United News of Bangladesh

    PERTH, Australia, Nov 25 (AP/UNB) — India hammed Australia by 295 runs in the opening Border-Gavaskar test to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with more than a day to spare at Perth Stadium on Monday. Set an impossible 534 runs to win, Australia was bowled out for 238 runs soon after tea on the fourth day as India secured its biggest win against the hosts in Australia following the 222-run win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 1977. Travis Head top scored for the homeside with 89 runs off 101 balls with eight fours. Head tried to delay the inevitable defeat first with Steve Smith (17), sharing 62 runs for the fifth wicket to lift Australia from 17-4 soon after it resumed the day from an overnight 12-3. Then in the company of hard-hitting Mitchell Marsh (47), Head added 82 runs for the sixth wicket before fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah forced the left hander to edge to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Bumrah finished with a match-haul of 8-72 (5-30 and 3-42) and increased his wicket tally in Australia to 40 at an average of 18.80 in eight test matches. Bumrah passed offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin (39 wickets) as the third most successful Indian bowler in Australia behind swing bowler Kapil Dev (51 in 11) and legspinner Anil Kumble (49 in 10). Fast bowler Mohamed Siraj took 3-51. Test debutante and fast bowler Harshit Rana bowled Alex Carey for 36 to seal a wonderful win for India. It was also India's second biggest win in terms of runs against Australia in all tests since the 320-run win at home in Mohali in October 2008. India's comfortable win was set up by two majestic centuries — Yashasvi Jaiswal's 161 and an unbeaten 100 by evergreen Virat Kohli — as the tourists set Australia the highest-ever run chase on a pitch that was getting increasingly difficult to bat on. Playing only its fourth five-test series since its first tour here in 1947/48, India secured only its 10th win in 53 tests on Australian soil and only its second in Perth in six test matches. India last won in Perth in 2008 at the old WACA ground. India had gone into the test without skipper Rohit Sharma, who stayed home for the birth of his second child and batsman Shubman Gill who suffered a broken finger during a practice match between the squad. But a young and inexperienced team under Bumrah redeemed itself and turned its fortunes around following an embarrassing 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand leading into this test series. After an eventful start to the test that saw 17 wickets fall on the first day, India took control of the test as it plundered 487-6 declared. This was after it was bowled out for 150 after winning the toss and then dismissed Australia for a paltry 104. But the test belonged to 22-year-old Jaiswal who provided the backbone of the Indian second innings that will be long remembered for it class and exuberance against the much-vaunted Australian pace attack. It was his third century in 2024 and anchored the innings with a record 201-run opening stand with KL Rahul (77). Kohli then took over to become the most successful visiting batsman in Australia by scoring his seventh hundred here before India declared. Only Englishman Jack Hobbs (9) has scored more hundreds in Australia in 24 matches. Kohli has played only 14 games. The start of day four did not go well for the hosts as Siraj forced Khawaja (4) to top edge for Pant to complete a running catch to reduce Australia to 17-4. But Smith and Head survived some anxious moments against India’s pace quartet and Head counterattacked his way to a 63-ball half century with six fours. Smith put behind his first ball nought in the first innings to play a watchful innings, but was eventually undone by a superb Siraj delivery. The series now moves to Adelaide for a pink ball test from Dec. 6. India has held the Border-Gavaskar trophy since the 2016/17 home series.    

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant set a new record as the most expensive player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, fetching $3.2 million after being acquired by Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday in the IPL Auction 2025 in Saudia Arabia. The former Delhi Capitals captain overtook Shreyas Iyer, who went to Punjab Kings for $3.18 million on the first day of the cricket mega auction, which was held for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Both players are likely to lead their franchises in the world’s richest domestic Twenty20 league which is set to start on March 14 next year with the final scheduled for May 25. Delhi could hand the captaincy to former Lucknow skipper Lokesh Rahul, who they bought for $1.67 million. The biggest surprise of the day was all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who was eventually sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for $2.83 million after fierce bidding between his former franchise Kolkata and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gujarat Titans got Jos Buttler for $1.88 million after Rajasthan Royals couldn’t buy back the England captain, who is expected to open with Shubman Gill. Gujarat also succeeded in buying South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for $1.28 million. There was a huge drop when Delhi bought Mitchell Starc for $1.40 million, after last year’s record $2.98 million by Kolkata for the Australian left-arm fast bowler. Starc’s countryman David Warner and Jonny Bairstow of England remained unsold on the opening day after none of the 10 franchises showed interest. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will return to Chennai Super Kings for the first time since 2015. He was sold for $1.16 million – the highest he has ever got in an IPL auction.

