Sports
Barcelona sells more assets as it hopes to register players
Barcelona has sold off even more of its club assets in the hopes of meeting the Spanish league’s financial rules so Robert Lewandowski and its other signings can play in the season opener.
Barcelona said Friday that it had agreed to sell 24.5% of its Barça Studios production hub to Orpheus Media in a deal that would earn it 100 million euros ($103 million).
Last month Barcelona sold an initial 25% stake in its production hub to Socios.com, a blockchain provider, for another 100 million euros as well as 25% of its Spanish league television rights for the next 25 years for nearly 670 million euros ($689 million).
All told, the heavily indebted Catalan club has mortgaged its future for 870 million euros ($895 million) in order to sign Lewandowski from Bayern Munich along with other talented newcomers.
Regarding the sale of nearly 50% of its production hub, Barcelona said in a statement that “with this investment the strategic partners in Barça Studios show confidence in the value of the project and the future of digital content in the world of sport.”
It also comes with Barcelona yet to register its new signings with the Spanish league. Barcelona opens the season on Saturday at home against Rayo Vallecano.
Thanks to the money it has made by selling its assets, Barcelona has been able to strengthen its squad by signing Lewandowski, winger Raphinha and defender Jules Koundé for a combined 160 million euros ($165 million).
But the Spanish league has strict financial requirements that limit the amount clubs can spend on players’ salaries and transfers based on the clubs’ financial health. Despite efforts to reduce costs and pay down its debt, Barcelona still holds 1 billion euros ($1 billion) in debt and has seen its salary cap slashed by the league in recent seasons.
So, as of Friday morning, it had not registered Lewandowski, Raphinha, Koundé, free agent arrivals Franck Kessié and Andreas Christensen, or Ousmane Dembélé and Sergi Roberto, who both signed new contracts recently after their old ones had expired and so are considered new signings by the league.
Read: Barcelona sells part of its production hub for $102M
This new injection of another 100 million euros should help Barcelona’s financial balance that it presents to the league and increase its chances of being able to register all those players.
The club is also pushing to sell players such as Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite that are either unwanted by coach Xavi Hernández or have big salaries like Frenkie de Jong.
Teams have until the end of the month to register new players if they want to play in the Spanish league this season. Real Betis is also still waiting to register several players.
Barcelona club president Joan Laporta said recently that he was confident that his club will be able to field its latest acquisitions.
But it would be yet another blow to Barcelona’s reputation if its star signings are not able to play at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Orpheus Media is run by Catalan businessman Jaume Roures, the owner of Mediapro, a major television company involved in Spanish soccer but whose 2020 broadcast rights deal for the French league collapsed. Roures was a major financial backer of Laporta when he returned to run the financially troubled club in 2021.
Roures said on Friday that he was not sure if the money he paid Barcelona would be sufficient.
“The league won’t have any problems with this operation,” Roures told Cadena SER radio. “If the 100 million euros are enough, I don’t know. If it isn’t, the (necessary) amount must be close to that.”
Benzema, Courtois, De Bruyne on shortlist for UEFA award
Two Real Madrid teammates made the three-man shortlist announced Friday for the UEFA player of the year award for last season, while no Liverpool player was included.
Champions League winner Madrid was represented by Karim Benzema, who scored a competition-best 15 goals, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was the standout in its 1-0 win over Liverpool in the final.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who plays with Courtois for Belgium, completed the list after a vote by coaches and selected journalists.
Read: Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
In the award for coaches, Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti is on the shortlist with Jürgen Klopp of Liverpool and Man City’s Pep Guardiola.
The winners will be announced Aug. 25 in Istanbul at the draw for the group stage of this season's Champions League.
None of the player nominees has previously won the UEFA award, which was first given in 2011 to Lionel Messi. Last year’s winner was Jorginho after he helped Italy and Chelsea to European titles.
UEFA said voting in the women’s awards is ongoing and shortlists should be announced next week.
Rights group urges FIFA, Qatar to compensate WCup workers
With 100 days to go until the World Cup starts in Qatar, Human Rights Watch on Friday again urged FIFA and the host nation to improve compensation for migrant workers and their families.
The rights group called for a “comprehensive remedy program for workers who suffered serious harms, including deaths, injuries, and wage theft” while working on World Cup-related projects like stadiums, transport and hotels.
