United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second T20I against India in Delhi, aiming to bounce back in the series after the defeat in the first match. Bangladesh made one change in the playing XI, bringing in right-arm pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, replacing Shoriful Islam. India opted for an unchanged playing XI that won the first match. The pitch of this match is hard and might result in big scores, as was consistently seen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. In that sense, it’s not clear if the Bangladesh team's decision to bowl first was a good call, as they have a habit of failing to read the pitch correctly. According to stats, the team batting first won the matches at this venue on the last five occasions. Before this match, Bangladesh had won only one T20I against India, and that was in Delhi, the only inspiration that Bangladesh could get from their T20I history against India. Bangladesh XI: Litton Das (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmadullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, a regular face in the commentary box during the ongoing India-Bangladesh series, expressed concerns that infrastructural shortcomings are hindering the development of Bangladesh cricket. Tamim gave an interview to the Indian sports magazine, Sportstar, where he candidly discussed his retirement, potential return to international cricket, his relationship with Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh's continued struggles in Test matches, and the factors impeding the cricketing progress of Bangladesh. In the extensive interview, Tamim also addressed the possibility of a Bangladeshi coach leading the national team. The former captain, who has scored over 15,000 runs and 25 centuries in international cricket, said that the lack of adequate facilities in Dhaka is a big factor to the slow development of Bangladesh cricket. “I made my debut in 2006-2007, and as we speak in 2024, not a single new training facility has been developed in Dhaka over the past 17 years,” Tamim said while discussing the areas Bangladesh cricket needs to focus on for growth. “Some aspects in Bangladesh are fine, but most need to change.” Tamim was critical of the board's financial management. The previous board president, Nazmul Hasan, often boasted about the board having hundreds of crores of taka in the bank to indicate the financial strength of the board. However, Tamim believes that instead of accumulating money in bank accounts, the board should invest it in developing infrastructure. “The funniest thing is that when the BCB claims to have Rs 1200 crore in its bank account, it feels like a slap in the face,” Tamim said. “There shouldn’t be 1200 crore sitting idle; there should be 200 crore in the account, and the remaining 1000 should be invested in developing infrastructure.” He added that corporate entities typically reinvest their earnings to facilitate growth, something the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) fails to do. The left-handed batter also questioned the absence of another facility in Dhaka comparable to the one in Mirpur and advocated for the need for good quality pitches across the country. “You definitely need a facility like Mirpur, and while I’m okay with playing to your strengths on certain pitches, it’s crucial to produce quality wickets at the domestic level as well,” he said. “This way, you can test your cricketers and prepare them for the international stage.” Regarding his potential return to international cricket, Tamim said that there needs to be a clear path and purpose for him to consider it. He neither explicitly ruled out a return nor definitively confirmed it. On his relationship with Shakib, Tamim remained somewhat vague and did not explicitly state what transpired between them to cause their relationship to deteriorate. Furthermore, one of Bangladesh's all-time best batters expressed his belief that Bangladesh currently lacks someone capable of being the head coach of the national team. He suggested that the board should recruit coaching staff for the national team at a 30:70 ratio, with 30% being foreign coaches in top positions and the remaining 70% being local officials, allowing them to develop for a better future. Tags: BCB, Bangladesh cricket, Tigers, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh will play former champions West Indies in their 3rd Group B match of the 10-team ICC Women's T20 World Cup'2024 on Thursday. The match will kick off at 8:00 pm Bangladesh time at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE. The West Indies team, ICC ranked 5th, played three T20 World Cup matches against the 9th-ranked Bangladesh and won all the matches since 2014. Bangladesh women's team started their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup with a winning note, beating debutante Scotland convincingly by 16 runs in the opening match to taste their first victory after 16 consecutive defeats in the last four editions of the World Cup in 10 years. But, they suffered a 21-run defeat against the 2009 Women's T20 World Cup champions England in the 2nd match last Saturday. After the two Group B matches, England dominated the group, securing the full four points, while the West Indies, South Africa, and Bangladesh followed the leader, collecting two points each. Newcomers Scotland remained at bottom without any point. Now, the Nigar Sultana Joyti-led Bangladesh side is in desperate need of a win to qualify for the meet's knockout stage. On the other hand, the 2016 champion West Indies women's team is also in a similar situation. Having lost their first game to Proteas and then coming back strong with a six-wicket win over the Scottish side, They need to win the coming back so that they put one foot in the second stage of the competition. In the remaining Group B match, Bangladesh will play stronger South Africa on October 12 in Dubai. The top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the semifinals. The first semifinal will be held on October 17 in Dubai, while the semifinal is scheduled for October 18 in Sharjah. The final will be held on October 20 in Dubai. Probable Bangladesh Women's team: Shathi Rani, Dilara Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana Joyti (wk/c), Taj Nehar, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter. Probable West Indies women's team: Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle (w), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Chedean Nation, Afy Fletcher, Ashmini Munisar, and Karishma Ramharack.

