United News of Bangladesh

A disciplined Indian bowling attack kept Pakistan in check, restricting them to 241 in 49.4 overs in their ICC Champions Trophy group-stage match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals. They struggled to forge effective partnerships when they needed it most. In contrast, the Indian bowlers managed breakthroughs in crucial moments that restricted Pakistan to a moderate total. Shakib’s return to Dhaka League uncertain as Rupganj change stance After electing to bat first, Pakistan got off to a cautious start but lost Babar Azam early for 23, caught behind off Hardik Pandya. Imam-ul-Haq followed soon after, run out for 10, leaving Pakistan at 47 for 2 inside 10 overs. Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan steadied the innings with a 104-run partnership for the third wicket. Shakeel looked fluent, scoring 62 off 76 balls with five fours, while Rizwan posted a slow 46 off 77 with three fours. However, just as Pakistan seemed to be gaining momentum, India struck back. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed both Salman Agha (19) and Naseem Shah (14), while Ravindra Jadeja removed Tayyab Tahir for 4, breaking Pakistan’s middle-order resistance. Champions Trophy: Pakistan win toss and bat against India Pakistan’s lower order failed to accelerate in the death overs. Khushdil Shah provided some late runs with a 39-ball 38, including two sixes, but wickets tumbled at regular intervals. The final five wickets fell for just 41 runs as India wrapped up the innings with two balls to spare. Kuldeep was the best bowler for India, finishing with 3 for 40, while Pandya (2 for 31) and Harshit Rana (1 for 30) provided important breakthroughs. Passion, politics and patriotism meld as Pakistan and India clash in cricket's fiercest rivalry

Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL) club Legends of Rupganjs said they are not continuing the plan to play Shakib Al Hasan in the upcoming season of the event. On February 22, the club authority said they had finalised the plan to play Shakib this season. However, within a day, they had changed their stance. The Legends of Rupganj sent a letter to the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) saying that they are withdrawing Shakib’s name from their team. The club said they are postponing the plan of playing Shakib after discussing it with the player. Champions Trophy: Pakistan win toss and bat against India After the India series last year, Shakib was supposed to return home to play his last Test against South Africa at home, but due to the political shift last year, he was unable to come. After that, he was supposed to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for the Chittagong Kings but was ultimately unable to. He also faces restrictions on his bowling due to action testing. Shakib was affiliated with the ousted Awami League party. When he expressed his desire to return home, people including students who had led the movement against the previous government also staged demonstrations against him, which eventually pushed his homecoming into limbo.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has won the coin toss and opted to bat first against India in their Group A game at the 2025 Champions Trophy on Sunday. The arch rivals meet at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium despite Pakistan hosting the tournament, as India is playing its league games – and potential knockout matches – in the United Arab Emirates. Indian cricket authorities have offered no formal statement about refusing to play in Pakistan, but some officials have suggested that the decision was based on security concerns. Passion, politics and patriotism meld as Pakistan and India clash in cricket's fiercest rivalry Pakistan got off to a poor start in home conditions earlier on – it lost the opening game of the tournament against New Zealand by 60 runs. It faces a must-win situation against India today to stay alive in the tournament. India won its opener against Bangladesh by six wickets in Dubai and will look to carry forward its winning momentum. Another win will confirm its spot in the semi-finals. The last time these two sides met in the Champions Trophy was back in 2017, where Pakistan beat India in the final by 180 runs in London. Pakistan has made one change – Fakhar Zaman is ruled out owing to an injury sustained in the opening game. Imam ul Haq is his replacement and comes into the playing eleven. India has fielded an unchanged eleven. The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to be slow in nature – a dual-paced surface that could aid both pacers and spinners as the game progresses. Evening dew could help the chasing side. Inglis leads Australia to record chase against England in Champions Trophy thriller Line-ups: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Lokesh Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