Qatar has spent tens of billions of dollars on infrastructure since being picked by FIFA as host in 2010, and faced intense scrutiny of its labor laws and treatment of hundreds of thousands of workers, many from south Asia, who were needed to come to the tiny emirate and build the projects.
Read: FIFA to use new high-tech for offside calls at World Cup
“Qatar has compensated some migrant workers who have faced serious abuses in recent years, but for many, these programs were created too late and are still a major work in progress,” said Michael Page, HRW’s deputy director for the Middle East.
Since 2010, the agency claimed, the level of “uncompensated human rights abuses … is significant.”
In Qatar, a Workers’ Support Fund has since 2020 paid out $164 million in compensation to 36,373 workers from 17 different countries, HRW said citing data from Qatar's Ministry of Labor.
The organization did not specify a figure for how much compensation is still needed, though Amnesty International has suggested FIFA should pay $440 million in reparations to workers — matching the sum soccer’s world body will pay in prize money to the 32 national federations whose teams are playing in Qatar.
FIFA and tournament organizers have long cited the World Cup as a catalyst to modernize laws and society in Qatar.
Responding to Amnesty in May, Qatari organizers pointed to “significant improvements … across accommodation standards, health and safety regulations, grievance mechanisms, healthcare provision, and reimbursements of illegal recruitment fees to workers.”
Kishore Football: Madarbari Shovonia Club emerge champions
Madarbari Shovonia Club emerged champions in the Elite Paint Rabeya Siraj Koshore (Under-15) Football League beating Abdus Sobhan Football team by 8-7 goals in the tie breaker on Thursday.The final match between two teams was locked in goalless position in the stipulated period and also in the 10 minutes’ extra session at MA Aziz Stadium in the port city.Former Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and general secretary of CJKS Alhaj AJM Nasiruddin distributed the trophies as chief guest.
Also read: Senior Div Football: Victoria SC make good start outplaying Dilkusha SC 4-1President of Chattogram Press Club and Vice President of Chattogram Divisional Sports Association Alhaj Ali Abbas and general manager of the meet’s sponsor Elite Paint Group of Companies Abul Kalam Azad were also present as special guests.
Also read: La Liga 2022-2023 Season Predictions: Championship race, top-four, relegation, top scorer
Shakib cancels contract with Betwinner News after BCB warning
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan cancelled his contract with Betwinner News after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) took a stern position against his contract with the betting company brand.
"Shakib sent us a letter confirming the cancellation of his contract with that company," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told UNB Thursday.
According to BCB's regulation, no cricketer can work for any organisation that is involved in betting-related activities.
Also, every player needs to take the permission of the board before partnering with any organisation as an ambassador. But Shakib did not do so while teaming up with Betwinner News.
Read: BCB to Shakib: Quit Betwinner News or get out of national team
"We have a zero-tolerance policy against betting and betting-related activities," BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon told the media earlier in the day. "If Shakib continues his contract with the betting organisation, we will not consider him for the national team."
Meanwhile, the BCB is yet to announce the Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup due to its issue with Shakib.
Nazmul said the board will announce the squad by Saturday.
BCB to Shakib: Quit Betwinner News or get out of national team
Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan faces being axed from the national team unless he terminates his controversial contract with Betwinner News, which is a surrogate promotion of online betting and gaming portal Betwinner.
The stern warning came on Thursday from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan amid a stand-off over the star cricketer’s deal with the controversial organization.
“If Shakib continues with the Betwinner News the board will not consider him for the national team,” said Nazmul.
The BC had been caught off guard after the star player’s recent admission that he joined the Betwinner News as its brand ambassador . He defended his decision saying the organization has nothing to do with betting.
According to BCB’s regulation, no cricketer is allowed to work with any organization that is involved in betting-related activities. BCB’s regulation also mandates every cricketer to inform it prior to making any business contract with any organization, which Shakib failed to do before his contract with Betwinner News.
Read: Who can replace Shakib Al Hasan in Bangladesh Cricket Team?
“We have a zero-tolerance policy against betting and betting-related activities,” Nazmul told the media on Thursday. “If he continues his contract with that organization, we will not consider him for the national team.”
He also added that the board has asked Shakib to clear his position on whether he is going to cancel this contract or not, and the all-rounder is set to inform the board about the same by today (Thursday, USA time).
Shakib is currently staying in the USA with his family.
Shakib was previously banned by the ICC due to his continuous contact with a proven book-maker and not reporting it to the respective authority. He was also banned by the BCB for his continuous misbehaving off and on the field.
