Sports
Shanto, Naim overshadow Mushfiqur in Dhaka League victory
Abahani Limited continued their undefeated streak in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, securing a 58-run victory over Prime Bank Cricket Club on Monday in Dhaka.
This marks their 10th consecutive win in the country's premier domestic cricket competition.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mohammad Naim delivered commanding centuries for Abahani. Despite a valiant century from Mushfiqur Rahim in reply, Prime Bank fell short in their chase.
Sent in to bat first, Abahani posted a formidable 341 for 4 in their 50 overs. Captain Shanto led the charge with a blistering 118, while Naim Sheikh contributed 105. Tawhid Hridoy added a quickfire 65 off just 35 balls.
Bangladeshi batters make gains in Test rankings
Hasan Mahmud claimed two wickets for Prime Bank.
Prime Bank's chase stumbled as they lost wickets consistently. Parvez Hossain Emon managed 56 runs, but it was Mushfiqur's fighting century that offered a glimmer of hope.
However, Abahani's bowlers held firm, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat sharing wickets. Tanzim and Taskin took three wickets apiece, while Mosaddek claimed two.
Women's Cricket: Bangladesh suffer yet another big defeat to Australia
Prime Bank Cricket Club was ultimately all out for 283 in the 49th over. Abahani's 58-run victory solidifies their position at the top of the table with 20 points from 10 matches they’ve played so far.
Sheikh Jamal continue winning streak, as Nurul leads team to victory
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (SJDC) secured a 5-wicket victory against Partex Sporting Club (PSC) in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League on Monday at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
This was SJDC’s first match after the Eid break and their tenth match in the event. This win brings their points tally in the ongoing league to 16.
PSC won the toss and elected to bat first, starting steadily with a 41-run partnership for the first wicket between Munim Shahriar and Azmir Ahmed. But wickets began to fall at regular intervals, and PSC struggled to build partnerships.
Bangladeshi batters make gains in Test rankings
PSC managed a below-par total of only 205 runs, due in part to a late contribution of 35 runs by Ahrar Amin.
Shafiqul Islam was the pick of the bowlers for SJDC, bagging four wickets, while Taibur Rahman took three. Their effective bowling restricted PSC to a chaseable total.
In response, SJDC lost four wickets inside 100 runs. Despite the early losses, they remained in control of the match. Opener Shykat Ali posted 41, and SJDC captain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, anchored the chase with a well-played 76, guiding the team to victory.
Women's Cricket: Bangladesh suffer yet another big defeat to Australia
With this victory, SJDC has moved up to second place in the points table, while PSC has slipped to eleventh place, increasing their risk of elimination.
After a gruelling schedule, Bangladeshi cricketers celebrate Eid with family and friends
After a gruelling schedule packed with international matches and domestic leagues, Bangladesh's cricket stars are taking a well-deserved break to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with family and loved ones.
National team captain, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, will head to Rajshahi to celebrate Eid with his family. Similarly, Mushfiqur Rahim, who has been recovering from an injury, will spend the holidays in his hometown of Bogura.
Other players, including Tawhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahmudul Hasan, and Rishad Hossain, will also celebrate Eid in their respective home districts, relishing the opportunity to connect with family and friends.
However, not all players will be celebrating within the country. Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has embarked on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and he is celebrating Eid with his family in the USA, while fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman will celebrate Eid in India as he continues his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bangladeshi batters make gains in Test rankings
Despite a 2-0 series defeat against Sri Lanka in the ICC World Test Championship, several Bangladeshi batters have shown progress in the latest ICC Men's Test Player Rankings.ICC released a new ranking update on Wednesday.
Opener Zakir Hasan, who scored of 54 and 19, has climbed three places to reach the 75th position in the Test batting rankings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, known for his all-round abilities, has also moved up the rankings, jumping from 99th to 88th position after a 81 not out in the second innings of the Chattogram Test.
