United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah has opted out of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) central contract, which was officially announced on Monday. While BCB had initially included him in the contract for 2025, the veteran cricketer requested to be removed. Mahmudullah, who has already retired from Test and T20I cricket, recently endured a difficult campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy. His longtime teammate Mushfiqur Rahim, who also struggled in the tournament, announced his ODI retirement on March 5. However, Mushfiqur remains in the central contract under Category ‘A’ but will be moved to Category ‘B’ starting this month. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is the only player in the highest category, ‘A+’, earning a monthly salary of BDT 10 lakh. BCB thanks Mushfiqur Rahim for remarkable ODI career Young pacer Nahid Rana has been included in the central contract for the first time in Category ‘B’, while Zakir Hasan, Rishad Hossain, and Tanzid Hasan have also earned their maiden contracts under Category ‘C’. Meanwhile, Soumya Sarkar and Shadman Islam have returned to the contract list after missing out last year. Several well-known names, including Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Nayeem Hasan, have been excluded from the contract. Updated Salary Categories for 2025: Category ‘A+’ (BDT 10 lakh/month): Taskin Ahmed. Category ‘A’ (BDT 8 lakh/month): Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim (to move to ‘B’ from March). Category ‘B’ (BDT 6 lakh/month): Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Mahmudullah (until March), Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana. “A mere social post wasn’t enough”: Tamim honours Mushfiqur after ODI retirement Category ‘C’ (BDT 4 lakh/month): Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Zakir Ali, Tanzid Hasan, Shariful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Mehedi Hasan. Category ‘D’ (BDT 2 lakh/month): Nasum Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed. 

India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, avenging their 2000 loss and becoming the only team to win the title three times. On Sunday (March 9) final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Rohit Sharma’s team beat the Kiwis by four wickets. New Zealand, batting first after winning the toss, scored 251 runs by losing 7 wickets. In response, India chased down the target with one over to spare and four wickets in hand. New Zealand set 252-run target for India in Champions Trophy final India captain Rohit Sharma laid the foundation for his team’s win by scoring a inning-high 76 runs as an opener. His leadership also played a key role in restricting New Zealand's innings, preventing them from posting a higher total. For his all-around contribution, he was awarded the Player of the Match in the final. In addition to Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) stabilized the middle order. Towards the end, Lokesh Rahul’s 34 (not out) completed the chase. On the other hand, Mitchell Bracewell, despite taking two wickets for just 26 runs in 10 overs, including a maiden, failed to lead his team to victory.

Prime Bank Cricket Club carved their name in the record books with a 422 for 8 before bowling out Brothers Union for 249, securing a big 173-run victory in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday. It was a historic day for List ‘A’ cricket in Bangladesh, as Prime Bank became the first team in the country to breach the 400-run mark in a 50-over match. Opener Mohammad Naim stole the show with a blistering 176 off 125 balls, smashing 18 fours and 8 sixes to power his team to an unprecedented total. Batting first after losing the toss, Naim and Sabbir Hossain (73 off 63) provided an explosive start, adding 140 runs in just 18.2 overs. Even after Sabbir’s departure, Naim kept the momentum alive, forming crucial partnerships with Zakir Hasan (26) and Abdullah Al Mamun (40 off 22) before departing in the 39th over. Santner confident as New Zealand ready for Champions Trophy final against India The late fireworks came from Sajjadul Haque (50 off 37) and Rishad Hossain (17 off 8), ensuring that Prime Bank crossed the historic 400-run barrier. Al-Amin Hossain (3 for 77) was the most successful bowler for Brothers Union, but he and his teammates struggled to contain the relentless onslaught. In reply, Brothers Union crumbled under the scoreboard pressure, despite a fighting 96 off 110 balls from Aich Mollah. They lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Alok Kapali (30 off 17) and Myshukur Rahaman (34 off 48) offering some resistance. Prime Bank’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Rishad Hossain (3 for 66) leading the way. Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, and Shamim Hossain picked up two wickets each, dismantling Brothers Union in 42.3 overs.

