United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh nearly threw away a game that looked wrapped up, but late hitting from Nurul Hasan and Rishad Hossain pulled them over the line in the first T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday night. Set 152 to win, Bangladesh were cruising at 109 without loss. Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan made it look easy, both reaching brisk half-centuries. Emon struck 54 off 37 balls, Tanzid 51 from the same number, and the pair had Afghanistan on the ropes inside 12 overs. Then came the collapse. Rashid Khan, as he has done so many times, flipped the contest with four wickets in the space of a few overs. Bangladesh lost six for just nine runs, slumping from 109 for none to 118 for six. Suddenly the Sharjah crowd came alive and the chase, once straightforward, looked shaky. But Afghanistan’s seamers could not finish the job. Nurul stepped up, smashing two sixes in the 18th over to ease the tension. He finished unbeaten on 23 from 13 balls, while Rishad chipped in with 14 not out. The pair saw Bangladesh home with eight balls to spare, at 153 for six. Earlier, Afghanistan had stuttered their way to 151 for nine. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 40 gave them a quick start, and Mohammad Nabi added a lively 38, but regular wickets stalled their innings. Tanzim Sakib and Rishad picked up two each, while Mustafizur Rahman and Nasum Ahmed bowled with control. Rashid admitted afterwards that his team had let things slip. “In T20 once you lose momentum it’s hard to get it back,” he said. “We gave away wickets too easily. And with the ball we didn’t hit the stumps enough in the first 10 overs.” Bangladesh skipper Jaker Ali was relieved more than anything. “The start was excellent, but the collapse is a concern. Cricket’s a funny game — these things happen. Credit to Nurul and Rishad for finishing it off,” he told the broadcasters. Player of the Match Emon said the plan was simple “I just wanted to play my natural game and put pressure on them early. We got the start we wanted, even if we had a scare later,” Emon said. The second T20 will be played on Saturday, again in Sharjah.

The Women’s World Cup gets a compelling start in Colombo on Thursday for Bangladesh as they take on Pakistan, a game that pits two close friends against each other in very different colors. Nigar Sultana Joty, Bangladesh’s captain, and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana know each other well. They first shared a dressing room at the 2023 FairBreak Invitational and have stayed close since, trading tips and plenty of laughs. But both admit there’s no room for friendship once the first ball is bowled. “When I get over the line, I don’t know who Fatima Sana is,” Nigar said to ICC with a smile. “She’s my opponent. But after the game, of course, we’re friends again.” Fatima, just 22 when she was handed the captaincy, says the feeling is mutual. “She’s my good friend. She gives me a lot of confidence in my batting. But on the field, it’s different.” Defending champion Australia beats New Zealand by 89 runs in Women’s World Cup opener The match also carries some leftover drama from the qualifying tournament earlier this year. Bangladesh lost to Pakistan on the final day and thought their hopes were gone, only to sneak through on net run rate after the West Indies stumbled against Thailand. Nigar, too down to watch the other game, got the news over the phone from none other than Fatima. “I was like, really? And then everyone in our team started running to me, hugging, laughing. It was beautiful,” Nigar remembered. Both teams know their openers matter if they are to reach the last four. Bangladesh beat Pakistan at the 2022 World Cup, but Pakistan’s young side has grown since. The match begins at 3 p.m. local time at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

