United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh will play former champions West Indies in their 3rd Group B match of the 10-team ICC Women's T20 World Cup'2024 on Thursday. The match will kick off at 8:00 pm Bangladesh time at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE. The West Indies team, ICC ranked 5th, played three T20 World Cup matches against the 9th-ranked Bangladesh and won all the matches since 2014. Bangladesh women's team started their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup with a winning note, beating debutante Scotland convincingly by 16 runs in the opening match to taste their first victory after 16 consecutive defeats in the last four editions of the World Cup in 10 years. But, they suffered a 21-run defeat against the 2009 Women's T20 World Cup champions England in the 2nd match last Saturday. After the two Group B matches, England dominated the group, securing the full four points, while the West Indies, South Africa, and Bangladesh followed the leader, collecting two points each. Newcomers Scotland remained at bottom without any point. Now, the Nigar Sultana Joyti-led Bangladesh side is in desperate need of a win to qualify for the meet's knockout stage. On the other hand, the 2016 champion West Indies women's team is also in a similar situation. Having lost their first game to Proteas and then coming back strong with a six-wicket win over the Scottish side, They need to win the coming back so that they put one foot in the second stage of the competition. In the remaining Group B match, Bangladesh will play stronger South Africa on October 12 in Dubai. The top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the semifinals. The first semifinal will be held on October 17 in Dubai, while the semifinal is scheduled for October 18 in Sharjah. The final will be held on October 20 in Dubai. Probable Bangladesh Women's team: Shathi Rani, Dilara Akter, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana Joyti (wk/c), Taj Nehar, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter. Probable West Indies women's team: Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle (w), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Chedean Nation, Afy Fletcher, Ashmini Munisar, and Karishma Ramharack.

Mahmudullah Riyad may not have been the most naturally gifted cricketer of his generation, but he was certainly among those with the best work ethic. The right-handed allrounder, who turns 39 in February, announced his retirement from T20Is on Tuesday. He confirmed that the final match of the ongoing Bangladesh-India series would be his last in the format. He, however, will continue to be available for selection in ODIs. Mahmudullah earned the title of “finisher” in limited-overs cricket for his ability to score quick runs and hit big boundaries in the lower order towards the end of the team's innings. His departure leaves a gap that will not be easy for Bangladesh to fill. At his retirement announcement, Mahmudullah said it was the right time to step down. Cricket analysts seem to agree. Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, veteran cricket coach and a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), told UNB that fans should respect Mahmudullah’s decision. “We have to thank Mahmudullah for his contributions to Bangladesh cricket,” Nazmul Abedeen said. “He did a lot for where Bangladesh cricket stands today. He has performed well, considering the era he played in.” Mohammad Isam, a cricket analyst and Bangladesh correspondent for ESPNcricinfo, echoed the same sentiments. “Mahmudullah's retirement is timely, given his age and dwindling form,” Isam said. “He made his T20I comeback earlier this year after missing 27 matches in 2022. He was almost forgotten in this format after the 2021 World Cup.” Mahmudullah waves goodbye to T20Is Mahmudullah, who has batted in nearly every position, truly earned global respect during the 2015 World Cup with two centuries. No Bangladeshi batter had achieved a World Cup century before him. Despite his versatility, Mahmudullah rarely had a fixed batting position, frequently shifting to suit the team’s needs. Reflecting on his career, Nazmul Abedeen said that Mahmudullah was often the best option at his position. “He never gave others a chance to claim his spot,” Nazmul noted, alluding to Mahmudullah's dedication. Despite primarily batting in the lower order, Mahmudullah is Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in T20Is, with 2,395 runs and eight fifties—just 156 runs shy of Shakib Al Hasan. After his remarkable ODI World Cup run in 2015, Mahmudullah adopted a more aggressive approach, honing his big-hitting skills. His T20I career saw a significant transformation after 2016, as he averaged 26 in 85 matches after that, compared to his career average of 19 in 54 games before that. “Mahmudullah became a transformed cricketer,” Isam added. “His T20 career was stagnating until 2016 when Chandika Hathurusingha assigned him a new role. He raised his game with an emphasis on aerial shots and a positive outlook.” The right-hander also captained Bangladesh in 43 T20Is—more than any other Bangladeshi player—winning 16 of those matches. He was one of Bangladesh’s best T20I captains. Approaching 40, Mahmudullah has stayed fit enough for international cricket while many of his peers have retired. Ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup, he was expected to miss out, yet he proved his fitness to secure a spot. Ups and downs have defined Mahmudullah’s career, but he consistently found ways to fight back and make comebacks against all odds. “It will be hard to replace Mahmudullah’s experience, but his role has become outdated in T20s,” Isam noted. “Bangladesh will need to rethink their T20 batting structure, and replacing Mahmudullah may require a fundamental shift in their setup.”

