United News of Bangladesh

Gary Stead announced on Tuesday that he will no longer serve as New Zealand's coach for Twenty20 and one-day international formats, and he is currently reflecting on his future involvement in test cricket. Stead stated that he anticipates taking a month to make a final decision. The 53-year-old has been coaching New Zealand in all formats since 2018, when he succeeded Mike Hesson. New Zealand Cricket confirmed that it will begin advertising for the coaching role next week, though it has not yet decided whether to appoint separate coaches for different formats. Under Stead’s leadership, New Zealand reached the finals of the 2019 ICC World Cup, the 2022 T20 World Cup, and this year’s Champions Trophy, while also securing victory in the inaugural World Test Championship. Nasir Hossain gets ICC clearance after 2-year ban “Gary’s results have been impressive over an extended period, and we’re comfortable giving him the time he needs to consider his next steps,” said Bryan Stronach, NZC's high-performance officer, in a statement. “At this stage, we don’t have a strong preference between a split-coaching structure or one coach for all formats, and we won’t make a decision until we see who applies for the role.” Recently, New Zealand completed a 4-1 win over Pakistan in a home T20 series and a 3-0 victory in the one-day international series, despite having many key players unavailable due to the Indian Premier League. “I’m looking forward to stepping back from the touring life for a while and reflecting on my future,” Stead shared. “My focus has been on finishing the season strongly with a less experienced team.” “The past six to seven months have been extremely busy, with almost continuous cricket since September. I now want to assess my options, though I still feel I have more to offer as a coach, but not as the head coach across all formats.”    

Bangladesh cricketer Nasir Hossain has been officially cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resume his professional cricket career, following the successful completion of his two-year ban for breaching the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code. The 33-year-old all-rounder, once a mainstay in Bangladesh’s middle order, was suspended in September 2023 for two years—with six months of the sentence suspended—after being found guilty of corruption-related violations during his stint in a foreign franchise league. Gill leads Gujarat to 7-wicket IPL win vs Hyderabad On Monday, the ICC confirmed that Nasir had met all the conditions necessary for reinstatement, including the completion of a mandatory anti-corruption education programme. With those requirements now fulfilled, he is once again eligible to participate in all forms of official cricket, effective from April 7. Nasir wasted no time marking his return. On the very day of his reinstatement, he turned out for Rupganj Tigers in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, making his competitive comeback after nearly 19 months away from the professional game. Nasir last played for Bangladesh in 2018, ending an international career that saw him appear in 115 matches across formats. He gained a reputation early on for his aggressive strokeplay and handy off-spin, playing key roles in Bangladesh's rise in limited-overs cricket during the 2010s. Bangladesh gear up for Women's World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan Nasir’s comeback arrives at a time when Bangladesh cricket is witnessing a generational transition. Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad have retired from international cricket, and Mushfiuqr Rahim has said goodbye to ODIs and T20Is.