Meanwhile, BCB is yet to announce Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup due to the issue with Shakib. Nazmul said the board will announce the squad by Saturday.
He confirmed that Liton Das, Nurul Hasan Sohana and Yasir Ali Rabbi will not be part of the Bangladesh team due to injuries. While Liton and Sohan sustained injuries in the recent tour of Zimbabwe, Yasir got a blow during Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies.
Bangladesh’s Journey to 400 ODI Matches
Bangladesh achieved a milestone on Wednesday (August 10) in addition to defeating Zimbabwe to avert a clean sweep. The Bangladesh men's cricket team became the tenth cricketing nation to play 400 ODI matches after making their ODI debut on March 31, 1986. The team Tigers has seen many highs and lows over the past 36 years, but it is commonly known that the majority of their success has come in the one-day format. Bangladesh’s journey to 400 ODI matches is discussed in this article.
Early years of the Bangladesh national ODI team
Bangladesh’s journey in ODI cricket started during the Asia Cup in 1986 when they faced Pakistan at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa. The Gazi Ashraf Hossain-led Bangladesh ODI team lost the contest against Imran Khan-led Pakistan by 7 wickets. In the early years, Bangladesh used to compete primarily in the Asia Cup cricket competition, where they frequently suffered crushing defeats at the hands of Asian powerhouses.
Bangladesh took part in eight different competitions before eventually registering their first-ever ODI victory on May 17, 1998, in the Coca-Cola Triangular series against Kenya. They overcame the Kenyan national side by 6 wickets. Before that, Bangladesh had lost 22 straight one-day internationals, including six losses against India.
Read Shakib cancels contract with Betwinner News after BCB warning
Champions of the ICC Trophy and obtaining ODI status
Cricket in Bangladesh was significantly impacted by the 1997 ICC Trophy. The national team of Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy '97 by defeating Kenya by two wickets (D/L method) in the championship match, securing their spot in the 1999 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup.
For the first time, Bangladesh successfully won the major competition for associate nations of the International Cricket Council. They subsequently earned the opportunity to participate in ODIs as regular ICC members.
Bangladesh’s first appearance in the ICC ODI World Cup
Bangladesh made their first appearance in the 50-over format World Cup in the 1999 edition. They shocked Pakistan by 62 runs while defeating Scotland by 22 runs in the World Cup 99 group stage. The victory over Pakistan was a significant turning point in Bangladesh's cricket history because it was the first time the Tigers had defeated an ICC full member team in an ODI.
Read BCB to Shakib: Quit Betwinner News or get out of national team
The Roaring Tigers defeated Pakistan on May 31, 1999, at the County Ground in Northampton, and the entire country celebrated in jubilation. Eventually, Bangladesh's first World Cup campaign came to an end with two victories and three losses, placing them fifth in group B.
Bangladesh's noteworthy victories in ODIs (2000–2014)
The Bangladesh national side had to wait five years to record their fourth victory in the One-Day International format since their historic victory against Pakistan in the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup. They defeated Zimbabwe by 8 runs in a bilateral ODI series game at the Harare Sports Club in March 2004.
One year later, in January 2005, Bangladesh won their first ever bilateral ODI series. They beat the Zimbabwean side 3-2, securing a historic ODI series win. In the same year, Bangladesh defeated the world champions Australia at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens in a Natwest Series game by a margin of five wickets. Mohammad Ashraful made his name by scoring a spectacular hundred in the game.
Read Asia Cup 2022: Who are favourites to lift the trophy?
In the following years, Bangladesh achieved many important victories, including wins over South Africa and India in the 2007 World Cup; victories over West Indies and New Zealand in multiple ODI series; and a victory against England in a 2011 World Cup group match.
However, the 2012 Asia Cup final appearance was Bangladesh's most remarkable accomplishment. They qualified for the title game after defeating India and Sri Lanka in the group stage, but they fell short of Pakistan by two runs. After coming so close to winning an Asia Cup competition but falling short, the entire country was heartbroken.
The rise of Bangladesh's ODI team in 2015 and the present situation
The year 2015 will always remain a memorable one for Bangladesh cricket fans. The team Tigers had some unbelievable success all through the years. Bangladesh became a very competitive team under Captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s leadership and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha’s mastermind tactics.