Bangladesh will face India in the second T20I on Wednesday in Delhi, hoping to bounce back and keep the series alive. The visitors lost the first match on October 6, failing to post a competitive total while batting first. They lacked aggression in the powerplay despite losing two early wickets and struggled to execute an effective batting approach in the final overs. After the defeat, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto criticized the batters for their lackluster performance and also attributed the team’s struggles to home pitches, which he argued are not conducive to scoring big totals in T20Is. He suggested that this affects their ability to adapt to different conditions abroad. To keep their hopes in the series alive, Bangladesh’s batters will need to step up against India’s quality bowling attack. In the first match, they struggled equally against both Indian pacers and spinners. India, meanwhile, had little trouble in the series opener. Their bowlers picked up key wickets at crucial moments, preventing Bangladesh from building partnerships or scoring heavily. With a modest target of 127, India chased it down comfortably in just 11.5 overs, with seven wickets in hand. Although the series opener appeared straightforward for India, they’re unlikely to take Bangladesh lightly, recalling Bangladesh’s only T20I win in Delhi a few years ago. Right-handed allrounder Mahmudullah Riyad announced his retirement from the format on Tuesday ahead of the second match of the three-match T20I series against India. Bangladesh’s bowlers will be eager to turn things around after three consecutive losses in India—two Tests and one T20I—and finish the series on a high note. The match will take place at Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting at 7:30 p.m. Bangladesh time. It will be broadcast live on T-Sports TV channel and OTT app.

Mahmudullah Riyad’s 17-year-long T20I career has come to an end, as the right-handed allrounder announced his retirement from the format on Tuesday ahead of the second match of the three-match T20I series against India.  Earlier in this series, Shakib Al Hasan also retired from T20Is. While Mahmudullah is playing in the T20I series against India, Shakib opted out beforehand, having played his last T20I during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. Mahmudullah's resurgence eases Bangladesh's batting concerns ahead of T20 World Cup “I think this is the right time for me,” Mahmudullah said during a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday. “The captain and coach already knew. I believe we should start preparing for the next World Cup.” Bangladesh is currently in the midst of a three-match T20I series against India. Before the second match, which will be held on October 9 in Delhi, Mahmudullah announced that he would retire after the final match of the series on October 12 in Hyderabad. Mahmudullah previously retired from Tests in 2021 during a series in Zimbabwe. Now, three years later, he bids farewell to another format of international cricket, although he intends to continue playing ODIs for Bangladesh. Mahmudullah earned his T20I cap in 2007 against Kenya in Nairobi and has been a mainstay in Bangladesh’s T20I lineup ever since. Mahmudullah included, Tamim axed from BCB's new central contracts A right-handed batter and a reliable off-spinner, he has played 139 T20I matches, scoring 2,395 runs and claiming 40 wickets. Known for his ability to finish innings with powerful hits, he earned the title of “finisher,” though he has been experiencing a prolonged slump over the past few years. Mahmudullah has recorded eight fifties in T20Is. Among his most memorable innings was his match-winning six against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, which propelled Bangladesh into the final. He has appeared in eight editions of the ICC T20 World Cup, playing 37 matches, scoring 458 runs, and taking nine wickets. BPL 2024: Mahmudullah and Imran inspire Barishal’s big win over Sylhet  