New Zealand posted 251 for seven in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final at Dubai, setting India a target of 252 to claim the title. New Zealand’s innings was a mix of early struggles and late acceleration, with Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell leading their fightback. Indian spinners were outstanding, containing runs on the crucial moments, and preventing New Zealand batters from scoring quickly. Mitchell anchored the innings with a patient 63 off 101 balls, while Bracewell provided the finishing push with an aggressive 53 off 40 deliveries. The Black Caps got off to a promising start, with Rachin Ravindra scoring a quick 37 off 29 balls. Dhawan credits India’s tactical shift for Champions Trophy success However, wickets fell at crucial intervals, including captain Kane Williamson (11), who was caught and bowled by Kuldeep Yadav. By the halfway mark, New Zealand were 108 for four, struggling to build partnerships against India's disciplined bowling. Glenn Phillips contributed 34, but it was Bracewell’s late surge that ensured New Zealand passed 250-plus total. India’s bowlers, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, kept the scoring in check. Both picked up two wickets each, with Varun conceding just 45 runs in his 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was also economical, taking one wicket while giving away only 30 runs in his full quota. Mohammed Shami had a tough outing, finishing with figures of one for 74 in nine overs, while Hardik Pandya remained wicketless in his three expensive overs, conceding 30 runs.

Former Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan believes India’s success was ensured with the decision to include an extra spinner in the middle of the ICC Champions Trophy. India marched to the final without suffering any defeat. In the final, they are taking on New Zealand who they beat in the group-stage game.  Dhawan pointed to their group-stage clash against New Zealand as a key moment when the team’s strategy clicked into place. That was the game where leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, playing just his second ODI, delivered a stunning five-wicket haul (5 for 42), cementing his place in the squad. “India have played great cricket throughout … but a key moment came in a change of personnel midway through the competition,” Dhawan told the ICC. The spinner’s impact has convinced Dhawan that India will lift the trophy on Sunday, especially given the spin-friendly conditions in Dubai. Santner confident as New Zealand ready for Champions Trophy final against India “I believe India’s spinners will be too strong for New Zealand’s batters, who will find it hard to get hold of Varun Chakaravarthy – he will play a major role,” he said. “Our batting unit is doing very well, the whole team is playing good cricket, and I think – and hope – that will continue.” Beyond Chakaravarthy, Dhawan also praised the contributions of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami. Kohli has been India’s batting anchor, while Shami has played a crucial role despite Dubai’s spin-friendly surfaces. Shami’s performance has been especially crucial in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from injury. “To win the Champions Trophy, you have to have the whole team performing well,” Dhawan said. “One player can win you a game but not a trophy. India have done that throughout.”

All eyes will be on Rachin Ravindra in the ICC Champions Trophy final when his team New Zealand takes on India. Rachin has quickly built a reputation as a player for the big stage, consistently delivering in ICC tournaments. Now, the 25-year-old has got a chance to prove his mettle once again.  Rachin first announced himself in ICC events during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where he stunned the cricketing world with a brilliant century in his very first innings of the tournament. Coming in after Will Young was dismissed for a golden duck against England, he played a match-winning knock of 123 not-out off 96 balls, leading New Zealand to a nine-wicket victory. That was just the beginning. Rachin went on to score two more centuries in the World Cup, finishing with an average of 64. Now, in the Champions Trophy, he has carried that form forward, amassing 251 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 106, including a crucial 108 off 101 balls in the semi-final against South Africa. His consistency in ICC tournaments is remarkable, averaging 63.76 with the bat while striking at a rapid pace. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who spent nearly two hours at the crease with Rachin in the semi-final, praised the young star’s ability to perform under pressure. “It's always great to bat with him,” Williamson said to the ICC. “He puts the team first and plays with freedom. He’s so gifted, really confident, and clear about what he wants to do. We've seen him shine in big tournaments before, and he’s done it again here.” India, New Zealand’s opponent in the final, is well aware of the threat Rachin poses. Top-ranked ODI batter Shubman Gill said his rival’s potential impact. “He's a very dangerous batter at the top, and we’ll try to get his wicket early. If we can do that, we’ll be in the game,” Shubman said to ICC. With New Zealand aiming to end a 25-year drought in ICC white-ball tournaments, Rachin’s role becomes even more vital. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives his team an edge, especially on a Dubai pitch that has favored bowlers throughout the tournament. The stakes are high, and the pressure is immense. But for Rachin, the biggest moments seem to bring out his best. His batting display will be crucial factor for New Zealand in the final.

