United News of Bangladesh

Jake Weatherald scored his maiden Test half-century and Marnus Labuschagne followed up with back-to-back 50s as Australia reached 228-3 at the end of the middle session on Day 2 in reply to England’s 334 in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. Weatherald, who was dismissed for a duck on his debut last month, made 72 off 78 balls, sharing partnerships of 77 with Travis Head (33) and 69 with Labuschagne. Labuschagne was in fine touch on 65 before edging behind to Ben Stokes. Steve Smith and Cameron Green were 24 and 22 respectively at the short interval before the night session. England resumed Day 2 at 325-9, adding nine runs before No. 11 Jofra Archer was dismissed, leaving Joe Root unbeaten on 138. Root had earlier shared a 70-run last-wicket stand with Archer, extending England’s innings into the second day. Starc surpasses Wasim Akram to become highest-wicket-taking left-hander Australia’s top order applied pressure, with Head adding 30 runs after a reprieve on three, before being caught off Brydon Carse. Weatherald’s aggressive strokeplay included nine boundaries and a six. Brendan Doggett wrapped up England’s innings with Archer’s dismissal, while Mitchell Starc took 6-75 from 20 overs, bringing his series tally to 16 wickets. The day saw fast-paced scoring despite uneven bounce on the Gabba pitch and bright afternoon conditions under the pink ball. Australia cut the first-innings deficit to 106 with the top order showing intent and resilience. Source: AP

Dozens of soccer players and officials were arrested Friday in Istanbul as part of a wide-ranging investigation into a betting scandal that has rocked Turkish football. Among those detained in early morning raids were top players Mert Hakan Yandas of Fenerbahce and Metehan Baltaci of national champions Galatasaray. Former referee and commentator Ahmet Cakar, along with current referee Zorbay Kucuk, were also taken into custody. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 46 suspects, with 35 already detained, including chairs and vice-chairs of several professional clubs. Prosecutors said Baltaci placed bets on his own team’s games, while Yandas allegedly bet through intermediaries. Seven others were arrested over suspicious financial transactions linked to betting. $2 billion Athletics stadium in Las Vegas expected to debut by 2028 All suspects were detained under a law aimed at preventing disorder in sport, which criminalizes match manipulation and carries sentences of one to three years, with higher penalties if linked to betting markets or professional leagues. The Turkish Football Federation has been investigating referees and players since October, temporarily banning over 100 professionals last month. Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu pledged to safeguard Turkish football from “scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.” Source: AP 

Officials confirmed Thursday at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting that the Athletics are on schedule to open their roughly $2 billion stadium in Las Vegas. The A’s, planning to relocate to Las Vegas before the 2028 season, have met year-end milestones, including starting the concrete phase, positioning cranes, and installing the first buttress and concrete column. A’s President Marc Badain, who previously helped ensure Allegiant Stadium was completed on time for the 2020 NFL season while serving as Raiders president, is again playing a key role. Mortenson-McCarthy, the contractor behind Allegiant, is also handling construction of the Athletics’ new venue. “I feel great about (the progress),” Badain said. “Obviously, we know the workforce. We know the construction firm, and the (supervisor) is the same super that delivered on Allegiant. When he tells me things are good, I don't worry.” Ceremonial groundbreaking on the 33,000-person capacity domed stadium located on the Las Vegas Strip occurred June 23. The A's Ballpark Experience Center opened Tuesday in Las Vegas to give fans a chance to view the stadium in detail and take part in other immersive experiences. The price tag has gone up considerably twice, rising from $1.5 billion to $1.75 billion to the current estimate. A's vice chairman Sandy Dean indicated he didn't expect the cost to increase much more. “I think we're through a lot of the processes and design that were contributing to escalation,” Dean said. “Our strong goal is to keep it to that.” Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public funds for the ballpark, and the A's have said they will cover the remaining expenses. Owner John Fisher has been seeking investors, but Dean said he didn't have an update on that effort. “I think the most important thing is that starting in December of 2024, we were able to describe the financing for the stadium as being complete,” Dean said. “We have the ability to bring in some investors. We thought, in particular, if we have Las Vegas investors, that will be a positive.” Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said A’s officials have not yet asked for their share of public assistance. “It will probably be sometime next year,” Hill said. This Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting occurred one day short of the one-year anniversary of when it approved lease, non-relocation and development documents, the last major hurdles before construction. The lease and non-relocation agreements each cover 30 years. Catherine Aker, vice president of communications and community, told the Authority the A’s already are heavily involved in Las Vegas, and in the past three years the club has supported every youth baseball and softball team in the area. Las Vegas' Little League representative won the United States championship before losing to Taiwan in the international title game. The A’s this year played the first of at least three seasons at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California. They played their previous 57 seasons in Oakland, California. Management has been constructing a roster to be competitive when the club arrives in Las Vegas. Several young players are under contract through at least 2028, including Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, who finished 1-2 in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Kurtz was the unanimous choice.

