United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh completed a big 217-run victory over Ireland in the Dhaka Test on Sunday, sealing the two-match series 2–0. Bangladesh closed the match defined by milestones, dominant batting, and a super spin attack led by Taijul Islam and Hasan Murad. Ireland, set an improbable 509 to win, were bowled out for 291 deep into the fifth afternoon. Bangladesh needed 59.3 overs on the final day to take the last four wickets, with their spinners taking turns to tighten the noose on a surface that had grown increasingly mischievous. The final innings again revolved around Taijul, who collected four wickets to go with his four in the first innings, finishing with eight in the match. In doing so, the left-arm spinner overtook Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 249 wickets. Hasan Murad matched him blow for blow in the last innings, also taking four and underlining his growing promise as a long-term partner in Bangladesh’s spin attack. Ireland’s fight-back was anchored by Curtis Campher, who produced one of the grittiest fourth-innings efforts seen in Mirpur. The allrounder remained unbeaten on 71, facing 259 balls — the longest fourth-innings vigil ever played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Harry Tector added a composed 50, but wickets continued to fall around them. Bangladesh's victory was built on a towering first-innings total of 476, led by a century from Mushfiqur Rahim and a sublime 128 from Liton Das. Pakistan crushes Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in tri-series clash Mominul Haque added 63, while Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy provided steady starts. Andy McBrine’s six-wicket haul kept the visitors afloat, but they were unable to prevent Bangladesh from dictating tempo. Ireland responded with 265, as Lorcan Tucker fought for an unbeaten 75 and Jordan Neill struck 49. Yet the innings remained fractured by recurring collapses engineered by Taijul and Murad, who shared six wickets. In Bangladesh’s second innings, the hosts pressed ahead with intent, declaring at 297 for four. Mominul (87), Shadman (78), and Mahmudul (60) set up the total, while Mushfiqur added an unbeaten 53 to crown a historic personal milestone. The match marked Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test, making him the first Bangladeshi to reach the landmark. Barcelona celebrate Camp Nou return with 4–0 win over Bilbao He celebrated it with a hundred in the first innings and a fifty in the second, becoming only the 11th batter in cricket history to score a century in a 100th Test match. Bangladesh’s bowlers then took over, wearing Ireland down session by session across two days, with Taijul, Murad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed combining to secure the final push.

Sahibzada Farhan blasted an unbeaten 80 off just 45 balls to steer Pakistan to a dominant seven-wicket victory over out-of-form Sri Lanka in the T20 tri-series on Saturday. Sri Lanka, still reeling from a heavy loss to Zimbabwe in their opening match, mustered only 128-7 after opting to bat first. Early promise from Kamil Mishara (22) faded quickly as Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their grip. Mohammad Nawaz led the attack with impressive figures of 3-16, while Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a wicket as Sri Lanka slipped to 80-5 by the 12th over. Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten 41 off 38 provided some late resistance, but disciplined death bowling from Mohammad Wasim and Mirza restricted the visitors to a modest total. Conway–Ravindra century stand guides NZ to 5-wicket win over WI in 2nd ODI Pakistan replied with authority as Farhan launched a flurry of strokes to give the hosts a rapid start. Despite losing Saim Ayub for 20, Farhan kept attacking, adding 69 valuable runs with Babar Azam (16) and reaching his fifty in 33 balls. Dushmantha Chameera claimed two wickets late in the innings, but Pakistan’s chase remained well on track. Farhan sealed the win — and surpassed his previous best T20 score — with a straight six off Malinga, guiding Pakistan to 131-3 in only 15.3 overs. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha praised the all-round performance, while Sri Lanka’s skipper Dasun Shanaka lamented his side’s ongoing batting struggles throughout the tour. Pakistan, unbeaten in the series so far, will face Zimbabwe next on Sunday. Source: AP 

Lanus captured their second Copa Sudamericana title on Saturday, defeating Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout, thanks to a stunning performance from goalkeeper Nahuel Losada, who stopped three spot-kicks. Lanus, champions previously in 2013, are now the sixth club to lift the Sudamericana trophy twice. In the shootout, Carlos Izquierdoz, Sasha Marcich, Dylan Aquino, Agustín Cardozo and Franco Watson all converted for the Argentine team. Losada, 32, delivered the decisive edge by denying efforts from Hulk, Gabriel Texeira and Vitor Hugo. Barcelona celebrate Camp Nou return with 4–0 win over Bilbao Argentine clubs have now claimed 10 Sudamericana titles overall, with Racing Club most recently taking the 2024 crown after overcoming Cruzeiro in the final. Lanus booked their place in this year’s final by edging Universidad de Chile 3-2 on aggregate in the semifinals. They earlier knocked out Fluminense with a victory at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã in the quarterfinals and eliminated Central Córdoba on penalties in the round of 16. Source: AP 

