United News of Bangladesh

Riding on the centuries of Will Young and Tom Latham, New Zealand posted a big total of 320 in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan in Karachi. Bowling first, Pakistan struck early, reducing New Zealand to 73 for 3 inside 17 overs. Naseem Shah removed Kane Williamson for just 1 after Abrar Ahmed had bowled Devon Conway for 10. Haris Rauf then dismissed Daryl Mitchell, putting the visitors under pressure. But Young and Latham steadied the innings with a 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Young, composed at the crease, reached his century in 113 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six before he fell for 107, caught by substitute Faheem Ashraf off Naseem. Latham took charge from there, accelerating in the final overs. The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 118 off 104 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, ensuring New Zealand capitalized on their platform. Pakistan wins toss and field against Kiwis in Champions Trophy opener Glenn Phillips provided the finishing touch, hammering 61 off 39 deliveries with three fours and four sixes, before falling in the penultimate over. Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring in the latter half of the innings. Haris Rauf was expensive, conceding 83 runs in his 10 overs but managed to pick up two wickets. Naseem Shah was the most successful with 2 for 63, while Abrar Ahmed took 1 for 47. Shaheen Shah Afridi, expected to lead the attack, went wicketless, finishing with 0 for 68. With a target of 321, Pakistan will need their top order to fire against a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack as they look to begin their campaign with a win.

Pakistan’s 29-year wait to host a major International Cricket Council tournament ended Wednesday when it won the toss and elected to field in the Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand. Pakistan is the defending champion after beating archrival India in the final when the Champions Trophy was last played in 2017. India will be playing all its group matches in the United Arab Emirates, including the marquee game of the group stage on Sunday against Pakistan, because its government didn’t allow the cricketers to travel to Pakistan. The 1996 World Cup, co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka, was the last time Pakistan staged a major ICC event. Bangladesh confident despite underdog status as India clash looms New Zealand is on a high and is quite familiar with the conditions at the newly upgraded Karachi stadium after winning the tri-nation series last week against Pakistan and South Africa. Despite losing two frontline fast bowlers, Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears, due to injuries, New Zealand has shaped up well for the Champions Trophy with all the top-order batters among runs. And the Black Caps spinners, led by Mitchell Santner's left-arm spin, have contained the opposition well in the middle overs. New Zealand also missed opening batter Rachin Ravindra for the opening game as the left-hander is still recovering from a blow on the forehead sustained during the tri-nation series opener at Lahore — one of the three cities hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf, who missed the last two games of the tri-nation series because of a side strain, passed a fitness test and was recalled in place of allrounder Faheem Ashraf. New Zealand, which won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1998, has won all its previous three Champions Trophy games against Pakistan in 2000, 2006 and 2009. Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh and New Zealand are in Group A. Group B comprises England, South Africa, Australia and Afghanistan. Nahid brings pace and promise as Bangladesh ready for Champions Trophy Test The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semifinals. The final is scheduled for March 9. If India qualifies for the final it will be played at Dubai, otherwise Lahore will host the championship decider. Line-ups: New Zealand: Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke. Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Bangladesh are all set to start their ICC Champions Trophy campaign on Thursday with the match against India in Dubai. The match will begin at 3:00 pm (Bangladesh time). Despite entering the event as underdogs, the Bangladesh captain said they were confident they could make the event memorable. Nahid brings pace and promise as Bangladesh ready for Champions Trophy Test While India holds a dominant record in ODIs against Bangladesh—winning 32 of their 41 encounters—the Tigers believe they have the firepower to challenge one of the tournament favourites. India won 32 of the 41 matches they played against Bangladesh. But Bangladesh captain believes they have the firepower to challenge India. The Bangladesh captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, said they were not concerned about their perceived lower standing. He rather said Bangladesh had the firepower to challenge a big team like India. “Our team is quite balanced, and we believe we can beat any team in this tournament,” Shanto said ahead of the match. He also added that he did not like to talk about opposition much. Instead, he said the team is focusing on their own performance. Bangladesh’s recent improvements in pace bowling have given them an added dimension, with Shanto particularly optimistic about the impact of fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana. “We always struggled with our seam attack, but over the last couple of years, we’ve got some quality fast bowlers,” he said. “Nahid and Taskin, the way they are bowling, help us a lot. As a captain, I love to see them bowling fast and delivering for the team.” New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to miss the Champions Trophy with a foot injury Nahid, Bangladesh’s hero in their maiden Test series over Pakistan last year, can bowl consistently, clocking the speed of 150 km/h. He acknowledged the challenge of playing against India but said he was rather focused on executing his skills. “The team expected me to bowl fast and use me as an attacking option,” Rana said. “I just focus on executing my plan. If I feel good, I know the pace will be right.” India have always been a tough opponent for Bangladesh, particularly due to their strong batting lineup. While Bangladesh had eight ODI wins against India, their task will be formidable on Thursday. The conditions in Dubai could play a crucial role. Under lights, fast bowlers might find assistance, something that Bangladesh will look to capitalise on. Shanto noted that his team has prepared for all scenarios. Bangladesh humbled by Pakistan A ahead of Champions Trophy “We know how the challenge will come tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve had good practice sessions, and we have a plan in place.”

