United News of Bangladesh

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning chase of 430 runs to beat England in a one-day international after Harry Brook struck the first double century by an England batter in the format, scoring 202. Brook smashed 202 off 116 balls, including 21 fours and 10 sixes, reaching his double century in 114 deliveries - the fastest in men's ODI history. He surpassed Ben Stokes' previous England record of 182 as England posted 429-4, then the highest ODI total in Pakistan. Despite slipping to 24-2, Sri Lanka completed the second-highest successful chase in ODI history. Pavan Rathnayake scored 130, while Aviksha Fernando and Dasun Shanaka both made 97. England's bowlers struggled, with Sam Curran conceding 103 runs in nine overs. Jofra Archer was rested, while Adil Rashid was left out for tactical reasons. Dew also hampered England's fielding and bowling. Sri Lanka needed eight runs in the final over, bowled by Josh Tongue, who dismissed Dinuth Wellalage and Eshan Malinga on consecutive deliveries. However, Janith Liyanage hit a six off the penultimate ball when six runs were needed, sealing victory. The match produced 847 runs, the second-highest aggregate in ODI history, and a record 123 boundaries - 93 fours and 30 sixes. Brook's innings included a rapid acceleration after a cautious start, with 156 runs scored in England's final 10 overs. He became the first player in ODI history to score a double century in a losing cause. England remain winless after two matches in the tri-series and may need to beat Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday to stay in the competition ahead of next year's World Cup in southern Africa.

Captain Harry Brook smashed the fastest double century in men's ODI history and England's first, scoring 202 to propel England to 429-4-their fourth-highest total-against Sri Lanka in Thursday's tri-series match. Sent in at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Brook reached his double ton in 114 balls-two faster than Shubman Gill's 116-ball record for India against West Indies at Guwahati last month-before holing out off the final ball. He hit 10 sixes and 21 boundaries. Brook reached 100 off 75 balls with a ramped fine-leg boundary, reached 150 similarly, and completed his second century in 39 balls via a paddle sweep off Janith Liyanage. Joe Root (69), Will Jacks (66 not out), and Tom Banton (50) scored fifties, with Brook and Jacks adding 156 runs in the final 10 overs. Sri Lanka's seamers suffered: Eshan Malinga (0-91), Dilshan Madushanka (0-89), and returning Dasun Shanaka (0-74 off 6 overs). Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage took 2-56  . Both teams seek their first win after losing to Pakistan.

Bangladesh talk about winning trophies before every big tournament but do not back it up on the field, stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy said on after his side went out of the tri-nation series in the UAE. “When we go to play a big series, a tri-series, the Asia Cup or the World Cup, everyone wants to win the trophy, individually and as a team,” Hridoy told a press conference after the seven-wicket defeat to Afghanistan. “But we only say it. It doesn’t show in what we do,” he added.  Bangladesh needed to beat Afghanistan by at least 41 runs to reach the final after Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. They lost two wickets for six runs in 1.3 overs and four of their top five, Hridoy among them, inside seven overs. They were bowled out for 160 without batting their 50 overs. “We lost a few wickets early. I think that was the main reason,” Hridoy said at the post-match presentation. He is leading the side in the absence of the injured Liton Das. Hridoy said the problem was not confined to one position when he was asked if Bangladesh has enough batters in the pipeline.  “I don’t want to single out one place, because the whole batting unit failed together. There are certainly enough players in the pipeline,” he said. He also defended the state of the team. “I don’t want to judge the whole team on one or two matches or one or two series. I’d say the team is in a good place, but as a batting unit we have batted very badly in every match we’ve played away. That’s why the whole team is suffering.” Bangladesh had won home ODI series against West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia before July, when they lost a series in Zimbabwe. They failed to chase 141 in the first match there and 234 in the next. In the tri-nation series, they did not reach 200 in either of their two matches. Hridoy pointed to next year’s Asia Cup, which Bangladesh will host. “The Asia Cup at home is a big opportunity for us. We have to sit down properly, or do whatever it takes, to get the team into a good position, because the Asia Cup is an important stage for us. Hopefully, Inshallah, we’ll do something good,” he said.  

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening T20 international at Hagley Oval on Thursday. The Indian team arrived in New Zealand only two days before the match, leaving little time for the players to adjust to local conditions ahead of a lengthy tour featuring five T20 internationals, five one-day internationals and two Test matches. “We have no complaints,” Iyer said. “We're a band of professionals and everyone knows that in the dressing room.” India made two changes to the side that played the fifth and final T20 international against the West Indies a week ago. Mayank Yadav replaced Prince Yadav, while Nitish Kumar Reddy came in for Shivam Dube. India won the first and third matches of that series by eight wickets and 14 runs, respectively, but the West Indies bounced back on both occasions. New Zealand selected four pace bowlers — Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson along with three spinners, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are expected to share the new ball for India. The two sides last faced each other in the T20 World Cup final in India, where the hosts secured a convincing 96-run victory.