Read India announce Asia Cup squad with Kohli back, sans Bumrah
Bangladesh knocked England out of the 2015 World Cup by beating them by 15 runs at the Adelaide Oval and secured a place in the quarter-finals. Later in the year, they won a bilateral ODI series against Pakistan (3-0), India (2-1) and South Africa (2-1) respectively.
In 2017, Bangladesh stunned the cricket world by reaching the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in England. However, they were knocked out of the competition after losing to India by 9 wickets in the semi-final fixture.
The following year, in 2018, Bangladesh won a bilateral series against West Indies (2-1) and reached the Asia Cup final. However, India's victory against Bangladesh by 3 wickets in the final dashed Bangladesh's hopes of taking home the trophy.
Read Bangladesh end disastrous Zimbabwe tour with win
Bangladesh made an excellent preparation for the 2019 World Cup by winning a tri-nation series in Ireland, their first in cricket history. The team Tigers' World Cup 2019 campaign started off with a 21-run victory over South Africa. They later couldn’t maintain the momentum and finished eighth in the points table with three victories over South Africa, West Indies and Afghanistan.
However, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had a magnificent tournament, breaking multiple records. He made 606 runs with an average of 86.57 and also picked up 11 wickets in 8 matches.
The charismatic captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, later stepped down from the captaincy and veteran opener Tamim Iqbal took the role in March 2020. Since then, Tamim Iqbal has led Bangladesh quite well, equaling the record with Mashrafe Mortaza for most consecutive ODI series wins (5) as captain. Under Tamim Iqbal’s captaincy, Bangladesh registered their first-ever bilateral ODI series win in South Africa in March 2022.
Read: Bangladesh end disastrous Zimbabwe tour with win
400 ODI Matches: Statistical Highlights of the Bangladesh National Men’s Cricket Team
Bangladesh's statistics and records in the ODI format are now quite rich after 400 games. Let's explore some significant ODI statistics for Bangladesh.
Notable Team records (as on August 10, 2022)
Matches
400
Wins
144
Loss
249
Most ODIs Played
Zimbabwe (81)
Most ODI Wins
Zimbabwe (51)
Most ODI Losses
Sri Lanka (40)
Best Results in ODI World Cup
Super Eights (2007) and Quarter-Finals (2015)
Best Result in ICC Champions Trophy
Semi-Finals (2017)
Best Results in ODI Asia Cup
Runner-Ups (2012 and 2018)
Highest Totals
333/8 against Australia (2019)
Lowest Totals
58 against West Indies (2011) and India (2014)
Largest Victories (runs)
169 runs against Zimbabwe (2020)
Smallest Victories (runs)
3 runs against New Zealand (2010) and Afghanistan (2018)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read BCB yet to name a captain for Asia Cup
Notable Individual records (as on August 10, 2022)
Most Matches
Mushfiqur Rahim (236)
Most Matches as Captain
Mashrafe Mortaza (88)
Most Wins as Captain
Mashrafe Mortaza (50)
Most Runs
Tamim Iqbal (8074)
Highest Score
Litton Das (176)
Most Hundreds
Tamim Iqbal (14)
Most Fifties
Tamim Iqbal (55)
Most Sixes
Tamim Iqbal (101)
Most Wickets
Shakib Al Hasan (285)
Best Bowling Figures
Mashrafe Mortaza (6/26)
Most Five Wickets Haul
Mustafizur Rahman (5)
Most Dismissals
Mushfiqur Rahim (252)
Most Catches
Mahmudullah Riyad (73)
Highest Partnership
Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das (292)
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Asia Cup 2022: What could Bangladesh’s squad look like?
Way Forward
Reaching the 400-ODI games milestone is indeed a historic accomplishment for Bangladesh national men's cricket team. They have come a long way after some fruitless early years on the international platform. The Tigers' overall winning percentage has been decent given that they had to wait 12 years for their first ODI triumph.
In addition, Bangladesh have always preferred one-day cricket because the majority of their memorable moments have come in ODIs. The Tigers' ODI side under Tamim Iqbal has made significant strides in the recent international series.
The Bangladesh team's next major goal is to do something remarkable at the next ODI Cricket World Cup in 2023. Bangladesh have a decent chance of achieving their goals as the 13th ODI Cricket World Cup will be hosted in India.
Read Bangladesh’s journey in Asia Cup Cricket Tournament So Far
Bangladesh end disastrous Zimbabwe tour with win
Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 105 runs Wednesday in the third ODI at the Harare Sports Club to end their disastrous Zimbabwe tour with a consolation win.
