United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Monday told Parliament that the current government has taken a plan to build sports villages in 64 districts of the country. “The present government has a plan to build sports villages in 64 districts of the country as per its election manifesto. There will be arrangements for the development of cricket under this plan,” he said while replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammed Fakhrul Islam (Noakhali-5) in the House. Earlier, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, tabled the question-and-answer session at the outset of Monday’s sitting. The state minister also said the government has initiated the process of undertaking a project titled "Construction of an International Standard Sports Tourism Complex in Cox's Bazar District". Under this project, an international standard cricket stadium will be constructed in Cox's Bazar district, he said. Besides, a plan has been taken to build an international standard cricket stadium in Purbachal, Dhaka, said Aminul Haque.

Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand on Monday in Chattogram. Just before the T20I series, Bangladesh defeated New Zealand in the three-match ODI series. Media from Chattogram reported heavy rain during the night and in the morning before the match. However, the sun emerged later, allowing the curators to prepare the field for play on time. Nevertheless, the weather became gloomy right after the toss. For the visitors, captain Tom Latham has been ruled out due to a toe injury. In his place, Nick Kelly is leading the team, becoming the 13th player to captain New Zealand in T20Is. Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Parvez Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Ripon Mondol New Zealand XI: Tim Robinson, Katene Clarke, Dane Cleaver (wk), Nick Kelly (capt), Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Clarkson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Matthew Fisher, Ben Lister

Jesse Lingard is enjoying a fresh start in Brazil, making history as the first English player to feature in the country’s top football league and aiming to win silverware with Corinthians. The former Manchester United forward has quickly settled into life at his new club and recently scored his first goal in the Copa do Brasil. Lingard’s move to Brazil raised some eyebrows, but the 33-year-old said he chose the club to challenge himself at a high level. “I had offers, but I wanted to test myself. I came here to win a trophy,” he said in an interview. He joined Corinthians after a spell with FC Seoul and credited former teammate Memphis Depay for helping him make the move and adjust to life in Brazil. Lingard made his debut against Fluminense at the iconic Maracanã Stadium, describing the experience as “amazing” after a long period without competitive football. However, his arrival coincided with a difficult period for the club. Coach Dorival Junior was sacked following a poor run of results, with Fernando Diniz later taking charge. Since then, the team has improved, winning matches in the Copa Libertadores. Lingard also spoke about the passion of Corinthians supporters, saying their presence at training sessions showed how much they care about results. Adjusting to life in Brazil has not been without challenges, particularly the language barrier. Unlike his time in South Korea, Lingard does not have a translator but is trying to learn Portuguese to communicate better with teammates. Reflecting on his long career at Manchester United, where he spent two decades before leaving in 2022, Lingard described it as an “amazing chapter.” He later moved to Nottingham Forest before heading to Asia. He is still closely following developments at United and praised former teammate Michael Carrick for the club’s recent improvement, saying he believes Carrick should be given the job permanently. Lingard also highlighted the performances of United captain Bruno Fernandes, backing him as a contender for the Ballon d’Or after an impressive season. Looking ahead, Lingard is excited about the prospect of facing top players in Brazil, including Neymar, whom he described as a world-class talent. The former England international, who played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, also expressed confidence in England national football team ahead of upcoming international competitions, saying they have the quality to go all the way. With inputs from BBC

Bangladesh have named a 15-member squad for the first Test against Pakistan, handing maiden call-ups to opener Tanzid Hasan and middle-order batsman Amite Hasan ahead of the two-match series next month. The first Test begins on 8 May at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, with the second scheduled for 16-20 May at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Both matches count toward the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain the side, with all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz serving as vice-captain. Tanzid, a 25-year-old left-handed opener already established in Bangladesh’s white-ball setup, brings a strong first-class record of 1,792 runs in 25 matches at an average of 40. Amite, 23, is a right-handed middle-order batsman who has been among the most prolific run-scorers in domestic cricket, averaging 49 across 82 first-class matches since his debut in 2019. “Tanzid has been in our thoughts for Test cricket for some time,” said Kazi Habibul Bashar, chairman of the national selection panel. He praised the opener’s technique and natural ability, adding that the selectors were confident he could perform in the longer format if given the opportunity. Bashar described Amite as one of the most consistent batsmen in Bangladesh’s first-class competition, noting his temperament and discipline as qualities well suited to Test cricket. He said both players had time on their side and could serve the national team for years to come. The squad also features the returns of pace bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, who have not played Test cricket since late 2024, along with off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who has been absent from the Test side for close to a year. Experienced campaigners Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, and Litton Das retain their places in the batting order. Pakistan are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on 3 May. Bangladesh for firstPakistan Test: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan, Amite Hasan.      