Bangladesh narrowly avoided the follow-on thanks to fighting fifties from Mominul Haque and Jaker Ali, but West Indies remained firmly in control at the end of the third day of the first Test in Antigua. Bangladesh finished on 269 for 9, trailing the hosts by 181 runs after the West Indies had declared their first innings at 450 for 9. Despite several good starts from Bangladesh's top and middle order, none of their batters managed to replicate the big scores from the West Indian innings. Mominul struck a gritty 50 off 116 balls, while wicketkeeper-batter Jaker contributed a crucial 53 under pressure. Their efforts, supported by a late stand with Taijul Islam, ensured Bangladesh surpassed the follow-on target of 251 in the day’s final hour. The day began with Bangladesh on 40 for 2, and the visitors made slow progress on a surface that demanded patience. Shahadat Hossain added just 18 runs in a painstaking 71-ball stay before edging Kemar Roach to first slip. Mominul and Litton Das then stabilized the innings, adding 62 runs for the fourth wicket. Read: Zimbabwe stuns new-look Pakistan in rain-affected 1st ODI Mominul reached his 21st Test half-century but was trapped lbw by Jayden Seales shortly after lunch. Litton played with intent for his 40 off 76 balls but fell to a dragged-on dismissal against Shamar Joseph, leaving Bangladesh at 145 for 5. Stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz endured a hostile spell, facing bouncers from Alzarri Joseph and Seales. Mehidy struck a couple of boundaries but eventually succumbed to a short ball from Joseph, gloving it to short-leg. Jaker Ali and Taijul Islam then staged a spirited fightback with a 68-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Jaker’s 53 off 89 balls included four boundaries, while Taijul chipped in with a handy 25. Their stand frustrated the West Indian bowlers before Joseph bowled Taijul and Justin Greaves dismissed Jaker with a catch at deep midwicket. Towards the end of the day, Alzarri Joseph hit Taskin Ahmed on the helmet, leading to a heated exchange between the two. However, fading light prevented the West Indies from wrapping up Bangladesh’s innings. West Indies' bowlers shared the workload, with Joseph taking 3 for 69 and Seales and Greaves picking up two wickets each. Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Read more: Antigua Test: West Indies dominate with Greaves' century and a late bowling burst West Indies declared their first innings on 450 for 9 wickets, with Justin Greaves hitting his maiden Test century and Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze scoring 97 and 90, respectively.

Kylian Mbappé scored and Real Madrid moved within four points of Spanish league leader Barcelona with a 3-0 win at Leganes on Sunday ahead of its eagerly awaited Champions League match against Liverpool. Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham also scored to close the gap on Barcelona, which conceded two late goals in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Saturday. Madrid has played one game less than Barcelona after its match at Valencia was postponed because of the deadly floods in October. Madrid will make the trip to England to face Premier League leader Liverpool on Wednesday in the Champions League, and is hoping to recover from a demoralizing 3-1 home loss against AC Milan in the previous round of matches. Madrid's attack worked well against Leganes with Vinícius Júnior playing inside and Mbappé more on the flank. The France striker scored after going four straight games without finding the net for the Spanish powerhouse. “We switched their positions and the team was able to stay in control during the whole match,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Mbappé said he is fine playing wherever Ancelotti puts him. “I've said it on the first day that I can play in several different positions,” Mbappé said. “All I want is to keep playing well and scoring goals.” Athletic wins Basque derby Oihan Sancet scored a 26th-minute winner as Athletic Bilbao defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Basque Country derby. It was Athletic's fourth straight home win against Sociedad in the derby. The victory moved Athletic to fifth place and left Sociedad in 10th position. Villarreal recovers late Fourth-place Villarreal scored an equalizer in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw at sixth-place Osasuna. Ante Budimir scored twice in the first 20 minutes for Osasuna. Villarreal, which was coming off three straight victories in all competitions, scored through Álex Baena in the 67th and a penalty kick converted by Gerard Moreno three minutes into injury time. Osasuna, sitting three points behind Villarreal, was coming off a 4-0 loss at Madrid. Also Sunday, Sevilla ended a two-game losing streak in the league with a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano, which played the entire second half with 10 men after Unai López was sent off for a hard foul. Djibril Sow scored Sevilla's goal in the 27th.

