United News of Bangladesh

In the first round of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL), Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting League suffered defeats on Monday. Imrul Kayes, leading Agrani Bank Cricket Club, fell just short of a century. After setting a target of 235 runs, Imrul was dismissed for 94 runs. Despite the setback, Agrani Bank secured a six-wicket victory over defending champion Abahani Limited. Imrul Kayes secured Man of the Match for his brave 94 runs innings. Another near-century performance came from Shamim Hossain. Shamim led Prime Bank Cricket Club to a remarkable three-wicket victory. The left-handed batter was named Player of the Match, securing 98 runs of 83 balls. Litton Das to play for Gulshan Cricket Club in DPL The biggest surprise of the opening day was Mohammedan Sporting Club's defeat to newcomer Gulshan Cricket Club. Despite boasting a star-studded lineup, the Mohammedan team lost by 107 runs. Iftikhar Hossain was the star of the match. He played an instrumental role in Gulshan Cricket Club securing their first victory on opening day. Iftikhar scored a century after securing 108. His innings coupled with three-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match. Mohammedan's big names failed to deliver. Tamim Iqbal managed just 22 runs, Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed for seven, and Mahmudullah contributed only 10. Ariful Islam top-scored for Mohammedan with 73.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the renaming of the Sheikh Hasina International Cricket Stadium in Purbachal to the National Cricket Ground (NCG). The decision came during the BCB's 18th board meeting held on Monday. The “Boat”-themed stadium project, financed entirely by the BCB, has faced numerous delays and setbacks since its inception several years ago. Last August, the tender process for the construction work was even cancelled. Bangabandhu National Stadium renamed as “National Stadium, Dhaka” BCB Media Committee Chairman Iftikhar Ahmed Mithu confirmed the name change at a press conference following the meeting. “In today's meeting, we discussed many things and took several decisions,” Iftikhar stated. “As you know, there has been a notification from the government. In response to that, we have changed the name of Sheikh Hasina Stadium... from now on it will be called NCG, National Cricket Ground. This has been done.” However, the stadium's boat-shaped design, the electoral symbol of the previous Sheikh Hasina government, will remain unchanged despite the shifting political climate.//  

English coach Peter Butler's new look Bangladesh national women's football team again conceded 1-3 goal defeat against hosts UAE in the 2nd match to whitewash in two- match International Friendly series at the UAE Football Association Complex in Dubai Sunday night. Touring Youthful Bangladesh Women's team also conceded 1-3 goal defeat against the home side in the FIFA International Friendly at the same venue last Wednesday. Newly appointed captain Afeida Khandokar- led Bangladesh national women's team in their first international meeting against UAE suffered two consecutive defeats although Bangladesh women's beat the UAE women's team several times in different age group competitions. However, Head coach of Bangladesh team Peter Butler expressed his total satisfaction over team's performance and said " I am really proud of them and they are the future of Bangladesh". "I am not for win, win win mentality ,but I believed Bangladesh football will grow" he added In the Sunday's match, midfielder Nouf Aladwan put the home side ahead in the 31st minute (1-0) while forward Mia Lindborg doubled the hosts margin in the first half (2-0) Forward Georgia Gibson, who struck twice in the first match against Bangladesh, scored the 3rd goal for 116th ranked hosts UAE in the 61st minute to assure team victory (3-0). The Bengal Tigresses captain cum defender Afeida Khandakar, who scored only goal in the first half of the first.match from a penalty, also scored the face saving goal for 132nd ranked Bangladesh in Sunday's 2nd match too in the 80th minute, also from a penalty (3-1). Earlier, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced a 23-member youthful national women’s football team excluding captain Sabina Khatun-led rebelling 18-senior national footballers just few hours after the SAFF winning Bangladesh women's football team received Ekushey Padak from Chief Adviser. But, the Peter Butler's Youthful Bangladesh women's team failed to fulfill the expectation in the series after suffering two consecutive defeats in international matches just four months after winning the SAFF Women's championship in Nepal.

