United News of Bangladesh

In the history of Test cricket, no team ever scored a hundred or a 200-run as fast as India did in the ongoing Kanpur Test against Bangladesh.  To reply to Bangladesh’s first innings of 233 runs, India declared on 285 for nine, securing a first-innings lead of 52 runs.  After rain after rain, Bangladesh finally played some cricket on the fourth day of the Kanpur Test and ended their first innings at 233.  Mominul Haque was the main contributor, scoring his 13th Test ton. Najmul Hossain Shanto was the second-highest run getter with 31. Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets for the hosts.  In reply, India unleashed a brutal batting display, scoring the first 50 runs in just three overs— which is a world record. And then they reached 100 runs in 10 overs, which was also the record for the fastest 100 runs in a Test match.  Since the ball-by-ball stats started, no team was able to score 100 runs as fast as India did in this match.  India's onslaught continued as they also secured the records for the fastest 150 and 200 runs in Test cricket. They needed only 24.2 overs to reach the 200-run mark. Instrumental in setting these records were Yashasvi Jaiswal and Lokesh Rahul, both scoring half-centuries. Jaiswal blazed his way to 72 off 51 balls, while Rahul contributed 68 off 43 balls. For Bangladesh, both Shakib Al Hasan and Mehdiy Hasan Miraz took four wickets each.  Bangladesh will have to bat for at least 45 minutes on the fourth day of the Kanpur Test.

World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann took the soccer world by surprise Monday when he announced the end of his international career with France. The 33-year-old Atletico Madrid player has played 137 matches with Les Bleus, scoring 44 goals during a successful 10-year tenure. Griezmann started with France in 2014 in a friendly match against the Netherlands then quickly established himself as a stalwart of the team coached by Didier Deschamps with his versatile talent and influence as both a goalscorer and an assist provider. Only two players, Hugo Lloris and Lilian Thuram, have played more international games with France than Griezmann. “It’s with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life,” Griezmann said in a message posted on Instagram. "Thank you for this wonderful tricolor adventure and see you soon." Griezmann is fourth on France's list of all-time scorers behind Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe. He won the 2018 World Cup and the Nations League three years later with his France teammates. “After 10 incredible years, marked by challenges, successes and unforgettable moments, it is time for me to turn a page and make way for the new generation,” he said. “I was lucky enough to experience some incredible moments alongside some exceptional teammates. We have shared victories that will remain forever engraved in our memories.” After a disappointing showing at the European Championship earlier this year, where France lost in the semifinals, Griezmann had lost some of his influence in Deschamps' team. His final appearance in the France kit was in September in a 2-0 win over Belgium in a Nations League match when he came on as a late substitute. Although Griezmann has admitted he struggled at the Euros, he was expected to keep on playing with France until the 2026 World Cup. In his retirement message, Griezmann thanked Deschamps for his support over the last decade despite the coach's decision to make Mbappe France captain ahead of him last year following Lloris' retirement. Griezmann had previously said Deschamps' snub had been difficult to stomach. Griezmann didn't say how long he'll continue with his club career. His contract with Atletico runs until 2026.  

Cricket South Africa finally confirmed their tour to Bangladesh to play a two-match Test series. Concerns had arisen about the tour due to the political situation in Bangladesh. However, the CSA was satisfied with the security assurance the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Bangladesh government promised.  A CSA delegation recently visited Bangladesh to assess the security arrangements and emergency protocols. The delegation included Cricket South Africa's operations manager, team security manager, safety and security consultant, and a representative of the South African Cricketers' Association.    Earlier, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was removed from Bangladesh due to concerns regarding security.  The BCB has already announced a schedule for the series. According to the official schedule, the South Africa team will arrive in Dhaka on October 16 ahead of their first Test in Dhaka, which will start on October 21.  The second and final Test will be played in Chattogram, starting on October 29.