Mohamed Salah sent Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League by scoring twice to help his team rally to a 3-2 win over last-place Southampton on Sunday. It was a 10th victory in 12 league games for Liverpool, which took advantage of defending champion Manchester City's stunning third straight league loss — 4-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday — and fifth in a row in all competitions. Liverpool was trailing 2-1 when Salah equalized in the 65th after running onto a long pass forward from Ryan Gravenberch. The Egypt forward then converted a penalty in the 83rd after a handball by Yukinari Sugawara. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr eyes Asian glory amid revitalised Saudi Pro League campaign Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game as Manchester United manager later, away to Ipswich. Salah moved onto 10 goals for the league campaign, second behind Man City's Erling Haaland (12), and nearly had a hat trick at St, Mary's stadium — only to hit the post in the final minutes. Liverpool's win owed as much to the defensive inadequacies of Southampton, which has only one win in 12 games, as any excellence from Arne Slot's visitors. The Reds were gifted the opening goal, though Dominik Szoboszlai's finish was excellent after he collected a weak clearance from Flynn Downes and curled a shot in off the post. It started after Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy rolled the ball out to a player who was swarmed by Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez at the edge of the area. Southampton fought back, with Adam Armstrong converting a penalty in the 42nd minute after Andy Robertson tripped Tyler Dibling just inside the area and then setting up Mateus Fernandes to stroke home in the 56th. Argentina's Racing wins its first Copa Sudamericana championship by beating Brazil's Cruzeiro 3-1 Salah came to Liverpool's rescue, though, and again there will be question marks about McCarthy, who raced out of his goal to take Gravenberch's pass only to be beaten to the ball by Salah. Salah was able to run with the ball into an empty net and was celebrating again after converting the match-clinching penalty past McCarthy. “It is a great feeling but it is the beginning of the season," Szoboszlai said of Liverpool's big lead. "We just need to continue and not think where the other teams are.”

All-rounder Sikandar Raza inspired Zimbabwe to a stunning 80-run win on the DLS method in the rain-affected first one-day international against a new-look Pakistan white-ball team on Sunday. Raza made a crucial 39 runs and lifted Zimbabwe from a precarious 125-7 to 205 all out by sharing a 62-run eighth wicket stand with No. 9 batter Richard Ngarava, who top-scored with 48. Under overcast conditions, Raza (2-7) picked up two wickets in one over as Pakistan limped to 60-6 in 21 overs before it rained and denied further play as Zimbabwe took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Antigua Test: West Indies dominate with Greaves' century and a late bowling burst Pakistan’s second-string new ball bowlers – debutant Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Hasnain – couldn’t make an impact on Zimbabwe's openers after the visitors had rested frontline pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah for the white-ball series in Zimbabwe. Pakistan also rested its ace batter Babar Azam for the first time in an ODI since 2019 as it experimented with its bench strength ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy. Tadiwanashe Marumani (29) flicked Jamal to square leg for a six and Joylord Gumbie (15) hit three fours against the seamers as they combined in a better than run-a-ball opening stand of 40 runs against a wayward Pakistan pace attack. Gumbie got run out in a mix-up with Marumani in the sixth over before Pakistan came back hard through its spinners and struck at regular intervals. One of the three Pakistan debutants – left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram took 3-24 and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha claimed 3-42 as Zimbabwe slipped to 125-7 in the 26th over. However, Ngarava and Raza thwarted Pakistan's spinners and pacers alike in a 69-ball stand to give the total respectability. Raza perished when he tried an expansive hit against Akram and was caught on the edge of the boundary while Ngarava was the last man to get dismissed after hitting five fours and a six when he chopped Hasnain back onto his stumps. Tilak Varma creates history with 3rd consecutive T20 century Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani used the home conditions to perfection and snared the early wickets of Saim Ayub (11) and Abdullah Shafique (1), who both got caught behind inside the first three overs from the tall pacer. Kamran Ghulam (17) and skipper Mohammad Rizwan (19 not out) couldn’t pace the chase before Pakistan lost four wickets in the space of 18 runs against the spinners. Ghulam tried to break the shackles but Sean Williams (2-12) got a thick edge and earned Marumani his third catch behind the wickets before Raza had two in three balls. Raza pinned Salman plumb leg before wicket of his second ball and one ball later Haseebullah Khan was out for zero in his ODI debut when he played the wrong line and was clean bowled. The three-match ODI series will be followed by three T20s with Bulawayo hosting all the matches.  