Jurgen Klopp has moved on from Liverpool in the Premier League and will take on a new role as head of global soccer at Red Bull starting in January. Red Bull said in a statement Wednesday that the 57-year-old German will oversee its international network of soccer clubs. “He will not be involved in the clubs’ day-to-day operations, but will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” the statement said. Klopp led Liverpool to seven major trophies in his nearly nine years at Anfield ending in May of this year.

Mahmudullah Riyad may not have been the most naturally gifted cricketer of his generation, but he was certainly among those with the best work ethic. The right-handed allrounder, who turns 39 in February, announced his retirement from T20Is on Tuesday. He confirmed that the final match of the ongoing Bangladesh-India series would be his last in the format. He, however, will continue to be available for selection in ODIs. Mahmudullah earned the title of “finisher” in limited-overs cricket for his ability to score quick runs and hit big boundaries in the lower order towards the end of the team's innings. His departure leaves a gap that will not be easy for Bangladesh to fill. At his retirement announcement, Mahmudullah said it was the right time to step down. Cricket analysts seem to agree. Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, veteran cricket coach and a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), told UNB that fans should respect Mahmudullah’s decision. “We have to thank Mahmudullah for his contributions to Bangladesh cricket,” Nazmul Abedeen said. “He did a lot for where Bangladesh cricket stands today. He has performed well, considering the era he played in.” Mohammad Isam, a cricket analyst and Bangladesh correspondent for ESPNcricinfo, echoed the same sentiments. “Mahmudullah's retirement is timely, given his age and dwindling form,” Isam said. “He made his T20I comeback earlier this year after missing 27 matches in 2022. He was almost forgotten in this format after the 2021 World Cup.” Mahmudullah waves goodbye to T20Is Mahmudullah, who has batted in nearly every position, truly earned global respect during the 2015 World Cup with two centuries. No Bangladeshi batter had achieved a World Cup century before him. Despite his versatility, Mahmudullah rarely had a fixed batting position, frequently shifting to suit the team’s needs. Reflecting on his career, Nazmul Abedeen said that Mahmudullah was often the best option at his position. “He never gave others a chance to claim his spot,” Nazmul noted, alluding to Mahmudullah's dedication. Despite primarily batting in the lower order, Mahmudullah is Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in T20Is, with 2,395 runs and eight fifties—just 156 runs shy of Shakib Al Hasan. After his remarkable ODI World Cup run in 2015, Mahmudullah adopted a more aggressive approach, honing his big-hitting skills. His T20I career saw a significant transformation after 2016, as he averaged 26 in 85 matches after that, compared to his career average of 19 in 54 games before that. “Mahmudullah became a transformed cricketer,” Isam added. “His T20 career was stagnating until 2016 when Chandika Hathurusingha assigned him a new role. He raised his game with an emphasis on aerial shots and a positive outlook.” The right-hander also captained Bangladesh in 43 T20Is—more than any other Bangladeshi player—winning 16 of those matches. He was one of Bangladesh’s best T20I captains. Approaching 40, Mahmudullah has stayed fit enough for international cricket while many of his peers have retired. Ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup, he was expected to miss out, yet he proved his fitness to secure a spot. Ups and downs have defined Mahmudullah’s career, but he consistently found ways to fight back and make comebacks against all odds. “It will be hard to replace Mahmudullah’s experience, but his role has become outdated in T20s,” Isam noted. “Bangladesh will need to rethink their T20 batting structure, and replacing Mahmudullah may require a fundamental shift in their setup.”

