United News of Bangladesh

India have won the toss and elected to field first, sending Bangladesh in to bat in Gwalior for the opening match of the three-match T20I series on Sunday. This is the first international match at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. The city is hosting an international match after more than a decade. Bangladesh have opted for a balanced attack with three seamers and two spinners for this match. Parvez Hossain Emon has been included in the lineup, marking his return to T20I cricket after a year. With Shakib Al Hasan absent, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named in the starting XI. India have included Varun Chakravarthy in their lineup, playing his first T20I since 2021. Bangladesh XI: Litton Das (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmadullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

England is aiming to challenge struggling Pakistan with a new-look pace attack in the opening test of a three-match series, starting in the searing heat of Multan on Monday. Fast bowler Brydon Carse will make his test debut with Gus Atkinson set to play his first overseas test after his impressive home season against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. All-rounder Chris Woakes was penciled in to the starting XI after Ben Stokes was ruled out for the fourth successive test match due to ongoing rehabilitation on his injured hamstring. Woakes will be playing his first match in two-and-a-half years and it will be his first test in Asia since 2016. Carse’s pace gave him the edge over Olly Stone and Matthew Potts for the tour of Pakistan and England hopes the Durham pace bowler will challenge the batters by regularly clocking over 90mph. England will be led by Ollie Pope, who guided the team to a 2-1 home series against Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Stokes. The England captain sustained his hamstring injury during the Hundred and might return to lead the side in the second test, also in Multan. “I was kind of just learning on the job,” Pope said. “Obviously my first time captain abroad. Ben’s going to be around as well… so I can listen to the voices around me but still keep doing things in my way.” England flattened Pakistan 3-0 through its high-risk, high-reward “Bazball” approach during the 2022 tour when it played at Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi. They were scheduled to play at the same venues this time around, but renovation work at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi for next year’s Champions Trophy forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to organize back-to-back tests at Multan with Rawalpindi set to host the third test from Oct. 24. England also named spinners Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir in the playing XI in anticipation of the pitch flattening out in temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius that are expected over the next week in Multan. Leach was the second highest wicket-taker in the last series in Pakistan with 15 wickets. “Everyone’s so happy to have Leach in and around the squad for this series,” Pope said. “We obviously saw how well he bowled last time here on pitches that (are) always offering a great deal ... and he’s worked closely with Shoaib Bashir throughout his Somerset career and those guys go really well.” Pakistan has strengthened its batting line-up by including all-rounder Aamer Jamal for the first test after being routed 2-0 by Bangladesh at home in the last series. Shan Masood has lost all five test matches since he was elevated to red-ball captain. Masood lost 3-0 to Australia in his debut series as test skipper when Jamal took 18 wickets and came in handy as a batter down the order. Jamal missed the series against Bangladesh because he was undergoing rehabilitation on a back injury. “We have got an edge with the return of Aamer Jamal,” Masood said. “He also bats down the order and picked up 18 wickets. We have (leg-spinner) Abrar and (off-spinner) Salman to give us spin options.” Pakistan has a woeful record in home test matches and hasn’t won at home since beating South Africa 2-0 in early 2021, while losing to England, Australia and Bangladesh. New Zealand also came close, but Pakistan managed to draw the series 0-0. Pakistan had its moments to beat England when both teams last met at Multan two years ago. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed made an impressive debut by grabbing 11 wickets before Pakistan narrowly lost by 26 runs when Mark Wood, missing in this series due to injury, claimed the key wicket of Saud Shakeel. “It was my dream debut and last time we lost quite close,” Abrar said on the eve of the first test. “I hope to give a match-winning performance this time around and bring some happy moments.” Pakistan's top-order batters have long been struggling and premier batter Babar Azam hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 16 test innings. Opener Abdullah Shafique also struggled against Bangladesh while Masood couldn’t convert starts into big scores with only one half-century in four innings. But Masood insisted Pakistan needed to give its struggling batters a longer run as he searched to win key moments and find momentum in the series against aggressive England. “We came close to winning last time, but we let the matches slip away,” Masood said. “We know how they play, but at the end of the day we have to see how to tackle it. We are clear in our mind and that’s why we have named the XI.”