Country’s most prestigious football meet, the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, begins on Friday (November 29) at three different venues in the capital and adjoining areas.   Three matches will be held in three different venues on the opening day. Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play Chittagong Abahani Limited at the 5:30 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, Federation and Challenge Cup runners-up Dhaka Mohammedan SC will face Dhaka Wanderers Club at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur while Brothers Union Club will encounter Bangladesh Police FC at 2:30 pm at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Two matches will be held on the following day (Saturday). Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur while Rahmatganj MFS will face Fortis FC Ltd at also at 2:30 pm at the  Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj. The nine-round league, to be played in every Friday and Saturday of the week, scheduled to be completed in June 25 next year.          Meanwhile, this year's football season began on last Friday (Nov 22) with newly introduced one-match Bangladesh 2.0 Challenge Cup Football Tournament' 2024-25 where Bashundhara Kings clinched the title beating Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 3-1 goals. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) introduced the Bangladesh 2.0 Challenge Cup as the season's curtain raiser football meet that dedicated to the July-August student's uprising in place of previous Independence Cup and Federation Cup Football. However, the 10-team Federation Cup Football will begin on December 3 in new format and will be held in every Tuesday of the week. Meanwhile, the ceremonial draw of the upcoming Federation Cup Football Tournament' 2024-25 was held at the BFF office last Wednesday putting Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Abahani Ltd in same group.   BPL and Federation Cup champions Bashundhara Kings put in Group A while Federation Cup runners-up Dhaka Mohamnedan, Dhaka Abahani Ltd and Chattogram Abahani Ltd in Group B. Grouping of Federation Cup Football are: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattogran Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Holder Basundhara Kings will play Brothers Union Club and Bangladesh Police taking on Fortis FC in two opening day matches. Ten premier division league clubs, split into two groups, will initially participate in the first phase of the Federation Cup Football on single league basis in three venues in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Cumilla. Later, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the franchaisee cricket league.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of winning a first major trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2022 were given an unlikely domestic lifeline on Saturday and, on Monday, the Portuguese star can help Al-Nassr stay on course for a first Asian title. Ronaldo scored his seventh goal of the season against Al-Qadsia on Friday in a battle against Spanish defender Nacho but his former Real Madrid teammate was celebrating at the final whistle. “It was a different and difficult game against Ronaldo,” Nacho said. “He is my friend and I had the best part of my career playing with him but here we have a different experience and are playing for different teams. It was an honor to play against him.” Al-Nassr looked to be slipping out of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title race. Al-Hilal, unbeaten in 46 league games, would have gone nine points clear on Saturday with a win against Al-Khaleej but despite leading 2-0, Hilal fell to a shock 3-2 defeat, a first since May 2023. “We knew that the victories would not continue because this is football,” said Hilal forward Marcos Leonardo. “We have to work and achieve victory in the next match in the AFC Champions League Elite.” Saudi Arabian clubs have yet to lose in the western zone of the Asian competition — the 24 teams in the tournament are divided into two groups of 12 with eight from each progressing to the Round of 16 after playing eight matches — and occupy the top three spots. Al-Nassr is third with ten points from four games and will be almost certain of a place in the next round if it defeats Al-Gharafa of Qatar. Al-Hilal, a four-time champion and top of the group with four wins, also travels to Qatar to face 2011 winner Al-Sadd. Unlike SPL games, Neymar is eligible to play in Asian competitions but the Brazilian is still recovering from the injury sustained against Esteghlal of Iran earlier in November. Al-Ahli of Jeddah is second with the maximum 12 points and faces defending champion Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates. Al-Ain is bottom of the group and lost 5-4 to Hilal and then 5-1 to Nassr, defeats which cost Hernan Crespo his job as head coach earlier in November. The Argentine has been replaced by Leonardo Jardim, the Portuguese boss who led Al-Hilal to the 2021 continental title. 3 detained for making racist slurs during El Clásico match at Madrid's stadium In the eastern zone, there is another former champion in 12th and last place. Ulsan HD, winner in 2012 and 2020, has lost all four games. Ulsan has just won a third successive South Korean title and needs to defeat newly-crowned Chinese champion Shanghai Port to keep chances of the second round alive. Australia’s sole representative Central Coast Mariners is also in need of victory as it has just one point. The A-League team however has a daunting trip to Japan to face group leader Vissel Kobe..

