United News of Bangladesh

Zakir Hasan’s 27-ball 58 led Sylhet Strikers to a three-wicket win over Dhaka Capitals in their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match on Friday in Sylhet. Litton Das of Dhaka hit 73 off 43 balls, and Munim Shahriar scored 52, but they were overshadowed by Zakir’s 58. Dhaka posted a competitive total of 193 for six, batting first. Sabbir Rahman’s quickfire 23 off 10 balls and Thisara Perera’s 18 off nine provided the late surge. BPL Football: Mohammedan take on Rahmatganj Friday in top of table clash Rahkeem Cornwall took three wickets for Sylhet conceding 27 runs. In reply, Sylhet stumbled early, losing Rahkeem Cornwall for a duck in the first ball of the innings. George Munsey (11 off 8) and Aaron Jones (14 off 8) fell cheaply, leaving Sylhet at 42 for 3 in the fourth over Zakir Hasan then steadied the chase, with seven fours and three sixes during his innings. His dismissal in the 10th over, with Sylhet at 109 for 5, shifted the momentum briefly.  But Rony Talukdar, 30 off 20, and Jaker Ali, 24 off 17, kept Sylhet in the hunt before captain Ariful Haque took charge. Ariful’s unbeaten 28 off 15 balls, including four boundaries and a six, ensured Sylhet’s victory in the penultimate over. Farmanullah, and Shubham Ranjane took two wickets each for Dhaka. It was the maiden win for Sylhet in the season, while Dhaka continue to suffer, conceding sixth defeat in six matches they played so far.//  

Bangladeshi star batsman Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a widespread rumour about his possible return with the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy. In a social media post, Tamim clarified that his chapter of international cricket has come to a final destination. “I have been away from international cricket for quite some time, and that distance will not be bridged. My journey in international cricket is over,” Tamim wrote. Tamim mentioned that he had been thinking about this decision for a long time and wanted to ensure his choice would not disrupt the team’s focus, particularly with the Champions Trophy around the corner. “I don’t want discussions about me to affect the team’s focus during such a major tournament. That’s why I had stepped away from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) central contract more than a year ago. Despite this, there were unnecessary discussions and speculations,” Tamim added. Tamim reaches 8000 runs as first Bangladeshi Recently, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said he wants Tamim and other senior players in the team for the Champions Trophy. But Tamim thought otherwise, listening to his heart. “I am grateful to the selectors and Shanto for wanting me back. But after reflecting, I realized the time has come to move on,” he added. Tamim added that it was shocking for him to be excluded from the World Cup team in 2023. The left-handed batter played for the national team last time more than a year ago. “To my son, I say: ‘When you grow up, you’ll understand your father’s decision,’” he added. Tamim played for Bangladesh for more than 16 years. He amassed more than 15000 runs in international cricket, and he has 25 centuries in international cricket— most by any Bangladeshis.

Durbar Rajshahi beat Khulna Tigers by 28 runs in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Friday in Sylhet. It was Rajshahi's second win in BPL in five matches, while Khulna’s second defeat in three matches. Rajshahi batted first and scored 178 for five, with Burl scoring 48 off 29 balls. He hit seven fours and a six. Yasir Ali supported him with 41 off 25 balls, and Akbir Ali also did well with 21 off nine balls. They could have scored a bigger total but their middle-order slowed down the progress in the middle overs. Sabbir’s 82 in vain as Dhaka suffer another defeat Nasum Ahmed was the standout bowler for Khulna, taking 2 for 20 in his three overs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Nawaz picked up a wicket each. Khulna lost early wickets and failed to offer a tough challenge to the Rajshahi bowling attack. Afif Hossain top-scored with 33, while Mohammad Naim scored 24. Taskin Ahmed, Sohag Gazi, and Ryan Burl took two wickets each for Rajshahi.