Mitchel Santner, the New Zealand captain, said his team is confident as they are ready to take on India for the second time in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai.  While expressing confidence, the New Zealand captain said maintaining a consistent approach will be key for them in the final. “It's easy to say it's just another game, it's obviously not, but I think the way you approach it has to be the same,” Santner said at a press conference on the eve of the final.   “We've done a lot of good things in this tournament, and we’re just trying to build on them. It’s the biggest stage tomorrow, so the key is to stay confident, keep a relaxed environment, and let the guys enjoy the occasion,” the New Zealand captain added.  Before the final, New Zealand faced India once in this tournament and lost that match. But Santner said the experience of playing in Dubai before will help them do well in the coming match.  “You get to the business end of these tournaments, and it’s about standing up on the day,” he added. “We know we have to put in a good performance, but at the same time, we don’t want to get overawed by the occasion.” Ahead of the final battle, New Zealand’s biggest worry is the fitness of Matt Henry, who has taken the most wickets in this tournament so far. The pacer has injured his shoulder in the match against South Africa and is uncertain for the final.  India faces New Zealand in budding rivalry at Champions Trophy final “Matt’s going to have a bowl today, and we’ll assess his condition before making a decision,” Santner said in the press conference.  The Kiwi skipper also weighed in on India's bowling attack, particularly leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who took five wickets against New Zealand in the group match.   “He's a world-class bowler with a little bit of mystery,” Santner said. ”We’ve analyzed more footage, and the boys will be ready this time. We know what his threats are—especially that 115kph armball that got me!” It’s been two and a half decades since New Zealand won an ICC event. They are now aiming to end the drought in the final against India.