Another notable gain comes from Mominul Haque, who has moved up four slots to reach the 46th position after scoring 83 runs in two innings he played.
The series also saw significant movements for Sri Lankan players, with all-rounder Kamindu Mendis and former captain Angelo Mathews making notable gains in both batting and bowling rankings.
Sri Lanka's bowlers Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, and Lahiru Kumara also improved their positions following strong performances in the series.
Super League Hockey: Police SC taste first win crushing Ajax SC by 9-1 goals
Bangladesh Police SC tasted the first win in their 3rd super league match of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey crushing Ajax Sporting Club by 9-1 goals at the Moulana Bhasani National Stadium on Monday.
Despite the day's first win in the six- team super league match, Police SC remained at the 5th slot in the league securing 20 points while Ajax SC remained at bottom with 14 points.
Dhaka Mohammedan SC comfortably dominated the league table table securing 32 points while three teams --- Dhaka Abahani Limited, Usha Krira Chakra and holders Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club ---followed the leader distantly securing 28 points each.
In the day's lone match, Indian booters Gurjot Singh Sangha and Deepak Patal struck two each, Abdul Malek, Rezaul Ahmed Ratul, Pakistani Athisham Aslam,Mohammad Afsar and Ahsan Habib scored one each for Police team.
Indian recruit Silheiba Lisham scored the consolation goal for Ajax SC.
Real Madrid will be out for revenge against Man City in the Champions League. Expect fireworks
The all-time kings of Europe take on the current holders in the standout tie of the Champions League quarterfinals.
For the third year running Madrid and City meet in a match-up in which the winner has gone on to lift the trophy in the past two seasons. And it would be difficult to look beyond either team going on to continue that streak this time around.
City is still in contention for back-to-back trebles after winning the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup last year.
Madrid, reinvigorated by the signing of Jude Bellingham last summer, is eight points clear at the top of the Spanish league and aiming for a record-extending 15th European Cup title.
The Spanish giant also has a point to prove after being routed 4-0 by City in the second leg of last year's semifinals.
Then it was City who had a score to settle, having suffered a late collapse at the Bernabeu to crash out in the semifinals in 2022.
Manager Pep Guardiola will likely know how motivated Madrid will be to exact revenge — just as his players were last year — and that adds a subplot to a tie that is already heavy on intrigue.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain versus Barcelona is another clash of heavyweights, with Kylian Mbappe aiming to finally lead the French champions to European club soccer's elite trophy before walking away at the end of the season.
Premier League title-chasing Arsenal takes on a Bayern Munich team that is limping towards the end of a miserable campaign in the German league, while Atletico Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund.
REAL DEAL?
Madrid has all its attacking players clicking.
Bellingham has struck 20 goals in 32 games this season, including four in the Champions League. Vinícius Júnior is peaking just in time to face City with five goals in his last three appearances. Brahim Díaz provides a spark off the bench. And Rodyrgo ended a six-week scoring drought in Madrid’s last game, a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, to keep it on course for winning the domestic league title.
Madrid is on a 27-game unbeaten run at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium across all competitions dating back to last April.
City has found its scoring form over the past week after hitting four goals in each of its games against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to stay on the heels of title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.
ENRIQUE REUNION
After a difficult start to his coaching career at PSG, when he had to put up with Mbappe’s bitter contract saga, Luis Enrique has steadily won over fans and the French media - even if it meant dropping Mbappe or taking him off in games.
Enrique won the treble as Barcelona coach in 2015 with Lionel Messi in his team and is still in contention to do the same at PSG with Mbappe.
Losing has become a distant memory for PSG, which is undefeated in 27 matches since a loss away to AC Milan in November during the Champions League group stage. But playing a rested Barcelona side could be the toughest test of the season.
Xavi Hernández attempted to shock his team into getting its act together by saying he would quit at the end of the season, something that has coincided with a certain improvement.
