United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced an unchanged 15-member squad on Saturday for the first two ODIs of the upcoming home series against New Zealand. To ensure availability for national duty, fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman and Nahid Rana, along with opening batsman Tanzid Hasan, are returning to Bangladesh midway through their stints in the Pakistan Super League. The board had issued their No Objection Certificates for the overseas franchise tournament with a strict expiration date of April 12. Selectors opted for continuity for the New Zealand assignment, retaining the exact roster that featured in the team's recent white-ball series against Pakistan. Bangladesh squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Nahid Rana.

Abahani edged past eternal rivals Mohammedan 2-1 in a thrilling Dhaka Derby of the Bangladesh Football League on Friday, with Sulaiman Diabate scoring the decisive goal at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla. After a month-long break, the league resumed with one of its most anticipated fixtures, though the “home” of the derby has increasingly shifted outside Dhaka. The match saw Mohammedan take an early lead just three minutes into the game when Muzaffar Muzaffarov scored sensationally direct from a corner kick. However, Abahani responded quickly, leveling the score in the 17th minute through Mirajul Islam, who converted a pass from Emeka Ogbugh after beating a defender and finishing past goalkeeper Sujon Hossain. The second half saw Abahani dominate possession and create better chances. Their breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Emeka produced a brilliant solo run, beating three defenders before setting up Sulaiman Diabate. The striker turned 180 degrees and finished clinically between two defenders to score against his former club. Diabate, who had led Mohammedan to Federation Cup and league success over the past two seasons, marked his first goal against his former side—one that ultimately proved decisive in Abahani’s victory. Mohammedan pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but failed to break through Abahani’s defence. With the win, Abahani moved up to second place in the standings with 22 points from 12 matches, while Mohammedan slipped to seventh with 11 points amid a run of poor form. Bashundhara Kings lead the table with 24 points from 11 games.

Bangladesh's domestic cricketers, particularly the women, have received a significant financial boost as the newly formed BCB ad-hoc committee announced its first major decision on Thursday. The move comes after new board chief Tamim Iqbal was reportedly shocked to learn about the current pay structure for female players. Until recently, women in the domestic circuit were earning a match fee of just BDT 1,000 (USD 8 approx.) for a one-day competition. Under the revised structure, women will now receive BDT 10,000 for T20s, BDT 15,000 for 50-over games, and BDT 20,000 for first-class matches. The monthly salary for the top 36 women in the domestic setup has also been pushed up from BDT 30,000 to BDT 40,000. "This may not be ideal, but it is certainly an improvement, considering there are limits to how much can be increased at once," Tamim said. The men's domestic circuit also saw a substantial pay rise, with Tamim noting there had been little increment over the last three to four years. First-class match fees for men have gone up to BDT 100,000 from the previous BDT 70,000 . In the new monthly salary brackets, Category A players will now get BDT 65,000 , while Category B and C will receive BDT 50,000 and BDT 40,000 respectively. "I think the players were highly underpaid in the previous salary structure," Tamim said. "These players work hard, and cricket exists because of their efforts. At the very least, they deserve fair compensation." The new monthly salaries for both men and women will come into effect from January 1, 2026. With the financial changes secured, the 11-member ad-hoc committee is now turning its attention toward ending a stalemate with local club teams, as they look to get the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League underway in the coming weeks.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has advanced the match timings for the upcoming home series against New Zealand and the Sri Lanka women’s team as part of a national effort to conserve fuel and electricity. Under the revised schedule announced on Thursday, the One Day International (ODI) matches will begin at 11 a.m. local time, instead of the previously scheduled 3 p.m. The Twenty20 International (T20I) games have been moved up to 2 p.m. from their original 6 p.m. start time. By avoiding evening hours, the board aims to conclude the ODIs by 6:30 p.m. and the T20Is by 5:10 p.m., significantly reducing the reliance on stadium floodlights. BCB President Tamim Iqbal indicated on Wednesday that daylight scheduling would be implemented to save energy, though the specific hours were formalized by the board the following day. The New Zealand national team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on April 13 for the white-ball tour. The three-match ODI series will commence at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on April 17, followed by the second match at the same venue on April 20. The teams will then travel to Chattogram, where the Bir Shreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium will host the final ODI on April 23. Chattogram will also stage the first two matches of the T20I series on April 27 and April 29. Both squads will subsequently return to Dhaka for the third and final T20I on May 2 at Mirpur. Along with these, the BCB confirmed that the match timings for the Sri Lanka women’s team's upcoming three-match T20I tour of Bangladesh this month have also been adjusted. Those fixtures, initially slated for 6 p.m. starts, will now be played in the afternoon.  

