United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh leg spinner Rishad Hossain has left for Australia to take part in the upcoming Big Bash League, where he will play for defending champions Hobart Hurricanes. With this, his dream is coming into true, as he was unable to play last season as the BCB did not grant him the No-Objection Certificate.  Rishad is the only Bangladeshi cricketer after Shakib Al Hasan to play this Australian league.  This time, the clearance came early, which also kept Rishad out of the Bangladesh Premier League auction. Hobart retained their faith in him during the draft, calling him in the second round. Before that, they secured England fast bowler Chris Jordan as their first overseas pick, and later added another English leg spinner, Rehan Ahmed, in the fourth round. Jordan has been a key figure for Hobart over the last two seasons, taking seven wickets during their title-winning campaign last year and nine wickets the previous season. He remains the Hurricanes’ preferred option in the death overs and was their top overseas priority once again. With Rishad and Rehan both in the squad, two of Hobart’s three overseas slots are now occupied by leg spinners who can also contribute with the bat. Mushtaq backs Rishad for Test, citing his height and bounce advantage Rehan brings stronger red-ball batting credentials, with six first-class centuries, while Rishad has featured in ninety-six recognized T20 matches, scoring one fifty at a strike rate of 134.39. Rehan last played competitive cricket in mid-November and recently recovered from injury, which British media say will not affect his Big Bash availability. Only three overseas players can feature in a match-day eleven, making competition for places intense. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis led the team last season. The new Big Bash season begins on December 14, with Hobart Hurricanes setting to play their opening match on December 16.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday congratulated the Bangladesh youth hockey team after lifting the Challenger division of the Youth Hockey World Cup, calling it a source of pride for the nation. In a congratulatory message, Prof Yunus said the players’ success had uplifted the country and reflected their hard work, discipline, team unity and indomitable spirit. He noted that the team’s performance had further strengthened Bangladesh’s presence on the international sporting stage. The Chief Adviser also credited the collective efforts of the players, the dedication of the coaching staff and the support of all concerned for making the triumph possible. Prof Yunus expressed hope that the victory would open a new chapter to flourish the county’s hockey. Maintaining the momentum of progress and excellence, he added, would create greater opportunities for the youth to achieve even bigger successes in the future. Bangladesh secured the Challenger title on Monday in Madurai, India, with a commanding 5–2 victory over Austria in the final. This year, the International Hockey Federation introduced the Challenger division for the classification round involving eight teams eliminated in the group stage of the Youth World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing formal complaints to the soccer body’s ethics investigators over his public backing of U.S. President Donald Trump and the awarding of a peace prize to him. London-based human rights group FairSquare said Tuesday it requested investigations into Infantino for allegedly violating FIFA’s statutory duty to remain politically neutral. FIFA said its ethics committee does not comment on potential ongoing cases and could not confirm receipt of the complaint. Under FIFA rules, breaches of neutrality can lead to bans of up to two years, though it is unclear if the case will proceed. Critics note that FIFA-appointed ethics investigators are now seen as less independent than in the era of former president Sepp Blatter. Infantino’s ‘Peace Prize’ for Trump sparks debate over FIFA’s political neutrality Infantino has publicly praised Trump this year, including suggesting he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize. He also aligned FIFA closely with the U.S. ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize last week as Infantino launched the tournament draw in Washington, D.C. FairSquare said in an eight-page complaint that awarding a prize to a sitting political leader “is a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality.” The group also criticized Infantino for potentially acting without proper authority. FairSquare has previously challenged FIFA over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, the influence of World Cup sponsor Aramco, governance standards, and slow investigations into Israeli settlement teams. Source: AP 

Australia’s 15-man squad for next week’s third Ashes Test features just one notable addition — captain Pat Cummins, who is set to bolster the pace attack when the series resumes in Adelaide. Selectors retained a larger squad to maintain flexibility ahead of the Dec. 17 match, with Cummins and off-spinner Nathan Lyon both expected to return to the starting XI. Australia leads the five-Test series 2-0 and needs only a draw at Adelaide Oval to retain the Ashes. Cummins has been sidelined since Australia’s 3-0 sweep of the West Indies in July, when he began experiencing the back soreness that kept him out of the opening two Tests. Lyon, who was unexpectedly dropped for the team’s eight-wicket win at the Gabba, has been cleared to play and is set to reunite with the attack. McCullum blames England’s Ashes slump on overtraining, opts for beach reset The remaining fitness concern is opener Usman Khawaja, who is recovering from a back complaint. The 38-year-old remains optimistic about being available, though it is uncertain whether he will reclaim his spot. In his absence, Travis Head partnered Jake Weatherald in Brisbane, scoring 33 and 22 after his match-winning century in Perth. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster. Source: AP 