Bangladesh have a year left before the ODI World Cup, and the tri-nation series in the UAE has shown where the work lies: in two matches, their batters did not reach 200 either time. Against Afghanistan on Wednesday, the top four were gone inside seven overs and eight of the 11 batters failed to reach double figures. The 160 all out ended Bangladesh's hopes of reaching the final and gave Afghanistan their fifth consecutive ODI win over them. Afghanistan chased the target with seven wickets and 87 balls to spare. They will meet Zimbabwe, who beat Bangladesh in the series opener, in the final in Sharjah. Bangladesh needed to win by at least 41 runs to qualify after stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. That meant keeping Afghanistan to 119, a mark they passed in the 27th over. The innings was in trouble inside two overs. Tanzid Hasan edged Yamin Ahmadzai to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Soumya Sarkar played on next ball, trying to cut a delivery just outside off stump. Najmul Hossain Shanto made 15 before he too was caught behind, and Hridoy was caught and bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai for a duck. Parvez Hossain, called into the squad as Liton Das's replacement, and Saif Hassan took Bangladesh from 28 for four to 121. Saif, who scored at under a run every two balls throughout, was caught at midwicket charging Mohammad Nabi for 41 off 82 balls. Parvez went on to make 70 off 96 balls, his second ODI fifty. Mehedi Hasan Miraz was dropped off a pull and caught two balls later playing the same shot, out for two. Rashid Khan took four for 31 as Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for 39 runs. Soumya, Hridoy, debutant Aliss Al Islam and Mustafizur Rahman were all out for ducks. Taskin Ahmed bowled Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal inside the powerplay, but Afghanistan had already made 26 from the first 16 balls, 10 of them extras. Rahmat Shah's unbeaten 67 took them home in the 36th over. The World Cup will be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe next October.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 160 in 41.2 overs against Afghanistan in their tri-series match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, losing their last six wickets for 39 runs after a fifth-wicket stand between Parvez Hossain and Saif Hassan. Bangladesh need to beat Afghanistan by at least 41 runs to reach the final. Parvez top-scored with 70 off 96 balls, with five fours and two sixes, while Saif made 41 off 82. The pair took Bangladesh from 28 for four to 121. Saif fell shortly after Parvez reached his fifty off 74 balls. He tried to hit Mohammad Nabi for a big shot and was caught at midwicket, and the collapse followed. Mehidy Hasan Miraz went for two, caught at backward square leg off Bilal Sami, leaving Bangladesh at 124 for six in 33 overs. Rashid Khan bowled Shoriful Islam for seven and then trapped Parvez leg before for 70. Parvez reviewed, but the on-field decision stood. Rashid also had Aliss Al Islam caught at slip by Nabi and bowled Mustafizur Rahman first ball, as Bangladesh lost their last two wickets off consecutive deliveries. Bangladesh had been in trouble from the start after captain Towhid Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. Tanzid Hasan was caught behind off Yamin Ahmadzai, and Soumya Sarkar was bowled next ball, leaving Bangladesh at eight for two after two overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto made 15 off 23 balls before falling, and Hridoy was caught and bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai, as Bangladesh slipped to 28 for four in seven overs. Bangladesh made three changes from the side that lost to Zimbabwe, bringing in Parvez, Miraz and Aliss for Rishad Hossain, Nurul Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain.

Bangladesh will play the United Arab Emirates in Sylhet on the opening day of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, which Bangladesh and Nepal will co-host from January 21 next year. The International Cricket Council released the full schedule on Wednesday. The final will be played in Chattogram on February 6, and the city will also host both semi-finals on February 4. Only the semi-finals and the final have reserve days. The tournament will be played at four venues, two in each country. Sylhet and Chattogram will stage 12 matches each, while Mulpani will host eight and Kirtipur seven. The two Nepal grounds will hold group matches and some Super Six games. Eight teams will be in action on the opening day, with two matches each in Sylhet and Mulpani. Play will start at 9:30am and 1:30pm local time. Bangladesh are in Group C with Australia, the UAE and Nigeria, and will play all three group matches in Sylhet. After facing the UAE, they meet Australia on January 23 and Nigeria on January 25. Two-time champions India are in Group A with Ireland, Nepal and West Indies. Pakistan will take on New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa in Group B, while the USA, Scotland, England and Sri Lanka make up Group D. The group stage ends on January 26. The top three teams from each group go through to the Super Six, where qualifiers from Groups A and D form one group and those from Groups B and C the other. Each team plays two Super Six matches, and the top two from each group reach the semi-finals. India won the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2023, beating England in the final, and kept the title in Malaysia in 2025 with a win over South Africa. Bangladesh reached the Super Six in both editions but have never played in a semi-final.  

Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 in 33.4 overs while chasing 272, losing to Zimbabwe by 99 runs in the opening match of the tri-series in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The defeat exposed Bangladesh’s batting frailties once again. After reaching 42 without loss in the first six overs, they lost wickets in clusters and never recovered, with Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s 46 and Saif Hassan’s 26 among the few notable contributions. Soumya Sarkar was the first to go, caught off Blessing Muzarabani for nine off 17 balls. Tanzid kept the scoring moving but fell for 46 after surviving a dropped catch the previous delivery. Ryan Burl took the catch at point. Najmul Hossain Shanto followed, trapped lbw by Brad Evans, before captain Towhid Hridoy fell for 13 off 21 balls to Sikandar Raza. Raza had to review the decision after the on-field umpire turned down his appeal. Mosaddek Hossain was also dismissed lbw, this time by Wellington Masakadza, leaving Bangladesh five wickets down and still needing 160 runs. Saif offered some resistance before falling for 26. Rishad Hossain made 23, but Zimbabwe wrapped up the innings in 33.4 overs. Earlier, Zimbabwe recovered from a poor start to post 271 for eight in their 50 overs after winning the toss and batting first. Taskin Ahmed tore through the top order, taking three wickets in the opening seven overs as Zimbabwe slipped to 24 for three. But Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor turned the innings around with a 150-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Taylor scored 81 off 101 balls, while Ervine made 93 off 106, hitting nine fours. Their partnership took Zimbabwe past 150 and put them in a position to set Bangladesh a challenging target. Saif broke the stand by dismissing Taylor with a catch off a reverse sweep, then removed Sikandar Raza in his next over. Ervine continued until Shoriful Islam had him caught behind, nine runs short of a century. Shoriful later dismissed Brad Evans to finish with two wickets for 47 runs. Taskin took three for 44, while Saif claimed two for 17. Zimbabwe’s lower order added valuable runs at the end, with Wellington Masakadza and Newman Nyamhuri putting on an unbeaten 37 for the ninth wicket. Nyamhuri finished on 21 not out. Ervine was named player of the match.

Afghanistan batted for 142 overs to save the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. They finished on 346 for eight after spending the final day fighting to avoid defeat. Sediqullah Atal led the resistance with his maiden Test century, scoring 111 off 332 balls, while Qais Ahmad struck two sixes in the final over to cap a tense finish. Afghanistan had been set a target of 479 and needed to survive the day after resuming at 132 for three. Bangladesh had put themselves in a strong position by taking a 106-run first-innings lead. They scored 346 before dismissing Afghanistan for 240, then declared their second innings at 372 for seven. Atal, who had scored 35 not out at the end of the fourth day, continued to frustrate Bangladesh’s bowlers. His innings included nine fours and three sixes. Rahmat Shah made 51 off 124 balls before Ebadot Hossain had him caught behind by Litton Das. Hashmatullah Shahidi added 36, while Ikram Alikhil scored 33. Bangladesh kept taking wickets but could not finish the job. Ebadot claimed three for 50 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took three for 73. Taijul Islam finally removed Atal in the 119th over, leaving Afghanistan at 281 for seven and giving Bangladesh a chance to dismiss the tail. But Afghanistan’s lower order held on. Bangladesh missed two run-out opportunities and Hasan Mahmud dropped a catch, allowing the visitors to extend their resistance. Yamin Ahmadzai faced 85 balls for his 19 before falling to Miraz. Zia-ur-Rehman then helped see out the remaining overs, while Qais, struggling with hamstring cramps, remained unbeaten on 49 off 80 balls. With the draw assured in the final over, Qais launched Taijul for two sixes, the second clearing deep midwicket off the last ball. Afghanistan’s 142 overs of batting made this one of the longest fourth-innings rearguards in Test cricket by a team saving a draw.

Litton Das broke Bangladesh’s record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test match, finishing with eight in the one-off Test against Afghanistan as the hosts faced a daunting chase of 479 runs. Litton surpassed Khaled Mashud’s previous national record of seven dismissals, set against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2004. His record came on a day when he also scored a century to help Bangladesh strengthen their grip on the match. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 102 off 115 balls in Bangladesh’s second innings, his seventh Test century. He shared a 159-run seventh-wicket partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who remained unbeaten on 52, as Bangladesh declared at 372 for seven to set Afghanistan a target of 479. Litton also scored 53 in the first innings, when Bangladesh made 346. Afghanistan replied with 240, giving the visitors a first-innings lead of 106. His eighth dismissal came when he caught Rahmat Shah behind the stumps late on the fourth day. Rahmat, who scored a century in Afghanistan’s first innings, made 51 in the second before edging Ebadot Hossain to Litton. Ebadot took two wickets in Afghanistan’s second innings, including Abdul Malik with his first ball, while Hasan Mahmud claimed one. Afghanistan ended the day at 132 for three, needing another 347 runs to win. Litton’s performance combined a significant individual batting milestone with a national wicketkeeping record, putting him at the centre of Bangladesh’s push for victory. Bangladesh need seven wickets on the final day to secure the win, while Afghanistan face a steep challenge to complete what will be a record-breaking chase in Test cricket.