A stellar maiden Test century by Justin Greaves and a fiery bowling effort put the West Indies in firm control of the first Test against Bangladesh in Antigua. At stumps on Day Two, Bangladesh found themselves struggling at 40-2, trailing the hosts by a daunting 410 runs. Greaves anchored the West Indies innings with a composed 115 not out, helping his team post a commanding 450 for nine wickets declared. His knock was built over 206 balls and featured just four boundaries, proving his patience and ability to wear down the opposition. Resuming on 250-5, the West Indies endured an early scare as Hasan Mahmud struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph to leave the hosts at 261-7. Antigua Test: Louis falls short of century as West Indies reach 250 on day one However, Greaves found an able partner in Kemar Roach, whose gritty 47 during their 140-run eighth-wicket stand steered the innings back on track. Roach batted over four hours, demonstrating resilience in his highest Test score. The partnership was the third-highest eighth-wicket stand for the West Indies in Test history and their best against Bangladesh. Roach eventually fell to Mahmud, who finished as Bangladesh's standout bowler with figures of 3-87 from 27 overs. Bangladesh’s response was fraught with difficulties against a disciplined West Indian pace attack. Zakir Hasan, who looked promising with three boundaries, was dismissed for 15 after an under-edge off Jayden Seales shaved the leg stump. Soon after, Alzarri Joseph struck to remove Mahmudul Hasan Joy for 5, leaving Bangladesh tottering at 21-2. Mominul Haque (7*) and Shahadat Hossain (10*) weathered the storm to end the day unscathed, but Bangladesh faces a herculean task to salvage the match. Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss under new captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and opted to bowl first.

Gaston Martirena and Adrian Martinez scored first-half goals as Argentina's Racing won its first Copa Sudamericana championship by beating Brazil's Cruzeiro 3-1 in the final on Saturday. Martirena opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Martinez added a goal five minutes later to give “La Academia” its first international title since 1988 when it won the now defunct Supercopa Sudamericana. “Maravilla” Martinez scored 10 goals in 13 matches and finished as the top scorer in the competition. “We suffered until the last minute, but to be able to win a cup after so many years is a blessing,” Martinez said. “It's historic, it was a long time without being able to raise an international cup, we have a poor year in the league, but we were able to give the fans this satisfaction.” Roger Martinez sealed the victory with a goal in the 90th. Kaio Jorge scored in the 52nd for Cruzeiro. Racing, a team based in the city of Avellaneda, took the lead when Martirena, a Uruguayan right-back, sent in what appeared to be a cross from the right but the looping ball went over Cruzeiro goalkeeper Cassio and into the far corner of the net. Martinez doubled the lead with a shot from five meters. The game was played in Estadio General Pablo Rojas in Asuncion, Paraguay, where most of the 45,000 fans were supporting Racing. Copa Sudamericana is the second most prestigious club competition in South America behind the Copa Libertadores, and its first edition was in 2002. Racing is the first Argentinian team to win the competition since 2020 when Defensa y Justicia beat Lanus. The last two competitions were won by Ecuadorian teams. Brazilian teams Atletico Mineiro and Botafogo will play next weekend in the Copa Libertadores final in Buenos Aires, Argentina.