United News of Bangladesh

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, ending a career that saw him lead the national team in 100 matches across formats. “I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for the trust they placed in me over the years,” Sarfaraz said in a statement. “Pakistan cricket has always been close to my heart, and I will continue to support the game in every possible way.” Following the disappointing T20 World Cup, the PCB has included him in the revamped four-member men’s selection committee. Pakistan levels series after run-out controversy and rain disruptions Sarfaraz made his ODI debut against India in 2007, his first Test appearance against Australia in 2010, and his T20 debut against England in Dubai. Across formats, he scored 6,164 runs with six centuries and 35 fifties, represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20s, and as a wicketkeeper, held 315 catches and 56 stumpings. During his nearly two-decade-long career, Sarfaraz led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy triumph and the 2006 U-19 World Cup title. He also holds the national record of 10 catches in a Test and remains the only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s. “Captaining Pakistan was a dream come true,” he said, expressing pride in mentoring players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. His final international appearance was a Test against Australia in Perth in 2023.

Opening batter Tanzid Hasan struck his first One-Day International century to anchor Bangladesh to a competitive 290 for five in the third and final match of the series against Pakistan at Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday. Tanzid’s 107 off 107 balls provided the backbone of the innings after Bangladesh was asked to bat first in the series decider. The 23-year-old left-hander reached the milestone in style, pulling spinner Salman Agha for six to record his maiden ton in his 31st appearance. His innings included seven sixes and six boundaries before he fell to a soft dismissal, caught at short cover off Abrar Ahmed. The hosts enjoyed a prolific start as Tanzid and Saif Hassan shared a 105-run opening stand, Bangladesh’s second 50-plus opening partnership in 17 innings. Saif contributed a steady 36 before being bowled by Shaheen Afridi. Pakistan’s pace spearhead Haris Rauf momentarily shifted the momentum in the later stages. Rauf claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries in the 47th over, removing Litton Das for 41 and bowling Rishad Hossain for a golden duck. Litton, who was earlier dropped on three, struggled to find his usual rhythm, taking 51 balls for his 41. Despite losing set batters, Towhid Hridoy maintained the pressure with a brisk, unbeaten 48 off 44 deliveries. However, Pakistan’s death bowling proved effective; Bangladesh managed only 13 runs in the final two overs, falling just short of the 300-run mark.

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim hit a century in the series decider against Pakistan on Sunday in Dhaka. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. The opening partnership amassed over 100 runs, fueled by Tamim's fluent display in the middle. On 94, Tamim struck Salman Agha for a six to complete his maiden hundred in style. It was his sixth six of the innings. Stranded South African and West Indies squads finally depart India following logistical deadlock Bangladesh won the first match, but Pakistan bounced back in the rain-affected second match. The third match was now the series final.

Pakistan squared the three-match ODI series on Friday with a 128-run victory over Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, a match defined by a contentious run-out and lengthy weather delays. Chasing a rain-adjusted target of 243 from 32 overs after a two-hour interruption, Bangladesh collapsed for 114 in 23.3 overs. The total mirrored Pakistan’s score from the series opener, though the hosts reached it with far less resistance. Outside of a brief 58-run stand between Litton Das, who scored 41 off 33 balls, and Towhid Hridoy, the Bangladesh middle order offered little defiance. The contest’s defining moment occurred during the Pakistan innings when Salman Agha was run out in a manner that sparked visible on-field tension. Salman was dismissed after a Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivery deflected off the bat back toward the non-striker. While the laws of the game supported the dismissal, Salman expressed his frustration by discarding his equipment as he departed, while the Bangladesh camp defended the tactical appeal. The dismissal proved a turning point. Pakistan had reached a formidable 231 for 3, fueled by an aggressive 75 from opener Maz Sadaqat and a 109-run partnership between Salman (64) and Mohammad Rizwan. Following the run-out, the Pakistan lower order collapsed, losing seven wickets for 43 runs to finish at 274. Rishad Hussain spearheaded the comeback, taking 3 for 56. However, Bangladesh’s response faltered immediately. Opening bowlers reduced the hosts to 15 for 3 before a severe thunderstorm halted play. When the match resumed under a revised DLS target, the momentum remained firmly with Pakistan. Sadaqat capped a standout performance by taking 3 for 23 with the ball, while Haris Rauf, returning to the lineup, claimed 3 for 26. The series concludes with the final match on Sunday, with both teams level at 1-1.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed Thursday that the final contingents of the South African and West Indies squads have departed India, ending a weeklong logistical deadlock that left international stars stranded by airspace closures across West Asia. The ICC announced that 29 members of the South African party—including players, staff, and family—along with 16 West Indies representatives boarded flights within the last 24 hours. The departures resolve a mounting PR crisis for cricket’s governing body, which faced accusations of mismanagement and favoritism as players remained stuck in hotels days after their tournament exits. The West Indies, two-time T20 World Cup champions, saw their campaign end in the Super Eight stage against India on March 1. South Africa’s tournament concluded following a semifinal loss to New Zealand on March 4. While both teams were initially scheduled for swift exits, the ICC’s attempts to secure chartered flights were repeatedly thwarted by shifting geopolitical tensions that restricted regional flight paths. The delay became a flashpoint for controversy after England, who were eliminated in the semifinals by India on March 5, managed to secure a chartered flight and depart by March 7. The disparity in treatment prompted sharp rebukes from high-profile figures. West Indies head coach Daren Sammy aired his frustrations on X, while South African veterans Quinton de Kock and David Miller took to Instagram to allege biased treatment by the ICC. In a statement released Thursday, the ICC rejected claims of partiality, attributing the staggered departures to the volatile nature of international logistics during the ongoing regional crisis. "Throughout this period, ICC operations and logistics teams worked continuously with governments, airlines, charter providers, and member boards," the ICC stated. "Our objective was to navigate the evolving constraints posed by the shifting situation. The priority remained the safe return of all remaining players and staff, requiring frequent adjustments to flight plans as conditions changed." The logistical resolution comes four days after India's victory over New Zealand in the final on March 8, a tournament finish that was increasingly overshadowed by the stranded squads' public discontent.