It is a sports rivalry like no other in the world. When India and Pakistan face off in Dubai on Sunday, the cricket contest will be amped up by so much more — the 78 years of bitterness between the two arch rival nations, the heightened political hostilities, and the patriotic zeal of hundreds of millions of people. Cricket-mad nations India and Pakistan are competing in the game’s 50-over format for the coveted eight-nation Champions Trophy tournament that began on Wednesday in Pakistan. While six national teams have travelled to Pakistan for the tournament, India has refused to go there by leveraging its strong influence on International Cricket Council, the game's global governing body. Indian cricket authorities have offered no formal statement about refusing to play in Pakistan, but some officials have suggested that the decision was based on security concerns. India will play all its matches — including the one against Pakistan — at a neutral venue in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The game's political undertones In both India and Pakistan, cricket has become a symbol of national identity and every clash grabs the attention of more than a billion fans. And Sunday's match comes at a time when relations between the two neighbors have hit a new low. That animosity largely stems from the two countries' dispute over Kashmir, a restive Himalayan region over which they have fought two wars. Nuclear-armed rivals each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. Compounding the territorial dispute are heightened tensions stemming from the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks that India blamed on Pakistani militants, a charge Islamabad denies. And sporting relations inevitably ebb and flow with the politics. Bilateral cricket ties have remained suspended since 2008, and the two national teams have only played each other in global events where they are always paired together in a group to ensure there is a contest between them. Even though the Indian team has not travelled to Pakistan since 2008, Pakistan played in India in 2023 during the World Cup, including before a hostile crowd at a cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Inglis leads Australia to record chase against England in Champions Trophy thriller So-called “cricket diplomacy” has occasionally thawed out relations but that hasn't been the case under Modi. His Hindu nationalist government has taken a tough stance on resuming friendlier cricket ties with Pakistan with many senior ministers saying Indian team won’t play in the country. Dozens of people in India and disputed Kashmir have also faced police complaints and sometimes even jail for cheering for the Pakistani team. “Cricket is the strongest currency in the eyes of this government which they have used to instigate resentment and anger against Pakistan,” said Sharda Ugra, an Indian sports writer. Ugra said while the fans of the two countries are eager to watch the two nations play more often, the contest “has been held hostage to ugly politics.” The eyes of hundreds of millions are on the game In sheer numbers, viewership for the India-Pakistan match dwarfs the Super Bowl in what Ugra calls the “greatest sports rivalry in the world” bar none. When the two sides played against each other in 2023 in India, the estimated viewership — on cable television and streaming services — was around 400 million. In comparison, this year’s Super Bowl averaged a 127.7 million across all platforms in the U.S. Organizers expect similar numbers for Sunday’s contest that will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. And it's a guaranteed windfall as tickets for the game sold out within minutes while billion-dollar broadcast deals have been hammered out. Media in both the countries are cashing in too. Pakistani and Indian TV news channels are providing wall-to-wall coverage. In recent weeks, TV commercials in both countries used patriotic fervor to poke fun at each other. Local authorities and private companies in both the countries have announced that they would set up giant screens in some city centers and inside shopping malls. Fans want more For many fans, this clash holds more value than any other sporting event in the world — and they want more of it. Duckett’s 165 powers England to 351 against Australia In India’s western city of Mumbai, cricket coach Anil Sawant plans to watch the game at a clubhouse along with his friends on a giant screen. “These matches should take place often,” 57-year-old Sawant said, as his students honed their skills during practice at the city’s Shivaji Park ground — a favorite for cricketers of all ages. Mohammad Ahmed, a 27-year-old accountant, has also planned to host seven of his friends at his home in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi city. All of them will watch the game on a big screen and he plans to serve them special chicken biryani. “And of course French fries and soft drinks will be on the menu too,” Ahmed said with a smile.

Australia made the record of the highest successful chase in ICC tournament history, chasing down England’s 351 with 15 balls to spare in a thrilling Champions Trophy encounter in Lahore on Saturday. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis starred with an unbeaten 120 off 86 balls, leading the chase as Australia secured a five-wicket win. England’s innings revolved around Ben Duckett’s brilliant 165 off 143 balls, his highest ODI score, while Joe Root contributed 68 to help England post a formidable 351 for 8. However, on a surface that became easier for batting under the lights, Australia’s deep batting lineup made light work of the target. After losing Travis Head and Steve Smith early, Australia were under pressure at 27 for 2. Matthew Short’s attacking 63 off 66 balls and Marnus Labuschagne’s 47 provided stability, but it was the partnership between Inglis and Alex Carey that turned the game around. The duo added 146 runs for the fifth wicket, neutralizing England’s bowling attack. Carey played his part with a solid 69 off 63 balls before falling in the 42nd over, but by then, Australia needed just 70 more runs with plenty of time left. Glenn Maxwell ensured there were no late hiccups, smashing 32 off 15 balls to seal the win. Australia wins toss and elects to field against England in Champions Trophy match Captain Steve Smith praised his team’s ability to remain composed in the chase. “The guys were outstanding. We thought 350 was chaseable. Looked like they’d get 400 at one stage, but we trusted each other’s skills and controlled the back end,” Smith said after the match. England’s innings was dominated by Duckett, who played one of the best knocks of his career. His 17 fours and three sixes powered England to a strong position, but they couldn’t finish as strongly as they had hoped. Root added 68, and Jos Buttler’s 23-ball 23 pushed the total past 350, but England’s bowlers struggled to defend in dewy conditions. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood took a wicket each but proved expensive, while Adil Rashid (1 for 47) was the only bowler to maintain control. England captain Buttler admitted the conditions played a role. “350 is a pretty good score, but it was wet, and the dew was a worry. Credit to Australia, we couldn’t break that partnership. If we keep putting 350 on the board, we won’t come second too often,” Buttler said after the match.