Sabbir Rahman hits an unbeaten 82 off 33 balls with nine sixes, but his 50 went in vain as Dhaka Capitals suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Chittagong Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match on Thursday in Sylhet. Dhaka’s innings was powered by Sabbir’s 82 not out. Along with nine sixes, he hit three fours. Despite a slow start, Sabbir’s innings kept them strong in the contest. But the other batters failed to accelerate when they needed it most. Tanzid Hasan also hit a 50. He ended up on 54 off 48 balls. Nurul’s last-ball six seals a high-scoring thriller for Riders vs Barishal Khaled Ahmed was the best bowler for the Kings. He bagged three wickets for just 21 runs. In response, Chittagong began strongly. Usman Khan smashed 55 off 33 balls, supported by Parvez Hossain Emon, who made 17 off 16. The pair added 55 runs for the opening wicket before Emon fell in the sixth over. Graham Clark then joined Usman, contributing 39 off 32 to keep the chase on track. After Clark’s dismissal in the 17th over, captain Mohammad Mithun and Shamim Hossain guided the Kings to victory. Mithun remained unbeaten on 33 off 22, while Shamim struck a quick 30 off 14 balls, including four fours and a six. Tamim reaches 8000 runs as first Bangladeshi With this win, the Kings moved to fourth place on the points table while Dhaka remained winless after matches, sitting at the bottom of the points table with zero points and a negative net run rate of -1.527. The Kings maintained their positive net run rate of 1.262. Rangpur Riders, with six consecutive victories, lead the table with 12 points and an impressive net run rate of 1.732. Fortune Barishal, despite their loss to Rangpur earlier in the day, hold the second spot with six points from five games and a net run rate of 0.838.

With three sixes and three fours, Nurul Hasan struck 30 runs off the last over to lead Rangpur Riders to a thrilling three-wicket win over defending champions Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Thursday in Sylhet. Chasing a big target of 198, the Riders needed 26 runs in the last over. Nurul delivered a stunning finish, smashing three sixes and three fours off Kyle Mayers. Mayers conceded only three runs in his first over which might have prompted Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal to hand the ball to him in the last over. But his second over proved so costly that it cost the match for them. Tamim reaches 8000 runs as first Bangladeshi With two runs needed off the final ball, Nurul cleared the mid-wicket boundary for a six to seal the game in style. Riders required 71 runs with seven wickets in hand, entering the final five overs. They managed just 32 runs in the 16th, 17th, and 18th overs, leaving them needing 39 from the final 12 balls, which was still a tough job to do. Jahandad Khan removed three batters while conceding 13 runs, seemingly putting Barishal in control. However, Nurul’s explosive knock of 32 off just seven balls, including three sixes and three fours, turned the tide decisively in Rangpur’s favor. Tawfique Khan, 38 off 28 balls, and Iftikhar Ahmed, 48 off 36, have also contributed well with the bat to chase down a big target of 198 runs. Nahid Rana shines as Rangpur Riders continue winning streak Earlier, the current BPL champions Barishal posted 197 for five wickets. Kyle Mayers was their best batter scoring 61 off just 29 balls with seven sixes. But at the end of the match, he ended up being on the losing side for his expensive last over. With this win, the Riders remain undefeated this BPL season, securing their sixth victory, while this match was Barishal's third loss in eight encounters.

