United News of Bangladesh

While the Bangladesh national team has no ongoing assignments, some key players are participating in foreign leagues, including the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and Major League Cricket (MLC). Batter Towhid Hridoy and pace bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are competing in the LPL in Sri Lanka, while Shakib Al Hasan is playing in the MLC in the USA. Towhid, representing the Dambulla Sixers, played two matches before losing his spot in the playing XI. He scored only one run in his first match and did not get a chance to bat in the second. Taskin, playing for the Colombo Strikers, bagged three wickets in his first two matches but proved expensive. Mustafizur, also representing the Dambulla Sixers, has taken five wickets in four matches but has also been expensive, conceding 53 runs in his last match on July 7th. Shakib is playing for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the MLC. In two matches, he scored 53 runs and took one wicket. He is the only Bangladeshi player participating in the MLC. After the MLC, Shakib will join all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin in the Global T20 in Canada.    

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is uncertain about retaining former Pakistan cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed as their long-term spin bowling coach. In his last media interaction, BCB President Nazmul Hasan mentioned they had decided to renew Mushtaq’s contract for two years, but Mushtaq has other commitments. What lies ahead for Bangladesh spinners under Mushtaq Ahmed's guidance While talking to the media on Monday, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the CEO of the BCB, revealed that Mushtaq has other obligations, which makes it unclear when he might be able to join the Bangladesh team for an extended period. “He has some agreements signed before (coming to Bangladesh),” Nizamuddin told reporters. “He has a contract with the England board and others. Our contract with Mushtaq was until the T20 World Cup.” Mushtaq Ahmed arrives in Dhaka to take up assignment with Tigers The BCB now hopes to secure Mushtaq’s services when he is available, among his other commitments. Nizamuddin Chowdhury also said that they are in touch with Mushtaq to potentially sign him for a longer period. Mushtaq joined the BCB in April this year for a two-month contract that lasted until the T20 World Cup, which took place in the USA and West Indies. In his short stint, he helped develop the team’s spin-bowling department and is believed to have played a significant role in Rishad Hossain's eye-catching performance in the World Cup. BCB appoints former Pakistan great Mushtaq Ahmed as spin-bowling coach

Coming from behind, Jatrabari Jhotika Sangsad earned a comfortable 4-1 goal victory over Little Friend Club in the Bashundhara Group Senior (First) Division Football League at the Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka's Kamalapur on Monday afternoon. Nur Alam Siddik struck twice in the 43rd and 57th minutes, while Fayjul Karim and Tanjirul Islam Antu scored one goal each for the winners in the 26th and 65th minutes, respectively. Anannya Paroi scored the lone goal for the losers in the 16th minute. Earlier in the day's first match, Kashaituly Samaj Kallyan Parishad  beat Sadharan Bima Corporation by a 1-0 goal at the same venue on Monday morning. Ammar Ibne Amin scored the match decider for Kashaituly SKP in the very 2nd minute of the match. In the day's other match, Jatrabari Krira Chakra defeated Bashabo Tarun Sangha by a 1-0 goal at the same venue on Monday afternoon. Sabuj Mia scored the match winning goal for Jatrabari KC in the 24th minute.  

Hong Myung-bo was appointed as South Korea's head coach on Sunday, giving one of the nation's 2002 World Cup stars a second chance at the top job. Hong succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann and returned to the position he left in July 2014 after a 12-month spell ended in a disappointing World Cup performance. He was captain of the South Korea team that reached the World Cup semifinals in 2002, when South Korea and Japan co-hosted the tournament. Uruguay beats Brazil 4-2 on penalties after scoreless draw, advances to Copa America semifinals The 55-year-old Hong will leave Ulsan HD with immediate effect after leading the club to successive K-League championships in 2022 and 2023. “Ultimately, the ability to bring the team together is the most important aspect,” Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu said in a statement announcing the appointment. “It will be up to the coaching staff to handle the tactical side of things.” The appointment marks the end of a five-month search by the KFA, which fired Klinsmann in February in the wake of a disappointing Asian Cup campaign. American coach Jesse Marsch was top of the KFA’s shortlist but he took a job with Canada in May. It was reported that David Wagner, the German coach fired by Norwich City after failing to deliver promotion to the English Premier League, and former Greece boss Gus Poyet, were also on the list. Hong, who led South Korea’s Under-23 team to bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, had seemed to rule himself out of the running after a recent K-League game but now has two months to prepare for the start of the third round of 2026 World Cup qualification. Kylian Mbappé is enduring a tough Euro 2024. It might not stop France winning the title South Korea kicks off against the Palestinian team on Sept. 5 and then goes on to face Jordan, Oman, Kuwait and Iraq in Group B. In Asia’s new qualification format, the top two in each of the three six-team groups will confirm their automatic places at the World Cup. The six teams that finish third and fourth will progress to the fourth round, where there are two more places available.

