United News of Bangladesh

Fast bowler Nathan Ellis produced a career-best performance of 4-33 as Australia defeated Pakistan by 41 runs in the second one-day international on Tuesday, leveling the three-match series 1-1. Defending 231, Australia bowled out Pakistan for 190 on a challenging pitch that offered significant turn for spinners and uneven bounce for seamers. Ellis played a key role with the ball, striking early and regularly to derail Pakistan’s chase. Reflecting on the conditions, he said Pakistan’s pitches for the series were unlike most ODI surfaces seen around the world. "It's definitely different to the traditional one-day cricket we see around the world at the moment," Ellis said. "It's no secret that today it was pretty low and slow we saw the cutters and the slow balls working a lot today, and the ball started to tail and reverse swing through the 35-to-45-over mark." Australia’s innings was built around half-centuries from captain Josh Inglis (51) and Cameron Green (53), while Matthew Renshaw contributed a brisk 43 and teenager Oliver Peake added 31 off 32 balls. After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi chose to field first. Left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, who impressed on ODI debut in the first match, claimed 2-27, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took 2-34. Afridi and Haris Rauf shared five wickets, finishing with figures of 3-36 and 2-49 respectively. Pakistan’s chase was led by all-rounder Shadab Khan, who scored 71 from 104 balls after enduring a difficult outing with the ball. He shared a 59-run partnership with Arafat Minhas (33) to revive the innings after Pakistan had slumped to 78-6. However, Ellis broke the partnership by trapping Minhas lbw in the 32nd over. Shadab reached his half-century and struck two sixes, but he was eventually the last batter dismissed, stumped by Inglis off leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. Ellis had earlier removed opener Maaz Sadaqat in his first over before dismissing Babar Azam for 16 with a delivery that sharply moved back into the batter. Australia captain Inglis said his side felt confident once they crossed the 200-run mark. "It was a pretty good total in the end," Inglis said. "It would have been nice for someone to go on and get a big score, but we thought anything over 200, we were right in the game. "You can always call on Nello (Ellis) on those sort of pitches, his variations are outstanding, and when you've got on-pace at 145 and then your slow balls at just over 100k an hour, it's really tough." Earlier, Australia's innings got off to a poor start when Alex Carey was bowled by the first ball of the match from Afridi. Pakistan quickly introduced spinners Minhas and Abrar during the power play and both found success. Abrar dismissed Matthew Short, while Minhas removed Marnus Labuschagne for 5. Inglis and Green then steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership, showing patience on the difficult surface. Inglis reached his fifty before being bowled by Minhas, while Green added another valuable stand with Renshaw. After completing his half-century, Green was caught at long-on off Abrar. Rauf later bowled Renshaw, but Peake’s late cameo, featuring two sixes and a boundary, helped Australia post a competitive total. Pakistan captain Afridi admitted his team conceded too many runs in the closing overs. "We gave away 20-30 extra runs towards the end," Afridi said. "We lost wickets early on and that built pressure on us it is a spinning track, not easy to bat on, but the way Nathan Ellis bowled - stump to stump - that brought him success." The deciding third ODI will be played at the same venue on Thursday.

The Colombo Kaps has drafted Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud for the 2026 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The Colombo franchise confirmed Hasan's selection during the tournament's official player draft. And with this, he became the latest Bangladeshi cricketer to secure an international league contract. As a regular spearhead of Bangladesh's multi-format pace attack, the young fast bowler is expected to significantly bolster Colombo's bowling lineup with his raw pace and proven wicket-taking ability. Hasan's selection underscores a remarkably strong Bangladeshi contingent in the Sri Lankan franchise tournament this season. He joins several high-profile national teammates who have already secured spots in the competition. Earlier in the draft, veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was recruited by the Jaffna Kings, while opening batter Litton Das joined the Galle Marvels.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said this week that it will trial pink cricket balls in traditional Test matches to prevent play from being interrupted by fading light. The strategic shift addresses a persistent issue in the sport's longest format. While red balls become virtually invisible under murky skies, white limited-overs balls degrade too quickly to survive the rigorous demands of a five-day match. Pink balls, which are currently reserved exclusively for day-night Test matches under stadium floodlights, offer a durable and highly visible alternative. According to an official statement, the ICC Executive Board has approved "trialling the use of a pink ball in Test matches, with prior agreement from both teams, to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light." The governing body has also sanctioned fresh research into advanced stadium lighting technology to help match officials and host venues further reduce the amount of time lost to poor visibility. "Our discussions... have reinforced the ICC's commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally," said ICC Chief Jay Shah following the board's high-level meeting in India.

Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 75 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday. Chasing a modest target of 156 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru reached 161-5 in 18 overs after restricting Gujarat to 155-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Kohli anchored the chase with a 42-ball knock featuring nine fours and three sixes, sealing the victory with a six. It was his sixth score of 50 or more this season. Venkatesh Iyer also played a crucial cameo, scoring 32 off just 16 deliveries. With the triumph, Bengaluru became only the third franchise in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining Chennai Super Kings (2010-11) and Mumbai Indians (2019-20). Kohli ended the season with 675 runs in 16 matches, while pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished with 28 wickets. Earlier, Kumar claimed 2-29 and Josh Hazlewood took 2-37 as Bengaluru’s bowlers kept Gujarat’s batting lineup under control. Washington Sundar top-scored for Gujarat with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, including five boundaries. No other batter managed to score more than 20 runs. Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of Bengaluru’s bowlers with figures of 3-27 from four overs.

Bangladesh women’s captain Nigar Sultana Joty believes a successful campaign at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup can serve as a catalyst for local players to break into lucrative global franchise tournaments. The national team suffer from a severe lack of regular fixtures and international exposure throughout the calendar year. While women's franchise leagues are expanding rapidly worldwide, Bangladeshi cricketers are consistently overlooked. Nigar views the world stage as the definitive platform to alter that narrative. "Our team receive very little exposure," she stated during a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday. "The World Cup is a massive stage where the entire cricket community is watching. Delivering strong performances here forces people to talk about Bangladesh cricket, and that is our primary goal." The skipper emphasised that individual brilliance in the tournament will directly translate into personal career advancements for her squad. "When players excel individually on this stage, global opportunities naturally follow. The team is in a very positive frame of mind. A strong showing is vital for the collective growth of women's cricket in our country, but it will also immensely benefit the players on a personal level." The tournament is set to commence in England on June 12. In preparation, the Bangladesh squad will depart Dhaka in two separate flights tonight and tomorrow morning. They will initially land in Scotland to play a preparatory T20 triangular series involving the hosts and the Netherlands to acclimate to European conditions. "We have a great chance to win against the Netherlands and Pakistan," Nigar analysed. "We also have a lot of experience playing India, and we have beaten both India and South Africa in the past. Our strategy is to focus on one game at a time. Securing an early victory will give us the rhythm we need to carry us through the tournament." Bangladesh enter the tournament desperate to correct a poor historical record, having managed just three wins from 25 matches across previous editions. To secure a historic semi-final berth from a demanding group featuring Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, Nigar has mapped out a target of three group-stage victories.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar shared an emotional message on social media after his son, Arjun Tendulkar, made his IPL 2026 debut for Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday. Despite LSG’s defeat, Arjun delivered an impressive performance by dismissing Prabhsimran Singh and ending with figures of 1/36 from four overs. In his now-viral post, Sachin praised Arjun for his patience, dedication, and positive mindset throughout the season, especially after waiting until the final league match to get an opportunity. In his heartfelt message, Sachin wrote that he was proud of how Arjun stayed confident in his abilities, continued working hard quietly, and handled the challenges of cricket with maturity. He also reminded him to stay humble and keep enjoying the game. With LSG already out of the IPL 2026 playoff race, Arjun finally received his debut cap in the team’s last league-stage match. He scored 5 runs off five balls and made a notable impact with the ball. The left-arm pacer maintained an economy rate of 9, the best among his teammates. He nearly claimed a wicket in his opening over, but captain Rishabh Pant dropped a simple catch. Arjun eventually got his breakthrough in his third over, trapping Prabhsimran LBW with a sharp yorker. IPL 2026 has been a significant chapter in Arjun’s career, marking his first season away from Mumbai Indians after being traded to LSG ahead of the auction. Source: NDTV