Nahid Rana’s rapid rise in Bangladesh cricket has given the team an edge it has rarely had in fast bowling. The pacer is expected to play a vital role in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which Bangladesh will begin with the big match against India on Thursday in Dubai. Nahid can bowl consistently with the speed clocking 150 km/h, and he has already made a notable impact in Bangladesh’s changing pace attack. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of Bangladesh, said Nahid’s inclusion added a new dimension to Bangladesh’s bowling department. “He has bowled really well and bowled fast,” Shanto said ahead of the match. “When we see him bowling like this, it lifts the whole bowling unit. It motivates us to challenge the opposition in new ways.” New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to miss the Champions Trophy with a foot injury Rana made his international debut less than a year ago but has already left a mark. In six Tests, he has taken 20 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka. He has also featured in three ODIs, picking up four wickets at an economy rate of 4.72. His domestic numbers prove his potential, with 83 wickets in 21 first-class matches at an average of 25.44. When Bangladesh registered a historic Test series win in Pakistan last year, Nahid has taken the wickets of Babar Azam, Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel in the same spell. His bowling set the tone for Bangladesh. Bangladesh will return to Pakistan in this Champions Trophy too, for a group-stage match against the hosts. “The team expected me to bowl fast and use me as an attacking option,” Rana said to ICC. “I tried to repay the faith by sticking to my strengths and staying humble.” Bangladesh humbled by Pakistan A ahead of Champions Trophy Bangladesh has traditionally relied on spin, but with Rana and Taskin Ahmed, and in the squad, they now have a balanced attack. “We did not have a lot of pace bowlers before, but now we have them. We have always had spinners, so now we have a good balance,” the Bangladesh captain said. Nahid said he is not thinking much about the hype around him, instead, he is focusing on his performance and execution. “If I feel good, I know the pace will be right,” he said. “I have learned that looking after your body and staying fit is the key to bowling quick.” Bangladesh Tigers camp starts focusing on out-of-form players

New Zealand has had another setback ahead of the International Cricket Council's Champions Trophy in Pakistan, losing fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to a foot injury. Ferguson was injured in a warm-up match against Afghanistan on Sunday. He will return home immediately and his place in the New Zealand squad will be taken by Kyle Jamieson, who played his most-recent one-day international in September, 2023. The injury to Ferguson follows the loss of another fast bowler, Ben Sears, to a hamstring injury. “We’re really disappointed for Lockie,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “Lockie is a key part of the bowling group and brings a lot of major tournament experience and we know how much he was looking forward to representing New Zealand at another major event. “We wish him well for his recovery and hope he is back firing soon.” Stead said Jamieson has a skill set which makes him an effective replacement for Ferguson. Three-decade wait ends as Pakistan hosts Champions Trophy “Kyle brings plenty of pace and extra bounce which will suit the conditions here in Pakistan,” Stead said. “He’s shown since returning in the (New Zealand domestic cricket) how effective he can be in the shorter forms of the game and he’s bowled with real pace and energy, which is what you’re looking for." New Zealand plays its first match in the Champions Trophy against host Pakistan on Wednesday.

In their lone warm up match ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh lost by seven wickets to the Pakistan A team on Monday in Dubai. Bangladesh posted only 202 runs and were bowled out inside 40 overs. Batters failed to produce a good show ahead of the main event which could have boosted their confidence. In reply to Bangladesh’s lean show, Pakistan A, also known as Shaheen, chased the target in 36 overs with seven wickets in hand. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first Bangladesh batted well in the first 10 overs, scoring 60 for two wickets. Tanzid Hasan Tamim and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for 6 and 12, respectively. After 20 overs, Bangladesh were 104 for three wickets. Soumya Sarkar fell as the third wicket scoring 35 runs. He was trapped run out. Despite having a good foundation, Bangladesh’s middle order failed to deliver. After 30 overs, they were 140 for seven. Mushfiqur Rahim and Jaker Ali failed to impress, with respective scores of 7 and 0. However, riding on 44 by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and 30 by Tanzim Hasan Sakib Bangladesh managed to cross the 200-run mark. For Pakistan A, Osama Mir took four wickets conceding 43 runs in 10 overs. This year’s Champions Trophy will begin on February 19th in Karachi with the match between Pakistan and New Zealand. Bangladesh’s first match in the Champions Trophy is February 20th, when it will play India in Dubai. In their second and third matches, Bangladesh will travel to Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to play New Zealand and the hosts on February 24 and 27.

