United News of Bangladesh

India cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third Twenty20 international on Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series despite a fighting effort from visiting captain Aiden Markram. Asked to bat first, South Africa recovered from a disastrous start of 7-3 to post 117 all out in their full quota of 20 overs. India then chased down the modest target with ease, reaching 120-3 in just 15.5 overs under the floodlights in Dharamsala. South Africa appeared in danger of dipping below their series-opening total of 74 — their lowest-ever T20 score — before Markram steadied the innings. The skipper struck two sixes and six fours in a resilient 46-ball knock, but his resistance ended when he was caught behind off left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who finished with 2-13 from four overs. Harshit Rana, stepping in for the rested Jasprit Bumrah, picked up 2-34, while Kuldeep Yadav impressed with 2-12 in two overs, including Ottneil Baartman’s wicket off the final ball of the innings. India’s reply was emphatic. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill raced to 43 without loss in just 3.1 overs — the same point at which South Africa had been reeling at 7-3. Sharma blasted 35 off 18 balls, and the pair added 60 for the first wicket before Markram took a sharp running catch to dismiss Sharma. Rishad joins defending champions Hobart for Big Bash return Gill made a run-a-ball 28 before being bowled by Marco Jansen, while Lungi Ngidi removed captain Suryakumar Yadav for 12. Tilak Varma (26 not out) and Shivam Dube (10 not out) then calmly finished the chase. South Africa had bounced back with a 51-run win in the second match after a heavy loss in the opener. The fourth T20 will be played on Wednesday in Lucknow. The series serves as preparation for the T20 World Cup in India in February, where India will defend their title after beating South Africa in the 2024 final. India earlier won the ODI series 2-1, while South Africa claimed the Test series 2-0. Source: AP 

Kylian Mbappé found the net on his return from injury on Sunday as Real Madrid claimed a 2-1 away victory over Alaves in La Liga, offering timely relief for coach Xabi Alonso. Rodrygo also scored for Madrid, which closed the gap to league leaders Barcelona to four points after Barca’s 2-0 win over Osasuna a day earlier. The win came after a difficult spell for Madrid, who had managed just two victories in their previous eight matches across competitions and were beaten 2-1 at home by Manchester City in the Champions League, a result that drew boos from fans at the Santiago Bernabeu. “We’re in this together, through good times and bad,” Alonso said. “The team showed character today. We started strongly and took the three points. Staying united is essential if we want to grow and improve.” Mbappé, sidelined against City midweek with a minor injury, opened the scoring in the 24th minute with his 26th goal of the season, cutting in from the left before curling a fine shot into the top corner. Alaves equalized through Carlos Vicente on a counterattack in the 68th minute, but Rodrygo restored Madrid’s lead moments later, finishing from close range after a driving run and assist by Vinícius Júnior. It was Rodrygo’s second goal of the season, following his recent strike against City that ended a long scoring drought. Vinícius celebrated the goal by embracing Alonso on the touchline, a rare public show of support amid reports of unrest in the dressing room. Salah returns as Liverpool beat Brighton Alaves remained 12th after the defeat, coming off a previous win over Real Sociedad. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois recorded his 200th win in 310 appearances for Madrid, while Antonio Rüdiger made his 100th league appearance. Alonso also handed a start at left back to 19-year-old Víctor Valdepeñas from the club’s “B” team due to injury absences. Other matches Second-from-bottom Oviedo dismissed coach Luis Carrión following a 4-0 loss at Sevilla, extending their winless run to 10 games. Sevilla climbed to ninth with 20 points. Celta Vigo secured their first home league win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, moving up to eighth place. Nico Williams missed a late penalty for Athletic. The match between Levante and Villarreal was postponed because of heavy rain and safety concerns in the Valencia region. Villarreal sit third after six straight league wins, while Levante remain bottom. Source: AP 