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished at the top of the Indian Premier League standings on Friday despite suffering a 55-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bengaluru ensured their top-table position by net run rate and will now host Gujarat Titans in the first playoff on Tuesday. The winner will advance directly to the IPL final on May 31 in Ahmedabad. Hyderabad, level on points with Bengaluru and Gujarat but placed third, will host the second playoff on Wednesday against an opponent yet to be decided. Hyderabad posted a massive 255-4, their ninth total above 200 this season, powered by half-centuries from Ishan Kishan (79), Abhishek Sharma (56) and Heinrich Klaasen (51). Chasing the target, Bengaluru needed only 166 runs to guarantee a top-two finish. After an aggressive start from Venkatesh Iyer and the early dismissals of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Paddikal, captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya focused on reaching the required target rather than chasing victory, reaching it in the 17th over. They eventually went past 178 to seal the top position. Bengaluru ended on 200-4, with Pandya unbeaten on 41 after Patidar was dismissed for 56. “The top priority was to be on the top (of the table). The target was a lot,” Patidar said. “The top five (Hyderabad) batters played very well and they dominated … (and when we batted) the slower bouncer was gripping and they executed the bouncers and yorkers very well.” Iyer, opening for the first time this season, struck four sixes and four boundaries in a quick 44 off 19 balls, but after his dismissal and Kohli’s catch at cover for 15 off 11 balls during the powerplay, Bengaluru shifted focus to qualification rather than victory. For Hyderabad, bowlers Eshan Malinga (2-33) and Sakib Hussain (1-31) delivered standout performances. Earlier, Hyderabad’s top order dominated Bengaluru’s pace attack, including experienced bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who together conceded 106 runs in eight wicketless overs. Sharma benefitted from three dropped catches on his way to a 21-ball fifty, smashing five sixes and four boundaries. Kishan and Klaasen maintained the momentum, taking on both the pace and spin attack, including Krunal Pandya, who conceded 24 runs in two overs before dismissing Klaasen in the 17th over. Hyderabad finished with their highest total of the season. “It’s pretty impressive to get the score that we did,” Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins said. “Everyone's hitting their straps.”

Barrister Zaima Rahman, daughter of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, on Thursday evening shared a warm and lively interaction with members of the Bangladesh women's national cricket team, extending her best wishes ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be held in England and Wales this June. At a special send-off reception hosted by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke in honour of cricket team members, Zaima was seen engaging in friendly conversations with the players, exchanging pleasantries and posing for selfies in a cheerful atmosphere. The reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence celebrated Bangladesh team’s achievements and wished them success as they prepared to represent Bangladesh on the global stage.  

