United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh faltered after a solid start, managing 227 in 45.5 overs in the second ODI against West Indies in Basseterre on Sunday. Jayden Seales, who troubled the Tigers batsmen in the Test series that preceded the white ball cricket, was the wrecker-in-chief for the West Indies, bagging impressive figures of 4/22 off 9 overs, putting the hosts in control at the break. Bangladesh, asked to bat first by Shai Hope, began aggressively with Tanzid Hasan’s 46 off 33 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes. But Seales struck early, dismissing Soumya Sarkar (2) and Litton Das (4) in quick succession, followed by captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1), leaving Bangladesh struggling at 54-3. Tanzid’s dismissal at 64-4 triggered further setbacks as Afif Hossain (24) and Jaker Ali (3) failed to stabilize the innings against Gudakesh Motie’s tidy bowling. Motie claimed 2-36, while Justin Greaves and Romario Shepherd picked up crucial wickets too. Read: West Indies opt to bowl first in 2nd ODI vs Bangladesh Veteran Mahmudullah anchored the innings with a hard-fought 62 off 92 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes. Respectability was salvaged thanks to young Tanzim Hasan Sakib, primarily in the team for his bowling, who contributed a fighting 45 off 62 deliveries. The duo added 92 runs for the eighth wicket, lifting Bangladesh past 200. It’s now the record of the highest eighth wicket stand of Bangladesh in ODIs. Mahmudullah and Sakib surpassed the 84 of Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Saifuddin, which they scored in 2019 against New Zealand in Napier. The lower order crumbled quickly after Tanzim’s departure, with Shoriful Islam entertaining briefly with a quick-fire 15 off 8 balls. Shepherd ended the innings with Shoriful’s dismissal, capping off an efficient bowling performance by West Indies. West Indies won the first ODI by five wickets. A win today would seal the ODI series for them. Prior to the ODIs, the Test series was drawn 1-1. There's a T20I leg as well, after the 3-match ODIs get done.

Former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited made a winning start  while last time's runners up Dhaka Mohammedan SC conceded defeat in the 10-team Federation Cup Football at two separate venues across the country on Tuesday. Dhaka Mohammedan SC, which shocked last season's treble winners Bashundhara Kings beating them by 1-0 goal in a BPL match last week, today (Tuesday) made a frustrating journey in Fed Cup Football losing to Rahmatganj MFS by 0-1 goal at the Bashundhara Kings Arena. This was the 2nd successive defeat for traditional black and whites Mohammedan at the Basundhara Kings Arena (ground)  this season after conceding 1-3 defeat against the Kings in the one-match Challenge Cup Football recently. Rajon Hawlader scored the match winning goal for the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj in the 83rd minute by an angular rebound shot (1-0). Rahmatganj started the season brilliantly winning all three matches after winning two consecutive  BPL matches.. Although, Rahmatganj winning the day' s match, but Mohammedan SC played a better game and they did everything except scoring goal from half dozen of good opportunities. Rahmatganj goalkeeper Mamun Alif   also performed brilliantly under the bar and foiled a series of Mohammedan good attempts. Fed Cup Football: Traditional rivals Mohammedan, Abahani start campaign on Tuesday Mohammedan SC were restricted to 10-men in the 85th minute as their player Shanto hit one of the opponent's booters. In the day's other match, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, without any foreign players,  made a flying start beating their minnow Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 3-0 goals at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday. Sumon Reza opened the Abahani account in the 17th minute by a good header, off a Kamrul Islam free kick and led the first half by 1-0 goal. Mohammad Ibrahim doubled the Dhaka Abahani margin in the 76th minute by a placing shot (2-0) while Yeasin Khan sealed the fate of the scoring 3rd goal in the 88th minute (3-0).,  Earlier in the tournament opener on last Tuesday, Holders Bashundhara Kings managed 1-0 goal victory over Brothers Union Club while the other opening day's day's match between Bangladesh Police FC and Fortis FC ended in a goalless draw. Ten premier division league clubs, split into two groups, are initially participating  in the first phase of the Federation Cup Football at three venues in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Cumilla   Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee  Cricket League    