For Lionel Messi, the MLS Cup final on Saturday will represent some endings. And, quite possibly, a new beginning. Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas Muller — one of his longtime rivals — and the Vancouver Whitecaps for Major League Soccer's championship. It's the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion. “We know it’s going to be a very, very tough game. ... It's going to be a very, very special final," Messi said in remarks distributed by the team Thursday. But for Messi, it's the end of a couple eras. It's the last match planned at Inter Miami's current home, with the team set to move into a still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport next season. And barring some serious changes of heart, it'll be the last time he gets to play with longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — they're both retiring after Saturday — and possibly Luis Suarez as well. “I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had, the teams I’ve played for, everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve enjoyed, and well, it’s been a privilege,” Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. “Yes, it’s a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it’s going to be my last game ... and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final and we win.” It's not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina's star — a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history — is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday's outcome won't help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for Muller, the German great who has been on the winning end of a World Cup final in which he played against Messi (and Javier Mascherano, now the Inter Miami coach). “It’s good that this final has come about and that we’re facing each other again,” Messi said. “We’ve already faced Vancouver and we understand the caliber of their team.” That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, Muller will be the first player to win a World Cup and an MLS Cup. If Inter Miami wins, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Busquets will become the first trio to say they were both a World Cup and an MLS champion. “We are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch," Mascherano said. “I think it’s very, very interesting for the league.” Muller — part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself — was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list. “At the moment, I rank it No. 1," Muller said. “Because it’s the only final that we are talking about. It’s upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life.” He then paused a bit. "That’s a good line, ah?” he asked, laughing at his joke. But clearly, the MLS Cup is something that both teams want badly. For Inter Miami, it's a chance to prove that bringing in the Barcelona foursome — Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets — was all worth it. For Vancouver, which beat Inter Miami twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions League, it's a chance to win a trophy and go through Messi to get it done. “Obviously, they were much better than us in April,” Mascherano said. “But the situation is not the same. We are in a different situation. We arrive to this final with confidence, with some different players. And we know that they have a very, very good team.” Of late ... Inter Miami is 10-2-1 in its last 13 matches, going back to the regular season. The team has been particularly dominant in three win-or-go-home matches during these MLS playoffs, winning those by a combined score of 13-1. Vancouver is 7-1-5 in its last 13 matches and has given up a total of 17 goals in its last 17 matches against MLS opponents. Home edge The team playing in its home stadium, or home market, has won 11 of the last 14 MLS Cup titles. Of the three that lost in that scenario, two fell in penalty kicks. Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since. “We’ve been ready for this this whole season," Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. "The pressure, it comes with it. It's a privilege and it’s fun and I think you know our guys are going to lean into it and enjoy it. Home team, away team, I don’t think it matters.”

The inauguration, including foundation-laying, of 11 sports facilities across 10 districts under the National Sports Council was completed virtually on Thursday by Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan. The virtual events were conducted from the Secretariat. Four facilities were inaugurated, including three mini stadiums and a swimming pool, at an estimated cost of Tk 115 crore. Foundation stones were laid for six new mini stadiums at an estimated cost of Tk 131 crore, and implementation work for a mini stadium costing Tk 12.7 crore was also launched during the event. The facilities inaugurated include Ghaznavi Stadium and Bhola District Swimming Pool in Bhola, Char Fashion Upazila Mini Stadium in Bhola, and Juri Upazila Mini Stadium in Moulvibazar. Foundation stones were laid for Narail Bir Shrestha Noor Mohammad Stadium and Table Tennis Building, as well as mini stadiums in Pirganj (Rangpur), Charbhadrasan (Faridpur), Daulatpur (Manikganj), Indurkani (Pirojpur), and Bagatipara (Natore). Implementation work also began for Shaheed Md. Asif Hasan Mini Stadium in Debhata Upazila, Satkhira. Speaking on the occasion, the Youth and Sports Adviser said, “By creating mini stadiums at the upazila level, we are decentralizing sports and providing hubs for sports and cultural activities. These stadiums are being built to fairly modern standards.” Highlighting further initiatives, he added, “We are planning an international standard sports institute and a regional branch of BKSP in Rangamati, with feasibility studies underway.” Regarding gender equality in sports, Asif Mahmud said authorities have instructed federations to reduce salary disparities between men and women. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has equalized allowances and tour fees for women cricketers and increased their salaries by 35 percent. “We have also advised the BFF to at least double the salaries of women footballers, with financial assistance from our side,” he added.