Barcelona has gone unbeaten in 11 straight games since Xavi said in late January that he was renouncing the final year of his contract.
Robert Lewandowski, teenager Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are all playing well of late, but the midfield is a big question mark due to injury concerns.
TUCHEL TROUBLE
Bayern Coach Thomas Tuchel wants to end a “frustrating” season, and his tenure, on a high with a trip to Wembley for the Champions League final. But its preparation for Arsenal could hardly have been worse after its latest defeat, this time to Heidenheim on Saturday after leading 2-0.
“There’s still the goal of going to Wembley,” Tuchel said Friday. “Everything is being put toward this target. It can’t happen that we ease off even 1% in our conviction or in our ambition.”
The mood at Arsenal is very different with Mikel Arteta's team looking better equipped to last the course in the race for the title this year after a late collapse last season.
The Champions League run feels like an unexpected bonus, but victory against Bayern will strengthen belief that a trophy double could be on.
ATLETICO SLUMP
Atletico has slumped in recent weeks, with six losses and only four wins in its last 12 games overall, as it missed the goals and creativity of Antoine Griezmann. The France forward is now back playing and will be looking for his first goal since Jan. 18.
Diego Simeone’s side was enjoying a 25-game unbeaten run at its Metropolitano Stadium until Barcelona delivered a 3-0 rout at Atletico on March 27.
Dortmund has generally saved its best for the Champions League this season. It isn’t a Bundesliga contender this year, but wins over Newcastle, AC Milan and most recently PSV Eindhoven have shown it means business in Europe.
BPL Football : Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintain unbeaten run defeating Sheikh Russel KC 3-1
Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC maintained their unbeaten record as the lone team in the ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24, beating former champions Sheikh Russel KC by 3-1 goals at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Saturday.
Despite the day's well merited win, Mohammedan SC remained at the 2nd slot in the league table securing 23 points from eleven matches while Sheikh Russell KC was at the 7th slot bagging 11 points from eleven encounters.
Bashundhara Kings comfortably dominated the league table securing 28 points from eleven matches while another former champion Dhaka Abahani Ltd were in distant 3rd with 19 points from eleven ties.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings thrash Ctg. Abahani 5-0
In the day's match, long serving Malian forward Souleymane Diabate scored first for the traditional black and whites Mohammedan in the 37th minute from a penalty (1-0).
Serbian left winger Vojislav Balabanovic leveled the margin for Sheikh Russel KC in the added time of the first half (45+7 minute) also from a penalty (1-1).
Uzbek midfielder Mozaffarov put Mohammedan ahead again in the 72nd minute (2-1) while local forward Jafar Iqbal sealed the fate of the match scoring the 3rd goal for Mohammedan in the 77th minute (3-1).
Sheikh Russell KC were reduced to 10-man as their Guinea foward Sekou Sylla got marching order in the 80th minute after receiving direct red card alongwith his coach.
Today (Saturday) is an exceptionally lucky day for Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the sports arena as their cricket team and hockey team also won their respective matches in top level.
Federation Cup Football: Holders Mohammedan SC reach semifinal eliminating Sheikh Russel
Mohammedan beat Gazi Tyres by nine wickets in the Premier Cricket League and they earned 6-3 goals victory over Police SC in the Premier Hockey League on Saturday.
However, in the day's other BPL match, former champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club played to 2-2 draw with formidable Bangladesh Police FC at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Saturday.
E E Morillo Jimenez and Al Amin scored one each for Police FC while Senegalese forward Abou Toure netted both the goals for Sheikh Jamal DC.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Abahani Ltd earn convincing win
With the day's feat, Sheikh Jamal DC advanced to the 4th slot in the league table collecting 15 points while Police FC remained at the 5th place with 14 points, playing eleven matches.each.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings thrash Ctg. Abahani 5-0
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings earned a convincing 5-0 victory over Chittagong Abahani Ltd in the ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2023-24' at the Bir Shreshta Fl.Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshigani on Friday.