Atletico Madrid scored twice after FC Barcelona were reduced to 10 men to secure a 2-0 away win in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday. A superb free kick from Julián Álvarez just before halftime and a second-half goal by Alexander Sørloth handed coach Diego Simeone his first win at Camp Nou since taking charge 15 years ago. “I don't think my Atleti had ever won at Camp Nou,” Simeone said. “They're arguably the best team in Europe, along with Paris (PSG) and Bayern (Munich). Through good teamwork, we were able to capitalize on key moments in the match.” Barcelona suffered a major setback just before the break when defender Pau Cubarsí was sent off for fouling Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal. The referee upgraded an initial yellow card to red after a video review. Moments later, Álvarez curled the resulting free kick past goalkeeper Joan García to give Atletico the lead in the 45th minute. Despite being a man down, Barcelona pushed forward in the second half, with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford leading the charge. However, Atletico sealed the win when substitute Sørloth shrugged off Gerard Martín and converted a cross from Matteo Ruggeri with 20 minutes remaining. Barcelona, five-time European champions, must now overturn the deficit in Madrid next week to keep alive their hopes of reaching a first semifinal since 2017. “We gave it our all, but it wasn't to be,” Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo said. “But this team can turn this around. I am convinced of it.” Atletico remained disciplined defensively and made the most of limited chances, scoring twice from just a handful of attempts while withstanding sustained Barcelona pressure. Elsewhere on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool FC 2-0 in their first-leg quarterfinal. On Tuesday, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1, while Arsenal FC edged Sporting CP 1-0.

A fire broke out Wednesday morning at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic Park velodrome, prompting a major emergency response involving about 80 firefighters and 20 vehicles, authorities said. Rio state military fire department said the blaze was under control and largely confined to the venue’s fabric roof. There have been no reported injuries, and the interior of the building — including the Olympic Museum — remained untouched. While the cause of this latest incident is currently under investigation, the facility has a history of roof fires. Two similar blazes occurred in 2017, both caused by falling paper sky lanterns. Since hosting track cycling during the 2016 Summer Games, the Velodrome has served as a primary training base for Brazil’s national cycling and weightlifting teams.  

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was hailed as the world’s best by teammate Kai Havertz after his heroics helped the Gunners beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Havertz scored the late winner in the 91st minute, controlling a pass from Gabriel Martinelli and finishing calmly, but he was quick to credit Raya for keeping a clean sheet. The Spain international made a string of crucial saves, including a stunning fingertip stop to deny Maxi Araujo and a brilliant near-post save against Geny Catamo. Manager Mikel Arteta also praised Raya, calling his performance “extraordinary” and highlighting the goalkeeper’s influence in high-stakes matches. “The Champions League is always decided in the boxes because of the quality involved,” Arteta told Amazon Prime. “At the moment, he’s phenomenal. We are very lucky to have him.” Raya himself described his early save from Araujo as a turning point. “It was a quick transition and a great strike, but I managed to get a fingertip to it to hit the bar. Moments like that can change games,” he said. Raya also impressed with his composure in possession, completing 26 of 28 passes and heading away a long ball to prevent a Sporting counterattack. Arteta noted Raya’s all-around role in modern football, praising his courage, technical skill, and ability to adapt. “The goalkeeper’s position has evolved rapidly,” he said. “With David’s qualities and determination, he reaches another level.” Raya’s statistics underline his growing reputation. In the Champions League since last season, he has kept 13 clean sheets in 23 games, conceded only 12 goals from shots worth 21.07 expected goals, and prevented over nine goals above expectation – figures unmatched by any other goalkeeper in the competition. In the Premier League, he has the most clean sheets this season with 15 and has made just one error leading to a goal in 69 games across two campaigns. As Arsenal prepare for next week’s second leg, Raya’s outstanding form could be decisive in their quest to win the Champions League for the first time, reinforcing his status as a world-class goalkeeper. Source: Sky sports

Ousted Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam has categorically rejected the government’s decision to dissolve his elected committee, branding the move a "constitutional coup" and urgently appealing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene against “state interference”. In a strongly worded statement released hours after the National Sports Council (NSC) ousted his administration on Tuesday, Aminul denied all allegations of corruption and vote-rigging during the October 2025 board elections. He dismissed the government’s investigation probe as legally void, politically driven vendetta initiated by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque. The NSC dissolved the board earlier in the day, citing an investigation that uncovered widespread electoral fraud, coerced electronic voting, and illegal interference orchestrated by former Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain under the previous interim administration. It also appointed former national captain Tamim Iqbal to lead an 11-member ad-hoc committee mandated to manage daily operations and hold a fresh election within three months. Refusing to recognise the ad-hoc body, Aminul defended the integrity of the October polls. He stated that the election was transparently managed by a legitimate three-member commission, which included a Supreme Court lawyer and the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He asserted that all electoral objections, including those regarding specific clubs and Tamim’s councillorship, were resolved through quasi-judicial hearings. Aminul accused former players with political ambitions of fabricating the election-fixing narrative to destabilise the board. "The National Sports Council has absolutely no authority to investigate a closed, concluded electoral process of an autonomous, self-governing federation like the BCB," he said, arguing that the dissolution violates the NSC's own ordinances. He warned that the government's actions create a "black hole of governance" that threatens the future of player development, sponsorships, and international investment in Bangladesh cricket. Aminul maintained that he remains the sole legitimate BCB president until the High Court dictates otherwise. The standoff sets the stage for a potential clash with the sport's global governing body. While NSC officials previously expressed confidence that the ICC would endorse the ad-hoc committee, the abrupt dissolution risks triggering the council's strict regulations against government interference, which can result in a national federation's suspension. The bureaucratic maneuver also unfolds against a delicate geopolitical backdrop. The ICC is currently chaired by Jay Shah, a powerful figure in Indian sports administration. Concurrently, the Prof Muhammad Yunus-led interim government – under which the 2025 BCB elections occurred – had maintained a highly critical stance toward New Delhi for sheltering ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following the 2024 mass uprising. Aminul’s direct appeal to the ICC ensures the global body will be forced to evaluate the legality of the NSC's intervention amidst these intersecting political tensions.