Bangladesh Youth and Junior Handball teams will leave the capital for the Indian city of Joypur on Tuesday to participate in the four- nation International Handball Federation (IHF) Men's Trophy' 2024 Zone 11 ( Asia) beginning on Wednesday (July 10). Eight teams, the Youth and Junior teams from four South Asian countries --India, the Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh-- are expected to compete in the five-day meet. The official photo session of Bangladesh Youth and Junior Handball teams will be held on Monday at 6 pm at the Handball Stadium here.

Bashundhara Kings earned a facile 2-0 goal victory over Bangladesh Police FC in their 4th match of the BFF Under-18 Football League' 2023-24 at the Mohammadpur Physical Education College ground in the capital on Sunday afternoon. Asad put the BPL champions Bashundhara Kings ahead in the added time of the first half (46+1 minute while Yasin confirmed the winners victory scoring one more goal in the 63rd minute. In the day's other match, Dhaka Mohammedan SC outplayed Brothers Union Club by 3-1 goal at the Armed Police Battalion ground in Uttara Sunday afternoon. Tuhin Miah struck twice for the traditional black and whites Mohammedan in the 22nd and 41st minutes while Imran Yousuf netted the other goal in the 65th minute. Mohammad Onik netted consolation goal for the Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union in the 52nd minute from a penalty. In the day's other match, Sheikh Russel KC defeated Rahmatganj MFS by 2-0 goal at the practice ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena also on Sunday. Rafiul Islam scored both the goals for Sheikh Russel KC in the 38th and 90+5 minutes respectively. Dhaka Abahani Limited dominated the U-18 league with all- win run securing full 12 points from straight four matches.

Abhishek Sharma scored his first Twenty20 century as India beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the second T20 on Sunday to level the five-match series at 1-1. Sharma put behind him his nightmare T20I debut on Saturday — a four-ball duck — as he smashed eight sixes and seven fours before he fell to Wellington Masakadza for 100 off 47 balls. Zimbabwe had stunned newly crowned T20 world champion India in the series opener, winning by 13 runs. Ruturaj Gaikwad finished Sunday with an undefeated 77 off 47 balls, while Rinku Singh smashed a 22-ball 48 not out as India turned around its poor batting display in the first T20 to finish with 234-2 after choosing to bat first. In reply, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 134 runs in 18.4 overs. Pacers Avesh Khan (3-15) and Mukesh Kumar (3-37) shared six wickets, while wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi took 2-11 in four overs.  

Arambagh Football Academy defeated Swadhinata Krira Sangha by 1-0 goal in the Bashundhara Group Senior (First) Division Football League 2023 -24 at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the capital's Kamalapur on Sunday Salman Khan scored the match-winning goal for Arambagh FA in the 86th minute. Nawabpur KC earn 2-1 victory over Mohakhali Ekadosh in Sr. Division Football Meanwhile, in the BFF U-16 Football League 2023-24, Wari Club outplayed Uttara Football Club Ltd by 3-0 goals at the same venue on Sunday. After a barren first half, Milon, Hedayet and Anik scored one each for the winners.  