After the rain gave a chance to play some cricket in Kanpur, Bangladeshi batter Mominul Haque scored a century and helped Bangladesh post a total of 233 in their first innings.  At the lunch of day four, Mominul was batting at 102. After lunch, he could add only five runs. It was the 13th Test ton for Mominul, the most by a Bangladeshi batter.  Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto scored the second-highest number of runs, 31. Other batters failed to impress in this rain-hit game.  Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets for the hosts in Bangladesh’s first innings.  Due to persistent rain and a wet outfield, there were only 35 overs of play on day one of this match, and the next two days were washed out due to the rain.

England set Australia a total of 310 runs to win their deciding fifth match of the one-day international series on Sunday. Ben Duckett hit 107 in 91 balls and captain Harry Brook contributed a 52-ball 72 with seven sixes in England's 309 all out in 49.2 overs after losing the toss and having to bat first at Bristol. The series was tied 2-2 heading into the match after England routed the Australians in a 186-run loss in the fourth ODI at Lord’s on Friday. England was on course for a huge total but Brook holing out to Adam Zampa after hitting him for five sixes sparked a collapse from 202-2 in the 25th over. Duckett was one of four wickets to fall to Travis Head, the fifth spinner Australia used, on a wearing pitch. Head took 4-28 in 6.2 overs. The forecast is for heavy rain later Sunday, which could lead to a second washout in 12 months at this ground. Australia need to bat 20 overs to decide who wins the series 3-2. Australia is the world champion in the 50-over format, but has lost two in a row against England after seeing a 14-game winning streak snapped.  

Bangladesh completed their Group A engagements of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers with a winning note beating Bhutan by 2-1 goals in a keenly last group match at the Lach Tray Stadium in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong on Sunday. Despite the day's feat, the SAFF U-20 champions Bangladesh finished 3rd to eliminate from five -team Group A of the Asian meet securing four points from four matches Guam finished 4th with two points while Bhutan was placed 5th and last with one point. Syria and hosts Vietnam are sharing the top slot securing full nine points each from three matches and due to meet each other Sunday evening to decide the group champions.. In the day's match, Midfielder Asadul Mollah put Bangladesh ahead in the very 4th minute of the match by a good shot from the right wing that kissed the Bhutanese net making fool the custodian (1-0). Bhutan leveled the margin by a gifted goal when Bangladeshi defender Asadul Islam Sakib headed the ball to his while he trying foil an opponent attempt in the 71st minute (1-1). Striker Moinul Islam scored the match winning goal for Bangladesh in the 86th minute by a long distance shot taken outside from the danger zone (2-1). Earlier, Bangladesh team made a frustrating start after suffering 0-4 goals defeat against FIFA ranked 92nd Arabian nation Syria, played 2-2 draw with lowly Guam and conceded 1-4 defeat against hosts Vietnam. Ten Asian group champions along with five best group runners up will qualify for the next round of the AFC U-2O Asian Cup.

Bangladesh's Sports Adviser, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, has said Shakib Al Hasan will be given proper security as a player but hinted that any guarantee of his security from public anger is not possible.  Bangladesh’s biggest cricket star is currently playing for the country in India. He announced his retirement from the Tests and T20Is during the ongoing cricket series. He also expressed his desire to play his last Test in Mirpur, with the assurance of security from the board.  But the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief, Faruque Ahmed, said the board cannot provide security for an individual player. He also said the board is not a security agency like the police force.  A couple of days later, Asif Mahmud came up with a stronger opinion about Shakib’s security at home.  “We have to remember that Shakib has two identities,” Asif Mahmud said on Sunday. “He is a player and also has a political identity. He ran in an election from Awami League. People have mixed reactions to these.” He also said that the government will provide Shakib with the necessary security as a player. “Regarding the murder case that has been filed against him, we have already addressed it. The Ministry of Law has also said that if there is no involvement, his name can be excluded at the preliminary stage,” he added.  The Sports Advisor hinted that it’s not possible to ensure security from public anger.  “How many people provide security for me— five police constables and one gunman? If ten crores out of 16 crores people are angry with me, what security will five or six people provide me? In that sense, I also have no chance to get security,” Asif Mahmud said. The overall situation increasingly suggests against Shakib’s chance to play a match in Bangladesh in the current political climate. END/UNB/SHT/ssk  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the three-match T20Is series against India, which starts on October 6. Mehidy Hasan Miraz has earned a recall to the T20 side 14 months since his last appearance in the shortest format. Left-handed opening batter Parvez Hossain Emon and left-arm orthodox Rakibul Hasan have also been called up. Mahmudullah Riayd has also been included in the team. While the first match of the T20I series is on October 6th, the second and third T20Is are on October 9th and 12th. Bangladesh team is currently busy playing the second Test of the two-match series against India in Kanpur. Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Litton Kumer Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.

