United News of Bangladesh

Manchester City and the English Premier League both claimed victory on Monday after one of the league’s key regulations relating to financial fairness were challenged. Four-time defending champion City and the league said they “welcomed” the findings of an arbitration panel. City said the regulations were found to be “unlawful” and the league “abused its dominant position.” The league said the tribunal found the rules to be “necessary” and “rejected the majority of Manchester City’s challenges.” The regulations in dispute, the Associated Party Transaction rules, are designed to ensure fair market value is applied to commercial deals with organizations closely aligned to club owners, and safeguard the “competitive balance” of the world’s most popular soccer league. City said in a statement, “The club has succeeded with its claim: The Associated Party Transaction rules have been found to be unlawful and the Premier League’s decisions on two specific MCFC sponsorship transactions have been set aside.” City added the tribunal found the rules to be “structurally unfair” and the league was “specifically unfair” in applying them to the Abu Dhabi-backed club. One key finding in City's favor was that shareholder loans — which could be offered at lower or no interest rates — should not be excluded from APT rules. City said decisions on two of its sponsorship deals were set aside following the tribunal. While the league said a “small number of discrete elements of the rules” did not “comply with competition and public law requirements,” it added: “The tribunal upheld the need for the APT system as a whole and rejected the majority of Manchester City’s challenges. Moreover, the tribunal found that the rules are necessary in order for the league’s financial controls to be effective.” In a separate case, City faces more than 100 charges of alleged financial breaches from the league.

The schedule of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Election 2024 billed for October 26 was announced on Monday. The BFF Election 2024 will be held at Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka, from 2:00 pm to 6 pm after its annual general meeting in the morning on the day. BFF Chief Election Commissioner Mejbah Uddin officially announced the election schedule at the BFF office in Dhaka's Motijheel on Monday. One hundred and thirty-three BFF councillors will exercise their voting rights on October 26 to elect a 21-member BFF executive committee, including one president, one senior vice president, four vice presidents, and 15 EC members. Cost of nomination papers : Taka one lakh for the post of president, Tk 75,000 for the post of senior vice president, Tk 50,000 for the post of vice president, and Tk 25,000 for the executive members. As per the election schedule, nomination papers will be available/distributed on October 9, 10, and 12 from 10 am to 5 pm at the BFF office, Submission of nomination papers on October 14 and 15. scrutiny of nomination papers on October 16, submission of objection on nomination papers ( if any) on October 17, hearing on objection by appeal committee on October 18, withdrawal of candidature on October 19 (11 am to 5 pm) and 20 (11 am to 2pm), publication of final candidates list on October 20 after 3:00 pm.

After losing the first T20I of the three-match series against India, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted that their batters don’t know how to score 180-plus runs in T20Is.  The captain also pointed to the home wickets on which they prepare for international cricket, though he acknowledged that the batters also lack the right approach at crucial moments in matches.  Before the T20I series, Bangladesh lost the two-match Test series against the hosts, meaning the Tigers have now lost all three matches of this ongoing tour.  Najmul expressed confidence that the team is capable of playing better cricket than they’ve shown so far against India. He conceded that the team has big room for improvement if they hope to prove their true potential.  First T20I: Bangladesh crumble to 127 as Indian bowlers take control  “We have to make some changes,” Shanto said, addressing the batting struggles. He suggested that the wickets at home don’t prepare them to score competitive totals abroad.  “At home, we play on wickets that produce 140-150 runs,” he said. “Our batters don’t know how to score 180 runs. But it’s not just the wickets to blame. We also need to consider skills and mentality.” Historically, Bangladesh has struggled in T20Is, rarely showing consistent performance in the format. Najmul, however, insisted that the team is better than they appeared in the first T20I in Gwalior. Towhid or Rishad: Who will be Bangladesh’s X factor against India? To post competitive totals, a team must show some real plan in the powerplay. But Bangladesh has yet to resolve their powerplay approach. In this match, they reached only 39 for two during the powerplay, which ultimately did not provide a solid foundation. Ahead of this series, Najmul said they were looking to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026. After the first match, it’s clear Bangladesh has much to consider as they look toward the World Cup.