It was Bangladesh's first series defeat against Zimbabwe after 2013.
The Tigers batted first in today's match and set a target of 257 for the hosts. In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for 151 in 32.2 overs.
Sikandar Raza, who hit two centuries for Zimbabwe in the first two matches, made a golden duck in this match. He fell to Hasan Mahmud.
Richard Ngarava, the No. 10 of Zimbabwe, scored the highest run for the home side.
For Bangladesh, Mustafizu Rahman bagged four wickets for 17 runs in 5.2 overs. Edadot Hossain, who played his first ODI, and Taijul Islam scalped two wickets each.
Earlier, Afif Hossain remained unbeaten on 85, and Anamul Haque Bijoy hit his second fifty in the series to power Bangladesh to 256-9.
Read: Bangladesh bat first in 2nd ODI vs Zimbabwe
Like the first two matches, Bangladesh managed a brisk start as Tamim Iqbal and Anamul added 41 runs in 8.3 overs. Tamim was run-out for 19 off 30 balls.
After that, Bangladesh suffered a mini-collapse. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim fell quickly within 10th overs of the innings. Both made ducks.
In the fourth-wicket stand, Anamul and Mahmudullah Riyad added 77 runs. But the unusually slow batting of Riyad put immense pressure on Bangladesh. He eventually fell for 39 off 69 balls.
Afif stood firm like a rock at the other end of the wicket. But he did not get enough support from Mehidy Hasan Miraz who scored 24 balls to score 14 runs.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans and Luke Jongwe scalped two wickets each.
Ahead of the ODIs, Bangladesh played a three-match T20I series against the hosts and suffered a defeat 2-1.
Senior Div Football: Victoria SC make good start outplaying Dilkusha SC 4-1
Victoria Sporting Club made a good start in the Bashundhara Group Metropolis Senior (First) Division Football League outplaying Dilkusha Sporting Club by 4-1 goal in the opening match at the Bashundhara Sports complex here on Wednesday.
Earlier, vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and Chairman of the Metropolis Football League Committee M Imrul Hasan inaugurated both the Senior and 2nd Division Football Leagues at a simple ceremony this afternoon.
Read: Robi lift Absolute Corporate Football Carnival title
In the Senior (First) Division League, Sajjad Iqbal struck twice in the 24th and 40th minutes and Zamiruddin Jewel and Shohag Hossain netted one each for the Victoria SC in the 14th and 45+2 minutes respectively.
Mohammad Shawon scored the consolation goal for Dilkusha SC in the 67th minute.
Earlier in the 2nd Division League, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) beat Bikrampur Kings by 2-1 goal at the same venue in the afternoon.
Emon Hossain and Al Mirad scored one goal each for Bangladesh Sports Training Institute team BKSP in the 17th and 52nd minutes while Mohammad Sumon netted the lone goal for Bikrampur Kings in the 69th minute.
Islamic Games: Imranur finishes 6th in 100-meter sprint
Bangladesh's fastest man Imranur Rahman finished 6th in the men's 100-meter sprint of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games held in Turkish city Konya on Wednesday.
He was placed 6th in the eight-men finals with a timing of 10.02 seconds.
He was deprived of a medal narrowly for just three seconds for losing concentration several times in the finals and semifinals due to repeated false start by other competitors.
Among the eight sprinters, only six athletes completed the finals successfully.
Arthur Cisse of Ivory Coast emerged as the fastest man of the games by clinching men's 100-meter sprint gold medal with a timing of 9.89 seconds.
Read: Islamic Solidarity Games: 64 athletes will represent Bangladesh in 11 disciplines of sports
Mohammed Abdullah Akbar of Saudi Arabia won the event's silver clocking 9.95 seconds while Emre Zafer Barnes of hosts Turkey and Barakat Al Harthy of Oman took the bronze jointly with a timing of 9.99 seconds each.
Earlier, Imranur advanced to the semifinal of the men's 100-meter sprint finishing 2nd in heats number 4 with his and new national record timing of 10.01 seconds and later qualified for the final as the first Bangladeshi clocking 10.06 seconds.
An 84-member contingent are representing Bangladesh in the Islamic Solidarity Games Konya' 2022 in eleven disciplines of sports--Athletics, Archery, Fencing, Gymnastics, Handball, Karate, Shooting, swimming, Table Tennis, Wrestling, and Weight-lifting.