Liverpool proved they could cope without Mohamed Salah on Tuesday, securing a crucial 1-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan thanks to a late penalty. With Salah left out following his criticism of the club last week, Dominik Szoboszlai took over spot-kick duties and calmly converted an 88th-minute penalty to seal the victory against one of the tournament’s standout teams. The win was especially important for Arne Slot’s side after managing just one victory in their previous six matches. Liverpool climbed to eighth, regaining momentum in the race for a direct place in the round of 16, while Inter slipped to fifth. Two-goal Fernandes inspires Manchester United to 4-1 win over Wolves Earlier, Ibrahima Konate thought he had given Liverpool the lead, but the goal was overturned after a lengthy VAR review found a handball in the buildup. VAR later awarded Liverpool the decisive penalty after spotting Alessandro Bastoni pulling Florian Wirtz’s shirt. Bayern’s young star impresses againBayern Munich moved to second in their group after a 3-1 comeback win over Sporting Lisbon, highlighted by 17-year-old Lennart Karl’s stunning volley — his third goal in four Champions League appearances. Bayern overturned Joshua Kimmich’s early own-goal with strikes from Serge Gnabry, Karl and Jonathan Tah. Alphonso Davies made his first appearance since March after recovering from a knee injury. Chelsea fallsChelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, ending nearly three months without a Champions League loss. Joao Pedro scored first, but Atalanta hit back through Gianluca Scamacca before Charles De Ketelaere set up the equaliser and netted the 83rd-minute winner. Chelsea dropped to 11th. Barcelona, Spurs and others winJules Koundé’s two quick headers gave Barcelona a 2-1 comeback win over Eintracht Frankfurt, with Lamine Yamal setting a Champions League record for most combined goals and assists by a player under 19. Tottenham moved up to ninth with a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, a match marred by controversy over the removal of a rainbow flag. Elsewhere, Julián Alvarez led Atletico Madrid to a 3-2 victory at PSV, Marseille edged Union Saint-Gilloise 3-2, Monaco beat Galatasaray 1-0, and Olympiakos earned a 1-0 win at Kairat Almaty. Source: AP 

Bruno Fernandes scored twice and set up another as Manchester United cruised to a 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton on Monday, climbing into the Premier League’s top six. Fernandes opened the scoring early, capitalizing on a midfield error by Andre before squeezing a shot past goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. Wolves equalized seconds before halftime when David Moller Wolfe’s cross found Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who volleyed home for the team’s first league goal in more than a month. United regained control shortly after the restart. Bryan Mbeumo tapped in Diogo Dalot’s pass in the 51st minute to restore the visitors’ lead, and Mason Mount extended it 11 minutes later after a clever chipped assist from Fernandes. The United captain sealed the win with an 82nd-minute penalty. The result handed Wolves their eighth straight defeat, leaving them bottom of the table with just two points, eight behind Burnley. Thousands of fans staged a 15-minute boycott against owners Fosun International, missing United’s opening goal. “We got ourselves back in the game but the goals we conceded were poor,” Wolves manager Rob Edwards said. “We’re getting punished and have to improve.” Despite United’s inconsistent form this season, the team dominated the second half. Mount said manager Ruben Amorim’s stern halftime talk pushed the players to be “ruthless” after a sloppy finish to the first period. United now sit sixth with 25 points, level with fifth-place Chelsea. “We can’t stop now. We’ve got to keep going,” Mount added.

Shakib Al Hasan, who lives out of country after the fall of his political party Awami League from the government facing a mass uprising last year, has said he remains hopeful of playing for Bangladesh again and wants to end his international career with a full series on home soil across all three formats. Many observers believe Shakib’s international career for Bangladesh effectively ended after he last played during the team’s tour of India in 2024. Following the political changes later that year, the former Bangladesh captain has remained outside the country. Shakib was a member of parliament after Awani League won an election early last year. The election was boycotted by major political parties. In July- August last year, a mass uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina-led government after she brutally superseded an earlier students-movement demanding a fair system for government job. Speaking on the YouTube podcast Beard Before Wicket, Shakib said his plan is clear. “My plan is to return to Bangladesh and retire after playing a full series — one-day internationals, Tests and T20Is,” he said. “I want to say goodbye to all three formats in a single series. It could be T20Is first, then ODIs and Tests, or in any order. I have no issue with that,” he added Shakib had earlier announced before the Kanpur Test in September last year that he would no longer play international T20Is. He had also hoped to play his final Test at home against South Africa in October, but protests and clashes near the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka preceded that series. After later apologising for his silence during the July–August student-led uprising, Shakib was not included in the squad for the South Africa Tests. However, despite the apologies, Shakib later said what he had done during the protest was right. Now, again, the star all-rounder expressed his hope to play for Bangladesh. Since the India tour in 2024, he has not featured for the national team but has continued to play regularly in overseas franchise leagues. He is currently playing in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates for MI Emirates. Shakib said he is still playing because of his dream to return. “This is the dream. That is why I am still playing,” he said. He added that a farewell at home would be for the supporters. “They have always stood by me. I want to close this chapter by playing a full series in front of them on home soil.” But the current political reality that emerged after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s fifteen-year rule in Bangladesh, which analysts say was authoritative, now casts serious doubt on whether that “dream” can be fulfilled.

