United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh set a competitive target of 322 for West Indies in the third and final ODI of the three-match series in Basseterre on Thursday. Mahmudullah Riyad's unbeaten 84 off 63 balls and Jaker Ali's solid 62 off 57 anchored a 140-run unbroken stand for the sixth wicket, rescuing Bangladesh from a mid-innings wobble and lifting the total to 321 for 5 in 50 over. West Indies to bowl first against Bangladesh in 3rd ODI The innings began shakily for Bangladesh, with Alzarri Joseph removing Tanzid Hasan (0) and Litton Das (0) in quick succession, leaving the visitors reeling at 9 for 2. Soumya Sarkar (73 off 73) and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz (77 off 73) steadied the innings with a 136-run partnership for the third wicket. Soumya’s composed knock, with six fours and four sixes, ended when he was trapped lbw by Gudakesh Motie. Soon after, Mehidy was run out in a moment of brilliance by Sherfane Rutherford, leaving Bangladesh at 171 for 4. Bangladesh announces squad for Women’s U19 Asia Cup Afif Hossain fell shortly after for 15, caught by Brandon King off Rutherford. Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali then took control, mixing boundaries with smart running between the wickets.Mahmudullah struck seven fours and four sixes, while Jaker added five boundaries and two sixes to lift the run rate in the final overs. Bangladesh added 104 runs in the last 10 overs, ensuring a strong finish. West Indies' bowlers struggled after their early breakthroughs, with Alzarri Joseph finishing as the pick with 2 for 43 from 10 overs. BPL Football: 3rd round of BPL Football begins Friday Gudakesh Motie and Rutherford claimed a wicket each, but the hosts now face a challenging chase to secure a clean sweep.

West Indies have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the third ODI against Bangladesh on Thursday in Basseterre.  The hosts won the first two matches of the series, ending a 10-year drought of an ODI series win against Bangladesh. Now, the hosts aim to register a clean sweep against the Tigers.  While the hosts eye a 3-0, Bangladesh are eager to end the series with a win.  Bangladesh made three changes to its playing XI, with Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, and Hasan Mahmud replacing Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana, and Shoriful Islam. West Indies have also made some changes. Jayden Seals, who helped the hosts win the last match, is out with an injury to pave the way for Alzarri Joseph. Along with this change, Jediah Blades and Amir Jangoo are making their debuts for them in this match.  Bangladesh announces squad for Women’s U19 Asia Cup Bangladesh playing XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed. West Indies playing XI: Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Amir Jangoo, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jediah Blades.//  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced the squad for the inaugural ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup, set to take place in Klang, Malaysia, from December 15 to 22. The six-team tournament will see Bangladesh competing alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal (the qualifying team), and hosts Malaysia. All matches will be staged at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval. Sumaiya Akter will lead the side, with Afia Ashima Era serving as her deputy. The team is scheduled to depart for Malaysia tomorrow morning to finalize preparations ahead of the competition. Jishan shines with 53-ball century as NCL T20 kicks off Bangladesh U-19 Women's Squad: Sumaiya Akter (Captain), Afia Ashima Era (Vice-Captain), Mst Eva, Fahomida Choya, Habiba Islam Pinky, Juairiya Ferdous, Fariya Akter, Farjana Easmin, Anisa Akter Soba, Sumaiya Akther Suborna, Nishita Akter Nishi, Arvin Tani, Jannatul Maoua, Sadia Akter, Maharun Nesa  

The 3rd round of the 10-team  Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football begins on Friday with two matches billing for the day. Fakirerpool Youngmens Club will play Fortis FC at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur while Brothers Union Club will encounter Chittagong Abahani Ltd also at 2:30 pm at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj. Fed Cup Football: Traditional rivals Mohammedan, Abahani start campaign on Tuesday Three matches will be held on the following day (Saturday)  at three separate venues across the country. The titans battle between two traditional rivals Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Abahani Ltd will be held on Saturday at :2:30 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla. Last season's treble winners Bashundhara Kings will play joint league leader Rahmatganj MFS at 5:30 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena while Dhaka Wanderers Club will face Bangladesh Police FC at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur on Saturday. After the 2nd round matches, three teams --Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Dhaka Abahani Ltd and Rahmatganj MFS -- shared the top slot in the league table with all-win record securing full six points from straight two matches. Bashundhara Kings to play Dhaka Mohammedan Friday Brothers Union Club also maintained unbeaten run in the league collecting four points from two matches. Defending champions Bashundhara Kings went down in the race losing to Federation Cup runners up Mohammedan SC by 0-1 goal in the 2nd round match. They bagged three points from two outings.

