United News of Bangladesh

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a show-cause notice to fast bowler Naseem Shah after a post from his social media account mocked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's heavily guarded arrival at the Pakistan Super League opener. The controversy began Friday when Naseem’s X account shared a PCB video showing Nawaz arriving at Gaddafi Stadium with a massive security convoy to meet players.  The shared post included the comment: "Why is she being treated like the Queen of Lord's?" The match was notably being played without spectators as part of a PCB initiative to conserve fuel amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket The post was deleted minutes later, and Naseem subsequently claimed his account had been hacked. The PCB rejected the explanation, issuing a statement on Saturday that accused the bowler of breaching his central contract and violating the board's media and disciplinary guidelines. While the PCB did not specify a deadline for Naseem’s formal response, officials indicated the post likely violated Article 2.23 of the code of conduct. The clause strictly prohibits players from making critical or offensive public remarks regarding board policies, sponsors, or officials. The PCB has a history of penalizing players for politically adjacent actions. Last year, the board fined all-rounder Aamer Jamal 1 million Pakistani rupees after he wrote "804" — the prisoner number of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan — on his practice cap during a series against England. Naseem, who plays for the Rawalpindi franchise, is scheduled to take the field against Peshawar Zalmi today.

Lahore Qalandars began their Pakistan Super League title defence with a convincing 69-run win over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen on Thursday, but the season opener was played in an empty stadium as fans stayed away due to soaring fuel costs. The match at Gaddafi Stadium was held without spectators after authorities urged people to limit travel and work from home amid rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing Iran conflict. Mohsin Naqvi said it would be inappropriate to allow thousands of fans to attend matches while the government is advising citizens to stay home. As part of cost-cutting measures, the Pakistan Cricket Board reduced the number of venues from six to two and barred spectators from matches in Lahore and Karachi. Only a small number of officials and franchise representatives were present at the opening game of the 39-day tournament. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended briefly as a guest of the PCB. To compensate for the lack of crowd presence, artificial crowd noise was added to the live broadcast as Lahore posted 199 for 6 after being put in to bat. Opener Fakhar Zaman scored 53 off 39 balls and became only the second player in PSL history to reach 3,000 runs. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi had earlier chosen to bat after winning the toss. In reply, Hyderabad, led by Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, were restricted to 130 for 9. Lahore’s pace attack dominated, with Haris Rauf and Ubaid Shah taking two wickets each, while Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman and Afridi chipped in with one apiece.

Six Bangladesh national team cricketers will begin competing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Thursday, though their participation in the franchise tournament will be curtailed by an upcoming home series against New Zealand. The Bangladesh Cricket Board cleared the players to join three different franchises in the newly expanded eight-team tournament, which runs from March 26 to May 3. Mustafizur Rahman and Parvez Hossain Emon will represent the Lahore Qalandars. Fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, along with batter Tanzid Hasan, joined Peshawar Zalmi. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain signed with the newly formed Rawalpindi franchise. None of the Bangladeshi players received No Objection Certificates for the full duration of the PSL. New Zealand is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on April 13 for three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches. The BCB is prioritizing the ODI matches, scheduled for April 17, 20, and 23, to field a full-strength squad ahead of World Cup qualification efforts. Mustafizur received a split clearance, allowing him to play in Pakistan from March 26 to April 12 before returning to Bangladesh for the ODI series. He is cleared to rejoin the PSL on April 24.//

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cleared six national team players to compete in the upcoming Pakistan Super League on Monday, issuing No Objection Certificates after the government concluded there were no visible security threats in the host country. The board said it consulted extensively with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Bangladesh mission in Islamabad before authorizing the travel. Officials prioritised the personal safety of the players amid ongoing regional instability. Following the clearance, fast bowlers Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Nahid Rana, along with top-order batter Parvez Hossain Emon, departed for Pakistan on Monday. Rana shared a photograph of the group on social media from their flight, captioned "Eid ends." Batter Tanzid Hasan Tamim and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain complete the contingent of cleared players. Mustafizur and Parvez will join the Lahore Qalandars. Shoriful, Nahid, and Tanzim signed with Peshawar Zalmi, while Rishad will play for the Rawalpindi Pindis. The franchise tournament, scheduled from March 26 to May 3, will operate under severe logistical constraints this year. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Saturday that matches will be restricted to two venues and played in empty stadiums, citing a domestic fuel crisis exacerbated by the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz advanced to the seventh position among ODI bowlers and climbed to second in the all-rounder standings in the latest rankings released Wednesday, following his team's 2-1 series victory over Pakistan. Miraz jumped nine spots in the bowling rankings after finishing the series, which ended March 15, as the most economical bowler. He took five wickets across 30 overs with an economy rate of 3.33. In the all-rounder category, the 28-year-old moved up two places to secure 280 rating points, overtaking Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza (276 points). Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai retained the top all-rounder spot with 329 points. Opening batter Tanzid Hasan surged 31 spots to No. 55 in the batting rankings after scoring 175 runs in three matches, including a century. Towhid Hridoy advanced two places to No. 32, maintaining his position as the highest-ranked Bangladeshi batter. Daryl Mitchell, Virat Kohli, and Ibrahim Zadran hold the top three batting positions globally. Fast bowler Nahid Rana made a massive leap in the bowling rankings, climbing 65 spots to No. 98. Taskin Ahmed moved up 12 places to No. 28, and Mustafizur Rahman advanced 13 spots to No. 47. Conversely, Rishad Hossain dropped seven places to No. 68 in bowling and fell 13 spots to No. 43 among all-rounders. The top three positions in the global ODI bowling rankings remain occupied by Rashid Khan, Jofra Archer, and Keshav Maharaj.

