United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh fans have spent more than two decades waiting for isolated ODI victories against Australia. To secure two wins in a single week and lock down a historic series victory felt entirely surreal. Yet, on Sunday at Mirpur, the hosts stood on the precipice of an even greater feat: a clean sweep. Australia, however, managed to claw their way out of trouble, escaping with a nerve-shredding one-wicket victory with only three balls left. Chasing a target of 275, Australia’s chase concluded in high drama. With 35 runs needed off the final 42 deliveries, Cooper Connolly spearheaded the charge alongside young Oliver Peake. Even when Shoriful Islam returned to trigger a late collapse, Australia’s lower order kept their composure. In the final over, tasked with defending just three runs, Taskin Ahmed bowled a wide fuller delivery outside off stump. Adam Zampa met it cleanly, driving it through the covers for a boundary to seal a consolation win for the visitors. The grandstand finish was set up by a bowling masterclass from left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam, who finished with magnificent figures of 6 for 48. Stepping into the side for the rested Nahid Rana, Shoriful tore the heart out of the Australian order. He struck twice in his opening over, removing Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw off consecutive deliveries. He later returned to dismiss a well-set Marnus Labuschagne (29), before collecting three more lower-order wickets—including a double-strike in the 46th over to remove Peake and Xavier Bartlett—to claim a memorable six-wicket haul. Despite Shoriful's heroics, a single over from Taskin Ahmed shifted the momentum back to Australia. In the 45th over, with the visitors needing 30 runs off 36 balls, Connolly launched an extraordinary assault against Taskin, hitting three consecutive sixes over midwicket, fine leg, and the sight screen. The 21-run over broke the pressure and ultimately cost Bangladesh the match. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat, posting a competitive 274 for 5. The innings was built on excellent half-centuries from Towhid Hridoy (83 off 88 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (56* off 51 balls), who put together a crucial middle-order partnership. Litton Das also fought through calf cramps to contribute a gritty 58 before retiring hurt. For Australia, Matt Renshaw was the pick of the regular bowlers with 2 for 7, while Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis chipped in with a wicket each to keep the target within reach. Australia’s response got off to a flyer despite a revamped opening pair. Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis added 30 runs inside three overs before Shoriful's spectacular introduction reduced them to 38 for 2. Taskin then removed Alex Carey for 8, courtesy of a brilliant diving catch by Soumya Sarkar, leaving Australia at 71 for 3. Connolly anchored the remainder of the chase beautifully, registering a magnificent maiden ODI century. He anchored a 53-run stand with Labuschagne and later found an able ally in Peake (27). Connolly was eventually dragged on by a Mustafizur Rahman cutter for a magnificent 149 off 134 balls, featuring 13 boundaries and 6 sixes. His dismissal left Australia’s tail to navigate a tense final two overs, which Zampa safely negotiated to deny Bangladesh a 3-0 whitewash.    

Stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first as Bangladesh sought a clean sweep in the third and final One-Day International against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. Bangladesh were forced to make changes after regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was ruled out following a head injury sustained from a Nathan Ellis bouncer during the second ODI. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan replaced fast bowler Nahid Rana, who was rested for the match. Speaking at the toss, Shanto said Mehidy was recovering well but remained under medical observation. Bangladesh have already secured their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia, winning the opening match by 86 runs and the second by five wickets, with both results determined under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method due to weather interruptions. Australia, meanwhile, made two changes as they looked to avoid a series whitewash. Fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis and all-rounder Oliver Peake were included in the side, replacing opener Matthew Short and pacer Nathan Ellis. A victory would complete a landmark 3-0 series sweep for Bangladesh against the five-time world champions. Line Ups: Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam. Australia: Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (captain), Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Oliver Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith.

Skipper Shubman Gill scored 84 not out off 66 balls for India to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in a rain-affected one-day international on Saturday. Rain delayed the toss for more than four hours and reduced the match to 25 overs per side. India won with 13 balls to spare at 193-5 in reply to Afghanistan's 194 all out. Gill hit 11 fours and two sixes with help from Lokesh Rahul, 39 not out off 19 balls. Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 102 off 51 balls went in vain, though he helped Afghanistan recover from 54-7. India debutants did well; pacer Gurnoor Brar took 3-27 and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey 3-47. India leads the first bilateral ODI cricket series between the teams 1-0. Lucknow hosts the second ODI on Wednesday and Chennai hosts the third and last match on June 20. Put into bat, Afghanistan was cut down to 26-3 in 4.3 overs when Gurbaz counterattacked. He hit four sixes and four boundaries en route to 50 off only 25 balls. The next 50 came off 23 balls with another four sixes and four fours — the ninth century for Gurbaz and the first for an Afghanistan batter against India. It was also the second quickest ODI century against India after Shahid Afridi took 45 balls in 2005 for Pakistan. Gurbaz was eventually bowled in the 16th over — off Nitish Reddy — after putting on 116 off 66 balls with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (27). Afghanistan slipped again. Dubey dismissed Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai (26). The last five batters didn’t reach double digits, out for 22 runs in 26 balls. In reply, Rohit Sharma was run out on 16. Gill, though, carried his form over from the Indian Premier League in scoring his 18th ODI half-century off 37 balls. Ishan Kishan added 34 runs and Shreyas Iyer 12, but Gill and Rahul hung tough. They put on 53 unbeaten together off 32 balls and Rahul cleaned up with three sixes and four boundaries in only 19 balls.

