United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has advanced the match timings for the upcoming home series against New Zealand and the Sri Lanka women’s team as part of a national effort to conserve fuel and electricity. Under the revised schedule announced on Thursday, the One Day International (ODI) matches will begin at 11 a.m. local time, instead of the previously scheduled 3 p.m. The Twenty20 International (T20I) games have been moved up to 2 p.m. from their original 6 p.m. start time. By avoiding evening hours, the board aims to conclude the ODIs by 6:30 p.m. and the T20Is by 5:10 p.m., significantly reducing the reliance on stadium floodlights. BCB President Tamim Iqbal indicated on Wednesday that daylight scheduling would be implemented to save energy, though the specific hours were formalized by the board the following day. The New Zealand national team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on April 13 for the white-ball tour. The three-match ODI series will commence at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on April 17, followed by the second match at the same venue on April 20. The teams will then travel to Chattogram, where the Bir Shreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium will host the final ODI on April 23. Chattogram will also stage the first two matches of the T20I series on April 27 and April 29. Both squads will subsequently return to Dhaka for the third and final T20I on May 2 at Mirpur. Along with these, the BCB confirmed that the match timings for the Sri Lanka women’s team's upcoming three-match T20I tour of Bangladesh this month have also been adjusted. Those fixtures, initially slated for 6 p.m. starts, will now be played in the afternoon.  

Ousted Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam has categorically rejected the government’s decision to dissolve his elected committee, branding the move a "constitutional coup" and urgently appealing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene against “state interference”. In a strongly worded statement released hours after the National Sports Council (NSC) ousted his administration on Tuesday, Aminul denied all allegations of corruption and vote-rigging during the October 2025 board elections. He dismissed the government’s investigation probe as legally void, politically driven vendetta initiated by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque. The NSC dissolved the board earlier in the day, citing an investigation that uncovered widespread electoral fraud, coerced electronic voting, and illegal interference orchestrated by former Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain under the previous interim administration. It also appointed former national captain Tamim Iqbal to lead an 11-member ad-hoc committee mandated to manage daily operations and hold a fresh election within three months. Refusing to recognise the ad-hoc body, Aminul defended the integrity of the October polls. He stated that the election was transparently managed by a legitimate three-member commission, which included a Supreme Court lawyer and the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He asserted that all electoral objections, including those regarding specific clubs and Tamim’s councillorship, were resolved through quasi-judicial hearings. Aminul accused former players with political ambitions of fabricating the election-fixing narrative to destabilise the board. "The National Sports Council has absolutely no authority to investigate a closed, concluded electoral process of an autonomous, self-governing federation like the BCB," he said, arguing that the dissolution violates the NSC's own ordinances. He warned that the government's actions create a "black hole of governance" that threatens the future of player development, sponsorships, and international investment in Bangladesh cricket. Aminul maintained that he remains the sole legitimate BCB president until the High Court dictates otherwise. The standoff sets the stage for a potential clash with the sport's global governing body. While NSC officials previously expressed confidence that the ICC would endorse the ad-hoc committee, the abrupt dissolution risks triggering the council's strict regulations against government interference, which can result in a national federation's suspension. The bureaucratic maneuver also unfolds against a delicate geopolitical backdrop. The ICC is currently chaired by Jay Shah, a powerful figure in Indian sports administration. Concurrently, the Prof Muhammad Yunus-led interim government – under which the 2025 BCB elections occurred – had maintained a highly critical stance toward New Delhi for sheltering ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following the 2024 mass uprising. Aminul’s direct appeal to the ICC ensures the global body will be forced to evaluate the legality of the NSC's intervention amidst these intersecting political tensions.