India faces New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final Sunday in what can be deemed a new-age rivalry. While India’s clashes against Pakistan, Australia and England have attracted more attention, this matchup with the Black Caps has slowly been bubbling under the surface. The 2024-25 season saw this new-age rivalry come to a proper flash point. New Zealand beat India 3-0 in a test series in its own backyard, a feat never registered before. India went on to lose in Australia. Both series defeats cost India a spot in the World Test Championship final. It has only gained little redemption in reaching the Champions Trophy final here. Last fall's test series is vital on another account. Mitchell Santner led New Zealand’s bowling attack with sizzling performances in Pune and Mumbai, as India got stumped against spin at home. Santner is now the Black Caps’ ODI skipper and has led them to the final — where spin is again expected to hold the key. The square at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has progressively slowed down. Australia’s 264 in the first semifinal was the highest first innings’ total here in the Champions Trophy — chased down by India with 11 balls to spare. When India and New Zealand clashed here in their group game last Sunday, the ball hardly bounced up more than the knee in the second innings. Spin, thus, will play a key role in determining the outcome of this final. Gillespie says he was undermined before quitting as Pakistan coach Rohit Sharma started the tournament with three spinners and brought in Varun Chakravarthy with Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Hardik Pandya as the only pace options. It has worked well — Chakravarthy took seven wickets in two games; Indian spinners have picked 14 out of 20 wickets against New Zealand and Australia enroute to the final. With spin taking precedence on a two-paced surface, certain batters from both sides will hold the spotlight. Virat Kohli (217 runs in four matches) and Kane Williamson (189 runs in four matches) will anchor their sides with strike rotation. Rachin Ravindra (226 runs in three matches) and Shreyas Iyer (195 runs in four matches) have higher strike rates, and their aggression will be key in setting up the innings. “It could be a 300-run wicket or a 250-one,” Santner said on Saturday. “We have to go in with an open mind and adjust accordingly. There will be periods of sustained pressure on both sides.” Advantage India? India did not travel to host country Pakistan for security reasons and played all its group games, the semifinal and now the final too, in Dubai. Pakistan and the ICC didn’t think it best to split India’s games across other venues in the UAE for financial reasons. Opinion is varied, even within India’s dressing room, if that's given India an advantage. “What undue advantage?” asked coach Gautam Gambhir after the semifinal victory over Australia. “We haven’t practiced here even for a day. We have practiced at the ICC Academy (in Dubai). Some people are just perpetual cribbers — they need to grow up.” Shami, India’s lead pacer with eight wickets in four games, differed: “It definitely helped us because we know the conditions and behavior of the pitch." New Zealand, for its part, dominated the Pakistan leg of the Champions Trophy. It knocked out Pakistan and Bangladesh in the group games, and despite tiring journeys to-and-from Dubai, had enough gas in the tank to pummel South Africa in the Lahore semifinal. “The weather has been a little shock — it jumped up 10 degrees in the last couple days," Santner said. “We will get a run tonight and it will set us up for tomorrow.” Roots of the rivalry Nearly 25 years ago, Chris Cairns’ well-timed century in Nairobi powered New Zealand past India to win the ICC Knock Out Trophy, which later was renamed the Champions Trophy. Steve Smith retires from ODIs after Australia’s Champions Trophy defeat It remains the only limited-overs ICC trophy in New Zealand’s cabinet. The Black Caps did add another in 2021 — beating India in the World Test Championship final at Southampton. In between, the Men in Blue were stopped in their tracks at the semifinal stage of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, losing a two-day rain-affected semifinal to New Zealand at Manchester. There have been a handful of other vital clashes between the two sides — in 2021, New Zealand knocked India out of the T20 World Cup. In 2023, India returned the favor — beating New Zealand in the semifinal at Mumbai, denying them a third straight final appearance in the Cricket World Cup. India last won the Champions Trophy in 2013 — star players Rohit Sharma and Kohli were part of that winning group. Could it be a potential final ODI outing for the stars, if they manage to overturn the 2023 disappointment of losing to Australia in the final? “There is no talk about retirement in the dressing room, now,” vice-captain Shubman Gill said. “Last time we could not win the 2023 World Cup. We are determined to win this time.”

Jordan Morris became Seattle's career leader for goals scored, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored his first MLS goal, and the Sounders beat Los Angeles FC 5-2 on Saturday. Morris scored his 87th career goal in the 77th minute to make it 3-1, moving past Raúl Ruidíaz on the club's all-time list. Ruidíaz scored 71 goals in the MLS regular season for Seattle (1-1-1), two more than Morris, a 30-year-old Seattle-native. Paul Rothrock scored from well outside the area — his first goal of the season — to give the Sounders the lead for good in the 57th minute at 2-1. Christian Roldan subbed on in the 71st minute and his goal in the 84th made it a two-goal lead. Albert Rusnák added a stoppage-time goal and two assists for the Sounders. David Martínez scored his first goal of the season for LAFC (2-1-0) to make it 4-2 in the second minute of stoppage time. The 19-year-old midfielder scored four goals as a rookie last season. Kossa-Rienzi scored in the 11th minute to give the Sounders a 1-0 lead. The 22-year-old won a long ball played ahead down the right side by Jesús Ferreira from LAFC's Artem Smolyakov, cut back at the at the corner of the 6-yard box as the defender slid by and ripped a left-footed shot inside the back post and into the side net. Messi misses Inter Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Cavalier After Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas mishandled a corner kick played in by Smolyakov, Nathan Ordaz had a one-touch shot blocked by Seattle's João Paulo, but he slammed home the rebound from point-blank range to make it 1-1 in the 38th. The 21-year Ordaz and Kossa-Rienzi became the eighth and ninth players to score a goal in the MLS this season after spending time in MLS Next Pro, a developmental league launched by MLS in 2022.