In the only practice match ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh tumbled for 202 runs against Pakistan A in Dubai. Bangladesh batters failed to impress before the main event. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. Bangladesh performed well in the first 10 overs, scoring 60 for two wickets. Tanzid Hasan Tamim and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for 6 and 12, respectively. After 20 overs, Bangladesh were at 104 for three wickets. Soumya Sarkar fell as the third wicket scoring 35 runs. He was trapped run out. Despite having a good foundation, Bangladesh’s middle order failed to deliver. After 30 overs, they were at 140 for seven. Mushfiqur Rahim and Jaker Ali failed to impress, with respective scores of 7 and 0. Bangladesh Tigers camp starts focusing on out-of-form players However, riding on 44 by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and 30 by Tanzim Hasan Sakib Bangladesh managed to cross the 200-run mark. For Pakistan A, Osama Mir took four wickets conceding 43 runs in 10 overs. Bangladesh’s first match in the Champions Trophy is on February 20th, when it will play India in Dubai. In their second and third matches, Bangladesh will travel to Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to play against New Zealand and the hosts on February 24 and 27.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — After nearly 30 years, Pakistan will host its first major International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India. The Champions Trophy begins Wednesday, marking a significant moment for cricket in the country. The 2009 terror attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Lahore kept international teams away for almost a decade due to security fears. However, the return of the Sri Lankan test team in 2019 signaled a gradual revival of international cricket in Pakistan. Cricket, the nation's most beloved sport, has made strides in welcoming major tournaments. Yet, political tensions with India persist. Due to these strained relations, India will play its matches in the UAE, adopting a hybrid hosting model. India hasn’t played in Pakistan since 2008, with encounters mostly limited to major tournaments. Pakistan toured India for the 2023 World Cup, but India’s refusal to reciprocate initially cast doubt on this event. A compromise was reached, mirroring the 2023 Asia Cup setup, where India played its games in Sri Lanka. Pakistan will also host the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, with a similar neutral venue arrangement for Indian matches until 2027. A highly anticipated clash between the rivals will take place in Dubai on Feb. 23. Pakistan will host 10 matches, including a semifinal, while Lahore will host the final on March 9, provided India doesn’t qualify. The Champions Trophy, an eight-nation limited-overs tournament, returns after its last edition in 2017, where Pakistan defeated India in the final. First held in 1998, the event shifted from a biennial to a four-year cycle. Pakistan, initially set to host the 2008 edition, saw it moved to South Africa due to security concerns. India was slated to host in 2021, but the tournament was replaced by the T20 World Cup in the UAE. This year’s participants, based on 2023 World Cup rankings, include Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in Group A, with England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan in Group B. Sri Lanka and the West Indies failed to qualify. Calls to boycott matches against Afghanistan emerged due to the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s sports. Politicians from England and South Africa advocated for boycotts, but both countries confirmed their participation despite condemning Afghanistan’s gender policies. Key players will miss the tournament due to injuries, including Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, India’s Jasprit Bumrah, England’s Jacob Bethell, and Afghanistan’s AM Ghazanfar. New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson remains uncertain. Pakistan invested millions in upgrading stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi within four months. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium underwent extensive renovations, while Karachi’s National Bank Stadium and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium also saw significant improvements. The tournament opens Wednesday in Karachi with Pakistan facing New Zealand.    

While the Bangladesh National Cricket Team is gearing up to prove their prowess in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, some out-of-form star cricketers joined the Bangladesh Tigers program in Dhaka to stay fit for forthcoming challenges. Experienced cricketers like Litton Das and Mominul Haque have also joined this camp. Local coaches, Mizanur Rahman, Nazmul Islam, Tarek Aziz and Sohel Islam are overseeing this camp, focussing on both fitness and skill development. Participants include players such as Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Naeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, and Sadman Islam, along with Litton and Mominul. Bangabandhu National Stadium renamed as “National Stadium, Dhaka” “We started the camp by sitting down with the players and discussing their individual goals and areas for improvement,” said Sohel Islam. “We talked about what they want to work on personally, and where they want to improve their skills.” This camp came as a great chance for Litton to prepare for future matches. The right-handed wicketkeepr batter just lost his place in the national team that is to take part in the Champions Trophy. Sohel said Litton’s struggles in white-ball cricket and emphasized the camp's intention to address them. He said the coaches have already identified some aspects of Litton’s batting that need to go through some adjustments. Tigers set to roar in Champions Trophy Sohel added that one of the core ideas of this camp is to keep the players fit so that they can meet the requirements of the national team at any point. He added that the coaches are maintaining regular communication with the national team coaches. “We're all working together to ensure that players who come through the Tigers program are fully prepared for international cricket,” he said.