The National Sports Council (NSC) dissolved the elected board of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday following an investigation that uncovered, according to the NSC, widespread fraud, coercion, and government interference during the last election. Former national captain Tamim Iqbal has been appointed to lead an 11-member ad-hoc committee to steer the organization. NSC Sports Director Aminul Ehsan announced that the ad-hoc committee is mandated to manage the board's daily operations and hold a free, fair, and transparent election within the next three months before handing over power to a newly elected body. Shakib says he prioritises cricket over politics, eyes final run with national team The dissolution stems from a comprehensive probe into the 2025 BCB elections, which took place under the interim government and former Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud. The NSC claimed,the investigation revealed a highly coordinated effort to rig the election, heavily utilizing a compromised e-voting system. Investigators found that voters were coerced by government officials into casting electronic ballots collectively from a specific location—the Hotel Sheraton in Banani—destroying the fundamental democratic principle of a secret ballot. The report stated the electronic system was pre-planned specifically to manipulate the outcome. According to the findings, Asif Mahmud, his assistant Saiful Islam, and now ousted BCB President Aminul Islam orchestrated an overarching campaign to control the electoral process. They reportedly exerted severe pressure on district and divisional presidents, including local deputy commissioners, to nominate favored individuals. According to NSC, to facilitate this, the BCB repeatedly extended nomination deadlines without valid justification, covertly replacing previously nominated councilors with preferred candidates. The manipulation extended to voter registries and regional bodies, the NSC further said. The final voter list was delayed and published in multiple conflicting versions, with a revised list mysteriously adding voters from five previously excluded districts just days before the polls. To pack the voter base, the NSC illegally expanded the membership of several regional ad-hoc committees—such as in Chattogram and Rangpur—beyond the constitutional limit of seven members. Furthermore, many of these expired ad-hoc committees were allowed to submit councilor names well past their 90-day legal mandates. Investigators also cited severe abuses of executive power by Aminul. He unilaterally nominated 10 former cricketers as councilors without the required board authorization. And, government officials used their influence to force the inclusion of Aminul and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim into Dhaka-based ad-hoc committees, guaranteeing their subsequent elections as BCB directors. Despite the gravity of the allegations surrounding the coercive voting environment, former Sports Adviser Mahmud and his APS both refused to attend interviews with the investigation committee to defend against the charges. Joining Tamim Iqbal on the newly formed ad-hoc committee are Rashna Imam, Mirza Yasir Abbas, Syed Ibrahim Ahmed, Israfil Khosru, Minhajul Abedin, Athar Ali Khan, Tanjil Chowdhury, Salman Ispahani, Rafiqul Islam, and Fahim Sinha.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain and  ex-lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan announced he is shifting his entire focus back to cricket, expressing a strong desire to conclude his international career representing the national team. The veteran all-rounder, who has been excluded from the national squad since the Awami League government collapsed in August, 2024, clarified his position in a statement posted to his verified Facebook page on Monday. He acknowledged that while politics remains a crucial vehicle for national development, his immediate priority is delivering peak performances on the pitch.  "At this late stage of my career, I want to give my absolute best for the Bangladesh national team," Shakib wrote. He added that while he intends to contribute to the country's progress after retiring, his current hope is to "finish my cricket career with a smile, wearing the red and green jersey." Shakib served as a Member of Parliament under the ousted Awami League administration. Following the regime's fall, he faced intense public backlash and navigating several legal challenges stemming from his political affiliation. Although he previously scheduled a return to Bangladesh to participate in a home series under the interim government, mounting political pressure forced him to abruptly cancel those plans. In a recent media interview, Shakib noted that his political party currently maintains no active operations, prompting his renewed commitment to the sport. Behind the scenes, several directors within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have indicated they are exploring avenues to facilitate his return to the squad despite the lingering political sensitivities.  Widely regarded as one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era, the 39-year-old has amassed more than 14,500 runs and claimed over 700 wickets across 447 international appearances for Bangladesh.  

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has expressed his determination to give his best for the national team if he gets the chance to play again. In a Facebook post on Monday night, he wrote: “Recently, a statement I made in the media has created quite a stir. I want to make this very clear to everyone: my full focus right now is on cricket. At this stage of my career, I want to perform at my best for the Bangladesh national team and give the country some memorable performances if I get the opportunity.” Shakib added that politics is important for the development of the country, and he hopes to contribute to national progress after retiring from cricket. “But that does not have to be done only through politics. It is possible to work for the country outside of politics, though it may be easier through it,” he noted. Shakib concluded by saying: “I hope to end my cricket career with a smile on my face, wearing the red-green jersey. For this, I seek the prayers and love of all the people of Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam is under intense pressure from the country’s Sports Ministry after a group of cricket organisers accused the board of interfering in its last election which secured Aminul a four-year term as president. In a recent interview with a private TV station, Jamuna TV, Aminul refuted his involvement in any malpractice in the election. He, however, acknowledged he just wrote to the district sports bodies to include the names of the councillors in the voter list from the ad-hoc committees as the constitution of the board dictates.  Aminul became the BCB president for the first time during the interim government when the then-president, Faruque Ahmed, was ousted, and he was appointed by the National Sports Council as an independent director on the board. After that, the other directors elected him as the president.  After becoming the president, Aminul declared he came to play a T20 innings, referring to his wish to stay as the president for a short time. But before the election, he opted to contest, aiming to cement the changes his board initiated during his first tenure.  To investigate the allegations in the election, the sports ministry under the current BNP government decided to form a probe committee, which submitted its report to the ministry on Monday.  “We have the report,” Aminul Haque, the sports minister, confirmed. “We will now discuss with the ICC and take further actions.” During the investigation, Aminul, the BCB president, did not meet with the investigators. He missed it due to a scheduling conflict, he claimed. But he said he responded to the committee with a written response.  Asif Mahmud, who was the sports advisor under the interim government, alleged that some members of the current board have resigned because they were enticed by the sports minister Aminul. But he denied the allegation.  Like the board president Aminul, Asif also did not face the probe committee. He alleged that “A prominent cricketer is actively lobbying to prevent the ICC from intervening in the illegal process to dissolve the board.” Asif alluded to the former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal, who was one of the leaders, who raised concerns about the malpractice in the election. Before raising it, he was also trying to contest in the election against Aminul, but at the last moment, he withdrew his name.  Now, as the future of the current board of the BCB is uncertain, the president was asked what he will do if all the directors of his current board resigned— he vowed, he will be the last person to go.