India outplayed Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series on Sunday in Gwalior, where the visitors struggled in all departments. With this defeat, Bangladesh have now lost three consecutive matches on their current tour— first two defeats in two Tests, and now in the first T20I. After being sent in to bat, Bangladesh managed to post 127 all out in 19.5 overs. In response, India comfortably chased down the target in 11.5 overs, with Hardik Pandya remaining unbeaten on 39 off just 16 balls. India started strong with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, both scoring at strike rates over 150. Abhishek was run out for 16, but Sanju kept the score moving, finishing with 29 off 19 balls. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also scored at a strike rate above 200, making the small target even easier to chase than it appeared. Bangladesh’s total failed to challenge India’s batting lineup, as they lacked the firepower to apply any real pressure. Earlier, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, returning to T20Is after more than 14 months, was Bangladesh's top scorer with 35 runs. The other batters struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. India won the toss and opted to field on a fresh pitch at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which hosted its first international match. Bangladesh lost openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Litton Das within the first three overs. Although they managed to avoid further losses during the powerplay, runs were hard to come by. Litton was the first to go after a missed shot that resulted in an easy catch for Rinku Singh. Towhid Hridoy, known for his power-hitting, contributed only 12 runs from 18 balls. Middle-order batters Mahmudullah Riyad and Jaker Ali also struggled. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who stayed at the crease for 25 balls, could only muster 27 runs and appeared uneasy against the Indian bowlers. Rishad Hossain briefly lifted hopes with a six and a four but departed soon after, scoring 11 off five balls. Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling with three wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, playing his first T20I since the 2021 T20 World Cup, also claimed three wickets in a strong return to the team. The bowlers set the stage for a win for the hosts. With this victory, India take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second and third matches will be played on October 9 and 12 in Delhi and Hyderabad.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 127 with one ball remaining in their innings during the first T20I of the three-match series against India on Sunday in Gwalior. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, returning to T20Is after over 14 months, top-scored for Bangladesh with 35 runs. The rest of the batters struggled to contend with India’s disciplined bowling attack. India won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat on a fresh wicket at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which was hosting its first international match. First T20I: Bangladesh to bat first in Gwalior Bangladesh lost both openers, Parvez Hossain Emon and Litton Das, within the first three overs. Despite preserving wickets during the powerplay, Bangladesh couldn’t capitalize as runs remained scarce. Litton was dismissed first after an unclear shot attempt, resulting in an easy catch for Rinku Singh. Towhid Hridoy, known for his power-hitting, scored just 12 runs from 18 balls, failing to make a significant impact. Middle-order batters Mahmudullah Riyad and Jaker Ali also faltered. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lingered at the crease for 25 balls but could only muster 27 runs, appearing uneasy against the Indian bowlers. Rishad Hossain briefly lifted hopes with a six and a four but departed shortly after, scoring 11 off five deliveries. Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling effort with three wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, playing his first T20I since the 2021 T20 World Cup, also claimed three wickets, making a strong comeback. Towhid or Rishad: Who will be Bangladesh’s X factor against India?