Former captain of the Bangladesh national team and the captain of Fortune Barishal in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Tamim Iqbal, reached 8000 runs in T20s as the first Bangladeshi batter. The left-handed batter achieved the milestone of 8,000 runs on Thursday during his innings of 40 against Rangpur Riders in their BPL match in Sylhet. Before taking the field on Thursday, Tamim had 7991 runs to his name in this format of cricket. Tamim reached the milestone in his 272nd match and 271st innings in T20 cricket. He now has 8031 runs at an average of 32.91 and a strike rate of 121.27, including four centuries. Read: Tamim ponders Champions Trophy return amidst retirement rumours Most of the runs Tamim scored came for the Bangladesh national team where he scored 1701 runs. In BPL, Tamim is the all-time highest scorer with more than 3500 runs. He also has more than 600 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Nathan McSweeney was recalled to Australia’s test squad on Thursday to tour Sri Lanka, less than three weeks after being dropped from the top order. Australia’s selectors announced their squad Thursday for the two-test tour, with several fresh faces added to the group that played India in Sydney last week. Australia won the five-test series 3-1 a nd clinched a spot in the World Test Championship against South Africa at Lord's in June. Steve Smith will lead the squad to Sri Lanka while regular skipper Pat Cummins is on leave as his wife awaits the birth of the couple’s second child. Australia’s selectors concentrated on spin for the two Sri Lanka tests, with uncapped 21-year-old Cooper Connolly among the seven full or part-time slow bowling options in the 16-man squad. Connolly, a left-arm allrounder, has represented Australia in limited-overs cricket and has been called up for his maiden test campaign along with specialist spinners Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann. New Zealand beats Sri Lanka by 113 runs in rain-hit 2nd ODI to win series McSweeney scored 72 runs at an average of 14.4 in his first three tests against India, before being replaced by Sam Konstas for the Melbourne Cricket Ground test starting Dec. 26. The 25-year-old McSweeney has batted at No. 3 for South Australia state this season — averaging 97 — but has previously batted further down the order. Cricket Australia also said Cummins was “focusing on an ankle issue which was managed through the test summer" and fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood was continuing his recovery from a calf injury. Mitchell Marsh was omitted for the tour, joining Hazlewood in focusing on the 50-overs Champion’s Trophy in Pakistan which immediately follows the test tour. The first test begins Jan. 29 and the second Feb. 6, both at spin-friendly Galle International Stadium. A one-off one-day international is scheduled for Feb. 13, also at Galle. “Sri Lanka is a challenging and exciting place to tour given the different conditions players may be presented with," selector George Bailey said. “This squad provides several ways to structure the XI depending on what type of wickets we may encounter in each match.”

Bangladesh's former captain, Tamim Iqbal’s participation in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy is still uncertain. After a meeting with the chief selector of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Tamim said he is expecting a decision in the next two to three days. Tamim Hossain of BKSP wins gold medal in Taiwan National School Athletics Tamim met with Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the chief selector, on Wednesday in Sylhet. While meeting him, Tamim said he would make the call after discussing it with his family and well-wishers. With the deadline for submitting the 15-member Champions Trophy squad to the ICC approaching on January 12th, the selectors are keen to include Tamim after national team captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, expressed his desire to have Tamim in the team. In the discussion with Tamim, other selection committee members also accompanied the chief selector. Tamim slams BCB over lack of investment in cricket infrastructure “Discussions don't always come up with immediate results,” Gazi Ashraf said during a media briefing in Sylhet. “Players may need to consult with friends, family, and well-wishers before making a comeback. We won't give a direct answer. We'll have to wait for the final decision.” Tamim played for the national team more than a year ago. It’ll be a surprising move for the fans if the left-handed batter decides to make a return to the national team now. Tamim heads to India amid speculation about commentary job

Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman made half centuries in a 112-run second-wicket partnership which helped New Zealand to a 113-run win over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international on Wednesday and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Ravindra made 79 from 63 balls and Chapman scored 62 from 52 as New Zealand reached 255-9 batting first in a match reduced by rain to 37 overs per side. Maheesh Theekshana became the seventh Sri Lanka player to take an ODI hat trick when he dismissed Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith and Matt Henry with consecutive deliveries across two overs late in the innings. Sri Lanka slumped to 22-4 but Kamindu Mendis made a career-best 64 before the team was dismissed for 142 in 30.2 overs. Mendis put on 57 for the fifth wicket with Janith Liyanage (22) and 47 for the sixth wicket with Chamidu Wickramasinghe (17) in a key partnership which was cut short by the second run-out of the Sri Lanka innings. Sri Lanka struggled against the pace and bounce of the New Zealand attack and its run rate required had crept up to almost 15 by the end. Showers and a wet outfield delayed the start of play by two hours. When Sri Lanka won the toss it made the natural decision to bowl on a greenish pitch at Seddon Park with the possibility of more showers to come. Pakistani batter Fakhar Zaman confident of returning at Champions Trophy New Zealand lost Will Young for 16 and was 31-1 when Chapman joined Ravindra. Together they kept the score ticking over steadily, reaching their 50 partnership from 44 balls and their century partnership from only 79 deliveries. The pair rotated the strike and worked the ball often into the onside where there were larger gaps in the field. Ravindra also showed he was in form with an early straight drive which was a perfect example of the shot. “I think it's a nice natural tempo to go out there and play cricket shots, even in the shortened game,” Ravindra said. "I do enjoy the ODI format, although you don't see many matches happening any more. “It's a format I grew up watching and I think it suits the way I bat.” There were signs Ravindra was coming into form when he hit 69 from 38 balls in the third Twenty20 between the teams and 45 from 36 balls in the first match of the ODI series on Sunday which New Zealand won by nine wickets. He found his timing early on Wednesday and hit nine fours and a six. Chapman hit five fours and two sixes, playing with increasing confidence at No. 3. Both players reached their half centuries with sixes, Ravindra from the bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga and Chapman from Eshan Malinga. New Zealand lost momentum after Ravindra and Chapman were out. Daryl Mitchell made 38, Glenn Phillips 22 and Santner 20 but New Zealand couldn't get back on top of the bowling. The third ODI is on Saturday at Auckland.