FIFA has officially named Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup, marking a significant milestone for the Gulf nation as it continues its ambitious investment in global sports under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  Saudi Arabia's bid was unopposed, with the decision confirmed during an online FIFA meeting led by President Gianni Infantino. The move received unanimous support, with over 200 member federations applauding virtually.  “The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” said Infantino, adding that he trusts Saudi Arabia to deliver a tournament that meets global expectations and serves as a “catalyst for positive social change and unity.”  The announcement also finalized plans for the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay hosting three matches to celebrate the tournament’s centenary.  Saudi Arabia’s hosting plan involves a major overhaul of infrastructure, including the construction and renovation of 15 stadiums, transportation networks, and accommodations, all part of the Vision 2030 modernization strategy. One proposed stadium in the futuristic city of Neom will be elevated 350 meters above ground, while another near Riyadh will be perched on a 200-meter cliff.  UN human rights chief pledges to advise FIFA and Saudi Arabia on 2034 World Cup concerns. Crown Prince Mohammed expressed his ambition to host an “exceptional and unprecedented” tournament, highlighting the country's capabilities to unite global football fans. However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, with Amnesty International calling it a “moment of great danger” for workers, many of whom are migrants from South Asia.  “FIFA’s reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections will put countless lives at risk,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Labor Rights and Sport.  Critics also argue that FIFA has not adequately addressed concerns stemming from Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, which faced scrutiny at the United Nations earlier this year. Many fear the kingdom’s vast spending on sports is an attempt to divert attention from such issues, a strategy often referred to as “sportswashing.”  Saudi Arabia’s deepening influence in global football includes sponsorships, investments in European clubs, and lucrative player contracts. This includes deals with FIFA, such as the state oil giant Aramco’s sponsorship and backing for the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.    Source: With inputs from agencies

The NFL will play its first regular-season game in Berlin in 2025, the league's fifth game ever in Germany. The game will be played at the Olympic Stadium as part of a multiyear commitment announced Wednesday at the league's winter meetings. The NFL has played regular-season games in Munich and Frankfurt since 2022. “Germany has a rich tradition of American football, and the NFL has a deep history with the city of Berlin,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We first held a preseason game at the Olympic Stadium 34 years ago, before it was home to NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder in the early 2000s. Now, with almost 20 million NFL fans in Germany, we’ll make a historic return to the city playing a regular-season game for the first time as we open the next chapter in our relationship with Berlin.” The NFL played five American Bowl games at the Olympic Stadium between 1990-1994. League executive Peter O’Reilly said the league's goal is to play eight international regular-season games in 2025 and an annual game in Germany is expected. The NFL already has committed to playing two regular-season games in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one game in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid. “Germany is obviously a major priority market for us,” O'Reilly said. “Twenty million fans and growing in Germany. We’ve seen the passion, you’ve seen the passion, you’ve seen the singing. It’s an important market. And this partnership with Berlin is not just about the game itself. Like every market we go into, it’s about a year-round partnership. It’s about working with the city and the community on building flag football into schools and into clubs in that city, and that’s important for sure. So we’re excited about our plans.”

Bangladesh suffered a 1-6 goals defeat against Malaysia in their last Pool A match and was eliminated from the Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat, Oman on Wednesday. Bangladesh Women’s (Under 21) hockey team, which qualified for the first-ever Junior Asia Cup Hockey as the runners-up AHF Cup Tournament held in Singapore last June, suffered huge defeat in all the four Pool A matches of the main draw, also a qualifying tournament for 2025 Women’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup. Bangladesh conceded a humiliating 0-19 goals defeat against China, suffered 1-13 goals defeat against India and conceded 1-2 goals defeat against Thailand in their Pool A matches. In the day's last group match, Zati Alyani made a hattrick scoring three goals. Nur Iman, Nur Shamin and Noor Asyqin scored one each for Malaysia. After conceding five goals in a row, captain Orpita Pal scored the face-saving goal for Bangladesh in the 49th minute from a penalty stroke. Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup: Bangladesh suffer humiliating 19-0 defeat against China However, Bangladesh Men’s Junior Hockey team qualified for the Junior World Cup Hockey to be held in India in December next year as they finished 5th in the just concluded 10-team Men's Junior Asia Cup Hockey also in Oman.  