Ashleigh Gardner smashed the third-fastest century in Women’s Cricket World Cup history as defending champions Australia began their title defense with an 89-run win over New Zealand on Wednesday. Gardner scored 115 off 83 balls, including 16 fours and a six, as Australia posted 326 runs in 49.3 overs — the highest total by any team against New Zealand in Women’s World Cups. Phoebe Litchfield provided a rapid start with 45 off 31 balls, before Gardner’s explosive innings powered the hosts at Holkar Stadium during their first-ever women’s ODI at the venue. In reply, New Zealand struggled from the start and were bowled out for 237 in 43.2 overs despite skipper Sophie Devine’s 111. Medium pacers Sophie Molineux (3-25) and Annabel Sutherland (3-26) shared six wickets to stifle the visitors. Abhishek’s fearless rise and Suryakumar’s stand mark India’s Asia Cup win “I had a clear plan when I came in — to score as many runs as possible,” Gardner said, named player of the match. “We bat deep, so we had the confidence to play freely. Setting a big total first is going to be a trend this World Cup.” Australia will face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday, while New Zealand meets South Africa in Indore on Monday. Gardner’s 77-ball century and Devine’s 36-year-old hundred highlighted a thrilling contest, as Australia extended their ODI winning streak against New Zealand to 16 matches. Source: AP 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday announced the final list of candidates for its October 6 election, with 34 names left in the race for 25 director posts. Sixteen candidates withdrew before the withdrawal deadline. Most of the withdrawals came from Category 2, which covers Dhaka’s clubs. Thirteen of the 30 candidates dropped out, many amid claims of government pressure. With the High Court also blocking 15 disputed third-division clubs from the voter roll, only 16 candidates remain for 12 seats in this category. In Category 1, made up of district and divisional sports associations, six of the 10 directors have already been confirmed without a vote. Former national player Abdur Razzak, along with Zulfiqar Ali Khan (Khulna), Shakhawat Hossain (Barishal), Rahat Sams (Sylhet), singer Asif Akbar (Chattogram), and Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhury (Rajshahi), have all been elected unopposed. That leaves contests in the Dhaka, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Current BCB President Aminul Islam is among three candidates vying for two posts in Dhaka. In total, 70 district and divisional councillors will cast their ballots in this category. After stepping back from BCB polls, Tamim alleges ‘election fixing’ Category 3, which includes former players, ex-captains, and institutions, has narrowed to two candidates after one withdrew. Former captain Khaled Mashud Pilot will face Jahangirnagar University’s Debabrata Pal for the single seat, decided by 45 votes. Voting for all remaining posts will be held on October 6.

After confirming his withdrawal from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections, former national captain Tamim Iqbal sharpened his criticism of the process, calling it ‘rigged’ and unworthy of the sport. While talking to the media in Mirpur on Wednesday, Tamim said he and at least 14 other heavyweight candidates had pulled out as a form of protest. “This is not an election. Things are being done, however and whenever it suits. Cricket doesn’t deserve this kind of dirty game. Today, cricket has lost a hundred percent,” he told reporters. Tamim went further, linking his protest to a wider issue. “People keep saying fixing in cricket must stop. But first, stop fixing elections. Only then can you talk about cricket fixing,” he said. The withdrawals cut across categories, with several prominent figures backing away. The BCB election commission on Tuesday afternoon published the final list of candidates across three categories for the October 6 polls. Tamim, Sports Adviser trade explosive claims as BCB election battle heats up The announcement came hours after Tamim and several other high-profile contenders withdrew their nominations, citing allegations of government interference. Critics argue that the sports advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, is interfering in the election. Asif Mahmud, however, did not respond to this criticism till Wednesday afternoon.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn his nomination from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election, in a move that deepens the turmoil already surrounding the polls slated for October 6. Tamim appeared at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur around 10:15am on Wednesday and withdrew as today is the last day for candidates to pull out. Sources close to the process suggested that up to a dozen club-backed candidates are also considering withdrawal. Tamim, Sports Adviser trade explosive claims as BCB election battle heats up Tamim’s move — given his profile as one of the country’s most influential cricketers — has cast further doubt over how credible and competitive the election will be. Tamim’s withdrawal indicates how sharply cricket politics entwined with national politics now. All these together put the BCB election on edge.