Luciano Spalletti returns to Napoli on Sunday for the first time since guiding the club to its first Serie A title in more than three decades — an occasion he admits will be highly emotional. This time, he returns as Juventus coach. “There will be burning emotion for me because I have so many friends waiting for me there,” Spalletti said. “It won’t matter how I am welcomed, but the feeling I have toward them is that of someone who loves them.” Spalletti left Napoli in 2023 after leading the team to its first league crown in 33 years, saying he needed a year-long break. Just three months later, he replaced Roberto Mancini as Italy’s coach following Mancini’s unexpected resignation. Spalletti was dismissed from the Italy job in June, and Juventus appointed him in October after firing Igor Tudor following a poor start to the season. Juventus currently sits seventh in Serie A, but only five points behind joint leaders Napoli and AC Milan. The Bianconeri have not won the league since 2020, when they capped a run of nine consecutive titles—an era launched under Antonio Conte, now the Napoli coach. Conte, who also spent 13 years as a Juventus player, acknowledged the emotional weight of this weekend’s encounter but sought to keep the focus on the competition. “At the end of the day it’s a match and there are three points at stake,” Conte said. “I have great respect for them, but on the field everyone will try to take the three points home.” Key matchups The top four in Serie A are separated by just one point in an exciting title race. Co-leader Milan visits Torino on Monday with the host on a five-match winless run. However, Torino has proved tricky for the top sides. It has managed draws against Bologna and Juventus and beat Napoli and Roma. Inter and Roma are a point behind the top two. Inter hosts Como in a regional derby on Saturday with the visitor just three points below the Nerazzurri. Roma visits relegation-threatened Cagliari on Sunday. Sixth-placed Bologna is also just three points below the top four and travels to Lazio. Players to watch Pio Esposito has come from Serie B to scoring in every competition for Inter this season, as well as netting three for Italy. The 20-year-old scored in the Italian Cup on Wednesday and is already being touted as Italy’s next great center forward. Juventus is lamenting a serious injury to Dusan Vlahovic but hoping that can give an opportunity to Canada forward Jonathan David. David joined Juve in the offseason and has mainly been used as a substitute. He has scored in the Champions League and Serie A, but that was back in his debut in August. Out of action Juventus’ Federico Gatti and Vlahovic were set to undergo surgery on Thursday, the defender in Lyon and the forward in London. Gatti is expected to be back in around a month but Vlahovic will unlikely return before March. Napoli’s injury list keeps growing with Stanislav Lobotka out again. The midfielder missed most of October with an adductor injury and had a new muscle injury before Wednesday’s Italian Cup match. Off the field Italy will play its crucial World Cup qualifying playoff in Bergamo, Atalanta’s home stadium. Four-time World Cup winner Italy will host Northern Ireland on March 26 with the winner having to travel to face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Italy is trying to end a remarkable 12-year wait to play on soccer’s biggest stage. The Azzurri are unbeaten in Bergamo with two draws and two 5-0 victories, including on coach Gennaro Gattuso’s debut in September.  

Mitchell Starc etched his name into Test cricket history on the opening day of the Brisbane Test, overtaking Pakistan great Wasim Akram to become the highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers in the format. Starc reached the landmark when he dismissed Harry Brook in the second session, drawing a slip catch from an attempted drive. The wicket was his 415th in Tests, taking him past Akram’s long-standing record of 414. Akram had achieved his tally in 104 Tests and 181 innings, while Starc crossed the mark in his 102nd Test and 195th innings. England, after a shaky start under lights at the Gabba, recovered to reach 196 for four at the end of the second session. They were reduced to two for five inside three overs, but Joe Root and Zak Crawley steadied the innings with a brisk counter-attack. Crawley struck 76 from 93 deliveries before falling in the second session, while Root grew in authority after an uncertain beginning to remain unbeaten on 68. Starc finished the day as the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of three for 36. His breakthrough against Brook also broke a threatening fourth-wicket stand of 54. Brook had scored 31 from 33 balls in an aggressive cameo marked by cuts, pulls, and ramps before Starc cut his innings short. The record moment carried added weight given Akram’s towering legacy as the archetype of the modern left-arm fast bowler. Starc’s new mark places him alone at the summit of that elite list. Root continued in classic Test tempo alongside captain Ben Stokes, who was unbeaten on 14 at the close. Australia missed a late chance when Stokes was dropped in the slips off Scott Boland near the end of the session.