Shubman Gill crafted a composed unbeaten 61 to guide Gujarat Titans to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, with 20 balls to spare, in Sunday’s Indian Premier League match. It was Gill’s first fifty of the season and played a key role in Gujarat registering their third straight win, lifting them to second in the standings. His 43-ball knock featured nine boundaries. Delhi downs Chennai to stay unbeaten and Punjab suffers first loss to Rajasthan in IPL All-rounder Washington Sundar chipped in with a rapid 49 off 29 deliveries in the successful chase, as Gujarat reached 153-3 in 16.4 overs. Hyderabad, after losing the toss, posted 152-8 in 20 overs following another lacklustre batting performance. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj starred with 4-17 from his four overs. Hyderabad’s losing streak continuesThe defeat marked Hyderabad’s fourth loss in a row, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the 10-team table. The top-order failed to fire again, crumbling under pressure from Siraj’s new-ball spell. Travis Head was dismissed for eight, while Abhishek Sharma managed only 18. Ishan Kishan, who had scored a century in the opening match, could only muster 17 before being removed by Prasidh Krishna. The 2024 runners-up found themselves struggling at 50-3 in the 8th over. Despite the early damage, Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen put on a 50-run stand off 39 balls for the fourth wicket. Klaasen, the costliest overseas player this season, is yet to reach a half-century in five outings. He made 27 off 19 balls, striking two fours and a six. Reddy top-scored with 31 off 34 balls, including three boundaries, but Gujarat’s spinners tightened the screws. Sai Kishore returned figures of 2-24 from four overs, while Rashid Khan went wicketless, conceding 31 runs. Kolkata thumps Hyderabad by 80 runs in IPL-2025 Following the end of the fourth-wicket stand in the 14th over, Hyderabad kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Captain Pat Cummins provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 22 off nine balls, laced with three boundaries and a six, pushing the total past 150. Shaky start for GujaratGujarat’s innings got off to a shaky start. Mohammed Shami (2-28) removed Sai Sudharsan for five early on, and Cummins took the big scalp of in-form Jos Buttler, who was caught behind for a three-ball duck. That set the stage for a match-winning third-wicket partnership between Gill and Sundar. The pair added 90 runs off 56 balls, with Sundar taking the aggressive approach. Promoted to No. 4, he struck five fours and two sixes. Shami broke the stand early in the 14th over, dismissing Sundar, but Sherfane Rutherford, brought in as an impact player, picked up the pace. The West Indies all-rounder blasted an unbeaten 35 off just 16 balls, featuring six boundaries and a six, sealing the win swiftly for Gujarat. Gill brought up his half-century in 36 balls and remained unbeaten to finish the job. Schedule change on SundayOnly one match was played on Sunday instead of the planned doubleheader. The Kolkata Knight Riders’ home fixture against Lucknow SuperGiants was postponed to Tuesday at the request of Kolkata police due to religious festivities in the city. Tuesday will now feature two matches, with Punjab hosting Chennai in the evening after the rescheduled Kolkata-Lucknow game.

The Bangladesh women's cricket team are set to begin their campaign in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers from April 10, as six nations vie for the final two spots in the 2025 World Cup, to be hosted by India. The qualifying tournament, scheduled from April 9 to 19 in Lahore, Pakistan, features Bangladesh, West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland, Scotland, and Thailand. All matches will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground. While India and five top teams from the ICC Women’s Championship cycle—Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka—have already secured their places in the main event, the remaining two spots will go to the top two teams from this qualifier. With a defeat to the West Indies in January this year, Bangladesh lost the way for a direct qualification. So this tournament for Bangladesh is a must-win. Key decisions ahead for South Africa, Australia before WTC final West Indies remain the tournament favorites, with hosts Pakistan also posing a serious threat. Bangladesh’s head-to-head record with Pakistan in ODIs is evenly poised at 7-7, with one tie. The team will also face challenges from Ireland and Scotland, both of whom have shown steady improvement, while Thailand—though less experienced—have proven capable of springing surprises. Bangladesh is playing in this event under new coach Sarwar Imran. He took over the role after the departure of Sri Lankan Hasan Tillakarante. Mohsin Naqvi elected Asian Cricket Council chairman Bangladesh begin their campaign against Thailand on April 10, followed by fixtures against Ireland (April 13), Scotland (April 15), West Indies (April 17), and hosts Pakistan (April 19).  