Bangladesh are set to face India in the first T20I of the three-match series in Gwalior on Sunday evening. Bangladeshi fans will be keeping a close eye on two players—Towhid Hridoy and Rishad Hossain—wondering which of them could be the Tigers' X factor. Both Towhid and Rishad have proven themselves as integral parts of Bangladesh’s T20 squad. Towhid has drawn attention with his big-hitting abilities, while Rishad has impressed with his leg-spin and his knack for clearing the boundary at crucial moments. Before this series, Bangladesh faced India in 14 T20Is, with only one victory. But this time, the Tigers are bringing more experience than the Indian squad, as India have rested some key players. Who will replace Shakib in T20Is for Bangladesh? This Indian side has collectively played fewer than 400 T20Is, whereas the Bangladesh team has collectively played more than 600, which places Bangladesh in the rare position of being a more experienced side than India, who have always been considered a big team for Bangladesh.  However, this difference in experience may have little impact, as the Indian players possess a broader diversity of skills, which the Bangladesh team lacks. If Bangladesh are to improve their T20I record against India, Towhid and Rishad will need to perform well. Towhid has played 29 T20Is so far, amassing 600 runs at a strike rate of over 130. Rishad, with 24 T20Is under his belt, has taken 29 wickets, including 10 in the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, where he was among the tournament’s top bowlers. Bangladesh will certainly miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan, who recently announced his retirement from the format. To fill the void, Bangladesh has included Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the squad. Najmul eyes India series to begin preparations for next T20 World Cup Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence that Mehidy could step up and help fill the gap left by Shakib. The match will begin at 7:30 pm(Bangladesh time) in Gwalior. This city is hosting an international match for the first time in over a decade, and the venue, Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, will be hosting its first-ever international match.

Bangladesh lost their second match of the Women’s T20 World Cup to England by 21 runs on Saturday. With this win, England kicked off their World Cup campaign on a high note. England won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a total of 118 for seven wickets. Bangladesh, in response, failed to chase it down. Openers Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge gave England a strong start, putting up a 48-run partnership for the first wicket. After breaking their stand, Bangladesh struck back with quick wickets. Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight, and Alice Capsey were unable to pose significant threats to Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Danni was the top scorer for England with 41 runs, while Maia added 23. For Bangladesh, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Ritu Moni each took two wickets. In reply, Bangladesh lost their openers early, with just 17 runs on the board. However, Sobhana Mostary kept the fight alive with a valiant 44 runs, and captain Nigar Sultana chipped in with 15. Despite their efforts, the rest of the Bangladeshi batting lineup struggled, as Sobhana and Nigar were the only batters to reach double digits. Linsey Smith took two wickets for just 11 runs, while Charlie Dean also picked up two wickets to help restrict Bangladesh to under 100 runs. Bangladesh finished on 97 for seven, losing the match by 21 runs. Earlier, in their first match, Bangladesh secured a win against Scotland, marking their first World Cup victory in a decade.