Bayern Munich remains unbeaten in 15 league and cup games against German opposition this season as Vincent Kompany's team prepares to face Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Key matchups Stuttgart could hope to take advantage of Bayern's tough schedule after Bayern struggled to match Union Berlin's physical intensity at times in its 3-2 win over Union in the German Cup on Wednesday. Bayern prevailed in part thanks to two own goals by Union players and was under pressure late in the game. Already eight points adrift of Bayern in second, Leipzig needs to avoid dropping further back when Ole Werner's team hosts Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Frankfurt is under pressure in seventh and risks failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, too. Hoffenheim is riding high in fifth and faces third-placed Borussia Dortmund on Sunday knowing that a win would see it overtake Dortmund in the standings. Players to watch Harry Kane's header against Union in the cup on Wednesday took the England captain to 25 goals from 21 games for Bayern this season. Five more goals for England take his tally to 30 for club and country. Ibrahim Maza has three goals and two assists in his last five games in all competitions at Bayer Leverkusen in an attacking midfield role once filled by Florian Wirtz. Scoring the winning goal against Dortmund in the cup on Tuesday was another step forward. Leverkusen visits Augsburg on Saturday. Who's out? Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic is doubtful after he limped off against Union in the cup on Wednesday. Frankfurt's top scorer Jonathan Burkardt will reportedly be out until the new year with a muscle injury. His eight goals in 10 Bundesliga games mean that's a heavy blow. Off the field Mainz and Augsburg both go into the weekend's games with interim coaches. Last-placed Mainz parted company with Bo Henriksen, who led the team to sixth last season but has overseen a dismal run this campaign, punctuated by poor discipline. Benjamin Hoffman is in temporary charge ahead of Friday's game against Borussia Moenchengladbach. Augsburg fired ex-Germany striker Sandro Wagner on Monday after the team lost eight of its 12 Bundesliga games with him in charge. Manuel Baum returns as coach until the winter break.

New Zealand stretched its advantage over the West Indies to 164 runs by lunch on Day 3, though the hosts lost Kane Williamson and one other wicket in the morning session of the first test on Thursday. Devon Conway was the first to fall, caught at third man by substitute fielder Kavem Hodge off Ojay Shields for 37. Williamson departed to the final ball before lunch, edging Kemar Roach to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach for 9. Conway’s 84-run opening stand with Tom Latham steadied New Zealand as they reached 100-2 at the interval, with Latham unbeaten on 40. The home side had resumed on 32 without loss, already 96 runs ahead after bowling out the West Indies for 167 in response to their 231. Improved overhead conditions and a settling surface at Hagley Oval eased batting compared to the seam-friendly first two days, when 20 wickets tumbled. Latham accumulated his runs patiently from 91 balls. Williamson, returning to test cricket after a year, had appeared composed until Roach delivered a sharp, angled delivery that induced the edge. Roach impressed throughout the session, bowling three straight maidens and closing with figures of 1-19. New Zealand reaches 17–1 at lunch after rain disrupts opening day of first Test against West Indies New Zealand’s lineup remains hit by injuries, with Tom Blundell sidelined by a hamstring issue and allrounder Nathan Smith nursing a side strain. The Black Caps have yet to complete a match in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, having played only one earlier series this year — a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in August. Source: AP 

Mohamed Salah was again absent from Liverpool’s starting lineup on Wednesday, marking the second straight Premier League match in which manager Arne Slot opted to leave out the Egyptian star — a move that may hint at a shifting role for the veteran forward in his ninth season at Anfield. Salah began on the bench against Sunderland and entered only at halftime, failing to find the net in a 1-1 draw. He did not feature at all in Sunday’s 2-0 win over West Ham, the first time Slot had left him out of a league lineup since taking charge in 2024 — a title-winning season powered largely by Salah’s 29 league goals. Liverpool win raises questions over Salah’s future role Slot admitted Salah was frustrated after being dropped but praised his professionalism. Still, the manager retained Dominic Szoboszlai on the right flank, citing defensive balance. Liverpool faces three more matches — two league fixtures and a Champions League tie — before Salah departs for the Africa Cup of Nations. Slot declined to confirm whether he will start against Leeds on Saturday. Salah has scored four league goals so far this season. Source: AP