Barcelona could not have scripted a more poetic homecoming. After 909 days of exile, the Catalans returned to their beloved Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday night and marked the occasion with a resounding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao — a win that briefly lifted them to the summit of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid. The night belonged to history, emotion, and a team rediscovering its rhythm. Robert Lewandowski, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in what was his 160th appearance for the club, carved his name into Camp Nou folklore by scoring the first goal at the renovated stadium. For Ferran Torres, this new era started with a flourish. The forward struck twice, both assisted by Yamal, who justified every bit of the hype surrounding him with a dazzling display of vision and composure. And as if to reaffirm Barcelona’s renewed strength, goalkeeper Joan García, back from injury, delivered a commanding performance to keep Bilbao at bay. Barca needed less than five minutes to trigger a new chapter in their storied home. Yamal drove forward with characteristic fearlessness before slicing open Bilbao’s defence with a brilliant through-ball. A quick series of passes followed, and Lewandowski, gliding into space, unleashed a powerful strike into the net to ignite the stadium. But the visitors refused to be mere spectators. Bilbao answered instantly with waves of attack, dominating nearly ten minutes and testing Barcelona’s defensive structure. In the 20th minute, Fermín’s low shot forced Unai Simón into action, and Dani Olmo sent the rebound narrowly wide. Four minutes later, Ferran Torres found the net but was denied by the offside flag. Bilbao’s biggest chance of the half arrived in the 36th minute when Unai Gómez failed to beat Joan García from close range. Moments later, Gómez’s long-range effort sailed over the bar, and in the 41st minute Nico Williams miscued his attempt from just outside the six-yard box. Then, just before the interval, Barcelona struck again. A counterattack led by Yamal set Ferran free, and although Simón got a hand to it, the ball rolled in to make it 2-0 at halftime. The second half began with Barcelona pouncing on a defensive error, allowing Fermín to coolly slot home their third goal of the night. Bilbao’s hopes unraveled further in the 54th minute when Oihan Sancet saw red for a reckless challenge on Fermín. Initially shown a yellow, the card turned red after VAR intervention. With a man advantage, Barcelona dominated possession and tempo, while Bilbao retreated into damage-control mode. Olmo came within inches of scoring in the 65th minute, but it was Ferran who completed the rout in stoppage time. Yamal once again orchestrated the move, and after a brief offside scare, VAR confirmed the goal. The victory took Barcelona to 31 points from 13 matches — level with Real Madrid but temporarily ahead on goal difference. Madrid, however, can reclaim the lead with at least a draw in their 13th-round fixture against Elche on Sunday, while a win would take them three points clear. Barcelona now shift their focus to Europe, travelling to London to face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday. They will return home next Saturday for a La Liga fixture with Deportivo Alavés.  

Chelsea overcame a slow start to secure a comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday, narrowing the gap at the top of the Premier League with Arsenal. Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a well-placed header from a cross, giving Chelsea the breakthrough after a period of sustained pressure. Enzo Fernández sealed the result in the 88th minute, firing home to ensure a third consecutive league victory for Enzo Maresca’s side. Chelsea controlled the game with 59% possession and 15 attempts on goal, four of them on target. Burnley, meanwhile, managed eight shots, two of which tested the goalkeeper. The win lifts Chelsea to 23 points from 12 matches, while Arsenal remain top with 26 points and a game in hand. The Gunners will face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Blues are set to meet Barcelona next Tuesday in the Champions League before returning to league action against Arsenal on November 30.

Bangladesh ended the fourth day of the Dhaka Test needing only four wickets to complete a commanding win over Ireland, after declaring their second innings at 297 for three and setting a target of 508. Ireland closed on 176 for six, stretched by grit but increasingly constrained by a surface breaking down beneath them. The day belonged once again to Bangladesh’s spinners, with Taijul Islam reaching a historic milestone. His three wickets in Ireland’s second innings lifted him to 249 Test scalps — surpassing Shakib Al Hasan to become the highest wicket-taker in Bangladesh’s Test history. Taijul has already taken seven in this match, bowling with the sort of accuracy and control that has defined his decade-long career. Harry Tector offered Ireland brief resistance with a spirited half-century, but he fell moments after raising the milestone, chipping a drive to mid-off. That dismissal reopened the innings, and Bangladesh pressed hard through the final hour. Curtis Campher remained unbeaten on 34 at stumps, joined by Andy McBrine, but survival appeared a matter of time rather than possibility. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh tightened their grip with a disciplined, confident morning session. Mominul Haque produced his 25th Test fifty, and Mushfiqur Rahim — fresh from his century in the first innings — moved into the 40s with characteristic calm. Their 106-run partnership framed a statement of control as Bangladesh stretched the lead past 500. Shadman Islam’s 78 anchored the early scoring before Andy McBrine pinned him in front, and Jordan Neill removed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with a sharp bouncer. Ireland might have had more to show had Cade Carmichael held a straightforward chance offered by Mushfiqur at deep backward square — a pivotal moment that ensured Bangladesh’s dominance continued unbroken. The home side declared shortly after reaching 297 for three, adding to their first-innings 476. Ireland, who posted 265 in reply earlier, were left to withstand a relentless attack on a pitch offering sharp turn, uneven bounce and the occasional shooter. Hasan Murad delivered another canny spell of off-spin, while Khaled Ahmed added a wicket with the old ball. Ireland have battled with spirit throughout the match, showing clear signs of improvement and a willingness to absorb long spells. But against Bangladesh’s well-drilled spin unit — on a surface deteriorating rapidly — the challenge remains steep.  