The National Sports Council (NSC) dissolved the elected board of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday following an investigation that uncovered, according to the NSC, widespread fraud, coercion, and government interference during the last election. Former national captain Tamim Iqbal has been appointed to lead an 11-member ad-hoc committee to steer the organization. NSC Sports Director Aminul Ehsan announced that the ad-hoc committee is mandated to manage the board's daily operations and hold a free, fair, and transparent election within the next three months before handing over power to a newly elected body. Shakib says he prioritises cricket over politics, eyes final run with national team The dissolution stems from a comprehensive probe into the 2025 BCB elections, which took place under the interim government and former Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud. The NSC claimed,the investigation revealed a highly coordinated effort to rig the election, heavily utilizing a compromised e-voting system. Investigators found that voters were coerced by government officials into casting electronic ballots collectively from a specific location—the Hotel Sheraton in Banani—destroying the fundamental democratic principle of a secret ballot. The report stated the electronic system was pre-planned specifically to manipulate the outcome. According to the findings, Asif Mahmud, his assistant Saiful Islam, and now ousted BCB President Aminul Islam orchestrated an overarching campaign to control the electoral process. They reportedly exerted severe pressure on district and divisional presidents, including local deputy commissioners, to nominate favored individuals. According to NSC, to facilitate this, the BCB repeatedly extended nomination deadlines without valid justification, covertly replacing previously nominated councilors with preferred candidates. The manipulation extended to voter registries and regional bodies, the NSC further said. The final voter list was delayed and published in multiple conflicting versions, with a revised list mysteriously adding voters from five previously excluded districts just days before the polls. To pack the voter base, the NSC illegally expanded the membership of several regional ad-hoc committees—such as in Chattogram and Rangpur—beyond the constitutional limit of seven members. Furthermore, many of these expired ad-hoc committees were allowed to submit councilor names well past their 90-day legal mandates. Investigators also cited severe abuses of executive power by Aminul. He unilaterally nominated 10 former cricketers as councilors without the required board authorization. And, government officials used their influence to force the inclusion of Aminul and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim into Dhaka-based ad-hoc committees, guaranteeing their subsequent elections as BCB directors. Despite the gravity of the allegations surrounding the coercive voting environment, former Sports Adviser Mahmud and his APS both refused to attend interviews with the investigation committee to defend against the charges. Joining Tamim Iqbal on the newly formed ad-hoc committee are Rashna Imam, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Syed Ibrahim Ahmed, Israfil Khosru, Minhajul Abedin, Athar Ali Khan, Tanjil Chowdhury, Salman Ispahani, Rafiqul Islam, and Fahim Sinha.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain and  ex-lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan announced he is shifting his entire focus back to cricket, expressing a strong desire to conclude his international career representing the national team. The veteran all-rounder, who has been excluded from the national squad since the Awami League government collapsed in August, 2024, clarified his position in a statement posted to his verified Facebook page on Monday. He acknowledged that while politics remains a crucial vehicle for national development, his immediate priority is delivering peak performances on the pitch.  "At this late stage of my career, I want to give my absolute best for the Bangladesh national team," Shakib wrote. He added that while he intends to contribute to the country's progress after retiring, his current hope is to "finish my cricket career with a smile, wearing the red and green jersey." Shakib served as a Member of Parliament under the ousted Awami League administration. Following the regime's fall, he faced intense public backlash and navigating several legal challenges stemming from his political affiliation. Although he previously scheduled a return to Bangladesh to participate in a home series under the interim government, mounting political pressure forced him to abruptly cancel those plans. In a recent media interview, Shakib noted that his political party currently maintains no active operations, prompting his renewed commitment to the sport. Behind the scenes, several directors within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have indicated they are exploring avenues to facilitate his return to the squad despite the lingering political sensitivities.  Widely regarded as one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era, the 39-year-old has amassed more than 14,500 runs and claimed over 700 wickets across 447 international appearances for Bangladesh.