Bangladesh captain Litton Das intends to extend the team's batting lineup down to the number nine position, a structural shift designed to give top-order batters the freedom to play aggressively in T20 matches. Speaking ahead of the series against New Zealand in Chattogram, Litton said adopting an attacking mindset at the top of the order inevitably leads to early wickets. To sustain that aggression without triggering batting collapses, he said the team must rely on consistent run production from its tailenders and bowling all-rounders. Litton identified spin bowlers Sheikh Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, and Rishad Hossain as essential to this strategy. He said creating a healthy batting order depends heavily on their ability to contribute lower-order runs. "Large teams have batting depth up to number nine," Litton said. "If we can create that depth, our top batsmen will be able to play games more freely." The captain added that the team's pace bowlers are also expected to contribute at the crease. He noted that alongside established bowling all-rounders like Mohammad Saifuddin and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, the team is grooming newcomer Saklayen Sajib to strengthen the lower-middle order. Litton said if the lower-order bowlers can add even five or six runs each, it resolves a significant vulnerability.  As part of the effort to restructure the batting depth, Litton confirmed that Parvez Hossain Emon will be moved from his usual spot in the top order to play in the middle order during the upcoming matches.  While Litton expects the top order to elevate its overall strike rate during the current World Cup cycle, he said management will not place excessive pressure on the batters during the initial games against New Zealand, allowing them time to adjust to the format.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das said the team has moved past the disappointment of missing the recent T20 World Cup and is now focused on rebuilding for the 2028 tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday ahead of a T20I series against New Zealand, Litton addressed questions about the team's absence from the recent World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka. "Yes, I think we have moved on," he said. "We played another tournament during the World Cup and the players tried to perform well there." Litton, who recently received a two-year extension as captain, said the team is structuring its long-term plans around non-Asian conditions. He added that the squad intends to maintain the strong team bond and preparation habits developed over the past cycle. The upcoming series against New Zealand marks Bangladesh's first international appearance since the World Cup concluded. For this series, the team rested veteran fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman to manage their workloads. Uncapped players Abdul Gaffar and Ripon Mondol replaced them in the squad. Litton said the decision to rest the senior pacers is a proactive measure to prevent injuries, given the upcoming schedule of test matches and ODI fixtures. "I don't want them playing regularly, getting injured, and ending up exhausted," the Bangladesh captain said. "We are changing some things with that in mind."

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are still awaiting first home win after a 1-1 draw with New England Revolution on Saturday night. Germán Berterame equalised in 76th minute from rebound, leaving Inter Miami 0-0-3 at their new stadium, compared to 5-1-1 away in MLS.Despite home struggles, Miami extended unbeaten MLS run to nine matches (5-0-4) since opening defeat at LAFC and are unbeaten in 11 across all competitions (5-0-6).Carles Gil put New England ahead in 56th minute, ending four-match losing run vs Miami, finishing a move from Will Sands throw-in and Dor Turgeman assist, chipping Dayne St. Clair.Miami had earlier goal ruled offside on Tadeo Allende strike. Lionel Messi faces lawsuit over $7m contractEqualiser came when Luis Suárez shot was saved by Matt Turner and rebound fell to Berterame.New England last beat Miami on June 10, 2023, before Messi debut. Since then Miami led rivalry 16-5 over four wins.Messi missed chances including 38th-minute shot wide, a corner attempt and stoppage-time effort saved by Turner.Miami have five MLS matches before World Cup break vs Orlando, Toronto, Cincinnati, Portland and Philadelphia, with Toronto 3-3-4 and others below 12th.