With the day's feat, Bashundhara Kings further consolidated their top slot to clinch the league crown securing 28 points from eleven matches while Chittagong Abahani Ltd went down to the 9th slot with 10 points from eleven encounters.
In the day's match, local forward Rakib Hossain struck twice in the 19th and 53rd minutes, Brazilian forward Dorielton Gomes, Robson Robinho and Uzbek medio Asror Gafurov scored one goal each for the Kings in the 2nd, 13th and 45+2 minute respectively.
FIFA World Ranking: Bangladesh drops to 184th
In the day's other match, Dhaka Abahani Limited shared points middle rated Fortis FC as their crucial encounter ended in a 1-1 draw at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Friday.
After a barren first half, Ukrainian footballer V Gryshyn put Fortis FC ahead in the 61st minute (1-0) with the frustration of Abahani fans.
When the match was almost heading for Abahani's 3rd defeat in the league, then Saint Vincent booter Cornelius Stewart made the face-saving equaliser for sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the 6th minute of the stoppage time (90+6) minute (1-1)
After the day's match, Dhaka Abahani Ltd remained in the 3rd place in the league table with 19 points from eleven league outings while Fortis SC went down to the 6th slot with 13 points from eleven matches.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Abahani Ltd earn convincing win
In a battle of two lowly teams at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi, Rahmatganj MFS beat bottom-ranked Brothers Union Club by 1-0 goal Friday afternoon.
Rahmatganj MFS moved up to the 8th place in the league table earning ten points from eleven ties while Brothers Union remained at bottom with three points from eleven matches.
M Kahraba scored the all important goal for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj in the 44th minute of the match.
Six-team hockey super league begins Friday
The six- team super league of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey will begin on Friday at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka.
Dhaka Abahani Limited will play Bangladesh Police SC in the opening match at 2:00 pm while league leader Dhaka Mohammedan SC will face Ajax SC at 4:00 pm in the other opening day's fixture.
Premier Div Hockey: Usha KC share top slot with Abahani beating Victoria SC by 7-1 goals
On the following day (Saturday), Usha KC will meet Club Cup Champions Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club at 1:30 pm while Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Bangladesh Police SC at 3:30 pm at the same venue.
On the completion of the eleven-team first phase matches on Wednesday, Dhaka Mohammedan SC clinched the top slot as the lone unbeaten team in the league, securing 26 points from all ten matches.
Premier Div Hockey: Mohammedan advance to 2nd slot beating holders Mariner Youngs
Dhaka Abahani Limited and Usha KC followed the leader neck and neck, securing 25 points each, while Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club bagged 22 points from all eleven league outings.
Bangladesh Police SC and Ajax SC finished 5th and 6th to qualify for the Super Six stage of the league collecting 17 and 14 points, respectively.
Premier Div Hockey: Hattricks by Deepok, Rahul help Police rout Azad SC
FIFA World Ranking: Bangladesh drops to 184th
Current World Cup Champions Leonel Messi's Argentina remained on top while Bangladesh by one step to 184th in the latest FIFA World Ranking published by the World's apex body on Thursday (Apr 4).
Argentina, which clinched the top position in the FIFA World Ranking dethroning their arch-rival Brazil in April last year, maintained their hot seat intact for one year.
Bangladesh ranked 183rd in October last, went down by one step to settle for 184th place after six months following their two back to back defeats against war-torn Arabian nation Palestine in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers last month.
Bangladesh suffered their biggest 0-5 goal defeat against Palestine in their away match in Kuwait on March 21 and conceded 0-1 goal defeat in their home match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on March 26.
Besides, two major changes were also held in top ten positions.
Belgium advanced to the 3rd slot toppling England while Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal moved one step up to settle for the 6th place.
In other top ten FIFA rankings, France ranked 2nd, England 4th, Brazil 5th, Netherlands 7th, Spain 8th, Italy 9th and Croatia 10th .