During a Pakistan Super League match on Friday night, Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman became the highest wicket-taking left-arm pacer in the history of recognised T20s. Playing for Lahore Qaladars, Mustafizur claimed two wickets against the Multan Sultans to surpass Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, who previously held the record with 414 wickets. The cutter master reached the milestone in 325 matches, significantly fewer than Amir’s 356 appearances. Mustafizur entered the PSL season third on the all-time list for left-arm pacers. He overtook retired Pakistani bowler Wahab Riaz, who finished his career with 413 wickets, during his second match of the tournament against the Karachi Kings. The contest for the top position remains active, as 33-year-old Amir is also competing in the current PSL season for Rawalpindi. Of his 416 overall T20 wickets, 158 were taken in international matches, making Mustafizur the leading T20I wicket-taker for Bangladesh. He secured that national record last September by surpassing left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan. Across all bowling disciplines, Mustafizur currently ranks seventh on the all-time T20 wicket-taking list. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan leads the global rankings with 703 dismissals.

Fast bowlers Matt Fisher, Will O’Rourke, and Blair Tickner have been named in the New Zealand squads for the upcoming limited-overs tour of Bangladesh, returning to international cricket following injury layoffs. Test captain Tom Latham will lead both the one-day international and Twenty20 international sides. Regular white-ball captain Mitch Santner is unavailable due to commitments with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.  O’Rourke returns to the ODI squad after recovering from a back injury, while Fisher joins the T20I side following a shin issue. Tickner, recovering from an ankle injury, has been named in both 15-man squads. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said the return of the fast bowlers is crucial for managing workloads in the modern game. “Will, Blair and Matt have been working very hard over the past few months to get themselves back on the park and back in contention for selection,” Walter said.  The tour also marks a recall for off-spinning allrounder Dean Foxcroft, who has not played a T20I since April 2024. Foxcroft earned his spot following a strong domestic season where he finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer in the Ford Trophy, helping the Central Stags reach the final.  Several players, including Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, and Ben Sears, will join the national team directly from the New Zealand A one-day series in Sri Lanka.  Clarke and Jayden Lennox are set for their second ODI appearances following New Zealand's historic away series victory against India in January. During that tour, Clarke took seven wickets across three matches, while Lennox maintained an economy rate of 4.20 over 20 overs. Lennox is also in line for a potential T20I format debut.  The team will depart New Zealand on April 13. The first ODI is scheduled to begin on April 17. New Zealand ODI Squad: Tom Latham (captain), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Dean Foxcroft, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young. New Zealand T20I Squad: Tom Latham (captain), Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Bevon Jacobs, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.

Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman has been charged over alleged ball tampering before the final over of a Pakistan Super League match against Karachi Kings on Sunday. According to a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaman denied the allegation during a disciplinary hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama. The board said another hearing will be held within 48 hours, after which a decision will be announced. If found guilty, he could face at least a one-match suspension under Level 3 offence rules. The incident occurred late in the match when fast bowler Haris Rauf was preparing to bowl the final over, with Karachi needing 14 runs to win. At that point, Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman and Rauf were seen discussing strategy at the top of the run-up, during which all three handled the ball — a common practice in tense moments. However, on-field umpire Faisal Afridi requested the ball for inspection and consulted with fellow umpire Sharfuddoula. The umpires concluded that the ball had been deliberately altered, awarding five penalty runs to Karachi and replacing the ball. Following the decision, Karachi’s target was reduced to nine runs from the final over. Although Khushdil Shah was dismissed off the first delivery, Rauf bowled a wide before Abbas Afridi struck a boundary and a six to secure a four-wicket victory for Karachi in 19.3 overs.

England captain Ben Stokes will miss the start of the county cricket season as he continues to recover from a broken cheekbone.The 34-year-old Durham all-rounder sustained the injury last month during a training session with academy players and underwent surgery soon after. Stokes has not played since England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia in January.He will miss Durham’s County Championship opener against Kent next week but could return for matches against Worcestershire in early May, Durham coach Ryan Campbell said. England’s first summer Test match is scheduled against New Zealand starting June 4. Naseem Shah issued show-cause notice over social media post mocking Punjab chief ministerLast week, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed it would retain the current leadership following its Ashes review. Managing director Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum, and Stokes as captain will continue in their roles after England lost the series in just 11 days with two games to spare.