Visually impaired runners are using AI-powered smart glasses to take part in the London Marathon, helping them navigate routes and track progress more independently. Tilly Dowler, who has Stargardt disease and only about 10 percent useful vision, is preparing to run the marathon after starting her running journey just last year. Training near Buckingham Palace, she is using AI-enabled smart glasses to assist her while running alongside her boyfriend, who acts as her guide. “They are AI-assisted,” she said. “While running, I can ask for live cues, such as what landmarks are around me and how far I have run.” The glasses provide audio feedback, allowing her to listen to instructions while still hearing her guide and music. Dowler said her goal is not about speed but to inspire others facing vision loss and difficult challenges. “I want to show people they can believe in themselves,” she said. She is among a growing number of runners using such technology. These smart glasses combine cameras, microphones and open-ear speakers, using artificial intelligence to understand surroundings and deliver real-time audio guidance. One of the most widely used versions comes from Meta, developed in partnership with brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley. The devices have become increasingly popular, though they have also raised privacy concerns, including fears of recording people without their knowledge. Another runner, Sha Khan, who lost about 90 percent of his vision due to retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease, said the glasses have become essential in his daily life. “It’s like a part of me now,” he said. Khan also uses a guide dog provided by Guide Dogs UK and says the hands-free nature of the glasses allows him to stay focused without handling a phone. He began running in 2022 after being encouraged by the charity, following the impact of vision loss on his mental health. The glasses use a front-facing camera to capture images, which AI then processes into spoken information for the user. This helps runners understand their surroundings without losing awareness. Technology analyst Chris Lewis said such devices add an extra layer of awareness by identifying objects and movement in real time. However, he warned that large events like marathons can create challenges, such as weak mobile signals due to heavy network use, which may affect performance. Experts also stress that the technology should support, not replace, existing tools like guide dogs and mobility training. “These glasses can enhance independence, but they are not a replacement for essential skills,” said Tommy Dean of Guide Dogs UK. Analyst Ben Hatton said reliability remains a major concern. “If the technology is to be used for navigating busy streets, it must work perfectly every time,” he said. Despite limitations, experts say advances in AI are making everyday technology more accessible for people with disabilities. More than 59,000 runners are expected to join this year’s London Marathon, covering the 26.2-mile route from Greenwich to near Buckingham Palace.

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana sustained a minor injury to his right hand while fielding during the third ODI against New Zealand in Chattogram, but he is expected to resume bowling within days. The incident occurred when Rana scraped his hand on an advertising peg near his bowling mark. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief medical officer Debashis Chowdhury said the wound required a bandage but no stitches, adding that the pacer will be able to bowl again in one or two days. Rana, who was named Player of the Series after taking eight wickets in the three-match contest—including a five-wicket haul in the second ODI—has already returned to Dhaka. Fast bowler Nahid Rana climbs 32 spots in ICC ODI rankings following five-wicket haul The cricket board rested the fast bowler for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which begins Sunday in Chattogram. The board withheld his clearance to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), directing him instead to prepare for the upcoming two-match test series against Pakistan.

Rafael Nadal returned to a tennis court on Thursday, taking part in a special practice session inside Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium as the Madrid Open created a temporary playing surface at the venue. The tournament has installed a practice court on the Bernabéu pitch, allowing players to train there until April 30. The retired Spanish tennis star, a long-time Real Madrid supporter and five-time Madrid Open champion, joined a star-studded session featuring Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and midfielder Jude Bellingham. The unique crossover event brought together tennis and football personalities in a symbolic showcase ahead of the tournament, which is being held at the Caja Mágica complex in Madrid. Bellingham had earlier attended the Madrid Open on Wednesday, where he watched rising Spanish player Rafael Jódar win his debut match. “It was very special to enjoy this unique court at the Bernabéu,” Nadal wrote on Instagram following the session. Women’s world No. 4 Iga Swiatek also attended the Bernabéu event.