UEFA has imposed a three-match suspension on Bayern Munich forward Luis Díaz following the red card he received during his side’s Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month. Diaz scored twice in Bayern's 2-1 win over defending champions PSG on November 4, but he was sent off shortly before the interval for a dangerous tackle on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi. The challenge left Hakimi with a severely sprained left ankle, and he has been sidelined ever since. UEFA stated that Díaz was punished for “serious rough play,” handing the winger a three-game ban. As a result, the Colombia international will miss Bayern’s away match against Arsenal on Wednesday, followed by home games against Sporting CP on December 9 and Union Saint-Gilloise on January 21. Earlier on Friday, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany said he had expected Díaz to receive only a one-match suspension. Bayern currently lead the Champions League standings with 12 points from four matches, ahead of Arsenal and Inter Milan on goal difference. Since joining from Liverpool in the summer, Díaz has scored three goals in four Champions League appearances for Bayern this season and added six goals in 10 Bundesliga games.    

Bangladesh secured a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup after defeating Thailand 40-31, guaranteeing a medal in the tournament. The first half saw intense competition, with Bangladesh leading 14-12 at halftime. Thailand pushed hard in the second half, but the spirited Bangladeshi raiders, led by Rupa and Shraboni, maintained control, achieving a comfortable nine-point victory. The win gave Bangladesh six points in Group ‘A’, confirming their top-four position. Earlier, the team had beaten Uganda and Germany but lost to India in the group stage. During the match, Shraboni Mallik sustained an injury in the ninth minute but returned after treatment. Borsha Bishwas delivered crucial raids, including two all-outs, helping Bangladesh extend their lead to 31-18 before sealing the win. Speaking after the match, Borsha said the team had planned to beat Thailand from the group stage and was happy to see their strategy succeed. “Our focus was the Thailand match, and we gave our best. Now, our next target is the final against Chinese Taipei. We will give our maximum effort,” she said. By reaching the semi-finals, Bangladesh has guaranteed a podium finish. The team has also achieved its pre-tournament goal of surpassing their 2012 World Cup performance, where they had finished fifth. The semi-final berths have also been secured by 2012 champions India and runners-up Iran.  

Bangladesh declared the second innings of the Dhaka Test against Ireland at 297 for three, securing a lead of 508 runs, and setting a massive target for the visitors.  A fluent half-century from Mominul Haque and another composed knock from Mushfiqur Rahim helped the hosts reach 280 for three in their second innings, adding 124 runs in an assertive morning session. Bangladesh resumed the day in full control and scored freely at a run rate of 4.24. Ireland did manage two breakthroughs, but the momentum never shifted. Andy McBrine trapped Shadman Islam for 78 with a delivery that thudded into the back pad, and Jordan Neill sent back captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with a sharp, rising ball. Ireland might have opened the door further had Cade Carmichael held on to a straightforward catch offered by Mushfiqur Rahim at deep backward square. The reprieve proved costly. Mushfiqur, fresh from his first-innings century, settled quickly and moved into the 40s with characteristic ease. At the other end, Mominul Haque played with calm precision, reaching his 25th Test half-century. The pair added 106 runs for the fourth wicket, rotating the strike smoothly and punishing anything loose. Their partnership ensured Bangladesh’s innings continued to build without urgency, and there were no immediate signs of a declaration. Earlier in the match, Bangladesh posted 476 in their first innings before bowling out Ireland for 265.  

Bangladesh secured a lead of 367 runs at the end of the third day of the Dhaka Test against Ireland on Friday.  After posting 476 in the first innings, Bangladesh finished the third day with 156 for one, with Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque remaining unbeaten on 69 not out and 19, respectively. Earlier, Ireland posted 265 against tigers’ first innings and fell behind.  Taijul bags 4 as Bangladesh bowl Ireland out for 265 to secure big lead Taijul Islam took four wickets for the team, and with these four wickets, he tied Shakib Al Hasan for the most Test wickets for Bangladesh. “Every player has a dream to play for the national team,” Taijul said. “Now I will try to do (play) as much as possible.” Now, both Shakib and Taijul have 246 wickets in the longer format of international cricket. Taijul now has a good chance to surpass Shakib in this Test when Ireland bats in their second innings.  “I had a dream to take many wickets, everyone has that dream,” Taijul added. “When you play for the national team, you have to perform.” Bangladesh won the first Test of the series in Sylhet. A win or even a draw in Dhaka will ensure the series for the hosts.  After the two-match Test series, both teams will lock horns in the three-match T20I series.