With two months to go before the final of the ICC World Test Championship, both South Africa and Australia are finalising their teams. The final will take place at the Lord’s on June 11. South Africa's batting lineup seems mostly settled. Aiden Markram will likely open alongside Tony de Zorzi, whose recent domestic form has been impossible to ignore. Rising star Tristan Stubbs looks set for the crucial No. 4 spot, with skipper Temba Bavuma – now comfortable at number 5 – following him. The middle order gains stability through wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and the seasoned David Bedingham. The versatile Marco Jansen brings valuable all-round credentials, expected to join pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada in a threatening attack. The Proteas' main headache remains their third seamer choice. The fiery Gerald Coetzee is in contention if his body holds up, while young leftie Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch – fresh from an eye-catching Test debut – offer compelling alternatives. Spin duties will likely fall to the reliable Keshav Maharaj. The defending champions Australia face fewer selection puzzles. Usman Khawaja should open with teenage prospect Sam Konstas, allowing Travis Head to slide back to his preferred No. No.5 position. The trusty duo of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith anchor the batting, while Cameron Green could reclaim the No. 6 spot if he's recovered fully. Australia's pace arsenal features Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and either Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland – a luxury of riches offering both variety and know-how. Hazlewood boasts impressive Lord's credentials, though Boland was the standout in last year's final. Nathan Lyon will handle the spin department with Alex Carey keeping wicket. Both sides pack quality and depth, though final calls might depend on typical English summer conditions and how the Lord's pitch looks. The battle for cricket's ultimate Test prize begins well before the players take the field – in selection rooms where every choice could prove decisive.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has been elected as the new chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), replacing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva. The announcement was made following a virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ACC member nations on Thursday. Naqvi will serve a two-year term, assuming the presidency with immediate effect. “Pakistan will lead the Council in its mission to promote and expand cricket across the Asian continent,” the ACC confirmed in a media release. Naqvi acknowledged the honour in his first statement as ACC president. “Asia remains the heartbeat of world cricket, and I am committed to working with all member boards to accelerate the game's growth and global influence,” he said. He also thanked the outgoing leadership, expressing hopes for continued collaboration across the region. His appointment comes at a critical juncture, with preparations underway for the upcoming Asia Cup in September. Though initially allocated to India, the tournament will be hosted in a neutral venue due to diplomatic constraints between India and Pakistan that hinder cross-border team travel. Finalising the host country will be among Naqvi’s first and most pressing responsibilities. The UAE is widely seen as the frontrunner, though Sri Lanka remains a strong contender. A decision is expected soon, particularly after commercial rights for the event were recently secured.

Bangladesh’s national cricket team is set for an intense and uninterrupted run of international fixtures over the next two years, as the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) outlines a packed schedule through March 2027. The upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe this month in Sylhet and Chattogram is the beginning of what Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials are calling a “non-stop cricket” phase. Kolkata thumps Hyderabad by 80 runs in IPL-2025 Apart from December 2025 and January 2026, the national team is scheduled to play in every month through the FTP period, with barely any extended breaks. Over the next 23 months, Bangladesh are slated to play 16 bilateral series comprising 18 Tests, 32 ODIs, and 32 T20Is. Three of these will be full-format series (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), while several will be limited-overs contests. Bangladesh will also take part in two major T20 tournaments — the Asia Cup in September this year and the ICC T20 World Cup in February-March 2026. The packed calendar also coincides with Phil Simmons’ extended tenure as head coach, with the former West Indies cricketer expected to guide the team at least until the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November, which falls just outside the current FTP window. “We are planning with the 2027 World Cup in mind. When coach Simmons arrives on April 8, we’ll finalise the roadmap,” BCB’s cricket operations chief Nazmul Abedeen said to a local newspaper. Nazmul added that the board sees the congested schedule not as a burden but as an opportunity to test and rotate players. Tamim Iqbal regains consciousness, speaks with family He said there would be a concerted effort to give exposure to both senior and emerging players through national team selections and by ramping up matches for the ‘A’ and high-performance squads.