Shakib Al Hasan’s Los Angeles Waves marked a disappointing start in the 2024 edition of the United States National Cricket League (US NCL), falling short against the New York Lions by 19 runs in the first match at the University of Texas Cricket Stadium, Dallas, on Saturday. Opting to bat first, the New York Lions posted an imposing total of 126 runs for the loss of two wickets in their allotted 10 overs. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina spearheaded the attack with a dazzling half-century, smashing 53 runs off just 28 deliveries, laced with six boundaries and three sixes. Raina’s brisk knock earned him the Player of the Match award. Sri Lankan veteran Upul Tharanga provided solid support, adding 40 runs off 23 balls to the scoreboard. In the bowling department, the Waves struggled to contain the onslaught from the Lions’ batters. Taymal Mills and Pankaj Kampli managed to pick up one wicket each, conceding 22 and 4 runs respectively. However, captain Shakib Al Hasan’s lone over proved costly as he gave away 18 runs. In response, the Los Angeles Waves could only muster 107 runs for 7 wickets in their stipulated 10 overs, falling 19 runs short of the target. English wicketkeeper-batter Adam Rossington was the top scorer for the Waves, scoring a brisk 31 off 15 balls. Shakib Al Hasan’s performance with the bat was below par as he managed to contribute just 13 runs off 16 balls, striking three boundaries. His struggles continued in the bowling department, adding further pressure on the team. With this loss, the Los Angeles Waves have a lot to ponder as they look to bounce back in the upcoming fixtures of the US NCL.

India have won the toss and elected to field first, sending Bangladesh in to bat in Gwalior for the opening match of the three-match T20I series on Sunday. This is the first international match at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. The city is hosting an international match after more than a decade. Bangladesh have opted for a balanced attack with three seamers and two spinners for this match. Parvez Hossain Emon has been included in the lineup, marking his return to T20I cricket after a year. With Shakib Al Hasan absent, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named in the starting XI. India have included Varun Chakravarthy in their lineup, playing his first T20I since 2021. Bangladesh XI: Litton Das (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmadullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

England is aiming to challenge struggling Pakistan with a new-look pace attack in the opening test of a three-match series, starting in the searing heat of Multan on Monday. Fast bowler Brydon Carse will make his test debut with Gus Atkinson set to play his first overseas test after his impressive home season against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. All-rounder Chris Woakes was penciled in to the starting XI after Ben Stokes was ruled out for the fourth successive test match due to ongoing rehabilitation on his injured hamstring. Woakes will be playing his first match in two-and-a-half years and it will be his first test in Asia since 2016. Carse’s pace gave him the edge over Olly Stone and Matthew Potts for the tour of Pakistan and England hopes the Durham pace bowler will challenge the batters by regularly clocking over 90mph. England will be led by Ollie Pope, who guided the team to a 2-1 home series against Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Stokes. The England captain sustained his hamstring injury during the Hundred and might return to lead the side in the second test, also in Multan. “I was kind of just learning on the job,” Pope said. “Obviously my first time captain abroad. Ben’s going to be around as well… so I can listen to the voices around me but still keep doing things in my way.” England flattened Pakistan 3-0 through its high-risk, high-reward “Bazball” approach during the 2022 tour when it played at Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi. They were scheduled to play at the same venues this time around, but renovation work at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi for next year’s Champions Trophy forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to organize back-to-back tests at Multan with Rawalpindi set to host the third test from Oct. 24. England also named spinners Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir in the playing XI in anticipation of the pitch flattening out in temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius that are expected over the next week in Multan. Leach was the second highest wicket-taker in the last series in Pakistan with 15 wickets. “Everyone’s so happy to have Leach in and around the squad for this series,” Pope said. “We obviously saw how well he bowled last time here on pitches that (are) always offering a great deal ... and he’s worked closely with Shoaib Bashir throughout his Somerset career and those guys go really well.” Pakistan has strengthened its batting line-up by including all-rounder Aamer Jamal for the first test after being routed 2-0 by Bangladesh at home in the last series. Shan Masood has lost all five test matches since he was elevated to red-ball captain. Masood lost 3-0 to Australia in his debut series as test skipper when Jamal took 18 wickets and came in handy as a batter down the order. Jamal missed the series against Bangladesh because he was undergoing rehabilitation on a back injury. “We have got an edge with the return of Aamer Jamal,” Masood said. “He also bats down the order and picked up 18 wickets. We have (leg-spinner) Abrar and (off-spinner) Salman to give us spin options.” Pakistan has a woeful record in home test matches and hasn’t won at home since beating South Africa 2-0 in early 2021, while losing to England, Australia and Bangladesh. New Zealand also came close, but Pakistan managed to draw the series 0-0. Pakistan had its moments to beat England when both teams last met at Multan two years ago. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed made an impressive debut by grabbing 11 wickets before Pakistan narrowly lost by 26 runs when Mark Wood, missing in this series due to injury, claimed the key wicket of Saud Shakeel. “It was my dream debut and last time we lost quite close,” Abrar said on the eve of the first test. “I hope to give a match-winning performance this time around and bring some happy moments.” Pakistan's top-order batters have long been struggling and premier batter Babar Azam hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 16 test innings. Opener Abdullah Shafique also struggled against Bangladesh while Masood couldn’t convert starts into big scores with only one half-century in four innings. But Masood insisted Pakistan needed to give its struggling batters a longer run as he searched to win key moments and find momentum in the series against aggressive England. “We came close to winning last time, but we let the matches slip away,” Masood said. “We know how they play, but at the end of the day we have to see how to tackle it. We are clear in our mind and that’s why we have named the XI.”