The local football season 2024-25, which was schedule to start on October 11 through Challenge Cup Football, has been deferred by one and half month due to venue crisis and other prevailing circumstances. The local football season will now begin in the last week of November this year. The decision was taken at an online emergency meeting of the BFF Professional League Management Committee held Tuesday afternoon. The meeting, which was earlier scheduled for last Saturday, was cancelled in the dying moment due to heavy downpour in the capital. The day’s meeting decided to start the local football season under new standing committee to be formed after the upcoming BFF election on October 26. Read: Man City and Premier League claim a win after challenge of league's financial fairness rules League committee chairman and vice president of Bangladesh football federation Imrul Hasan said, “We need at-least five venues for the 10-team premier league, now we have only two available venues –Bashundhara Kings and Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.”  The other proposed venues in Cumilla, Munshiganj, Gazipur and Manikganj are not ready till date. “So, we decided to defer the league till last week of November, as all the match venues are not ready and as well as for the appeal of the participating teams and reviewing the existing situation”. Read more: Bangladesh Football Federation election on October 26 Earlier, the local football season due to start with Challenge Cup Football from October 11 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, Federation Cup Football due to kick-off on October 15 and the Football League scheduled to begin on October 18. 

Bangladesh will face India in the second T20I on Wednesday in Delhi, hoping to bounce back and keep the series alive. The visitors lost the first match on October 6, failing to post a competitive total while batting first. They lacked aggression in the powerplay despite losing two early wickets and struggled to execute an effective batting approach in the final overs. After the defeat, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto criticized the batters for their lackluster performance and also attributed the team’s struggles to home pitches, which he argued are not conducive to scoring big totals in T20Is. He suggested that this affects their ability to adapt to different conditions abroad. To keep their hopes in the series alive, Bangladesh’s batters will need to step up against India’s quality bowling attack. In the first match, they struggled equally against both Indian pacers and spinners. India, meanwhile, had little trouble in the series opener. Their bowlers picked up key wickets at crucial moments, preventing Bangladesh from building partnerships or scoring heavily. With a modest target of 127, India chased it down comfortably in just 11.5 overs, with seven wickets in hand. Although the series opener appeared straightforward for India, they’re unlikely to take Bangladesh lightly, recalling Bangladesh’s only T20I win in Delhi a few years ago. Right-handed allrounder Mahmudullah Riyad announced his retirement from the format on Tuesday ahead of the second match of the three-match T20I series against India. Bangladesh’s bowlers will be eager to turn things around after three consecutive losses in India—two Tests and one T20I—and finish the series on a high note. The match will take place at Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting at 7:30 p.m. Bangladesh time. It will be broadcast live on T-Sports TV channel and OTT app.