England ended their ICC Champions Trophy campaign with three defeats in as many matches. Following these disappointing results, they are set to begin a period of introspection, with their immediate focus shifting to the future of white-ball leadership. Head coach Brendon McCullum said that England’s struggles in the tournament stemmed, at least in part, from a lack of self-belief among the players. Speaking after their heavy defeat to South Africa, McCullum said his team lacked the confidence required to succeed at this level.  “We didn’t play with enough conviction,” McCullum quoted in an ICC news article. “There’s no hiding from that fact. In professional sport, sometimes things don’t go your way, and you have to accept it and keep moving forward.”  The situation has been made even more complex by Jos Buttler’s decision to step down as captain just before England’s final group match. Buttler’s call to relinquish the role was a direct response to England’s prolonged struggles in one-day cricket, and his decision leaves a big leadership void for McCullum and the England and Wales Cricket Board to fill.  South Africa romps into Champions Trophy semifinals with 7-wicket win over England McCullum confirmed that England will assess their leadership structure over the coming weeks. One key question is whether England will appoint a single captain for both ODIs and T20Is, or split the responsibility between two players.  “We’ll figure that out after proper discussions,” McCullum said. “Whether it’s one captain or two, the important thing is to understand what each team needs and how to put the right structure in place for both formats.”  McCullum also hinted that a new captain will likely want to shape the team in their own image, bringing fresh ideas and their own brand of leadership. That, he believes, could spark the evolution the team needs after a tough campaign.  The search for Buttler’s successor will begin almost immediately, with McCullum planning to meet with ECB officials to map out a plan for the future. “The conversations will start once I’m back home. We need to understand what the team needs and learn from this tournament so we come back stronger next time,” McCullum said.

India were restricted to 249 for nine by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack in their ICC Champions Trophy match on Sunday in Dubai. Opting to field first, New Zealand’s bowlers made early inroads, exposing India’s vulnerability when put to bat first in this tournament. Matt Henry was the star of the show, claiming 5 for 42. His sharp opening spell removed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli within the first seven overs, with Kohli’s dismissal coming courtesy of a stunning catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point. The early blows left India struggling at 30 for 3. Shreyas Iyer led the recovery, stitching a crucial 98-ball 79. Batting alongside Axar Patel, who contributed a measured 42 off 61, Iyer navigated a slow, spin-friendly pitch with caution. Australia through to Champions Trophy semifinal after rain denies result against Afghanistan Together, they added 98 for the fourth wicket, stabilizing India’s innings after the shaky start. However, the middle and lower order found it tough to accelerate in the final overs. Hardik Pandya’s quick 45 off 45 balls injected some momentum, but regular wickets at the death meant India fell well short of a par score. New Zealand’s spinners, led by captain Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra, kept the Indian batters in check, exploiting the sluggish nature of the pitch. New Zealand’s death bowling, particularly from Henry, ensured India could not cross the 250-mark, a target that seemed well within reach at one point. India’s total of 249 for 9 leaves the match delicately poised, with the pitch offering assistance to both pacers and spinners.

Just a day before the start of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), national team wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das has secured a spot with Gulshan Cricket Club. Litton, who surprisingly went unclaimed during the initial draft, will now represent the newly formed team owned by former national captain Tamim Iqbal. Gulshan Cricket Club owner Tamim Iqbal confirmed the signing. Litton played for Abahani last season but had trouble negotiating a contract this year. Bangladeshi cricketers slip in rankings amid Champions Trophy struggles However, fellow national team star Mustafizur Rahman remains without a team. Tamim Iqbal, while speaking to the media, expressed his concern regarding Mustafizur’s situation. “I don't know about Mustafizur. But it is very unfortunate if that is the case. They are national team stars. They definitely should play in this tournament,” Tamim said. The DPL is scheduled to begin on Monday, with Abahani facing Agrani Bank at Mirpur. Mohammedan will play against Gulshan Youth, and Prime Bank will face Rupganj Tigers at BKS.