Australia began its title defense at the Women’s T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Saturday. Medium pacer Megan Schutt picked 3-12 in four overs, while left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux took 2-20, as Sri Lanka was restricted to 93-7 in 20 overs. In reply, Beth Mooney led Australia’s charge as it overhauled the total in only 14.2 overs. It was down to 35-3 at one stage, but Mooney scored 43 not out off 38 balls to lead her side to victory. In the second game of the day, Bangladesh faces England. Women's T20 World Cup: Bangladesh start confidently beating Scotland, ending run of 16 straight loss Opting to bat, Sri Lanka suffered crucial early blows. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu was out lbw to Ashleigh Gardner for just three runs. Schutt and Molineux then combined to hit the top-order hard, as Sri Lanka was down to 25-3 in 6.4 overs. Nilakshi de Silva scored 29 not out off 40 balls, while Harshitha Madavi scored 23 runs. Their 31-run partnership for the fourth wicket saved the Asian champions some embarrassment. Molineux broke that partnership in the 13th over, and then Sri Lanka went down to 89-7 within another 6.2 overs. Its innings struggled on either side of that partnership, thus finishing with a below-par total. In reply, Australia’s top-order struggled as well. Skipper Alyssa Healy was dismissed for four, while Georgia Wareham was run out for three runs. When Sugandika Kumari bowled Ellyse Perry for 17 in the sixth over, there was some trouble. Jayawickrama who took 11 wickets against Bangladesh banned by ICC But Mooney dug in deep, and found support from Gardner, who put in 12 runs. Together they added 43 off only 40 balls as Australia sped up its chase in the second half. Sri Lanka has now lost both its opening matches in group A and is nearly out of contention from advancing to the semifinals.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has said the team is looking forward to starting preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup with the three-match series against India, set to begin on Sunday in Gwalior. The city last hosted an international match back in 2010. Now, after nearly a decade and a half, it is hosting another international fixture, this time at a new venue. India have rested some of their key players for this series, opting instead to field a team that includes several inexperienced players, three of whom have yet to make their international debuts. The Indian squad has collectively played fewer than 400 T20Is, while the Bangladesh team has over 600 T20I appearances. However, this difference in experience might not play a decisive role, as the Indian side boasts more diversity in skills compared to Bangladesh. Ahead of this series, Bangladesh have played 14 T20Is against India, winning only once—in Delhi. Bangladesh will need to play aggressive cricket to improve this record. Key players like Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Mustafizur Rahman must perform to their full potential. At the same time, younger talents like Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Tamim, and Rishad Hossain will have to prove their worth against India. Despite their relative lack of experience compared to Bangladesh, the Indian squad includes players with impressive records in the Indian Premier League (IPL). For instance, Sanju Samson, who may open for India in this series despite poor performances in his last two T20I appearances against Sri Lanka, has shown what he is capable of in the IPL, which could inspire him to do well in this series. While Bangladesh aims to begin their preparations for the next T20 World Cup, they will undoubtedly miss the services of Shakib Al Hasan, who has retired from the format. In Shakib's absence, Bangladesh have brought in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who is not a regular in the T20I setup. Despite his limited experience in this format, captain Najmul expressed confidence in Mehidy’s ability, hoping he will quickly adapt and fill the gap left by Shakib. The first match of the series will kick off at 7:30 pm (Bangladesh team) on Sunday. The remaining matches will be played in Delhi and Hyderabad on October 9th and 12th.

Despite retiring from T20 Internationals, former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan might continue playing in T20 leagues around the world. But will he be able to participate in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at home? This question has been raised by his BPL team, Rangpur Riders, who have yet to confirm Shakib's participation in the next season of the BPL due to uncertainty over his return home amid the risk of public anger related to his political identity. Shakib was a member of the parliament under the Sheikh Hasina government, which was overthrown by an unprecedented uprising led by students and citizens. Facing this uprising, which resulted in at least 800 deaths and tens of thousands wounded by government forces, Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5th. In the aftermath, Sheikh Hasina, along with Shakib and other party members, face legal action for the deaths of protesters, making Shakib vulnerable to both legal consequences and public backlash. It is understood that this situation played a role in Shakib's decision to retire from two formats of international cricket. While he has kept himself available for ODIs, his participation in those for Bangladesh is now also uncertain given the political climate. When announcing his retirement ahead of the Kanpur Test against India, Shakib mentioned his desire to play his last Test in Mirpur. However, he also expressed concern about his security at home, though he noted the board would be responsible for overseeing his protection. However, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed, said that the board could not ensure the security of an individual player. He suggested that such assurances should come from high-ranking government officials. Shakib’s return to Bangladesh became even more uncertain when the interim government's sports adviser said that they would provide the same level of security for Shakib as they would for other players. The adviser, Asif Mahmud, further added that no one could be guaranteed security if people in Bangladesh were against them. Later, however, the adviser clarified that they would provide Shakib with the highest level of security so that he could play his final Test in the country. All these factors have made Shakib's potential participation in the BPL uncertain. A top official from the Rangpur Riders, for whom Shakib played in the previous season of BPL, said they would only be able to confirm Shakib's inclusion if he returns home to play international cricket.