West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first against Bangladesh in the 2nd match of the three-match series. West Indies won the first match of the series by a comfortable margin of five wickets. Another win will seal the series for them. Bangladesh made one change to their playing XI bringing Shoriful Islam in replacing Taskin Ahmed. First ODI: Bangladesh post 294 against West Indies with three fifties West Indies also made one change-- Marquino Mindley is set to get his ODI cap, replacing Alzarri Joseph. Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Afif Hossain, Mahmadullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam West Indies XI: Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (capt, wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Justin Greaves, Marquino Mindley, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales

The US Embassy in Dhaka joined Bangladesh national women’s football team captain Sabina Khatun and her fellow SAFF Champions Maria Manda, Ritu Porna Chakma, and Masura Parvin, for an event to promote the USAID Healthier in Motion Wellness campaign at BRAC University campus. Students, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts came together to highlight the importance of physical and mental well-being, with an emphasis on empowering women and girls through activities traditionally dominated by men. US Embassy Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Megan Bouldin, along with BRAC University Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz and Registrar Dr. David Dowland, led the event, noting the importance of creating a supportive environment for women and girls to overcome social barriers and provide equitable opportunities. The national women’s football team joined male and female students in a star-studded futsal match to highlight the role of sports in promoting gender equality and resilience. Students also engaged in a yoga session led by Shazia Omar, campaign ambassador and founder of Dhaka Flow, fostering a sense of mindfulness among attendees. The event also featured a series of dynamic sports and fitness activities, including football, yoga, and boxing, allowing students to explore diverse avenues for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The USAID Healthier in Motion campaign is organized in partnership with Khelbei Bangladesh and Dhaka Flow, and underscores U.S.-Bangladesh partnership to empower women and girls. The campaign addresses social and cultural barriers to promote an inclusive environment where individuals, particularly females, can prioritize their well-being and actively participate in physical activities. Healthier in Motion also features regional and national outreach events bringing together youth, women and communities alongside fitness professionals, health experts and celebrities to champion healthy lifestyles.    

Losing finalists last time Dhaka Mohammedan SC and former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will start their campaign in the 10-team ongoing Federation Cup Football at two separate venues on Tuesday. Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Rahmatganj MFS at 2:30 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena while Dhaka Abahani Ltd will meet their minnow Chittagong Abahani Ltd also at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla. Earlier in the tournament opener on last Tuesday, Holders Bashundhara Kings managed 1-0 goal victory over Brothers Union Club while the other opening day's day's match between Bangladesh Police FC and Fortis FC ended in a goalless draw Ten premier division league clubs, split into two groups, are initially participating in the first phase of the Federation Cup Football at three venues in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Cumilla Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee Cricket League.

Losing finalists last time Dhaka Mohammedan SC and former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will start their campaign in the 10-team ongoing Federation Cup Football at two separate venues on Tuesday. Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Rahmatganj MFS at 2:30 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena while Dhaka Abahani Ltd will meet their minnow Chittagong Abahani Ltd also at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla. Asian Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh grouped with India, Hong Kong, Singapore Earlier in the tournament opener on last Tuesday, Holders Bashundhara Kings managed 1-0 goal victory over Brothers Union Club while the other opening day's day's match between Bangladesh Police FC and Fortis FC ended in a goalless draw  Ten premier division league clubs, split into two groups, are initially participating  in the first phase of the Federation Cup Football at three venues in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Cumilla Grouping of Federation Cup: Group A -Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club  BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani maintain winning start beating Wanderers 1-0 Group B - Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattagram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Later, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the Franchisee  Cricket League 