Devon Conway struck a team-high 60 as New Zealand national cricket team defeated South Africa national cricket team by 68 runs in the second Twenty20 on Tuesday, leveling the five-match series 1-1. Sent in to bat, New Zealand posted 175-6 on a surface that became increasingly difficult as the match progressed. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 107 in 15.3 overs, with pacers Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson sharing six wickets. The Proteas struggled with timing on a pitch offering uneven pace and bounce, and all 10 wickets fell to catches. South Africa lost their last six wickets for 40 runs, with only George Linde showing resistance, smashing 33 off 12 balls, including three fours and three sixes. Sears returned figures of 3-14, while Ferguson claimed 3-16, including the wicket of Linde to end the innings. “We bowled well for a while but lost our way with the bat,” said South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj, noting that dew did not aid batting as expected and New Zealand’s disciplined bowling made scoring difficult. New Zealand made a solid start, reaching 43 without loss in the powerplay, with Conway leading the charge and Tom Latham contributing with inventive strokeplay. They were 81-2 at the halfway stage. Australia overcome China 2-1 to book place in Asian Cup final However, scoring slowed on the two-paced pitch. Nick Kelly (21 off 12) and Mitchell Santner (20 off 14) made useful contributions before Conway fell after anchoring the innings. A late flourish from Josh Clarkson, who scored 26 off nine balls, along with Cole McConchie, added quick runs in the final over. The third match of the series will be played in Auckland on Friday.

Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer-e-Jamaat, on Monday congratulated the Bangladesh national cricket team for securing a historic 2-1 ODI series victory over the Pakistan national cricket team. In a congratulatory message, he said, “On behalf of myself, my party and the people of the country, I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Bangladesh national cricket team for winning the historic three-match ODI series 2-1 against Pakistan in a thrilling encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.” He said the brave and talented Bangladeshi cricketers demonstrated extraordinary skill, confidence and strong team unity in the thrilling match, calling the victory “a matter of great pride for the nation.” Shafiqur Rahman said that the eye-catching performance of the Tigers has brought immense joy and pride to people across the country. “This sporting success will inspire the country’s young generation and further strengthen Bangladesh’s status in the international arena,” he said. He also expressed hope that the Bangladesh team would continue its winning momentum in the future and bring more glory and recognition for the nation.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque on Monday congratulated the Bangladesh national cricket team for the three-match ODI series victory against Pakistan after securing an 11-run win  in the final match. In a congratulatory message, the state minister praised the team’s fighting spirit and determination, describing the series win as a historic milestone for Bangladesh cricket. “I am extremely proud of the indomitable spirit and competitive mindset shown by our cricketers,” he said, adding that the players’ patience and courage on the field brought joy to the entire nation. The minister also extended his greetings to the team’s coaches and all those associated with the Bangladesh Cricket Board for their contribution to the success. He expressed hope that the national team would continue its winning momentum and further strengthen Bangladesh’s position in world cricket.

Bangladesh secured a 11-run victory over Pakistan in the series-deciding third ODI on Sunday, claiming the three-match series 2-1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Defending a target of 291, Bangladesh dismissed Pakistan for 279 on the final ball of the innings, with spinner Rishad Hossain conceding just two runs and executing a stumping in a tense final over. "This is a massive series win for us," Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said. "The team showed incredible fight today, especially when the game got tight at the end." The victory was anchored by opener Tanzid Hasan, who scored his maiden ODI century. Tanzid smashed 107 off 107 deliveries, including seven sixes and six boundaries, to power Bangladesh to a total of 290 for 5 in their 50 overs. He formed a 105-run opening stand with Saif Hassan (36) and added 53 for the second wicket with Najmul Hossain (27). Towhid Hridoy provided late support, remaining unbeaten on 48 off 44 balls alongside Litton Das, who contributed 41. Pakistan's chase started poorly against Bangladesh's pace attack. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed struck in the first over, removing Sahibzada Farhan, and followed up by bowling Mohammad Rizwan in the third over. Fellow pacer Nahid Rana claimed the wicket of Maaz Sadaqat in the second over, leaving Pakistan reeling at 17 for 3. Salman Agha mounted a fierce counterattack, scoring a brilliant 106 off 98 balls to keep Pakistan in contention. He formed an 82-run partnership with debutant Saad Masood (38) and a 48-run stand with Faheem Ashraf. However, Ahmed returned to break the lower-order resistance. He bowled Ashraf and later claimed the crucial wicket of Agha in the 48th over, effectively derailing Pakistan's chase. Ahmed finished with figures of 4 for 49, while Mustafizur Rahman took 3 for 54.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday congratulated the Bangladesh national cricket teamfor their thrilling victory over the Pakistan national cricket team and for winning the ODI series 2–1. In a message, the Prime Minister warmly greeted the players following Bangladesh’s historic 11-run win in the final match of the series held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. “Bangladesh’s brave young cricketers have proved that victory can be achieved through determination and united effort by winning today’s thrilling match against Pakistan by 11 runs and clinching the ODI series 2–1,” he said. The Prime Minister said the team’s impressive performance has made the nation proud. He expressed hope that the young players will continue their journey of success in the days ahead. Bangladesh secured the three-match series 2–1 with an 11-run victory in the final ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. The win marked Bangladesh’s second bilateral ODI series triumph over Pakistan national cricket team after 11 years.