Bangladesh’s youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan says Shakib Al Hasan will not be allowed to play for the national team again, escalating a two-day online spat that began with the cricketer’s birthday greeting to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted last year after a 15-year rule marred by allegation of her authoritarian tendency and widespread corruption. Speaking to a TV channel this week, Asif said he would issue a “clear instruction” to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB): “He cannot be allowed to carry Bangladesh’s flag or wear its jersey… Shakib Al Hasan will never again play for the Bangladesh team.” The adviser’s on-air declaration followed a rapid exchange of Facebook posts. On Sunday around 9pm, Shakib posted a photo with Hasina — now abroad following her ouster — with the caption, “Happy birthday, Apa.” About an hour later, Asif wrote on his own page: “Many cursed me for not rehabilitating one person. But I was right. End of discussion.” Asif’s comment refers to the time when Shakib was about to head back home to play a Test match in Dhaka, which he had announced as his last, but he couldn't due to the protest against him. Shakib was a member of the parliament during Hasina’s last tenure. He was elected for Hasina’s Awami League party. At 11:20pm, Shakib replied on Facebook without naming Asif: “So finally someone admits that because of him I was not given the Bangladesh jersey again, could not play for Bangladesh!” He ended with: “Perhaps one day I will return to my motherland. I love Bangladesh.” By Monday afternoon, Asif doubled down. In another post, he said, “Whose hands are stained with the blood of students and people cannot be allowed to carry Bangladesh’s flag,” and argued that Shakib is “deeply tied” to Awami League politics despite claiming he was “forced” into a 2024 election nomination. He also cited long-running allegations against the player, referring to “share market scams, money laundering, financial fraud,” and added: “Why should someone be rehabilitated just because he is a good cricketer? The law is equal for all.” Asked by TV about the birthday post, Shakib said it was not political. “She has always followed cricket, long before politics… From that connection, I wished her. There was no other motive, no signal to anyone,” he said. Shakib has previously maintained he was compelled to accept the election nomination and was not active in party politics. The dispute is the latest twist in a fraught year for the country’s most prominent cricketer. Shakib was outside Bangladesh when Hasina’s government fell on August 5 last year. Since then he has not returned home. He was elected to parliament on the Awami League’s boat symbol and, like others from that period, now faces cases including murder and financial allegations. A planned farewell Test in October collapsed when, according to team sources at the time and government officials, he turned back mid-journey after failing to secure permission to enter Dhaka. Many in cricket circles believed the sports adviser opposed his return; Asif’s posts this week will be read as confirmation that he did. On Monday night Asif said that while he had not previously conveyed a formal position to the BCB, his directive is now explicit: Shakib will not be selected again. The adviser framed the stance as a matter of national dignity as much as discipline. “He cannot be allowed to bear the identity of Bangladesh’s jersey,” he told the channel. Shakib’s supporters flooded social media arguing that cricket should be separated from politics and that selection should be based on performance and fitness. Critics of the all-rounder countered that no athlete should be insulated from legal scrutiny or treated as an exception. The debate showed how entwined sport and politics have become — and how much of it now plays out on phones before it reaches meeting rooms. Shakib, 38, did not address the selection ban directly beyond his Facebook post. In the same message he wrote, “Perhaps one day I will return to my motherland,” a line that read like a farewell and a promise at once. Asif’s order, if acted upon, would draw a line under an era that defined Bangladesh cricket for more than a decade. It was delivered not at a selection table or a press conference, but across a weekend of posts and late-night calls — a very modern end to a very public career.