England posted a massive 351 for 8 against Australia in their ICC Champions Trophy clash in Lahore, with Ben Duckett leading the charge with 165 off 143 balls. After being sent in to bat, England lost Phil Salt early, but Duckett took control and built crucial partnerships, starting with a 158-run stand with Joe Root. India, Pakistan set for high-stakes Champions Trophy clash Duckett reached his century off 95 balls and continued to dominate the Australian bowlers, hitting 17 fours and three sixes. Root contributed with 68 before falling to Adam Zampa, but Duckett remained the backbone of the innings, ensuring England kept the scoreboard moving. He eventually fell in the 47th over, trapped lbw by Marnus Labuschagne, but by then, England was well on course for a big total. Shakib joins new team in Dhaka League amidst uncertainty Jos Buttler (23) and Jofra Archer (21 not out off 10) provided late impetus, pushing England past the 350-mark. Australia’s bowlers struggled for control, with Ben Dwarshuis (3 for 66) being the most successful. Adam Zampa and Labuschagne chipped in with two wickets each.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are all set to prove their cricketing prowess in the high-stake ICC Champions Trophy match on Sunday in Dubai. The high-voltage match brings together two neighbours, with India entering as tournament favorites and Pakistan looking to bounce back from an opening loss. India started their campaign with a six-wicket win against Bangladesh, riding on Shubman Gill’s century. They have been one of the most consistent teams in global tournaments, and they enter this match in strong form, having recently dominated England in a home series. Pakistan fined for slow over rate against New Zealand in Champions Trophy Their squad remained unchanged from the opening game, with the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel expected to play a key role on Dubai’s slow surface. In the pace department, Harshit Rana was preferred over Arshdeep Singh to partner Mohammed Shami in the first game, and India is likely to retain the same combination. India’s ODI form has been solid, winning four of their last five matches. Captain Rohit Sharma will look to lead from the front, while Virat Kohli’s experience in high-pressure games makes him a key figure in the batting lineup. Afghanistan aims for Champions Trophy glory, not just participation Pakistan had a tough start to their campaign, losing to New Zealand by 60 runs. Their batting struggled to keep up with the required rate, exposing vulnerabilities that India will look to exploit. Pakistan will miss the service of opener Fakhar Zaman who was ruled with a finger injury in the last match. To replace him, the Pakistan management added Imam-ul-Haq to the squad. Despite the early setback, Pakistan remains a strong team, particularly with their bowling attack. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf form a potent pace trio, while spinners will also be crucial in Dubai’s conditions. Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will be key to stabilizing the batting lineup. India and Pakistan have a long-standing rivalry in ICC tournaments. While Pakistan famously defeated India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, India has generally held the upper hand in global events, winning their last three ODI meetings.  

Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has signed with Legends of Rupganj for the upcoming Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL) amidst uncertainly about whether he will be able to play given the current political atmosphere. After the India series last year, Shakib was supposed to return home to play his last Test against South Africa at home, but due to the political shift last year, he was unable to come. Nahid brings pace and promise as Bangladesh ready for Champions Trophy Test After that, he was supposed to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for the Chittagong Kings but was ultimately unable to play. Along with all these, he faces restrictions on his bowling due to action testing. Despite all these challenges, Legends of Rupganj have signed the ace all-rounder. National Athletics: 3 more national records created on day-2 The Rupganj management confirmed his signing. Now, it remains to be seen whether Shakib will be able to play in this year's Dhaka League.  

Australia won the toss and elected to field against England in its opening Group B game on Saturday at the Champions Trophy. Australia is being led by Steven Smith after its World Cup-winning pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were ruled out of tournament due to injuries and personal reasons. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis has announced a surprise retirement from ODIs. Fast bowlers Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson were drafted into the playing XI to fill in the big shoes of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc with Adam Zampa the only frontline spinner. Australia didn’t have an ideal preparation for the tournament after losing the home series 2-1 to Pakistan and was also whitewashed 2-0 in Sri Lanka earlier this month. England, coming into the Champions Trophy after a 3-0 loss in India, has promoted wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith to No. 3 which means Joe Root will be batting down at No. 4. Smith will take over the wicketkeeping gloves from Phil Salt after recovering from a calf injury. ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rickelton, Markram lift South Africa to 315 against Afghanistan England go into the opening game with four specialist bowlers and will be heavily relying on the pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer upfront with Brydon Carse as the other pace option. Liam Livingstone and Root will make up for the fifth bowler with leg-spinner Adil Rashid as the sole specialist spin option in the playing XI. Pakistan is hosting its first major ICC tournament in 29 years since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. New Zealand and India won their opening group A games against Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively while South Africa began its campaign in Group B with 107-run victory against Afghanistan at Karachi on Friday. Lineups: England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.

Ryan Rickelton hit a composed century, and a late flourish from Aiden Markram powered South Africa to 315 for 6 against Afghanistan in their ICC Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on Wednesday. Winning the toss and opting to bat, South Africa lost Tony de Zorzi early, but Rickelton and captain Temba Bavuma steadied the innings with a 129-run stand for the second wicket. Rickelton, anchoring the innings, brought up his century off 101 balls before being run out for 103. Bavuma contributed a steady 58 before falling to Mohammad Nabi. Rassie van der Dussen provided momentum in the middle overs with a brisk 52 off 46 balls, but it was Markram’s unbeaten 52 off just 36 deliveries that gave South Africa the strong finish they needed. David Miller chipped in with 14, while Wiaan Mulder smashed 12 off six balls in the final moments. Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring in the latter half of the innings. Mohammad Nabi (2 for 51) was the most effective, while Noor Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up a wicket each. Rashid Khan went wicketless, conceding 59 runs in his 10 overs.