Bangladesh are set to face India in the first T20I of the three-match series in Gwalior on Sunday evening. Bangladeshi fans will be keeping a close eye on two players—Towhid Hridoy and Rishad Hossain—wondering which of them could be the Tigers' X factor. Both Towhid and Rishad have proven themselves as integral parts of Bangladesh’s T20 squad. Towhid has drawn attention with his big-hitting abilities, while Rishad has impressed with his leg-spin and his knack for clearing the boundary at crucial moments. Before this series, Bangladesh faced India in 14 T20Is, with only one victory. But this time, the Tigers are bringing more experience than the Indian squad, as India have rested some key players. Who will replace Shakib in T20Is for Bangladesh? This Indian side has collectively played fewer than 400 T20Is, whereas the Bangladesh team has collectively played more than 600, which places Bangladesh in the rare position of being a more experienced side than India, who have always been considered a big team for Bangladesh.  However, this difference in experience may have little impact, as the Indian players possess a broader diversity of skills, which the Bangladesh team lacks. If Bangladesh are to improve their T20I record against India, Towhid and Rishad will need to perform well. Towhid has played 29 T20Is so far, amassing 600 runs at a strike rate of over 130. Rishad, with 24 T20Is under his belt, has taken 29 wickets, including 10 in the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, where he was among the tournament’s top bowlers. Bangladesh will certainly miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced his retirement from the format. To fill the void, Bangladesh has included Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the squad. Najmul eyes India series to begin preparations for next T20 World Cup Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence that Mehidy could step up and help fill the gap left by Shakib. The match will begin at 7:30 pm(Bangladesh time) in Gwalior. This city is hosting an international match for the first time in over a decade, and the venue, Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, will be hosting its first-ever international match.

Bangladesh lost their second match of the Women’s T20 World Cup to England by 21 runs on Saturday. With this win, England kicked off their World Cup campaign on a high note. England won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a total of 118 for seven wickets. Bangladesh, in response, failed to chase it down. Openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge gave England a strong start, putting up a 48-run partnership for the first wicket. After breaking their stand, Bangladesh struck back with quick wickets. Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight, and Alice Capsey were unable to pose significant threats to Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Danni was the top scorer for England with 41 runs, while Maia added 23. For Bangladesh, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Ritu Moni each took two wickets. In reply, Bangladesh lost their openers early, with just 17 runs on the board. However, Sobhana Mostary kept the fight alive with a valiant 44 runs, and captain Nigar Sultana chipped in with 15. Despite their efforts, the rest of the Bangladeshi batting lineup struggled, as Sobhana and Nigar were the only batters to reach double digits. Linsey Smith took two wickets for just 11 runs, while Charlie Dean also picked up two wickets to help restrict Bangladesh to under 100 runs. Bangladesh finished on 97 for seven, losing the match by 21 runs. Earlier, in their first match, Bangladesh secured a win against Scotland, marking their first World Cup victory in a decade.