Mohamed Salah marked his return to Liverpool action as the champions secured a 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton on Saturday, completing the first phase of the Egyptian forward’s reintegration into the squad. Salah, who is set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations, came on in the 26th minute to a warm reception from the Anfield crowd and provided the assist for Hugo Ekitike’s second goal. The win lifted Liverpool to sixth place and extended their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions. ‘Monumental Betrayal’: FIFA slammed for latest World Cup ticket hikes Liverpool manager Arne Slot downplayed concerns about Salah’s future at the club, saying there was “no issue to resolve” following recent tensions. Salah had held talks with Slot on Friday after being left out of recent matches following public criticism last weekend. Arsenal, meanwhile, tightened their grip at the top of the table with a dramatic 2-1 win over bottom side Wolverhampton, though both goals came from Wolves’ defensive errors. After goalkeeper Sam Johnstone’s own-goal put Arsenal ahead, Tolu Arokodare equalised late on before Yerson Mosquera diverted Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own net in stoppage time. Chelsea also enjoyed a 2-0 home win over Everton, with Cole Palmer scoring his first goal in three months, while Fulham beat Burnley 3-2 to deepen the hosts’ relegation worries. Source: AP 

Bangladesh’s under-19 team rewrote the record books on Saturday with a landmark chase in the Asia Cup, overhauling a target of 284 to defeat Afghanistan by three wickets in Dubai. No side in the tournament’s 36-year history had ever chased down a total of that size at under-19 level. Bangladesh did so with seven balls to spare, riding a commanding opening stand and holding their nerve through a tense finish at the ICC Cricket Academy ground. Afghanistan, sent in to bat, posted 283 for seven, anchored by a polished century from Faisal Shinozada. The batter struck 103 from 94 balls, his third hundred against Bangladesh in youth one-day internationals, before departing in the 33rd over. Afghanistan added 108 runs after his dismissal to set what appeared an imposing target. Bangladesh’s reply was shaped by a fluent opening partnership between Jawad Abrar and Rifat Beg. The pair added 151 runs in 26.4 overs, giving the chase early momentum. Rifat fell for 62, but Jawad carried on, mixing control with power and keeping the asking rate in check. He was dismissed for 96, four runs short of a century, after striking nine fours and six sixes in a 112-ball innings. A brief wobble followed as wickets fell in quick succession, bringing pressure back into the contest. Captain Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki steadied the innings, and despite further losses late on, Bangladesh stayed within reach. The equation was reduced to 15 runs from the final 18 balls, and after a late dismissal, Shahriar Ahmed calmly nudged the winning run to seal a historic victory.

Satadru Dutta, the main organiser and promoter of Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour, was arrested on Saturday after chaos erupted during the football legend’s Kolkata visit, which was cut short amid fan unrest and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim confirmed that an FIR had been filed and Dutta, described as the chief organiser of the event, was taken into custody following the disorder. Authorities said organisers have promised to refund ticket money to spectators. Dutta was the key figure behind bringing Messi to India, with the tour promoted as part of a “Satadru Dutta Initiative.” He had earlier said Messi’s visit after 14 years would boost football’s popularity in India and attract unprecedented sponsorship interest. The Kolkata leg of the tour descended into chaos shortly after Messi arrived at the stadium. Surrounded by politicians, officials, VIPs and security personnel, the Argentine star remained largely out of sight for the paying public. Unhappy fans later vented their anger, leading to damage inside the venue. During the incident, Dutta was heard repeatedly appealing over the public address system for the crowd and dignitaries to clear the area, but the situation failed to improve and Messi was eventually escorted out within minutes. Satadru Dutta is known in Indian football circles for his role in organising visits by global icons Pele and Diego Maradona in the past. He has also publicly expressed interest in bringing Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo to India in the future. Police said investigations are ongoing into the mismanagement and security lapses surrounding the event, while crowd control forces were deployed at the stadium to restore order after the incident.  

