United News of Bangladesh

After losing the first match of the two-match series against India, Bangladesh are set to take on the hosts in the second match in Kanpur, aiming to bounce back. Ahead of this match, a political party called Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha threatened to block the streets to the stadium, calling it a protest against the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. In response, local police have beefed up security around the stadium. The Bangladesh team has been advised not to leave the hotel or stadium without police protocol to ensure their safety. For the Bangladesh team, it is rare to face this kind of security threat while playing abroad. In the first match, Ravichandran Ashwin of India scored a hundred and took six wickets in an innings, sealing the match for India. Bangladesh’s failure in the first match was largely due to their fragile batting display. In the first inning, they tumbled for only 149 runs. The team needed to step up in the second inning, but the batters failed again. Bangladesh Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed hope that the batters will come up strongly in the second match. Bangladesh may change their line-up in this match. Taijul Islam may find a place in the playing XI. He can replace a pacer. Shakib Al Hasan was not fully fit in the first match. He might be sidelined in Kanpur.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed’s comments have cast a shadow over Shakib Al Hasan’s return to Bangladesh. Faruque said that the BCB cannot provide security for Shakib, saying that the board is not a security agency. Shakib is currently playing in the two-match Test series against India, with the second match set to begin on Friday. However, a day before the match, Shakib announced his sudden retirement from Tests and T20Is, saying that if his security was assured, he would like to play his last Test in Mirpur next month against South Africa. While Shakib mentioned that the board would oversee his security, the BCB president held a different view. “The matter of security is not in our hands,” Faruque said on Thursday. “He will have to decide on this matter. The board cannot say anything about this. The BCB does not have the ability to provide security to a specific individual.” Faruque further clarified the board's stance on this, saying that the BCB is not an agency like the police and suggested that ensuring Shakib’s security should be handled by the government. During the retirement announcement, Shakib noted that he had spoken with the BCB president. “Shakib is going through a bad time in his life,” Faruque said. “I did not try to convince him (to not retire). He thought that it’s the right time to retire.” Shakib’s concern for his safety stems from his political background. He was a member of the previous government under Sheikh Hasina, which was ousted following a popular uprising led by students. After deadly protests that resulted in at least 700 deaths when the police tried to quell them, Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5. Since then, many members of her Awami League party, including Shakib, have faced murder charges, raising chances for Shakib to get arrested. Shakib has not returned to the country since Hasina’s ouster. Shakib had hinted that he would leave the country after his possible last Test in Mirpur. However, with Faruque’s comments on Shakib’s security, his homecoming now appears uncertain.

Dinesh Chandimal's 16th century helped Sri Lanka dominate a careless New Zealand by 306-3 to begin the second test on Thursday at their Galle fortress. Chandimal was supported well by Angelo Mathews, 78 not out, Kamindu Mendis, 51 not out, and Dimuth Karunaratne's 46. Sri Lanka and England share the record for the most test wins at a single venue, 25, at Galle and Lord’s respectively. And Sri Lanka has made a great start to surpassing England's tally. Chandimal and Karunaratne combined for 122 for the second wicket until a mix up saw Karunaratne run out. He hit to square leg and attempted a quick single after a misfield but was sent back by Chandimal and didn't make it. Chandimal said he apologized back in the changing room. Chandimal remained composed, going on to score his first test hundred against New Zealand and his sixth in Galle. Only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, with seven centuries each, have scored more at the iconic ground. Chandimal and Mathews added 97 runs for the third wicket before Glenn Phillips broke through. Chandimal, who had been using his footwork expertly against spin, misjudged the off-spinner and was bowled while attempting another aggressive shot. His 116 came off 208 balls, featuring 15 boundaries. He batted from the second over. He was promoted for this series from No. 3 to No. 5 and scored 61 in the first test. “They wanted to balance the side,” he said of the move up the order. “I accepted the challenge and it feels good to score a hundred. It's not easy facing the new ball. I tried to be positive and glad it all went well, and we are in a good position now.” The in-form Mendis joined Mathews and began to score with ease. Mendis finished the day unbeaten on 51 from 56 balls, laced with eight boundaries and one towering six. In the past month, Mendis has three fifties and a first-test century. Mathews, solid as ever, ended the day on 78 not out from 166 deliveries, with six boundaries. He passed 2,000 test runs in Galle. The pair has 85 runs for the fourth wicket. On a hot and humid day, New Zealand’s bowlers toiled. Their efforts were hampered by some poor fielding. Daryl Mitchell dropped chances at slip, including one each for Karunaratne and Mendis. Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell missed a stumping opportunity off Karunaratne. Mathews was caught down the leg side, only for the dismissal to be overturned due to William O'Rourke overstepping. “Not the day we would have liked to walk away with,” Phillips said. “A couple of catches dropped and a few other chances gone begging. Sri Lanka made us pay. You have to really appreciate the effort the bowlers put in. It was very tough out there but they kept fighting. We generally are a very good fielding unit and we work hard at training. It is unusual.” After winning the first test, also in Galle, Sri Lanka gave a test debut to off-spinner Nishan Peiris and brought in allrounder Milan Ratnayake. Lahiru Kumara and Ramesh Mendis were left out. New Zealand opted for an unchanged side.

