retiring from international soccer after a remarkable two-decade career with Argentina. “It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old Messi said in a statement posted on Instagram. He said he had always given everything for Argentina, not only during the years when the team won major titles but throughout his entire international career. “I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” Messi said. Messi represented Argentina at a record-tying six World Cups, winning the title in Qatar in 2022. He also guided the team to this year’s World Cup final, where Argentina lost to Spain in extra time in New Jersey. Messi revealed that he had written his retirement message on June 21, two days after the World Cup final, but delayed publishing it because his father was suffering from health problems. Jorge Messi died in his hometown of Rosario on Aug. 8. The retirement will not end Messi’s club career. He will continue playing for Inter Miami, for whom he scored four goals in a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal over the weekend. Messi made his Argentina debut in 2006, but his international career was marked by years of disappointment before he finally lifted the World Cup trophy in 2022. “Thank you for all the love these past 20 years,” Messi said. “I'm going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I'm going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside.” The Inter Miami captain did not indicate how much longer he plans to continue playing at club level. “I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of,” he said. “Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all.” Second international retirement Messi’s recent success with Argentina came after a difficult period that had once led him to retire from the national team. In 2016, he announced his retirement after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile on penalties, with Messi missing one of Argentina’s spot kicks. He later reversed that decision and continued his career, starring for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 before finally securing the World Cup in 2022. Messi has also continued to excel at Inter Miami, winning the Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award in consecutive seasons and remaining one of the league’s most influential players. “He is pure history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. “History. A legend.”

Real Madrid maintained its perfect record Sunday, cruising past newly promoted Malaga 4-0.   Jude Bellingham scored in the 19th minute for Jose Mourinho's side, before Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero conceded an own goal seven minutes later. Kylian Mbappe converted Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross on the half-hour mark and Arda Guler added a stoppage-time fourth as Madrid slowed following three games in eight days. Messi scores four, provides assist as Inter Miami thrash Montreal 7-1 Athletic Club claimed its first win under Edin Terzic, beating host Celta Vigo 2-0 with first-half goals from Alex Berenguer and Robert Navarro. Struggling Valencia fell 3-1 to Deportivo A Coruna, conceding Cesar Tarrega and Mouctar Diakhaby own goals alongside a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike. Umar Sadiq scored for Valencia in the 26th minute following a defensive error, while Deportivo's Adril Altimira was sent off in stoppage time. On Saturday, Atletico Madrid beat host Sevilla 3-1 without Julian Alvarez, Levante stunned Real Betis 5-2 and Real Sociedad beat Espanyol 2-1. On Friday, new signing Yassir Zabiri scored a first-half hat-trick as Racing Santander beat Elche 3-2, while Villarreal lost 1-0 to Deportivo Alaves. Monday features Barcelona hosting Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna hosting Getafe.

Chelsea made official the signing of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez on Sunday. The English club said the 33-year-old goalkeeper, who won the World Cup in 2022, has signed a three-year deal, joining from Aston Villa. “Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon. I can’t wait to get started,” Martínez said. “I want to be successful here. I’m someone who wants to win at everything I do and I want to bring that here to this football club because it’s a football club that wins titles, so I think it’s a good match.” Martínez is set to take over the starting goalkeeping spot in Xabi Alonso's squad, which saw Robert Sánchez struggle again in the team's Premier League opener against Fulham. Villa earlier this month signed U.S.-born Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma, opening the doors for Martínez's departure. Martínez has been Argentina’s regular starter since 2021, earning 67 caps. He also helped his country win the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, and reach this year's World Cup final. Martinez won the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best-performing goalkeeper, at the 2023 and 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremonies. He made 256 appearances for Villa across six seasons and won the Europa League in May. "I’m all passion and I play with my heart. I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud," he said. Martínez started his career in the youth squads of Argentine club Independiente and joined Arsenal in 2010, at age 17. After several loan stints, he became a regular for Arsenal in the 2019-20 season, starting the last 11 matches and winning the FA Cup.  

Lionel Messi scored four goals and set up another as Inter Miami produced a dominant second-half display to beat CF Montreal 7-1 in Major League Soccer on Saturday night. Messi’s four-goal performance was his first in MLS, with three of his goals coming after halftime. Inter Miami scored six unanswered goals after Montreal had levelled the match. Carlos Casimiro opened the scoring for Miami in the 20th minute, heading in from a corner by Telasco Segovia. It was the 34-year-old midfielder’s first league goal in his sixth appearance, while Segovia registered his ninth assist of the season. Montreal equalised in the 37th minute through Fabian Herbers, his first goal of the campaign. Messi restored Miami’s lead in the 40th minute with a free kick, his 15th goal of the season. The Argentine superstar struck again in the 52nd minute to make it 3-1 before Luis Suárez extended the advantage to 4-1 in the 80th minute, converting Messi’s assist. The assist was Messi’s 10th of the season. Messi completed his four-goal haul with goals in the 83rd minute and the sixth minute of stoppage time, with the final goal also coming from a free kick. Rookie Alexander Shaw added another for Miami in the 89th minute, scoring his first goal in just his third appearance. The victory was Inter Miami’s fifth straight over Montreal and lifted their season record to 12-4-6. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made three saves. Montreal, who fell to 5-11-6, had goalkeeper Thomas Gillier make five saves. The win was Miami’s first since beating Montreal 1-0 away from home at the end of July, when Suárez scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 81st minute. Messi, the reigning MLS Golden Boot winner and league MVP, entered the match two goals behind FC Dallas forward Petar Musa in the league scoring race.

Rayan Cherki scored twice and Erling Haaland also struck two goals as Manchester City cruised to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Friday, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season. Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute, heading home to register his first goal of the campaign. City extended their lead early in the second half when Cherki made his way through several Palace defenders before finishing from close range. Palace, however, pulled one back soon after. Yeremy Pino's free kick hit the crossbar and rebounded into the net off the back of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Cherki quickly restored City's two-goal advantage just two minutes later when his shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection, wrong-footing Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. It was Cherki's first Premier League brace, although the French midfielder described his overall performance as only “so-so.” He said he was determined to make an impact after noticing that coach Enzo Maresca was preparing to substitute him. “When I see Enzo Maresca wanted to change me, I didn't like that, so I had to show him I wanted to play and wanted to score,” Cherki said. Haaland completed the scoring six minutes from time with a left-footed strike, sealing City's second straight victory of the season. The result moved City to the top of the Premier League table with six points from their opening two matches. Palace, meanwhile, remain without a point after two games. Midfielder Adam Wharton said the team was still adjusting to the style of new coach Pierre Sage, who took charge in June. Wharton said Palace showed some positive moments but failed to test City's goalkeeper enough and needed more time to adapt to their new manager's approach.