Sri Lanka stormed to a series victory over New Zealand, securing the two-match test series with a resounding innings and 154-run triumph on the fourth day in Galle on Sunday. This victory, Sri Lanka’s most dominant over the Kiwis, also marks their first win against New Zealand in 15 years. The hero of the games, left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, was named Player of the Series after a masterful performance, claiming 18 wickets across the two matches. Meanwhile, Kamindu Mendis took home Man of the Match honours for his unbeaten 182, anchoring Sri Lanka’s colossal total of 602-5 declared. With this knock, Mendis etched his name in history, joining the great Sir Don Bradman as the third joint-fastest player to reach 1,000 test runs. Jayasuriya, who took nine wickets in the first test, was at his best again, snaring another nine wickets in the second test as New Zealand’s batters struggled to cope with Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack. Debutant Nishan Peiris was the perfect foil, chipping in with nine wickets of his own, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. “We discussed the need to score big in the first innings. That has been something that has been worrying us for a while. Glad we rectified that this innings,” said Sri Lanka captain Dananjaya de Silva. “The spinners were superb. They kept creating pressure and didn’t allow New Zealand to get away with things. It was a superb display. That’s how we want to compete in home conditions, dominate the opposition from ball one,” he added. New Zealand’s woes began early, bundled out for a paltry 88 in their first innings. Forced to follow on, the Kiwis showed more fight in their second innings, posting 360 – their highest total of the tour and in Galle – but it was too little, too late. Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner all contributed half-centuries in the second innings, but the tourists needed far more to challenge Sri Lanka’s dominance. Resuming at 199-5, New Zealand lost three wickets before lunch on the fourth day. Despite Sri Lanka’s fielding lapses, which saw three catches dropped, they eventually cleaned up after lunch. Jayasuriya removed Ajaz Patel and Peiris took the final scalp of Santner, stumped by Kusal Mendis, sealing the series win for Sri Lanka. “We had our moments in the series, but disappointed with the end result,” said New Zealand captain Tim Southee. "That morning session on day three when we lost nine wickets was very disappointing. “There were dropped catches and missed stumpings as well in the Sri Lankan innings and in these conditions when you don’t hold onto those chances it is very difficult.” With this victory, Sri Lanka has now won three consecutive test matches and bolstered their hopes of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s next June.

Mohammad Yousuf resigned as Pakistan cricket selector on Sunday due to personal reasons. Yousuf’s resignation came only five days after Pakistan named its squad for the first test against England, starting at Multan on Oct. 7. Yousuf was one of the four members of the selection committee that also includes former test cricketer Asad Shafiq, test head coach Jason Gillespie and test captain Shan Masood. “I announce my resignation as a selector for the Pakistan cricket team due to personal reasons,” Yousuf wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Serving this incredible team has been a profound privilege, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth and success of Pakistan Cricket.” Yousuf was named to the selection panel earlier this year, but Pakistan had little success, making an early exit from the T20 World Cup where it lost group matches against arch-rival India and co-host United States. Bangladesh also registered a historic 2-0 win when it swept Pakistan in the two-test series. Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board said that Yousuf had voluntarily stepped down from his role as a member of the national selection committee to focus on other key responsibilities within the PCB. “The PCB expresses its sincere gratitude to Mohammad Yousuf for his invaluable contributions during his tenure as a selection committee member,” the PCB said in a statement. “Yousuf will continue to play a pivotal role at the PCB, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience as the batting coach at the high performance centre.”