The Bangladesh U-20 football team will play upper ranked and hosts Vietnam in their third Group A match of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup' 2025 Qualifiers on Friday.The match between FIFA ranked 116th Vietnan and ranked 186th Bangkadesh will kick off at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time at the Lach Tray Stadium in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong.Ahead of Friday's match, the Bangladesh team made their practice there Thursday afternoon from 3:15 to 4:45 pm.The Bangladesh team made a frustrating start in the Asian Youth Group meet after suffering a huge 0-4 goal defeat against FIFA ranked 92nd Arabian nation Syria in the first match.The misery of fresh SAFF U-20 champions Bangladesh was further consolidated as they drew 2-2 with FIFA ranked 204th Guam despite dominating the match twice.Earlier, the Bangladesh team was placed in five-team Group A of the U-20 Asian Cup with Syria, hosts Vietnam, Bhutan, and Guam. In the remaining group match, Bangladesh will play Bhutan on Sunday. 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 Women's Cricket team left Dhaka for UAE on Thursday morning to participate in the 10-nation ICC Women’s T20 World Cup' 2024 in a hope to win atleast one World Cup match. Bangladesh women's team, which failed to win any match in the last four World Cup, this time, under the leadership of Nigar Sultana Jyoti, are very serious to win at least one World Cup match. The Women's T20 World Cup matches will be held in UAE city of Dubai and Sharjah from October 3 -20 The Women's World Cup 2024 was scheduled to take place in Bangladesh. But, due to the political instability in the country, the ICC shifted the World Cup to the UAE from Bangladesh. However, the Bangladesh still holds the hosting rights. Bangladesh team will start their World Cup campaign taking Scotland on October 3 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh put in Group B of the World Cup with England, South Africa, West Indies and Scotland while Group A consists of Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced its final squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 including new face Disha Biswas. Disha is yet to get her first international cap. Five players from Bangladesh previous squad --Rumana Ahmed, Rubya Haider, Shorifa Khatun, Sabikun Nahar, and Ishma Tanjim---were dropped. They were replaced by Sobhana Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani, and Disha Biswas. Bangladesh squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup are- Nigar Sultana (captain), Nahida Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Jahanara Alam, Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, Shathi Rani and Disha Biswas.

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is earlier today, saying he might play his last Test in Mirpur next month. He also hinted at leaving the country after that. “If there’s a chance and if I can play, my last Test will be in Mirpur,” Shakib said. “The board is trying to ensure that I can play and feel safe, at the same time that I can leave the country without a hitch.” While making his announcement, Shakib expressed concerns about his safety in Bangladesh, a concern tied to his political identity. He was a member of the parliament during the Sheikh Hasina government, which was ousted in an unprecedented uprising this July-August. Shakib clearly indicated that he would leave the country following his possible final Test in Mirpur. Shakib’s retirement announcement came just a day before the second Test against India, which starts Friday in Kanpur. While he expressed hope to play his last Test next month in Bangladesh, his statement regarding his T20I future was somewhat ambiguous. Shakib noted that he doesn’t see himself in T20Is “at the moment” but added, “if I do well in the franchise leagues in the next months, BCB can call me up if they feel I can contribute to the T20 side.”    