The Bangladesh team is set to begin their T20I campaign on October 6 without the services of long-time stalwart Shakib Al Hasan. The former Bangladesh captain recently announced his retirement from the format, leaving the team with a pressing question: who will replace Shakib in the T20I format? It was expected that Shakib would play in the three-match T20I series against India following the two-match Test series. However, ahead of the second Test in Kanpur, Shakib surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from both Test and T20I formats, making him unavailable for the T20I series. Mashrafe sued over hostile takeover of shares in BPL franchise In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) included Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the squad. But the question remains: will Mehidy truly replace Shakib in this format? Shakib played 129 T20Is, amassing over 2,500 runs and taking 149 wickets. In contrast, Mehidy has played just 25 T20Is, scoring 248 runs and claiming 14 wickets. These stats clearly demonstrate that Shakib has been an irreplaceable figure in Bangladesh’s T20 setup. While Mehidy is a spinning all-rounder like Shakib, he cannot yet replicate what Shakib brings to the table. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed hope that Mehidy can rise to the challenge left by Shakib. However, he stopped short of calling Mehidy a direct replacement. “It will be a bit difficult to adjust now. There will be some challenges in forming the playing eleven,” Najmul said. “Shakib used to provide balance on both fronts—batting and bowling. We have brought Mehidy into the team, and I hope he will quickly adapt to that role.” Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging that finding a like-for-like replacement for Shakib would be difficult. Authorities unable to provide Shakib 'guarantee of safety' from public anger After the Kanpur Test, which Bangladesh surprisingly lost in just over two days, Hathurusingha expressed his shock at Shakib’s sudden retirement announcement. In T20Is, Bangladesh has struggled to perform consistently, but Shakib was a steady presence, which earned him spots in various private leagues worldwide. While Bangladesh may find someone capable of performing well in the format, Shakib’s absence will undoubtedly haunt the team for some time.

Bangladesh started their campaign in the 10-team ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 with winning note beating debutante Scotland by 16 runs  in the opening match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE on Thursday (Oct 3). This was the first victory for Bangladesh in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 10 years, after conceding 16 successive defeats in the last four editions of the tournament since 2014. With the day's victory, Bangladesh maintained their all win record  against World Cup's  newcomer Scotland beating them in all the five occasion. The day's long awaited victory also featured 100th T20 International match of the Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti and the 100th T20 wickets for Nahida Akter in her 87th innings of 88 matches. The ongoing Women's World Cup 2024 was scheduled to take place in Bangladesh. But, due to the political instability in the country, the ICC shifted the World Cup to the UAE from Bangladesh All the matches will be in the UAE city Dubai and Sharjah from October 3-20,  But, Bangladesh still holds the rights of tournament 's organiser.  In the day's opener, Bangladesh batted first after winning the toss and scored 119 runs for 7 in stipulated 20 overs featuring 42 runs in the 2nd wicket partnership by Opener Shathi  Rani and Sobhana Mostary. One down Sobhana Mostary contributed the team's highest 36 runs off 38 balls hitting two boundaries while opener Shathi Rani scored 32-ball 29 runs with three hits to the fence. Besides, captain Nagar Sultana Joyti (18), opener Murshida Khatun (12) and lower order Fahima Khatun (10) were the other Bangladeshi batters reaching the double figure. Saskia Horley made major damage in Bangladesh innings  claiming three wickets for 13 runs in two overs. Chasing a target of 120 runs, Scotland folded their innings at 103 for 7 in 20 overs with Sarah Bryce scoring the match highest 49 runs off 52 balls including one boundary. Bangladeshi right arm medium pacer Ritu Moni, who scored  five runs,  grabbed two wickets for 15 runs in her four over spell and was adjudged the player of the match. Besides, Marufa Akter, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan Fahima Khatun of Bangladesh took one wicket each. In the remaining Group B matches, Bangladesh will play stronger England on Oct 5,  meet West Indies on Oct 10,  both in Sharjah, and South Africa on October 12 in Dubai. 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.

Sri Lankan spinner Praveen Jayawickrama, who made a sensational debut against Bangladesh by taking 11 wickets, has been banned for one year from all forms of cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit found him guilty of failing to comply with its regulations. Jayawickrama, 25, was under investigation for a corruption-related incident that occurred during the 2021 Lanka Premier League. The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit had requested information regarding a specific transaction, which Jayawickrama was unable to provide. Following his admission of guilt, the ICC has imposed the one-year ban as per its regulations. Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan white-ball captain The ICC, in an official statement, noted, “Praveen Jayawickrama has admitted to his offence, and following the ICC’s constitution, he has been suspended for one year.” This suspension comes as a significant setback for Jayawickrama, who has been out of the Sri Lankan national squad for the past six months due to the ongoing investigation. Jayawickrama, who made his international debut in 2021, took 11 wickets in his maiden Test against Bangladesh, earning the Player of the Match award. He played five Tests and took 25 wickets, along with five wickets in five One Day Internationals. His last appearance for Sri Lanka was in June 2022 against Australia. Mehidy named among top-five Test all-rounders Despite his early success, Jayawickrama has struggled to maintain his position in the national side, and this ban is likely to further delay his return to international cricket. The incident serves as a stern reminder of the ICC’s stringent stance on maintaining the integrity of the sport.   Source: Agencies