Virat Kohli is set to achieve a significant milestone as he becomes only the seventh Indian cricketer to play 300 ODIs. This landmark match will take place against New Zealand in the final group stage fixture of the Champions Trophy on Sunday in Dubai. To mark the occasion, Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, and his elder brother, Vikas Kohli, are expected to arrive in Dubai on Sunday. Sources confirmed their presence, emphasizing the importance of this milestone in the star batter’s career. Kohli’s recent form had been under scrutiny, particularly after a disappointing Test series in Australia. Although he showed signs of regaining his touch during the ODI series against England, it wasn’t enough to quell critics. However, in the Champions Trophy, after a sluggish start against Bangladesh, Kohli bounced back in spectacular fashion against Pakistan in Dubai. His performance evoked memories of his match-winning knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Melbourne. In that game, he sealed victory with a stunning shot, marking his 51st ODI century and becoming the fastest batsman to reach 14,000 ODI runs. King Kohli becomes fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket In his 299 ODIs so far, Kohli has amassed 14,085 runs at an average of 58.20 and a strike rate of 93.41. His remarkable record includes 51 centuries, 73 half-centuries, and a highest score of 193. Throughout his illustrious career, Kohli has consistently set new benchmarks, holding the record as the fastest batsman to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, and 14,000 runs in ODIs. Source: Agencies 

Rassie van der Dussen scored 72 not out off 87 balls to lead South Africa into the semifinals of the Champions Trophy by beating England by seven wickets Saturday. Van der Dussen’s half-century highlighted South Africa’s clinical performance as it finished atop Group B. The Proteas finished with 181-3 in 29.1 overs in reply to England’s hapless effort of 179 all out (38.2 overs). This was after England — already ousted from the tournament after back-to-back losses — had won the toss and opted to bat. Marco Jansen picked 3-39 in seven overs, while Wiaan Mulder took 3-25 in 7.2 overs as England’s batting looked disinterested. England had previously lost to Australia and Afghanistan and thus finished winless after three games, marking a dismal end to Jos Buttler’s run as skipper. Buttler announced on Friday that he would step down after England’s surprising exit as well as its past failures in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Australia is the second team to qualify from Group B and will face either India and New Zealand after those two Group A teams battle for the top spot in Dubai on Sunday. South Africa’s victory Saturday eliminated Afghanistan, which finished third in Group B. England’s innings suffered early blows against Jansen. Phil Salt was out caught for eight and then Jamie Smith was caught for a three-ball duck. Australia through to Champions Trophy semifinal after rain denies result against Afghanistan It became 37-3 when Ben Duckett returned a catch to Jansen for 24 off 21 balls. “These were good conditions from a batting point of view, and the boys worked very hard," said Jansen, who was named player of the match. “I used my options well and hit my lengths.” Joe Root top-scored with 37 off 44 balls and made an effort to stabilize the innings. He added 62 off 61 balls with Harry Brook (19). Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-35) got the breakthrough with Jansen taking a nice catch at midwicket to dismiss Brook. Thereafter, England collapsed again. Mulder bowled Root in the 18th over, and while Buttler held one end with 21 off 43 balls, regular wickets meant that the English innings never took flight. Jofra Archer scored 25 off 31 balls with four fours. England lost its last seven wickets for 80 runs, finishing with a below par score. “It was a really disappointing performance and we were short of our mark today,” Buttler said after England’s seventh straight ODI defeat. “It was a decent surface and Duckett got us into a nice position, but we couldn’t take advantage of that. As a whole group, we are not getting results and that takes away the confidence from us.” Chasing a paltry total, South Africa’s start wasn’t too good either. Archer bowled makeshift opener Tristan Stubbs for a five-ball duck, and then bowled Ryan Rickelton (27) later on as well. It was 47-2 when Van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen came together, and they put on 127 runs off 122 balls for the third wicket. Van der Dussen reached 50 off 72 balls, and his knock for the day included six fours and three sixes overall. Stand-in skipper Aiden Markram did not bat as he had sustained a hamstring injury while fielding. Klaasen finished with 64 off 56 balls with 11 fours before he was out caught off Adil Rashid (1-37) near the finish line.