Amid criticism for his political career and off-form, former Bangladesh captain and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is. This somewhat shocking announcement came when the Bangladesh team was gearing up for the second match of the two-match Test series against the hosts, India, in Kanpur.  Despite announcing his retirement in India, Shakib will play the home series against South Africa next month. “I am not hurt or disappointed,” Shakib said, announcing his retirement. “I think it is the right time to move on, and create a place for the new players.” Shakib said that he has informed the board and the board president about his future in T20Is, too, where he will no longer appear in T20Is. The allrounder confirmed that his last T20I in the West Indies was his last T20I appearance, meaning he will not participate in the T20I series against India and West Indies later this year.  “It is the best chance to take a look at new players. It will be a good move to build the team towards the 2026 T20 World Cup. We have taken this as a collective decision,” Shakib added.  “I am happy. I don’t have any regrets in my life,” Shakib said further. “I have enjoyed my cricket career. I think it is the right time for me and Bangladesh cricket. The board president and selectors feel that it is the right time, too.” Shakib did not rule out the possibility of getting back into T20Is again, but he said: “If I do well in the franchise leagues in the next months, BCB can call me up if they feel I can contribute to the T20 side. At this moment, I don’t see myself in the T20Is.”  The left-handed batter scored 4600 runs in Tests with five centuries and 31 fifties. He also bagged 242 wickets, the most by any Bangladeshi bowler, with 19 five-fors. He has 2551 runs and 149 wickets in T20Is.  Shakib is expected to return to Bangladesh ahead of the South Africa tour, but he said he and his family are concerned about his safety.  The allrounder was a parliament member under Sheik Hasina's leadership. The Hasina-government was ousted on August 5 in a mass uprising led by the students. On August 5th, Hasina fled the country. Since then, dozens of murder cases have been filed against Awami League members, including Sheikh Hasina and Shakib.  Shakib was also fined BDT 50 lakh for his involvement in the price manipulation of a company in the stock market. He might have to pay this fine when he comes back to Dhaka.  “I am a citizen of Bangladesh, so I should not have any problem going back to Bangladesh,” Shakib said. “My concern is my safety and security in Bangladesh. My close friends and family members are concerned. I hope things are getting better. There should be a solution to it.”  

Bangladesh will play Pakistan and India will face Nepal in two semifinals of the seven-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-17 Championship on Saturday (Sept 28). Group A champions India will play Group B runners up Nepal in the first semifinal at 2pm while Group B champions Pakistan will encounter Group A runners up Bangladesh at 6pm, both at the Changlimithang Stadium in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu on Saturday. The final match will be held on Monday (September 30) at 6pm at the same venue. In the Group B matches on Wednesday, Pakistan emerged group champions with unbeaten run securing seven points outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-1 goals while Nepal finished group runners-up with six points, beating hosts Bhutan by 2-1 goals. Earlier on Tuesday, defending champions India crushed the Maldives by 3-0 goals to reach the semifinal with an all-win record securing a full six points and also carried Bangladesh to the semifinal at the cost of the Maldives. Bangladesh managed a semifinal berth as Group A runners up securing only one point from both the group matches playing 1-1 draw with Islanders Maldives after conceding 0-1 goal defeat against India in the injury time. The Maldives eliminated from the meet due to poor goal differences despite collecting one point from two matches like Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh football team had their practices at the Bhutan Football Academy ground from 4 pm to 5:30 pm on Wednesday.  

Following a threat from a political party called Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, security arrangement has been beefed up in Kanpur, where Bangladesh and India will take on each other in the second Test of the series. Alleging that Hindus are being persecuted in Bangladesh, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha threatened to block the roads to the Kanpur stadium. The Times of India reported that a formal complaint was lodged against twenty political party members for threatening to block the streets. Local media reported that hundreds of police members were deployed at the stadium to ensure tight security for the Bangladesh team. According to reports, three layers of security systems have been arranged ahead of the Test match starting on Friday. Harish Chander, a local police officer, told the PTI news agency that they are confident in ensuring a proper security protocol. It is rare for the Bangladesh team to be targeted by this type of threat while traveling abroad. Bangladesh lost the first Test of the series against the hosts. They will now look to bounce back in Kanpur, where they have never played a Test before. However, security concerns may be weighing on the minds of the Bangladeshi players.  

Veteran sports journalist Aghore Mondal, who had been suffering from kidney and heart-related diseases, dies on Wednesday at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College (BSMMC) in Dhaka. He was 58. Along with existing conditions, he was diagnosed with dengue fever recently. After his health deteriorated further, he was undergoing treatment in the incentive care unit. Aghore had been a journalist for more than three decades. In the 1990s, he worked at the Bengali daily newspaper Bhorer Kagoj, one of the most influential newspapers at the time. During his long career, Aghore was considered one of the mainstays in the sports journalism industry of the country. Apart from stints at several newspapers, Aghore also worked in the television media. He worked for Channel I, Deepto TV, and in his last job, he was a news editor at the ATN News. The Bangladesh Sports Press Association and Bangladesh Sports Journalist Association, two groups of sports journalists, expressed their condolences on his passing. Other sports journalists have also mourned his death. “I remember today, in some past life, during the farewell evening—I stood on this side, while you floated your boat to the other side,” Arifur Rahman Babu, another veteran sports journalist and a friend of Aghore, wrote this Kazi Nazrul Islam poem on his social media, expressing sorrow for the death of Aghore. “My heart is filled with sorrow,” Arifur added. “Aghore Mondal has passed away to the land of no return.”