The ceremonial draw of the home and away basis AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia' 2027 Qualifiers was held today (Monday) at the AFC headquarter in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Twenty four Asian teams, split into six groups, will initially take part in home and away basis competition and later the six group champions will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia. Lowly Bangladesh (FiFA Ranked 185) put in four-team Group C of the AFC meet with top seed India (127),  Hong Kong (156) and Singapore (161) in 2025 and 2026. India will play their home match against Bangladesh on March 25, Bangladesh will host Singapore on June 10, Bangladeshi will also play their home match with Hong Kong home on October 9 next year. Bashundhara Kings to play Dhaka Mohammedan Friday Bangladesh will play their away match with Hong Kong on October 14, Bangladesh will host India on November 18 next year while playing their away match with Singapore on March 31, 2026. Eighteen teams including defending champions Qatar and hosts Saudi Arabia have already  assured the final round berth. The groupings are:   Group A: Tajikistan, Philippines, Maldives, Timor-Leste  Group B : Lebanon, Yemen, Bhutan,  Brunei Fed Cup Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings manage 1-0 win over Brothers Union in opener  Group C: Bangladesh, India, Hong Kong , Singapore Group D: Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka Group E: Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan Group F: Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Laos

Two days before FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup host, the United Nations’ top human rights official pledged Monday to try to ensure migrant labor standards are “properly respected” around the tournament. Saudi Arabia is the only candidate and sure to win Wednesday when FIFA will ask an online meeting of its 211 member federations to award the 2034 hosting rights by acclaim without an itemized vote. The oil-rich kingdom’s World Cup plan needs to build eight of the 15 promised stadiums from scratch, plus add 175,000 hotel rooms. It will rely heavily on migrant workers, often from South Asia, within a labor law framework that activist groups say does not protect them. On Monday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said his organization in Geneva was not directly engaged by FIFA on World Cup issues. “What we are involved in though is to make sure that indeed, in each and every major sporting event, human rights are part and parcel of the way that sports events are not only conceived but also conducted,” Türk said at a news conference on the eve of the UN’s annual Human Rights Day. Critics of FIFA say a Saudi-hosted World Cup risks repeating rights abuses seen during a decade of similar preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Allegations of widespread labor abuses in Saudi Arabia are already part of an investigation by the UN-backed International Labor Organization (ILO) after a formal complaint by trade unions. Two United States senators have cited human rights in urging FIFA to find a different host for its marquee men’s event that earns billions of dollars in profit for the soccer body. “Whatever the decision is, to whoever is going to organize it, we will provide precisely that type of advice to the organizers,” Türk, an Austrian lawyer, said. “That will include also, of course, the need to make sure that migrant labor standards are properly respected and all the various other human rights dimensions of major sporting events.” FIFA has been criticized for not using its leverage ahead of the World Cup decision with Saudi Arabia, despite its president Gianni Infantino building close ties to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi officials made some promises in a formal bid document to engage with the ILO and domestic agencies but not international groups like unions and rights groups that have limited or no access to work in the country.