Australia reached the Champions Trophy semifinals after its last group game against Afghanistan was abandoned because of rain and a wet outfield on Friday. Australia, which achieved a record chase of 352 against England in the opening game, finished the group stage with four points after its last two games were washed out in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Afghanistan had three points and was on the verge of an exit. To advance, it needs South Africa to lose by an improbable margin of more than 200 runs against already eliminated England in Saturday’s Group B game. Afghanistan was bowled out for 273 on the final ball and Australia cruised to 109-1 in 12.5 overs when the rain returned. The outfield became too sodden to continue. “The first objective was obviously to get to the semifinals, (and) we are there now,” Australia captain Steve Smith said. “The guys did a really good job to restrict them to 270 and then we were in a pretty good position when the game got called off.” Travis Head’s 34-ball half-century gave Australia a rollicking start against some scratchy Afghanistan fielding and poor fast bowling. Rashid Khan couldn’t hold onto a regulation catch when Head was on 6. Head cut loose and motored Australia to 90-1 in the batting powerplay. Substitute fielder Nangeyalia Kharote dropped Matthew Short off Azmatullah Omarzai but Short was dismissed two balls later when Gulbadin Naib took a smart catch over his shoulder at mid-on while running backwards. Fast bowling allrounder Omarzai, who grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul in Afghanistan’s stunning eight-run win over England at the same venue, was smacked for 43 off his five overs while Fazalhaq Farooqi also erred a lot in his lengths and went for 32 off his three overs. Atal and Omarzai strike half-centuriesLeft-handed batter Sediqullah Atal (85) missed out on a century but Omarzai held one end up with a 67-ball 63 that included five sixes. Spencer Johnson (2-49) and Ben Dwarshuis (3-47) struggled to control the swing with the new ball but both fast bowlers came back strongly with the old ball. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell early for the third consecutive time when Johnson yorkered him without scoring off his fifth legitimate ball. Ibrahim Zadran, who recorded the tournament’s highest score of 177 against England at the same venue on Wednesday, made 22 and was gutted when he was caught at point in Adam Zampa’s (2-48) first over. Captain Steve Smith squeezed Afghanistan in the middle overs with his spinners as Matthew Short (0-21) conceded just one six in his tidy seven overs and Glenn Maxwell bowled a maiden while finding the edge of Rahmat Shah’s bat (12). Atal tried to accelerate after captain Hashmatullah Shahidi struggled to keep the scoreboard moving, but Atal was caught by Smith at short cover in Johnson’s return spell. Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib went cheaply and Afghanistan slipped to 199-7. Omarzai farmed the strike and completed his half-century off 54 balls and boosted Afghanistan’s morale. “We should have scored 300 plus, but they bowled really well, especially in the middle overs,” Shahidi said. “We didn’t started well (with the ball), and gave too many hitting options to them, hopefully we learn from this.”

Jos Buttler resigned as England white-ball captain on Friday after his team made an early exit from the Champions Trophy with back-to-back defeats against Australia and Afghanistan. “It’s the right decision for me and the right decision for the team," Buttler said. "Hopefully somebody else who can come in alongside Baz (coach Brendon McCullum) will take the team to where it needs to be.” England lost two high-scoring games in Lahore and conceded the tournament’s highest-ever chase of 352 against Australia. Buttler said he will lead England for the final time against South Africa in the last group match at Karachi. England had a disastrous preparation for the Champions Trophy when it won only one of its eight white-ball matches against India before arriving in Pakistan. “The overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment,” Buttler said while expressing his willingness to continue represent England as a player. “I’m sure, in time, that (disappointment) will pass and I can get back to really enjoying my cricket, and (will) also be able to reflect on what an immense honor it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with it.” Buttler replaced Eoin Morgan as England’s white-ball captain in 2022 and only months later won the T20 World Cup in Australia. However, there was a sharp decline in England’s white-ball cricket with three unimpressive runs at the 2023 World Cup in India, 2024 T20 World Cup in the U.S. and the West Indies and now the Champions Trophy. England lost six of nine games at the 50-over World Cup in India before getting eliminated from the tournament. England has a poor ODI record losing 18 of its last 25 ODIs, including the two defeats in the Champions Trophy. “It was quite clear that this tournament was going to be important: results-wise and for my captaincy,” Buttler said. “Two losses and being out of the tournament (was) a bit of a hangover of tournaments before. I’d just reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame and I’m sad about that. “With Brendon coming in only recently, I was really excited to work closely alongside him and hope for a very quick turnaround and to take the team forward. But it’s not quite worked out that way, so just feels like the right time for me and the team to have a change.”