Mahmudullah Riyad’s 17-year-long T20I career has come to an end, as the right-handed allrounder announced his retirement from the format on Tuesday ahead of the second match of the three-match T20I series against India.  Earlier in this series, Shakib Al Hasan also retired from T20Is. While Mahmudullah is playing in the T20I series against India, Shakib opted out beforehand, having played his last T20I during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. Mahmudullah's resurgence eases Bangladesh's batting concerns ahead of T20 World Cup “I think this is the right time for me,” Mahmudullah said during a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday. “The captain and coach already knew. I believe we should start preparing for the next World Cup.” Bangladesh is currently in the midst of a three-match T20I series against India. Before the second match, which will be held on October 9 in Delhi, Mahmudullah announced that he would retire after the final match of the series on October 12 in Hyderabad. Mahmudullah previously retired from Tests in 2021 during a series in Zimbabwe. Now, three years later, he bids farewell to another format of international cricket, although he intends to continue playing ODIs for Bangladesh. Mahmudullah earned his T20I cap in 2007 against Kenya in Nairobi and has been a mainstay in Bangladesh’s T20I lineup ever since. Mahmudullah included, Tamim axed from BCB's new central contracts A right-handed batter and a reliable off-spinner, he has played 139 T20I matches, scoring 2,395 runs and claiming 40 wickets. Known for his ability to finish innings with powerful hits, he earned the title of “finisher,” though he has been experiencing a prolonged slump over the past few years. Mahmudullah has recorded eight fifties in T20Is. Among his most memorable innings was his match-winning six against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, which propelled Bangladesh into the final. He has appeared in eight editions of the ICC T20 World Cup, playing 37 matches, scoring 458 runs, and taking nine wickets. BPL 2024: Mahmudullah and Imran inspire Barishal’s big win over Sylhet  

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed has said that Shakib Al Hasan may play his final Test match in Dhaka’s Mirpur against South Africa. The question of Shakib’s homecoming has been shrouded in uncertainty. Before the final Test against India in Kanpur, Shakib announced his retirement from Test cricket and expressed his wish to play his last match in Dhaka. However, Shakib’s political affiliation raised concerns about his safety, making his return seem unlikely. The BCB President said that the board could not provide personal security for Shakib, adding that any such measure would need to be managed by the government. Bangladesh’s struggles continue as India secure easy win in T20I series opener Doubts surrounding Shakib's return were further fueled when Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, sports adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, said that Shakib would receive the same security afforded to all players. He noted, however, that if there is public hostility, providing beefed-up security becomes challenging. Yet, Shakib's prospects received a boost when the sports adviser, during a visit to the UAE for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, expressed support for Shakib’s wish to retire at home, recognizing his contributions to Bangladesh cricket. Faruque Ahmed mentioned that he remains in regular contact with Shakib and expressed optimism about his return for a final Test in front of a home crowd. “There’s a good possibility that Shakib will return for his last Test,” Faruque said to the media after a meeting with his BCB colleagues. “As board president, my powers are limited here. Shakib’s situation is ultimately a matter for the government, involving law enforcement and high-level advisers, including the Chief Adviser, to decide.” The BCB President assured that the board would arrange security for Shakib within stadium areas but clarified that they could not extend this coverage outside stadium premises. Shakib’s LA Waves start with defeat against New York Lions When announcing his retirement, Shakib had requested security assurances both while in Bangladesh and during his departure, reflecting concerns that he might face obstacles when leaving the country. These concerns stem from a murder case filed in the wake of the July-August student-led movement that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Shakib had been a member of parliament, elected in the 2024 elections, which were boycotted by opposition parties citing an uneven playing field under the then-regime.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Club Rangpur Riders will participate in the five-team West Indian franchise cricket league, the Global Super League. Rangpur Riders will compete in the overseas league along with four other teams from Australia, England, Pakistan and hosts West Indies. The Global Super League, like the previous champions league T20, is expected to begin in the Caribbean island Guyana on November 26. BCB President Faruque Ahmed disclosed this while addressing the local media on Monday. The BCB boss said, "West Indies made an announcement to organize the Global Super League with the participation of five teams from Australia, England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and hosts West Indies and accordingly we got the invitation from West Indies.” "We first offered the last BPL champions Fortune Barisal to participate in the global league, but they  regretted the offer, then we went for the semifinalist  Rangpur Riders, which will participate in the league if everything goes on right track,” he further added.