Bangladesh secured a historic 8-wicket victory against Pakistan on Wednesday, chasing down a meagre 114-run target before the Iftar break at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. It was Bangladesh's largest margin of victory over Pakistan in terms of balls remaining, as they reached the target in just 15.1 overs. The host nation had previously beaten Pakistan by 8 wickets, but never this quickly. Chasing 114, Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain formed an 82-run partnership for the second wicket, turning the ODI into a rapid chase. Hossain contributed 27 runs off 33 balls before his dismissal. Tanzid remained unbeaten with an explosive 67 off 42 balls, striking five sixes and seven boundaries. Litton Das joined Tanzid to finish the match, with the winning run arriving via a wide delivery from Mohammad Wasim just moments before the Iftar fast-breaking meal. The chase was set up by a devastating opening spell from fast bowler Nahid Rana. After Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat survived the first nine overs without loss, scoring 35 runs against Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz introduced Rana in the 10th over. Rana immediately dismantled the Pakistani top order, taking five wickets in his first five overs. He removed Farhan, debutant Shamil Hussain, Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Agha, completing his maiden ODI five-wicket haul.

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a devastating spell of fast bowling on Wednesday, claiming his first career five-wicket haul to tear through Pakistan's inexperienced batting lineup in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Riding on his record-making bowling, Bangladesh wrapped up Pakistan for 114 in 30.4 overs in the first ODI. Nahid Rana bags maiden ODI five-wicket haul to dismantle Pakistan Rana, who entered the match with only five wickets in his previous five ODI appearances, took five wickets in his first five overs, also the first five wickets of the Pakistan innings, as the visiting side slid from 41/0 to 69/5. Pakistan, fielding four ODI debutants for the first time since 2008, clearly struggled to handle Rana's pace, as he made hay with the short delivery, after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to field. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adopted a cautious approach against new-ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, playing 24 dot balls in the first six overs. However, Rana's introduction in the 10th over immediately changed the game. He removed Farhan (27) with the final ball of his opening over, caught by Afif Hossain at point. In his next over, Rana dismissed debutant Shamil Hussain (4) with a short delivery that Hussain skied to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Rana continued his barrage of short-pitched bowling, removing Sadaqat (18) in the 14th over and veteran Mohammad Rizwan (10) in the 17th over, caught again by Das. He completed his maiden five-wicket haul by dismissing Salman Agha for 5 runs, caught by Tanzid Hasan at short square leg. Bangladesh captain Miraz bagged three wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each. For Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf was the highest runs scorer with 37 off 47 balls with six fours and one six.