New Zealand rounded off perfect preparation for the Champions Trophy by thumping Pakistan by five wickets in the tri-nation series final on Friday. Five days before the teams meet again to open the Champions Trophy, host Pakistan was dismissed for 242 and New Zealand cruised to 243-5 in the 46th over. Fast bowler Will O'Rourke staked his claim for for Wednesday's opener with 4-43 and captain Mitchell Santner returned his best-ever economical one-day international figures of 2-20. None of the Pakistan batters got a half-century while Daryl Mitchell (57) and Tom Latham (56) led New Zealand to a third successive win in the tournament, clinched by Pakistan's 16th wide delivery. The Black Caps beat Pakistan and South Africa in group games in Lahore. Sri Lanka wins the toss and bats in the second ODI against Australia “Different guys stepping up at different times is good, but it means nothing till we play that first game at the Champions Trophy,” Santner said. They will return to the same ground on Wednesday. “It (the pitch) was a bit slower than what we thought it would be," Santner said. "We just wanted to put in a good spot and build pressure. If we take wickets up front, it makes the job easier in the middle.” Lucky Latham Left-hander Latham, who came into the final without a run in both games at Lahore, could have been dismissed on 15 and 27. However, he was dropped both times and Pakistan didn’t go for an lbw video referral when replays suggested leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed could have overturned the on-field umpire’s decision. Latham stretched his luck when he successfully reviewed an on-field out ruling for caught behind off Shaheen Shah Afridi. He reached his half-century off 60 balls. Latham and Mitchell put on 87 runs off 88 balls, dominating the spinners with sweep shots, before both fell late in the run chase. “He (Latham) is pretty relieved as well," Santner said of Latham's 64-ball knock. "We know how good he is and it was just a matter of time. It was nice for different guys to fire as well.” Conway gives platform Devon Conway (48) played another meaningful knock after being inserted as an opener while Rachin Ravindra was rested after a head knock in the field during the first game against Pakistan. Conway laid the foundation in a 71-run partnership with Kane Williamson (34), who missed out on his third successive half-century. Conway top-edged Naseem Shah (2-43), which brought Latham to the crease to join Mitchell. Pakistan batters pinned down New Zealand perfectly read the tacky pitch after losing the coin toss, and pinned down Pakistan with pacers hitting tight lengths early and Santner drying out the runs in the middle overs. Babar Azam became the joint-fastest batter to reach 6,000 ODI runs with Hashim Amla of South Africa, but perished soon after the achievement in his 123rd innings. O’Rourke struck in his second over when Fakhar Zaman (10) struggled to gauge the two-paced pitch and chipped an easy catch to square leg, and Saud Shakeel (8) was clean bowled by off-spinner Michael Bracewell in his first over inside the batting power play. Afridi among 3 Pakistan players fined for conduct breaches in win over SAfrica Babar looked to shape up well for a big innings and struck cover-driven boundaries until he offered a tame return catch to Nathan Smith on 29. Babar threw down his bat in dismay as Pakistan’s most accomplished white-ball batter totalled 62 runs in three innings. Captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Salman Ali Agha (45) tried to revive the innings with an 88-run stand but couldn’t score at the pace they managed in the epic run chase against South Africa on Monday. O’Rourke clean bowled Rizwan with a scrambled seam in his return spell, and Salman reverse swept Bracewell to short third man where Jacob Duffy caught the ball over his shoulders. “We wanted to bat first because we thought in the second half the pitch would be tough,” Rizwan said. “Credit goes to their bowlers. I tried to build a partnership with Agha but they were not giving us the (loose) balls.” Tayyab Tahir (38 off 33 balls) tried to up the scoring rate after Rizwan and Salman fell within five overs but he was caught at mid-wicket, and Santner chipped in with two wickets in one over to finish with impressive figures. Allrounder Faheem Ashraf, playing his first ODI since 2023, was dropped twice before O'Rourke bagged him and finished Pakistan’s below-par effort with the bat by claiming the last two wickets.