Soccer fans have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after latest prices for World Cup tickets began to circulate on Thursday. The governing body allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to the most loyal fans. And a list published by the German soccer federation revealed prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680. Those group-stage prices are very different from FIFA’s claims of $60 tickets being available, while the target from United States soccer officials when bidding for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats across the opening phase of games. Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as “extortionate.” “This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” it said in a statement. The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening, which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost just over $7,000. FIFA said in September that tickets released through its website would initially range from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final. But those prices are subject to change as it adopts dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup. FIFA tickets are available in four categories, with the best seats in Category 1. In the price list published by the German federation, there were only three categories. The lowest priced ticket was $180 for Germany’s opening group game against Curacao in Houston. The lowest price for the semifinal was $920 rising to $1,125. The FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.” The Associated Press approached FIFA for comment. Latest phase FIFA launched its third phase of widespread ticket sales Thursday, with fans now able to apply for specific matches for the first time through its “Random Selection Draw.” Following last week's draw for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published. That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place. Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups. Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for. The draw opened Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) and closes Jan. 13, 2026. FIFA says ticket applications can be made at any point during this window and the timing of entry will not impact the chances of success. Fans can apply via FIFA's website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets throughout the tournament. Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and can pick which matches and which pricing category they want to apply for. Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and charged automatically. Prices The last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994 prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar in 2022 prices ranged from around $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced. Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already going for in excess of $11,000 on secondary resale sites. For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15% fee based on the total resale price. FIFA said that closer to the tournament any remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis. It did not reveal a time frame for the release of those remaining tickets.

Verona’s ancient Roman Arena is set for a modern renovation, with major upgrades to improve accessibility for people with disabilities ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The venue will host the Olympic closing ceremony and the Paralympic opening ceremony. Dating back to the 1st century, the Arena has served many purposes — from staging gladiatorial combat and exotic animal hunts in Roman times to functioning as a Medieval marketplace — and is now best known as the site of a celebrated opera festival. Despite its long history, the massive structure has never been properly adapted for visitors with disabilities or others requiring mobility support. Several temporary safety measures have also remained in place for years without being modernized. The forthcoming Games have created an opportunity to upgrade both accessibility and safety at the Arena — a landmark older than the Colosseum — before it welcomes an expected 11,000 spectators for the Feb. 22 Olympic closing ceremony and nearly 10,000 for the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 6. “This is an ancient monument that is some 2,000 years old, that remains active and hosts audiences,” said architect Giulio Fenyves, whose Milan studio designed the new safety and accessibility features. “The occasion of the Olympics has made it possible to reconsider a series of logistical aspects, including facilitating the entry and exit, precisely because it continues to host major events with thousands of people,” Fenyves said. The facelift is part of a 18 million euro ($21 million) project that improves accessibility for the entire area surrounding the Arena and is being overseen by the governmental company responsible for Olympic infrastructure. The works include making a kilometer-stretch of sidewalks from Verona’s main train station to the Arena safer for wheelchairs or baby strollers by building small curb ramps. Dedicated bike lanes are also being built. Paralympians participating in the Parade of Athletes up Corso Porta Nuova, across Piazza Bra, and into the Arena will find that the route has been significantly upgraded for people who require wheelchairs or have other mobility issues. The work is being coordinated with officials responsible for the preservation of the monument as well as those overseeing accessibility codes to bring the structure more in line with current legislation. The new elements “must be integrated in the most delicate and harmonious way possible to a monument that is both robust and fragile at the same time,” Fenyves said. Inside the Arena, the centerpiece project is a wheelchair-accessible ramp clad with pre-rusted steel and the same Prun stone from the Lessinia hills above Verona that was used by the Romans to build the Arena. The local stone gives the Arena its pinkish-yellow hue and contains fossilized shells — remnants of a prehistoric sea that once covered this region now known for hills and vineyards. The ramp will be removable, but project manager Paolo Zecchinelli said he hopes that it will be retained as a legacy of the Games. Until now, people with wheelchairs or walkers approached from a natural slope leading down from the adjacent Piazza Bra. In addition to the ramp that is meant to blend with the Arena’s original features, the local organizing committee is planning an ad hoc temporary ramp to accommodate not only disabled spectators and athletes, but also the elderly, families with children and anyone needing assistance. The overall project also includes a new railing along the top level of the Arena to replace one built in the 1950s that was meant to be temporary, as well as new handrails at varied heights on internal stairways and at the 72 entrances to the tiered seats. Bathrooms are being renovated by the city, and the infrastructure company is making new ramps to make them more accessible. Work will continue after the Olympics and Paralympics, including the installation of an elevator that will allow people with limited mobility to reach the Arena's uppermost level, either to watch a show or take in a view of the surrounding hills. “A part will remain as a gift to the city, which will help this beautiful monument to be more accessible both to people who tour it and those who attend opera performances and other concerts,” Zecchinelli said.