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam produced a masterful bowling performance to claim 6-120, dismantling Pakistan’s stubborn resistance on the final morning to secure a 78-run victory for Bangladesh in the second Test. The dramatic win at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium completes a historic 2-0 series sweep, marking Bangladesh’s fourth consecutive Test triumph over Pakistan. Chasing a monumental and record-defying target of 437, Pakistan resumed the fifth morning at 316-7, needing 121 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan anchoring their hopes. After wet ground conditions delayed the start of play, the visitors launched a spirited counter-attack to cross the 350-mark, keeping the chase alive and cutting the deficit to double digits. However, Taijul broke through the burgeoning lower-order resistance. He beautifully looped a delivery to dip and turn past the bat of Sajid Khan (28), drawing a sharp outside edge that captain Najmul Hossain Shanto safely caught at first slip. With this dismissal, Taijul completed his 18th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Shoriful Islam then delivered the definitive blow of the morning by removing a valiant Rizwan. Moving a length ball wide of off-stump, Shoriful induced a loose cut shot from Rizwan (94), who picked out Mehidy Hasan Miraz at gully. Rizwan’s departure for a gritty 94 left the visitors in despair, and Taijul swiftly wrapped up the match just an over later, enticing Khurram Shahzad to sky a catch to long-on to bundle Pakistan out for 358. Pakistan's last three wickets fell on 258. Litton Das who scored 126 runs in the first innings followed by 69 in the second innings was adjudged player of the match while veteran Mushifiqur Rahim was named player of the series for scoring 253 runs in the series, including a century in their second innings. The comprehensive series victory was built on sensational individual performances across the five days. After being put in to bat, Bangladesh posted 278 in the first innings, rescued from a top-order collapse by Litton Das’s majestic 126. Bangladesh’s bowlers then restricted Pakistan to 232, securing a crucial 46-run lead despite a defiant 68 from Babar Azam. The hosts drove the game completely out of Pakistan's reach in the second innings by racking up 390. That historic batting display was headlined by veteran maestro Mushfiqur Rahim, who struck an outstanding 137 off 233 balls to notch his 14th career century, eclipsing Mominul Haque for the most Test hundreds in Bangladesh’s history. Though Pakistan's middle-order fought tenaciously during the fourth innings—highlighted by a roaring 134-run partnership between Rizwan and Salman Agha (71)—Taijul's clever variations consistently altered the game's momentum. Having already accounted for Babar (47) and Shan Masood (71) earlier in the innings, Taijul’s final morning masterclass ensured Bangladesh sealed the maximum World Test Championship points on offer. With back-to-back comprehensive victories following their historic away series win in late 2024, Shanto’s clinical side has definitively underscored a profound power shift in Asian red-ball cricket.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam stepped up with a brilliant double-strike to break a menacing partnership, pulling Bangladesh back into the driver's seat on the fourth morning of the second Test in Sylhet. At the end of day four, Pakistan still needed 121 with only three wickets in hand.  The visitors, tasked with chasing a monumental, history-defying target of 437, recovered from early setbacks through a defiant stand before Taijul swung the momentum back to the hosts. The foundation of Bangladesh’s total dominance was established on Day 3 by veteran maestro Mushfiqur Rahim. Mushfiqur played a majestic, record-breaking knock of 137 off 233 deliveries to anchor Bangladesh's second innings to 390. His 14th career Test ton pushed him past Mominul Haque to become the country's most prolific Test centurion, setting up a target well beyond any successful chase in the history of the format. Despite losing quick wickets early on the fourth morning, Pakistan launched a spirited counter-attack. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha forged a resilient, multi-over partnership that began to cause anxiety in the Bangladesh camp. Salman looked exceptionally fluent, striking six boundaries and a six to reach 71 off just 102 balls, shifting the pressure back onto the home side's bowlers. With the game starting to drift, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made a tactical gamble, handing the spinner the relatively new ball. The move paid immediate dividends in the 82nd over. Taijul, having beat Salman with a sharp turn on the previous delivery, pushed a quicker arm-ball on a full length. Salman prodded forward to defend, but the ball skidded straight through the gap between bat and pad to shatter the stumps, ending the 134-run stand. Taijul struck again just one over later to completely expose Pakistan's tail. He drew Hasan Ali (0) forward with a beautifully dipping delivery outside off-stump. Caught in two minds, Hasan pushed forward uncertainly, offering a thick shoulder-edge that Shanto safely gathered at first slip. The rapid double-blow reduced Pakistan to 312-7, leaving Rizwan fighting a lone battle alongside the lower order. At the end of day four, they were standing at 316 for 7.