India won the toss and chose to field first against Afghanistan in the opening match of their three-match ODI series after persistent rain reduced the contest to 25 overs per side in Dharamshala on Saturday. The toss was delayed by more than four hours due to adverse weather conditions before officials confirmed a shortened match. The series marks the first-ever bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan. The second match is scheduled to be played in Lucknow on June 18, while the third and final ODI will take place in Chennai on June 20. The two sides have previously met only in ICC World Cups and Asia Cups in the 50-over format, with India winning three of their four encounters and the remaining match ending in a tie. India enter the series after losing three of their last five ODIs, while Afghanistan arrived in strong form, having won their previous four one-day internationals. Earlier this month, India secured an innings-and-300-run victory over Afghanistan in a one-off Test that ended inside three days. India handed ODI debuts to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey and fast bowler Gurnoor Brar. Veteran opener Rohit Sharma returned to international action, while star batter Virat Kohli was unavailable due to a hamstring injury. All-rounder Hardik Pandya also missed the match because of injury, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was rested. With overcast conditions and the possibility of further rain, the pitch was expected to assist pace bowlers and potentially favor the team batting second. Lineups: Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem Safi, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna    

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed serious concern and issued a strong condemnation following the harassment and abuse of national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan reportedly by members of a law enforcement agency. The incident occurred in Chattogram on Friday night, prompting an immediate reaction from the country's cricket governing body. In an official statement released on Saturday, the BCB strongly condemned the behavior directed at the off-spinner, stating that it views the matter with the utmost seriousness. The board described the treatment of a national athlete as deeply regrettable and called for swift, official intervention. “The BCB expects a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urges the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against those found responsible,” the board said in its release. The BCB also confirmed that it has been in close contact with Nayeem and his family since the incident occurred to ensure their well-being and offer necessary assistance. Additionally, board officials are actively engaging with the local administration and relevant authorities in Chattogram to ensure a proper resolution. Reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the welfare, dignity, and rights of its players, the BCB stated it will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Mohammedan Sporting Club won the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) title on a dramatic final day of complex mathematical equations and weather disruptions, ending a painful 16-year championship drought. The historic victory marks Mohammedan's first league crown since the tournament received official List 'A' status. Heading into the final round, the title race required a specific set of results across two concurrent fixtures at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) grounds. Mohammedan needed to defeat arch-rivals Abahani Limited while relying on a Prime Bank Cricket Club loss. Both results fell perfectly into place. While Dhaka Leopards pulled off a tight nine-run victory over Prime Bank via the DLS method, Mohammedan simultaneously dismantled defending champions Abahani by 63 runs under a separate DLS calculation. Mohammedan finished the campaign atop the table with 18 points from nine victories. Abahani and Prime Bank both finished tied on 16 points, with Abahani claiming the runner-up spot due to a superior head-to-head record. Sent in to bat first, Mohammedan's top order dominated the Abahani attack. Opening batsman Anamul Haque struck a brilliant 141 off 115 balls, moving past Tamim Iqbal to claim the record for the most List 'A' centuries by a Bangladeshi batsman with 25 hundreds. His partner, Parvez Hossain, blasted 150 off 116 balls to propel Mohammedan to a massive 406 for 4—the second-highest team total in DPL history. Chasing the mountain of runs, Abahani struggled before heavy rain halted play in the 25th over at 178 for 4. Anik Sarkar remained stranded on 85, and because persistent downpours prevented a restart, match officials used the DLS method to hand Mohammedan the decisive victory.

New Zealand’s record run-scorer Kane Williamson has retired from international cricket with immediate effect, cutting short his participation in the ongoing three-Test series in England. The 35-year-old batsman made the decision following New Zealand's defeat in the opening Test at Lord's, opting out of the remaining fixtures at The Oval and Trent Bridge. Williamson had already relinquished his central contract in June 2024 to balance franchise commitments, having previously retired from T20Is last November. "Over the last few days it's become clear now is the right time," Williamson said in a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) statement. "I feel fortunate to step away on my own terms." Williamson concludes a legendary 16-year career as New Zealand’s most prolific Test batsman, accumulating 9,515 runs at an average of 54.06 in 110 matches. He also scored 7,256 ODI runs and 2,575 T20I runs. The undisputed pinnacle of his career came in 2021, when he captained New Zealand to victory over India in the inaugural World Test Championship final. Under his leadership, New Zealand also reached the final of the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup. Williamson will now transition fully into franchise cricket and backend roles, having already signed as a strategic advisor for the IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants.