Fakhar Zaman is confident of returning to international cricket after eight months when Pakistan hosts next month’s Champions Trophy. Fakhar hasn’t played international cricket since Pakistan’s first-round exit from the T20 World Cup last June and subsequently missed out on central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board for the first time in eight years. “People don’t know that after the T20 World Cup I got sick,” Fakhar explained to the Vipers Voices podcast as he prepared to play ILT20 for Desert Vipers in the United Arab Emirates. “I was not part of the team because of my medical condition, but now (I’m) 100% (sure) I will play for Pakistan.” The veteran opening batter made headlines when he criticized the national cricket administration just before Babar Azam was controversially rested for the final two home test matches against England late last year due to his inconsistent form in red-ball cricket. The PCB issued Fakhar a show cause notice for his social media post in favor of Babar. The post didn’t go down well with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also expressed concerns over Fakhar's fitness. “It cannot happen like that if selection committee is not playing one player, then other players start tweeting to express their displeasure,” Naqvi told reporters at the time. “Players are not allowed to function like this, and we will never allow that. The main issue with (Fakhar) is his fitness test, that he was not able to clear.” In the absence of Fakhar, Pakistan won three away ODI series over the last two months, beating Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa under the captaincy of new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan. Read: Defiant Masood narrows Pakistan's deficit to 109 in 2nd test against South Africa Back home, Fakhar returned to competitive cricket during the domestic Champions Cup T20 tournament last month and was the third highest-scorer with 303 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 132.31. “The plan was to get fully fit and play in the Champions Trophy,” Fakhar said. “I am lucky to be fit right now. I started from the Champions Trophy 2017 and that went really well for me. Now I am very excited for the next edition also.” Fakhar had a memorable tournament in 2017 when he scored a match-winning century in the final against India. Pakistan’s latest white-ball sensation, Saim Ayub, made two ODI centuries in South Africa before he fractured his right ankle during the second test at Cape Town last week. Ayub has been ruled out of competitive cricket for at least six weeks, putting his participation in doubt for the Champions Trophy. The PCB flew Ayub to London from Cape Town on Monday for treatment, and Fakhar said he hoped Ayub recovers in time as Pakistan prepares to host its first major ICC tournament next month in 29 years. “I hope he (Ayub) will recover quickly,” Fakhar said. “I was thinking to call Saim yesterday, just to talk to him about this injury. Believe me, he is such a great player that if he continues to play for the next four-five years, he will be among the top three players in the world.” Fakhar will be playing for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 and was the top target for Tom Moody, who is director of cricket with the franchise. Fakhar said he was excited to play alongside West Indies T20 captain Sherfane Rutherford. “He is one of the best cricketers in the T20 format and I really enjoy seeing him batting,” he said. “I am very excited to be part of this team, and I want to share the crease with him. He is one of the best players, so I am very excited to play with him.”