  The expanded first stage of the revamped Champions League was expected to be a smooth journey for European football giants like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Manchester City, but it’s been far from that. Heading into the sixth of eight rounds in the new 36-team format, Madrid and City, the past two Champions League champions, along with PSG, the French titleholder, are at risk of early elimination. PSG is performing the worst among the four Ligue 1 clubs in the competition. A total of 24 teams will progress to the knockout stage, with the top eight directly advancing to the last 16 and the remaining 16 competing in two-legged playoffs. Currently, PSG is in 25th place, outside the qualifying spots, while Madrid, in 24th, holds onto the final qualification position. Both teams face away games this week: Madrid faces a tough challenge at Atalanta, while PSG takes on Salzburg. Manchester City sits in 17th place with eight points—enough for qualification based on UEFA’s simulations—but a loss to Juventus on Wednesday could put their progression in jeopardy. The upcoming PSG vs. Man City match could prove crucial if both teams fail to secure positive results this week. In previous years, the sixth round would mark the end of the group stage, with Madrid—15-time Champions League winners—already securing a spot in the knockout rounds. However, this season, Madrid has suffered three losses in five games and faces a tough Atalanta side, one of the few undefeated teams in the competition. Atalanta, who won the Europa League last season, has been in excellent form, winning nine straight matches and conceding just one goal in 14 games. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé, under increasing scrutiny following missed penalties in losses to Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao, could gain confidence from his recent goal in a win over Girona. PSG’s offensive struggles were expected after Mbappé’s departure to Madrid and Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami. However, few anticipated the team would score so few goals. Despite having attacking talents like Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos, and Bradley Barcola, PSG has scored just three goals in five group-stage matches—the fourth-lowest total. However, PSG could find success against Salzburg, whose defense has been leaky, conceding 15 goals, including five in their recent loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Despite their defensive woes, Salzburg sits fifth in Austria’s 12-team league. City needs just one more win to secure qualification, but recent results have been concerning for Pep Guardiola’s injury-hit squad. In their last nine matches, City has won only once, losing six times and drawing twice. This includes two Champions League games—an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon and a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, where they nearly blew a 3-0 lead. Liverpool, in first place, is the only team with a perfect 15 points and has already secured a place in the knockout stage. The Premier League leaders will look for a sixth straight win in an away match against Girona on Tuesday. Inter Milan sits second and remains unbeaten, heading to Leverkusen for their upcoming match. Another key fixture sees Barcelona visiting Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, with both teams in third and fourth place, respectively.

Kylian Mbappé has reaffirmed his commitment to France despite missing recent games, saying “there’s nothing bigger than the national team.” The 2018 World Cup winner was left out for Nations League matches against Israel and Italy last month, with coach Didier Deschamps saying “ it’s better that way ” and adding that the player's struggles were physical and mental. Mbappé is France's captain and was also absent from a previous gathering in October because of a minor thigh injury, but nevertheless played for Real Madrid. “I’ve always said there’s nothing bigger than the national team,” Mbappé said on Sunday night during a television interview with Canal Plus. “My love for the France team hasn’t changed." Deschamps' reference to his mental state led some observers to speculate Mbappé suffered from depression. He took a moment to explain that he has not. “There are people who really are in a depression and who should be helped. This is not a subject which should be taken lightly,” Mbappé said. “I am not going to claim that (I had a depression).” However, he alluded to unfair treatment when saying “people ask a lot of me” as captain compared to his predecessor, the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and also took a swipe at those who questioned his dedication to France. “I’ve always put it above anything else. I even gave my nose,” Mbappé said, referring to his broken nose at the European Championship this year. Mbappé, who turns 26 on Dec. 20, is third on France’s all-time scoring list with 48 goals, only Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (57) are ahead of him. He scored a superb hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final, but his scoring ratio has dropped recently with two goals in the past 12 games for Les Bleus. Mbappé said he gave the television interview because he’s had enough of people talking for him in recent weeks, when his struggles with Madrid have also been widely commented upon. “When you’re a star, if you don’t talk, people talk in your place. That's why I'm talking now,” said Mbappé, who also spoke for the first time about reports of a rape investigation in Sweden. Despite a difficult start to his Madrid career, he says he is “very happy” in Spain after a decade playing for Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain. “You're jumping into the unknown because you’ve never left your country," he said. “I always dreamed of playing for Madrid. Always. It’s the biggest club in the world.” Mbappé’s arrival created huge expectations that he would improve the record 15-time Champions League winner, but he has scored a modest 11 goals in 21 games. There have been big penalty misses at Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao, and he was caught offside multiple times with mistimed runs when Madrid lost 4-0 at home to Barcelona. Club coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended Mbappé but also said he “can play better.” Mbappé did not address his own performances further but acknowledged that Madrid's general level of play was "not at the level” fans expect.