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a devastating spell of fast bowling Tuesday, claiming his first career five-wicket haul to tear through Pakistan's inexperienced batting lineup in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Rana, who entered the match with only five wickets in his previous five ODI appearances, took five wickets in his first five overs, single-handedly reducing the visiting side to a vulnerable position. Pakistan, fielding four ODI debutants for the first time since 2008, struggled against the pace attack after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to field. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adopted a cautious approach against new-ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, playing 24 dot balls in the first six overs. However, Rana's introduction in the 10th over immediately changed the game. He removed Farhan (27) with the final ball of his opening over, caught by Afif Hossain at point. In his next over, Rana dismissed debutant Shamil Hussain (4) with a short delivery that Hussain skied to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Rana continued his barrage of short-pitched bowling, removing Sadaqat (18) in the 14th over and veteran Mohammad Rizwan (10) in the 17th over, caught again by Das. He completed his maiden five-wicket haul by dismissing Salman Agha for 5 runs, caught by Tanzid Hasan at short square leg.

Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid moved closer to the Champions League quarterfinals with commanding victories on Tuesday, while Liverpool suffered defeat and Barcelona needed a dramatic late penalty to avoid losing. Bayern thrashed Atalanta 6-1 away despite leaving top scorer Harry Kane out of the starting lineup. Atletico Madrid also produced a dominant performance, beating Tottenham 5-2 after racing to a 3-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes. In other matches, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in Istanbul, while Barcelona secured a 1-1 draw against Newcastle thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from teenage star Lamine Yamal. Bayern’s impressive display came even without Kane, who has scored 47 goals this season for club and country but was only fit enough for the bench. Michael Olise scored twice for the German champions, while Serge Gnabry and Nicolas Jackson both scored and assisted. Josip Stanisic and Jamal Musiala also found the net as Bayern overwhelmed Atalanta to take a commanding advantage into the second leg. Tottenham endured a disastrous start in Madrid after coach Igor Tudor opted to drop first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. His replacement, Antonin Kinsky, struggled badly on his Champions League debut. A slip and miskick in the sixth minute allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring for Atletico, before Antoine Griezmann doubled the lead shortly afterwards. Another error by Kinsky gifted Julian Alvarez an easy third goal, and the goalkeeper was substituted in the 17th minute. Vicario replaced him but conceded just five minutes later when Robin Le Normand scored Atletico’s fourth. Although Spurs managed to rally later in the game, the heavy defeat leaves them facing an uphill battle in the return leg. Mbappé misses Real Madrid training ahead of Man City clash; coach hints at return 'soon' “We knew how to take advantage of our opponents’ mistakes to gain a good lead,” Alvarez said, adding that Atletico now head into the second leg with a three-goal cushion. Barcelona were moments away from defeat at Newcastle before earning a late penalty deep into stoppage time. Malick Thiaw fouled Dani Olmo in the box and referee Marco Guida awarded a penalty. Eighteen-year-old Yamal calmly converted in the 96th minute to level the score, and the final whistle followed immediately after. Newcastle had taken the lead in the 86th minute through Harvey Barnes, who also struck the post earlier in the match. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted his side did not perform at their best but said the young squad has strong potential. Galatasaray, meanwhile, secured a narrow advantage over Liverpool in their round-of-16 tie with a 1-0 win in Istanbul. Mario Lemina scored the only goal with a header in the seventh minute, giving the Turkish champions the edge heading into next week’s second leg at Anfield. Galatasaray had opportunities to extend their lead, including a second-half strike from Victor Osimhen that was ruled out for offside, while Liverpool saw Ibrahima Konate’s effort disallowed for handball following a VAR review. Liverpool coach Arne Slot said the tie is far from over, noting that the return leg will be played at Anfield in front of their home supporters.

Pakistan will field three debutants in their top batting order for the first ODI against Bangladesh, as captain Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed claims that veteran batter Babar Azam was dropped from the squad. Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat will open the innings, followed by Shamil Hussain at number three, marking a major top-order overhaul for the visiting side. The absence of experienced players like Azam and Saim Ayub drew scrutiny, particularly after Azam scored a century in Pakistan's recent home series against Sri Lanka. Speaking to reporters in Mirpur on Tuesday, Afridi denied that any players were permanently removed from the roster. "No one has been dropped from this series," Afridi said. "We just wanted to give opportunities to the youngsters, who are our future. We need to prepare the team for the World Cup." The youthful Pakistani squad features six players without an ODI cap, four of whom have no international cricket experience. Both teams enter the series following contrasting recent performances. Pakistan secured series victories against South Africa and Sri Lanka, including a sweep of the latter. Bangladesh, despite a difficult year that included a series loss to Sri Lanka and a sweep by Afghanistan, recently defeated the West Indies at home. "Bangladesh is a good team at home," Afridi said. "They played good cricket and beat the West Indies. As a team, we are also prepared and must maintain the momentum from our last two series."