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed has said that Shakib Al Hasan may play his final Test match in Dhaka’s Mirpur against South Africa. The question of Shakib’s homecoming has been shrouded in uncertainty. Before the final Test against India in Kanpur, Shakib announced his retirement from Test cricket and expressed his wish to play his last match in Dhaka. However, Shakib’s political affiliation raised concerns about his safety, making his return seem unlikely. The BCB President said that the board could not provide personal security for Shakib, adding that any such measure would need to be managed by the government. Bangladesh’s struggles continue as India secure easy win in T20I series opener Doubts surrounding Shakib's return were further fueled when Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, sports adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, said that Shakib would receive the same security afforded to all players. He noted, however, that if there is public hostility, providing beefed-up security becomes challenging. Yet, Shakib's prospects received a boost when the sports adviser, during a visit to the UAE for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, expressed support for Shakib’s wish to retire at home, recognizing his contributions to Bangladesh cricket. Faruque Ahmed mentioned that he remains in regular contact with Shakib and expressed optimism about his return for a final Test in front of a home crowd. “There’s a good possibility that Shakib will return for his last Test,” Faruque said to the media after a meeting with his BCB colleagues. “As board president, my powers are limited here. Shakib’s situation is ultimately a matter for the government, involving law enforcement and high-level advisers, including the Chief Adviser, to decide.” The BCB President assured that the board would arrange security for Shakib within stadium areas but clarified that they could not extend this coverage outside stadium premises. Shakib’s LA Waves start with defeat against New York Lions When announcing his retirement, Shakib had requested security assurances both while in Bangladesh and during his departure, reflecting concerns that he might face obstacles when leaving the country. These concerns stem from a murder case filed in the wake of the July-August student-led movement that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Shakib had been a member of parliament, elected in the 2024 elections, which were boycotted by opposition parties citing an uneven playing field under the then-regime.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Club Rangpur Riders will participate in the five-team West Indian franchise cricket league, the Global Super League. Rangpur Riders will compete in the overseas league along with four other teams from Australia, England, Pakistan and hosts West Indies. The Global Super League, like the previous champions league T20, is expected to begin in the Caribbean island Guyana on November 26. BCB President Faruque Ahmed disclosed this while addressing the local media on Monday. The BCB boss said, "West Indies made an announcement to organize the Global Super League with the participation of five teams from Australia, England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and hosts West Indies and accordingly we got the invitation from West Indies.” "We first offered the last BPL champions Fortune Barisal to participate in the global league, but they  regretted the offer, then we went for the semifinalist  Rangpur Riders, which will participate in the league if everything goes on right track,” he further added.

After losing the first T20I of the three-match series against India, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted that their batters don’t know how to score 180-plus runs in T20Is.  The captain also pointed to the home wickets on which they prepare for international cricket, though he acknowledged that the batters also lack the right approach at crucial moments in matches.  Before the T20I series, Bangladesh lost the two-match Test series against the hosts, meaning the Tigers have now lost all three matches of this ongoing tour.  Najmul expressed confidence that the team is capable of playing better cricket than they’ve shown so far against India. He conceded that the team has big room for improvement if they hope to prove their true potential.  First T20I: Bangladesh crumble to 127 as Indian bowlers take control  “We have to make some changes,” Shanto said, addressing the batting struggles. He suggested that the wickets at home don’t prepare them to score competitive totals abroad.  “At home, we play on wickets that produce 140-150 runs,” he said. “Our batters don’t know how to score 180 runs. But it’s not just the wickets to blame. We also need to consider skills and mentality.” Historically, Bangladesh has struggled in T20Is, rarely showing consistent performance in the format. Najmul, however, insisted that the team is better than they appeared in the first T20I in Gwalior. Towhid or Rishad: Who will be Bangladesh’s X factor against India? To post competitive totals, a team must show some real plan in the powerplay. But Bangladesh has yet to resolve their powerplay approach. In this match, they reached only 39 for two during the powerplay, which ultimately did not provide a solid foundation. Ahead of this series, Najmul said they were looking to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026. After the first match, it’s clear Bangladesh has much to consider as they look toward the World Cup.