A woman has been sentenced to four years in prison for blackmailing soccer star Son Heung-min, a South Korean court said Monday. The woman, identified only as Yang, was charged with extorting 300 million won ($204,000) from Son in 2024 after sending him an ultrasound photo of a baby that she claimed was his and demanding money to stay silent. She later conspired with a man, identified as Yong, to try to extort more money from Son. The Seoul Central District Court on Monday said Yang “lied” to Son, although she hadn’t confirmed whose child she was carrying. The court said Yang denied the charges of extortion and attempted extortion. Yong, who confessed, was sentenced to two years in prison, according to the court. The 33-year-old Son is among Asia's greatest players. After a decade at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, the South Korean star joined LAFC in August. South Korean news agency, Yonhap, reported in May that a women in her 20s and a man in his 40s had been detained on suspicion of attempting to blackmail Son in June of last year while he was still at Tottenham.

Neymar played a pivotal role in helping Santos avoid relegation from Brazil’s Serie A on Sunday, as the club defeated Cruzeiro 3-0, while the 33-year-old forward announced he will undergo surgery on his left knee. In the final league match of the season, Santos, the historic club famed for Pelé, secured its top-flight status, narrowly avoiding what would have been only the second relegation in the team’s history. The club had been relegated for the first time in 2023, nearly a year after the death of the legendary player. Neymar, who had been recovering from a torn ACL suffered during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023, returned to Santos in January and was instrumental in the team’s successful campaign to remain in the league. Over the last three rounds, Neymar scored against Sport Recife in a 3-0 win, netted a hat trick against Juventude in another 3-0 victory, and served as an effective playmaker in Sunday’s match. Goals from Thaciano in the 26th and 28th minutes, and João Schmidt in the 60th, secured the win for Santos at Vila Belmiro Stadium. The club finished 12th with 47 points. Neymar appeared in only 19 of the 38 league matches, scoring eight goals. Neymar signs contract extension with Santos through 2025 “I came to help in any way I could. These weeks have been very challenging,” Neymar said after the game. “I am grateful to everyone who supported me. Without them, I wouldn’t have played these matches because of my knee injuries. I need rest now, and then I will have surgery.” Neymar did not provide further details about the injury or the procedure but remains hopeful of being included in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad, despite not being called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti since May. Earlier this week, Flamengo secured its ninth Brazilian league title following a 1-0 win against Ceara and also claimed last month’s Copa Libertadores crown. Source: AP

England coach Brendon McCullum says the team’s biggest issue after consecutive eight-wicket defeats to Australia in the Ashes isn’t technical — it’s exhaustion from too much training. With England needing to win all three remaining Tests to reclaim the Ashes, McCullum wants his players to step back, relax and recover at one of Australia’s top beach destinations. Speaking to broadcasters from both Australia and the U.K., McCullum said the heavy loss in Perth followed by over-preparation ahead of the Brisbane day-night Test left the squad drained. “Going into this Test, I think we overprepared,” he told Australia’s 7 network after Sunday’s defeat at the Gabba. “We had five very demanding training days. In the middle of a tough series, sometimes the key is to stay fresh and keep your mind clear. “The boys need a break. We’ll adjust our training approach, take a breather after a hectic couple of weeks, and start planning our way back.” The third Test begins Dec. 17 in Adelaide, where Australia needs only a draw to retain the urn. In the opening two matches, England surrendered promising positions due to wayward bowling, rash batting and dropped catches. The coaching setup has also been criticized for scheduling just one warm-up game and for sticking too rigidly to an aggressive style rather than adapting to conditions. Australia crush England in Brisbane to take lead in Ashes McCullum urged his team to stay mentally strong. “The message from me and the captain is simple: you can’t sulk in Australia,” he said. “You can’t have a glass jaw here. You’ve got to stand firm, take a few blows and keep moving forward.” England hasn’t won an Ashes Test in Australia since 2010–11, something McCullum and captain Ben Stokes are determined to change. Stokes fought back with a gritty half-century on Sunday, putting on 96 with Will Jacks in a more traditional Test approach that briefly slowed Australia’s charge. Stokes said England has the talent to win but must perform better in pressure moments. “When it’s not about skill, you have to dig deeper and figure out why we’re falling short in big moments,” he said. “Australia keep outdoing us when the heat is on.” He acknowledged the tough Australian conditions — the harsh sun, the bouncy pitches and the lively crowds. “Australia isn’t a place for the weak — we’re not weak,” Stokes said. “But we need to find answers quickly. We’re 2-0 down with three to play, and we’re not backing away from the fight. We just need to sort out what’s gone wrong and do it fast.”