Germany great Toni Kroos officially bid farewell to soccer on Sunday, two days after his team’s dramatic loss to Spain in the quarterfinals of the European Championship. Substitute Mikel Merino’s game-winning goal in the last minute of extra time handed Spain a 2-1 victory, knocked out the host nation and ended Kroos’ playing career. “So that’s it,” Kroos wrote in a post on Instagram on Sunday. “But before I take a break and at least try to realize what happened over the last 17 years I don’t want to miss the opportunity to say thank you to everyone accepting me how and who I am.” The 2014 World Cup winner went on to thank his fans, clubs, coaches and teammates, as well as his friends and family, adding that there is “nothing better (than) to see your kids being proud of daddy.” Kroos won a host of titles, mostly with Real Madrid, but also with Bayern Munich — six Champions Leagues, four Spanish leagues, three Bundesligas, three German Cups and one Copa del Rey. The 34-year-old Kroos announced in May that he would retire at the end of Euro 2024. That meant that his 114th match for Germany turned out to be his last. Kroos ended his post with the words: “last but not least: Thank you Football! You beautiful game. And… you‘re welcome! Over and out.”

The Netherlands dug deep to come from behind and beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday and book its place in the European Championship semifinals. An own goal from Mert Muldur in the 76th minute, only six after Stefan De Vrij canceled Samet Akaydin’s first-half header for Turkey, was enough for the Dutch in the last of the quarterfinals. “It was really a battle today,” De Vrij said. “The Turkish team they have a big heart, a lot of quality. In the end we did well and we deserved the win.” The Netherlands turned the game around after after 1.97-meter-tall (6-foot-5) striker Wout Weghorst made his entrance for the second half. “He’s always fighting up front, helping the team. And we started to keep the ball, create chances," De Vrij said. "Then we scored two goals and the whole team fought until the end." The Netherlands will face England in the second semifinal in Dortmund on Wednesday. Spain faces France in the first on Tuesday. “The players showed tonight a big heart,” Dutch coach Ronald Koeman said. “We had to suffer but finally it’s a great success.” Turkey was without defender Merih Demiral, who was suspended for two matches by UEFA for making a nationalistic hand gesture after scoring in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Austria. The gesture is used by Turkish nationalists and associated with an ultra-nationalist group. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was at the game after he changed his plans because of the diplomatic row with Germany over Demiral's gesture. Uruguay beats Brazil 4-2 on penalties after scoreless draw, advances to Copa America semifinals German interior minister Nancy Faeser had said Demiral used his celebration “as a platform for racism” and federal minister Cem Özdemir, a German politician of Turkish descent, said the gesture “stands for terror, fascism.” Many Turkish fans made the gesture on their way to Berlin’s Olympiastadion, and again during Turkey's national anthem before the game. The Dutch made a better start, but Turkey’s defenders dug in to limit the impact of Cody Gapko, Xavi Simons and Memphis Depay. Turkey lined up with five at the back without the ball, as it had in the win against Austria, and gradually improved. Akaydin rewarded a period of Turkish pressure by scoring in the 35th. Arda Guler delivered a butter-soft cross for the defender to head in off the underside of the crossbar. It set off wild celebrations among Turkey’s coaching staff and fans. Guler was swamped in the coaching area with hugs, while fans in the west end of the stadium set off flares. Most stayed standing after the goal. Turkish supporters greatly outnumbered their orange-clad counterparts in a city that’s home to a large community of people with Turkish roots. Most are descendants of Turkish “guest workers” who arrived in what was West Germany to help rebuild the post-war economy. Germany is home to some 3 million Turks or people with Turkish roots, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority, and the team has enjoyed fevered support at Euro 2024. Koeman, who won Euro ’88 as a player with the Netherlands, reacted to his team's half time deficit by sending on big forward Weghorst, whose presence gave the Dutch wingers a target. Guler hit the post with a free kick, but it was an isolated effort during a period of intense Dutch pressure that finally paid off in the 70th when De Vrij was left free to head in Depay’s cross. Suddenly the Dutch supporters could be heard again, and they were cheering again shortly afterward when Gapko forced the own goal from Muldur by getting in front of the defender to Denzel Dumfries’ low cross. “We didn’t start the second half very well and fell behind,” Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu said. “After their second goal, we turned to long balls. Such things happen. It’s an honor to have come this far.”