The National Cricket League (NCL) T20 has kicked off in Sylhet with four matches taking place on the first day. The highlight of the opening day of the brand new cricketing event of the country was the century of Jishan Alam. Rangpur defeated Chattogram by five wickets. Batting first, Chattogram scored 132 for nine, with Mominul Haque contributing 27 runs and Irfan Shukkur adding 20. Rangpur chased the target in 16.5 overs, scoring 134 for five. Tanbir Hayder top-scored with 41, supported by Naeem Islam’s 24 and captain Akbar Ali’s 25. Mukidul Islam Mugdho and Alauddin Babu were key with the ball for Rangpur, taking three and two wickets, respectively. Rajshahi triumphed over Khulna by 11 runs via the DLS method. Khulna posted 172 for seven, with Azizul Hakim Tamim scoring 53, Nurul Hasan Sohan 37, and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury 35 off 15 balls. Rajshahi chased 153 in 17.2 overs, led by Habibur Rahman’s 66 and captain-wicketkeeper Pritom Kumar’s 30. Mrittunjoy took two wickets for Khulna, but it wasn’t enough for them to avoid a defeat. West Indies seal series with 7-wicket win over Bangladesh In another match, Dhaka claimed a six-wicket win over Sylhet. Sylhet posted a formidable 205 for four, thanks to Jishan Alam’s 53-ball century with 10 sixes. Dhaka chased successfully, scoring 207 for six. Ariful Islam shone with 94 runs, supported by Mahidul Islam Ankon’s 30 and Shuvagata Hom’s 31. In the other match of the day, Dhaka Metro defeated Barishal by 31 runs. Dhaka Metro scored 142 for four, led by Naim Sheikh’s 65 and Imran Uzzaman’s 53. Barishal fell short at 161 for eight despite Fazle Mahmud Rabbi’s 77. Rakibul Hasan took three crucial wickets for Dhaka Metro.  

The Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Junior and Senior International Badminton Tournament 2024 is set to kick off at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium in Dhaka on Friday. The Junior Series will take place from December 13 to 16, while the Senior Series is scheduled for December 17 to 21. Leading shuttlers from 19 countries will compete in the tournaments, which are being organised by the Bangladesh Badminton Federation (BBF). BBF Acting President Quamrunnahar Dana shared details of the event at a press conference on Wednesday. A total of 114 players from India, Indonesia, and host nation Bangladesh will compete in the Junior Tournament. West Indies seal series with 7-wicket win over Bangladesh Meanwhile, the Senior Tournament will see 228 participants from 19 countries, including India, Thailand, Myanmar, Canada, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Maldives, England, Ukraine, Italy, Finland, Bulgaria, Uganda, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore. Both tournaments will feature five events each for junior and senior categories.  

West Indies clinched the three-match ODI series with a dominant seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second ODI in Basseterre on Tuesday. Spearheaded by Jayden Seales’ fiery 4-22 and a clinical batting display led by Brandon King’s 82, the hosts chased down the 228-run target with 79 balls to spare. After winning the toss, West Indies opted to bowl first, and Seales delivered immediately. The pacer dismantled Bangladesh’s top order, reducing them to 54-3 within 10 overs. Bangladesh v West Indies, 2nd ODI: After promising start, Tigers bowled out for 227 Tanzid Hasan provided early resistance with a brisk 46 off 33 balls, but wickets fell regularly. Gudakesh Motie and Justin Greaves chipped in with crucial strikes, and despite a record 92-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Mahmudullah (62) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (45), Bangladesh was bundled out for 227 in 45.5 overs. In reply, West Indies’ openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis laid a solid foundation with a 109-run partnership. King’s 82 off 76 balls, laced with eight boundaries and three sixes, set the tone. Lewis fell agonizingly short of a half-century, dismissed for 49 by Rishad Hossain. Keacy Carty added 45, and captain Shai Hope (17 not out) and Sherfane Rutherford (24 not out) finished the job comfortably. “We were clinical today,” said Hope. “We have been struggling to win series at home, hope to finish 3-0 now.” West Indies opt to bowl first in 2nd ODI vs Bangladesh It was West Indies’ first ODI series win against Bangladesh after 10 years.  Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz lamented his team’s batting collapse. “We didn’t bat well in the middle overs. Partnerships were missing. 300-plus was needed on this wicket,” he said. West Indies aim for a 3-0 whitewash, while Bangladesh looks to regroup ahead of their Champions Trophy preparations.