Bangladesh ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has returned home from the hospital following a head injury sustained during the second ODI against Australia at Mirpur yesterday. The captain was struck on the head by a bouncer from Australian pacer Nathan Ellis. Although Miraz was seen vomiting on the field shortly after the impact, he continued to play. However, team management immediately moved him to a hospital after the match as a precautionary measure. All-round depth and 'proactive' spin power Miraz’s blueprint for Australia National team manager Nafees Iqbal confirmed the update on Friday through a video message released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). "Miraz has returned home after being kept under observation for about 12 hours," Nafees said. "He was hit on the head by a bouncer and threw up, which was initially quite concerning. Even though he felt fine later, the BCB medical team and physios quickly decided to send him to Evercare Hospital." Hospital staff performed an initial scan on Thursday night, followed by a second scan on Friday morning. With both reports clearing him of any severe internal injury, doctors released him Friday afternoon. Despite his release, team management has not yet confirmed whether Miraz will feature in the final match of the series. Nafees noted that a definitive decision will depend on how the skipper fares during Saturday's training session. Bangladesh has already clinched the three-match bilateral series after winning the first two matches at Mirpur. The third and final ODI, now a dead rubber, will take place on Sunday.

Bangladesh have made history at Mirpur on Thursday, securing their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia with a five-wicket win in the rain-affected second match. Following a lengthy weather delay that revised their target via the DLS method, the hosts chased down 192 runs in just 35 overs, sealing the three-match bilateral series with a game to spare. When the play resumed after the rain interruption, Bangladesh's target was adjusted to 192 from 41 overs. The chase began with an early hiccup when opener Tanzid Hasan fell to Xavier Bartlett for a duck in the first over. However, Bangladesh recovered quickly through stable contributions across the top order. Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto anchored the rebuild, each scoring vital identical scores of 42 to keep the run rate stable. Litton Das chipped in with a brisk 21 off 18 balls before falling to Cameron Green, while Mosaddek Hossain contributed 15 before falling to Adam Zampa, leaving the score at 144 for five. Towhid Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz then assumed total control of the chase, forging an unbroken 51-run partnership to guide the hosts home. Hridoy played a measured anchor role to finish unbeaten on 40 from 55 balls, while Miraz provided the finishing fluency, hitting an unbeaten 22 off 22 deliveries. With the crowd sensing a historic achievement, Miraz finished the match in style during the 35th over off Riley Meredith. After Hridoy crunched a boundary in front of square, Miraz sealed the win and the series by hooking a 143 kph short delivery firmly over the fine-leg boundary for six, sparking jubilant celebrations across the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Earlier in the day, Australia’s decision to bat first backfired immediately as they collapsed to an unprecedented zero for three, marking the first time in their international history that three wickets fell without a run on the board. Taskin Ahmed struck early, removing Matthew Short for his third consecutive duck in ODI cricket. In the following over, Mustafizur Rahman compounded the tourists' misery by dismissing both Cooper Connolly and Matt Ranshaw for ducks. Australia’s top-order collapsed further to leave them reeling at 81 for six, threatening a sub-100 total. However, a resilient seventh-wicket partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett steadied the ship, adding 103 runs to push the total toward respectability. Just as Australia reached 187 for eight in 42 overs, a heavy downpour halted play, forcing a premature end to the visitors' innings after a late double-strike from Taskin Ahmed. Mustfizur Rahman was adjudged player of the match after taking three wickets for 27 in seven overs.  

Bangladesh need 192 runs in 41 as their revised target in the second ODI against Australia when the play resumes after hours of rain-hit hiatus in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon. Rain came in when Australia were batting at 187 for eight, right after Taskin Ahmed’s double strike. After winning the toss, the visitors decided to bat first. But their dream of putting up a big total was hit hard when they lost three wickets without scoring even a single run. It was the first time in Australia’s history that they lost as many wickets with nothing on the board. Matthew Short was the first man to fall for a duck. It was a back-of-a-length delivery from Taskin Ahmed, which shaped back to the stumps from outside the off. Short failed to play it, suffered his third duck in a row in three ODIs, with one before this series. In the second over of the match, Mustafizur Rahman sent back Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw for a duck each. Australia lost its sixth wicket for 81 runs, which raised a genuine concern for them to be bowled out in less than 100 runs. But in the seventh wicket stand, Marnus Labuschagne and Xavier Bartlett posted 103 runs. Australia lost the first match at the same venue, which was their first defeat to Bangladesh in an ODI in 21 years. Bangladesh are now sitting on a good chance to beat Australia in an ODI series for the first time in their history.