Centuries from batting sensation Rachin Ravindra and the ever reliable Kane Williamson powered New Zealand into the Champions Trophy final with a resounding 50-run win over South Africa in the second semifinal on Wednesday. New Zealand will now travel to Dubai for Sunday’s final against India, after Virat Kohli’s 84 anchored India to a four-wicket win over Australia in the first semifinal on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Ravindra hit 108 runs off 101 balls and raised his fifth ODI hundred at an ICC tournament. Williamson also impressed with 102 off 94 as New Zealand scored the tournament’s highest ever score of 362-6 in its 50 overs. Gillespie says he was undermined before quitting as Pakistan coach After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Black Caps bettered Australia’s Champions Trophy record of 355 made against England in the group stage at the same venue last month. South Africa, which was unbeaten in the group stage, again fell in the knockout stage of an ICC tournament. South Africa knew it was going to lose with 99 runs needed off the last three overs but David Miller (100 not out) reduced the scale of defeat by smashing 48 runs in those three overs — including seven fours and two sixes — as his team finished on 312-9. Miller raised his 67-ball century off the final ball with two runs. Half centuries from Rassie van der Dussen (69) and captain Temba Bavuma (56) kept the Proteas in the race by the halfway stage before New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner squeezed the chase with 3-43 in 10 overs. South Africa's batters also struggled against three other spinners with Glenn Phillips (2-27), Ravindra (1-20) and Michael Bracewell (1-53) sharing five wickets between them. It was New Zealand’s third win at the Gaddafi Stadium in almost a month after victories against host Pakistan and South Africa in the warmup tri-nation series last month. “It’s a cool feeling to make the final,” Santner said. “The platform we were able to set with Rachin and Kane, and set up the death phase earlier, was great … We got four allrounders who bowl spin, that gives (us) depth.” New Zealand reads conditions well Van der Dussen and Bavuma shared a run-a-ball 105 second-wicket stand before New Zealand spinners spun their web. Bavuma was lured by Santner’s flighted ball and gave Williamson a regulation catch at point, and van der Dussen couldn’t read a delivery that spun away just enough to have him clean bowled, as South Africa slipped to 161-3 in the 27th over. Heinrich Klaasen (3) was then caught off Santner by a diving Matt Henry, who hurt his right shoulder while completing a brilliant diving catch. Aiden Markram gave a tame return catch to Ravindra and the chase got derailed. With wickets falling all round him, Miller raised a personal milestone with his late assault. South Africa bowlers get a bashing Ravindra and Williamson set the platform for a strong total with a 164-run second-wicket stand after Lungi Ngidi deceived Will Young with a slower ball and had him caught at mid-off in the powerplay. Ravindra and Williamson rotated the strike and punished any loose ball from fast bowlers for boundaries. Both batters used their feet well against left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who returned his second most expensive figures of 0-65 in ODIs since his debut against England in 2017. Ravindra, who made three hundreds at the 2023 World Cup in India, and also a century against Bangladesh in the group game of the Champions Trophy at Rawalpindi, was dismissed when he edged Kagiso Rabada after hitting 13 boundaries and a six. Williamson took his time to settle down and got a lucky escape on 56 when wicketkeeper Klaasen couldn’t hold onto a sharp chance. Williamson took 61 balls to complete his half century, but pushed the scoring rate and raced to his 15th ODI hundred off the next 30 balls when he scooped Wiaan Mulder behind the wicket for a boundary before falling to the same shot shortly after. Daryl Mitchell (49) and Phillips (49 not out) cut loose in the death overs and despite both missing out on their half centuries they helped New Zealand accumulate 110 runs off the final 10 overs. Phillips smashed Marco Jansen for four successive boundaries before New Zealand surpassed Australia’s tournament record in the last over. Ngidi (3-72), Rabada (2-70) and Jansen (0-79) all proved expensive while Mulder gave away 48 runs off his six overs. “New Zealand were above par,” Bavuma said. “We had one or two good partnerships but not enough … New Zealand really put us under pressure from the get-go."