India left Dubai with the Asia Cup title secured, unbeaten through the tournament, yet the trophy itself never touched their hands. What should have been a straightforward celebration turned into a night of contradictions — a breakthrough for Abhishek Sharma, a statement from captain Suryakumar Yadav, and another twist in the India–Pakistan rivalry. For Abhishek, the campaign was the clearest sign yet that he belongs on the international stage. The 24-year-old opener finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, hammering 314 runs at a strike-rate of 200. He batted without hesitation, often going after the first ball he faced. Twice he crossed fifty in the Powerplay. And yet, he said the freedom to play that way came less from numbers than from trust. “I never felt this was a pressure match,” Abhishek said after being named Player of the Tournament. “Surya bhai and GG ji (Gautam Gambhir) gave me confidence. If you want to play with such high risk, you need support when it doesn’t work. They gave me that.” Abhishek’s journey has been anything but linear. Part of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2018, his domestic and IPL career faltered before taking off again. He admitted those struggles were necessary: “If I came directly, I would not have learned everything. I got more time to work, and that helped.” His innings throughout the Asia Cup set the tone for India’s dominance, but the night of the final told a different story. Chasing 147 against Pakistan, India stumbled to 20 for 3. Abhishek himself was back in the dugout early. It fell to Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube to steady the chase. India eventually won with two balls to spare, securing a ninth Asia Cup title. Then came the controversy. On the presentation stage, Suryakumar and his teammates declined to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister and cricket board chairman. Instead, they mimed lifting an invisible cup. “I have never seen this before, a champion team not getting a trophy,” Suryakumar told reporters. “It was hard-earned. We were here since the fourth [of September]. But we were not disappointed. We had smiles on our faces, we celebrated our players, and that was enough.” The India captain stressed the decision was the players’ own, not a directive from administrators.  Asked to explain, he said: “Rinku Singh hit a four, India won, we applauded every player’s achievement. We celebrated that. What more do you want?” Even without a trophy in hand, Suryakumar said the campaign would be remembered for them in playing as a unit.  He called his teammates and staff “the real trophies” and later announced he would donate his match fees from the tournament to the Indian Armed Forces.  

India beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on Sunday night, but the cricket has been overshadowed by the fallout that followed. On the field, it was a classic. Pakistan, given a strong start by Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century, crashed from 113 for 1 to 146 all out. Nine wickets gone for just 33 runs. Kuldeep Yadav’s four wickets did the damage. India’s reply was shaky — three wickets down for 20, the crowd buzzing, Pakistan sensing a way in. Then Tilak Varma stood firm. His 69 not out, alongside Shivam Dube’s 33, dragged India over the line with two balls to spare. It should have been about that chase. Instead, attention flipped the moment the presentation began. India’s players refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister and PCB chairman. They posed for photos with imaginary silverware, leaving the real trophy behind. India decline Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief Pakistan captain Salman Agha called it “disrespectful, not just to us but to the game.”  He said India’s refusal to shake hands throughout the tournament and their behaviour at the ceremony sent the wrong message: “If kids are watching this, what are they learning?” Politics rushed in almost immediately. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India congratulated the Indian team with a post linking the win to “Operation Sindoor,” the military action against Pakistan earlier this year. “On the field too, Operation Sindoor. Result the same — India victorious,” he wrote. Naqvi hit back within the hour. “If war is your measure of pride, history has already written your defeats,” he posted, accusing Modi of dragging war into cricket. The row capped a tournament already heavy with tension. Captains didn’t shake hands at tosses, joint photos were skipped, even routine pleasantries avoided. By the time India held their mock celebration on stage, the frost had turned into a visible split. India now have nine Asia Cup titles, two in T20 format. Yet this edition will be remembered as much for politics as for cricket — for a night in Dubai where a final ended not with a trophy in hand, but with both sides pointing fingers long after the game was done.

India defeated Pakistan to retain their Asia Cup crown but declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s interior minister and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, bringing an unusual close to a politically sensitive tournament on Sunday. The high-stakes final followed weeks of tension between the two nuclear-armed nations, who had clashed militarily in May. India and Pakistan faced each other three times in the eight-nation event in the UAE, with India victorious on each occasion. Following India’s five-wicket win in the Dubai International Stadium final, the presentation ceremony was delayed for over an hour and abruptly shortened before the trophy handover. “The Indian team will not be collecting their awards tonight,” said presenter Simon Doull, citing ACC officials. India crowned Asia Cup champions after 5-wicket win over Pakistan Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia later confirmed that players had declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman. He said the BCCI would formally raise the matter at the next International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting. While the team skipped the trophy handover, individual award winners Tilak Varma (player of the match), Abhishek Sharma (player of the tournament) and Kuldeep Yadav (MVP) accepted their honors. They, however, did not acknowledge Naqvi, who notably refrained from applauding them. Source: Agency