Venkatesh Iyer made a 25-ball half-century to propel defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders to a massive 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday in a rematch of last year’s Indian Premier League final. The left-hander teed off in the final five overs to smash 60 off 29 balls as Kolkata cruised to 200-6 after Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to field at Eden Gardens. Hyderabad couldn’t recover from the loss of three wickets in space of first 13 balls before eventually getting bowled out for 120 in 16.4 overs to lose its third straight game. Kolkata’s big win lifted it from the bottom of the points table to No. 5 with four points. “This game was really important for us, and winning with margin — that was really crucial,” Kolkata captain Ajinkya Rahane said. Arora dampens Hyderabad's chase Hyderabad’s batting powerhouse struggled to get going for the third straight game since amassing 286 runs in the season opener against Rajasthan Royals. Impact player Vaibhav Arora (3-29) made an immediate impact when the fast bowler removed Travis Head off his second ball and Ishan Kishan was brilliantly snapped by a diving Rahane at short extra cover. Arora should have got one more wicket but Andre Russell dropped a sitter from IPL debutant Kamindu Mendis before the Sri Lankan batter had scored.   And to make things worse for Hyderabad, Abhishek Sharma’s struggles continued when the left-hander sliced a catch in the slips off Harshit Rana’s slower delivery before Arora returned and removed top-scorer Heinrich Klaasen (33) to close out with brilliant figures. Spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy squeezed the middle-order with their impeccable bowling in favorable home conditions as Hyderabad lost wickets in clusters. Narine completed a haul of 200 wickets for Kolkata in the IPL when Mendis holed out at mid-wicket after scoring 27. Chakravarthy then ran through the lower order with 3-22 and was denied a hat-trick after claiming the wickets of Cummins and Simarjeet Singh off successive balls in his final over. “Not a great night tonight,” Cummins said. “Less than two weeks ago, we put on 280. Our batters are at our best taking it on, but you have to think about if you could take different options.” Iyer delivers Angkrish Raghuvanshi made an impactful 50 off 32 balls upfront, but Hyderabad had limited Kolkata at 122-4 in 15 overs before leaking 78 runs off the final 30 balls. Kolkata lost its left-handed opening pair of Quinton de Kock (1) and Narine (7) cheaply inside the first four overs before Rahane and Raghuvanshi put on 81 runs for the third-wicket stand and revived the innings. However, both batters got dismissed in space of three overs before Iyer and Rinku Singh (32 not out) counterattacked Hyderabad pace in the final five overs. Iyer took his time before unleashing seven boundaries and three sixes that included three fours and a six in the 19th over bowled by Cummins, who finished with 1-44. Singh consumed just 16 balls and led the home team’s acceleration with Iyer by contributing 91 runs for the fifth-wicket stand off just 41 balls.

Pakistan has been penalized for a slow over-rate against New Zealand in their second one-day international in Hamilton this week. Match referee Jeff Crowe fined the Pakistan players 5% of their match fees after they were one over short of the target on Wednesday after the time allowances were taken into consideration. New Zealand won by 84 runs. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan “pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing,” the International Cricket Council said on Thursday. India reveals schedule of a packed cricket season in 2025 It was the second consecutive match after which Pakistan was fined for a slow over-rate. The visiting team was two overs short of the target and fined 10% after losing the first ODI by 73 runs at Napier last Saturday. The third and last ODI is at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a packed home schedule for the Indian men's cricket team, set to host the West Indies and South Africa across October to December this year. The season will begin with a two-match Test series against the West Indies, starting in Ahmedabad on October 2. The second Test will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from October 10. Following the Caribbean challenge, India will take on South Africa in an all-format series that begins with a historic Test match in Guwahati — the city’s first-ever — after the opener in New Delhi from November 14 to 18. The second Test will follow from November 22. The two sides will then play a three-match ODI series in Ranchi, Raipur, and Visakhapatnam, scheduled from November 30 to December 6. A five-match T20I series will wrap up the home season, with games taking place in Cuttack, Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad from December 9 to 19. Buttler and Siraj lead Gujarat to big victory over Bengaluru in IPL This will be the first all-format bilateral contest between India and South Africa since the 2023–24 series in South Africa. The two teams last clashed in a major tournament in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, where India lifted the title. India’s last Test series against the West Indies was in July 2023, with Rohit Sharma’s side clinching a 1-0 win. India recently won the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE, beating New Zealand in the final. With a packed season looming, the confidence of winning the big event will surely boost them further.