India outplayed Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series on Sunday in Gwalior, where the visitors struggled in all departments. With this defeat, Bangladesh have now lost three consecutive matches on their current tour— first two defeats in two Tests, and now in the first T20I. After being sent in to bat, Bangladesh managed to post 127 all out in 19.5 overs. In response, India comfortably chased down the target in 11.5 overs, with Hardik Pandya remaining unbeaten on 39 off just 16 balls. India started strong with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, both scoring at strike rates over 150. Abhishek was run out for 16, but Sanju kept the score moving, finishing with 29 off 19 balls. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also scored at a strike rate above 200, making the small target even easier to chase than it appeared. Bangladesh’s total failed to challenge India’s batting lineup, as they lacked the firepower to apply any real pressure. Earlier, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, returning to T20Is after more than 14 months, was Bangladesh's top scorer with 35 runs. The other batters struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. India won the toss and opted to field on a fresh pitch at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which hosted its first international match. Bangladesh lost openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Litton Das within the first three overs. Although they managed to avoid further losses during the powerplay, runs were hard to come by. Litton was the first to go after a missed shot that resulted in an easy catch for Rinku Singh. Towhid Hridoy, known for his power-hitting, contributed only 12 runs from 18 balls. Middle-order batters Mahmudullah Riyad and Jaker Ali also struggled. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who stayed at the crease for 25 balls, could only muster 27 runs and appeared uneasy against the Indian bowlers. Rishad Hossain briefly lifted hopes with a six and a four but departed soon after, scoring 11 off five balls. Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling with three wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, playing his first T20I since the 2021 T20 World Cup, also claimed three wickets in a strong return to the team. The bowlers set the stage for a win for the hosts. With this victory, India take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second and third matches will be played on October 9 and 12 in Delhi and Hyderabad.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 127 with one ball remaining in their innings during the first T20I of the three-match series against India on Sunday in Gwalior. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, returning to T20Is after over 14 months, top-scored for Bangladesh with 35 runs. The rest of the batters struggled to contend with India’s disciplined bowling attack. India won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat on a fresh wicket at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which was hosting its first international match. First T20I: Bangladesh to bat first in Gwalior Bangladesh lost both openers, Parvez Hossain Emon and Litton Das, within the first three overs. Despite preserving wickets during the powerplay, Bangladesh couldn’t capitalize as runs remained scarce. Litton was dismissed first after an unclear shot attempt, resulting in an easy catch for Rinku Singh. Towhid Hridoy, known for his power-hitting, scored just 12 runs from 18 balls, failing to make a significant impact. Middle-order batters Mahmudullah Riyad and Jaker Ali also faltered. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lingered at the crease for 25 balls but could only muster 27 runs, appearing uneasy against the Indian bowlers. Rishad Hossain briefly lifted hopes with a six and a four but departed shortly after, scoring 11 off five deliveries. Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling effort with three wickets for just 14 runs in 3.5 overs. Varun Chakravarthy, playing his first T20I since the 2021 T20 World Cup, also claimed three wickets, making a strong comeback. Towhid or Rishad: Who will be Bangladesh’s X factor against India?

Shakib Al Hasan’s Los Angeles Waves marked a disappointing start in the 2024 edition of the United States National Cricket League (US NCL), falling short against the New York Lions by 19 runs in the first match at the University of Texas Cricket Stadium, Dallas, on Saturday. Opting to bat first, the New York Lions posted an imposing total of 126 runs for the loss of two wickets in their allotted 10 overs. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina spearheaded the attack with a dazzling half-century, smashing 53 runs off just 28 deliveries, laced with six boundaries and three sixes. Raina’s brisk knock earned him the Player of the Match award. Sri Lankan veteran Upul Tharanga provided solid support, adding 40 runs off 23 balls to the scoreboard. In the bowling department, the Waves struggled to contain the onslaught from the Lions’ batters. Taymal Mills and Pankaj Kampli managed to pick up one wicket each, conceding 22 and 4 runs respectively. However, captain Shakib Al Hasan’s lone over proved costly as he gave away 18 runs. In response, the Los Angeles Waves could only muster 107 runs for 7 wickets in their stipulated 10 overs, falling 19 runs short of the target. English wicketkeeper-batter Adam Rossington was the top scorer for the Waves, scoring a brisk 31 off 15 balls. Shakib Al Hasan’s performance with the bat was below par as he managed to contribute just 13 runs off 16 balls, striking three boundaries. His struggles continued in the bowling department, adding further pressure on the team. With this loss, the Los Angeles Waves have a lot to ponder as they look to bounce back in the upcoming fixtures of the US NCL.