Devon Conway compiled a composed half-century in a 67-run stand with Kane Williamson to guide New Zealand to 112-2 at lunch on Thursday, the second day of the second Test against the West Indies. The hosts added 88 runs in the morning session, responding to the West Indies’ first-innings total of 205, on a Basin Reserve pitch that continued to offer pace and movement for the quicks. Kemar Roach struck early, removing Tom Latham for 11 in the fifth over of the day with a delivery that seamed back and hit off stump. Williamson, who looked settled on his way to 37, was undone just before lunch by a superb Anderson Phillip delivery that pitched on middle and straightened enough to clip off stump. Conway went into the interval unbeaten on 55, while Rachin Ravindra was batting on 5. Conway enjoyed a life on 29 when Brandon King dropped him at leg gully off Jayden Seales, and Williamson survived a tough return chance to Phillip on 22. Cummins returns for third Ashes Test as Australia aims to seal series West Indies’ seamers worked hard to unsettle Conway, alternating between attacking his pads from around the wicket and moving the ball across him from over the wicket. The surface hardened overnight, offering consistent bounce and sharp movement from a good length. Ravindra, who struck 171 in the second innings of the drawn first Test, got off the mark shortly before lunch with an edge that flew between slip and gully. Meanwhile, New Zealand confirmed that fast bowler Blair Tickner, who dislocated his left shoulder on day one after taking 4-32, has rejoined the squad but will not bowl or field again in the match. He will bat only if required. The opening Test in Christchurch ended in a draw. The series finale begins Dec. 18 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Source: AP 

Arsenal’s Marli Salmon became the sixth-youngest footballer to appear in the Champions League after coming on as a late substitute during the team’s 3-0 victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday. The teenage defender, aged 16 years and 103 days, replaced Ben White at the Jan Breydelstadion. Manager Mikel Arteta said the coaching staff had long anticipated giving him his first minutes on Europe’s biggest stage. “We knew we would have to use him at some point,” Arteta said. “He’s only 16 and he’s already playing in the Champions League.” Despite his age, Salmon is not Arsenal’s youngest debutant this season. That honor belongs to Max Dowman, who was 15 years and 308 days old when he featured as a second-half substitute against Slavia Prague last month. UEFA records show Salmon is the third player aged 16 or below to represent Arsenal in the Champions League, following Dowman and former midfielder Jack Wilshere. Liverpool beat Inter without Salah; Barcelona and Bayern clinch comeback wins Arteta credited the academy for preparing young prospects. “This is why so much effort goes into developing these players. When we need them, they’re ready to step in,” he said. Dowman holds the record as the youngest player ever to appear in the competition, surpassing Youssoufa Moukoko’s 2020 mark set at 16 years and 18 days. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is listed as the third youngest after debuting at 16 years, 68 days in 2023. Wearing the No. 89 shirt, Salmon is regarded by Arsenal as a technically strong, ball-playing central defender. He entered the academy setup at Under-11 level. Wednesday’s match marked his first Champions League outing before making any senior league or domestic cup appearance. He previously played for Arsenal’s U21s in the Football League Trophy in September.

Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations which target gays and lesbians, have complained to FIFA over a World Cup soccer match in Seattle that is planned to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride. Leaders in the nation's soccer federations publicly rebuked the idea of playing the match June 26 at Seattle Stadium, which local organizers say will include a “once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington.” In Egypt, the soccer federation issued a statement late Tuesday saying it sent a letter to FIFA “categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match.” Seattle PrideFest has been organized in the city since 2007 by a nonprofit which designated the June 26 game for celebration before FIFA made the World Cup draw Friday. FIFA chose Saturday to allocate the Egypt-Iran game to Seattle instead of Vancouver, where the teams' group rivals Belgium and New Zealand will play at the same time. Already, organizers in Seattle have promoted an art contest for the game, including one entry of a rainbow-flagged sun rising over Mount Rainier as a crab goalie goes for a soccer ball while holding a cup of coffee in its pinchers. “With matches on Juneteenth and pride, we get to show the world that in Seattle, everyone is welcome,” Seattle's Mayor-elect Kate Wilson wrote on social media. “What an incredible honor!” FIFA controls only stadiums and official fan zones in World Cup host cities and should have no formal authority over community events like Seattle PrideFest. FIFA declined comment Tuesday to the Associated Press, and did not address a question if it would consider switching the Belgium-New Zealand game to Seattle. Angry response in Iran, Egypt In Iran, where gays and lesbians can face the death penalty, the president of Iran’s Football Federation Mehdi Taj criticized scheduling the match during an interview aired on state television late Monday. Taj said Iran would bring up the issue during a FIFA Council meeting in Qatar next week. The longest-serving member of the 37-person council chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino is Egypt's Hany Abo Rida. “Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point,” Taj said. State TV on Tuesday confirmed a complaint would be sent to FIFA. The Egypt soccer federation led by Ado Rida said of the pride celebration it “completely rejects such activities, which directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.” It urged FIFA to stop the celebration to “avoid activities that may trigger cultural and religious sensitivity between the presented spectators of both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially as such activities contradict the cultures and religions of the two countries.” Iran had threatened to boycott the World Cup draw in Washington, DC over complaints about five of its nine-person delegation, including Taj, not getting visas to enter the United States. Iranians are subject to a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration and the U.S. in the past has denied visas for those with ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, like Taj. Iran ended up sending a smaller delegation including the team's coach. Tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program, particularly after American warplanes bombed atomic sites in the country during Israel's 12-day war with the Islamic Republic in June. Unlike the 2022 World Cup, however, Iran is not scheduled to play the United States in the World Cup's opening matches. Seattle's response Asked about the complaint Wednesday, Seattle's organizing committee said it was “moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament.” “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle,” spokesperson Hana Tadesse said in a statement. "We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect and dignity that defines our region.” Iran, Egypt target LGBTQ+ community For years, Egyptian police have targeted gays and lesbians, sparking warnings even from the app Grindr in the past. Though Egypt technically does not outlaw homosexuality, authorities frequently prosecute members of the LGBTQ+ community on the grounds of “debauchery,” or “violating public decency.” Iran also has targeted the LGBTQ community and its theocracy is believed to have executed thousands of people for their sexuality since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Hard-line former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once famously went as far as to claim during a 2007 visit to the United States: “We don’t have homosexuals like in your country.” A crowd at Columbia University responded by laughing and heckling the leader. FIFA dilemma FIFA risks being accused of a double standard if it sides with World Cup teams' federations over the city of Seattle. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA fiercely defended the right of the host nation's cultural norms to be respected in full by visiting teams. A group of European federations wanted their team captains to wear a “One Love” armband with some rainbow colors that symbolized human rights and diversity, which FIFA and Qatari officials viewed in part as criticism of the emirate criminalizing same-sex relations. Some Wales fans had rainbow hats removed before entering the stadium. Qatar also will play in Seattle at the World Cup, on June 24 against a European opponent which could be Italy or Wales.