United News of Bangladesh

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl in the first one-day international against England at Bay Oval on Sunday, as the visitors fine-tune their preparations for next month’s Ashes series in Australia. England welcomed back Joe Root, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith after the trio missed the weather-hit three-match T20 series. Pace bowler Jofra Archer was available but has been rested for this match. Allrounder Sam Curran and fast bowler Luke Wood are also eyeing spots in England’s Ashes squad. Kane Williamson returned to action for New Zealand after a seven-month layoff. The star batter last featured in an ODI against India in Dubai in March. Will Young, Tom Latham and Nathan Smith also rejoined the side after sitting out the T20s. New Zealand captain Mitch Santner said he was uncertain about what to do after winning the toss, noting the Bay Oval pitch has some grass but should still be good for batting. England captain Harry Brook said he would have opted to bat first. A strong cross-wind at the venue is expected to have a role in the contest. The first Ashes Test will take place in Perth from November 21 to 25. PCB appoints Test captain Shan Masood to senior administrative role Lineups New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Zak Foulkes, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry. England: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (capt), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood. Source: AP 

In an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed its Test captain, Shan Masood, as the consultant for international cricket and player affairs. The former cricketers or board officials typically play this role. This rare move caught many by surprise in the cricketing arena. The PCB did not clarify if Shan will continue as a player while serving the new role. Many took it as Shan’s transition to management from his playing career. Shan might end up as the director of international cricket, which is a top position in many cricket boards. The PCB is still actively searching for someone for the position. It is understood that Shan will play a role until a permanent appointment is announced. Spinners bag all wickets as Bangladesh outclass West Indies to win the series The move comes just a day after Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa ended 1–1, with Masood among the team’s top scorers. The board has been without a permanent director since Usman Wahla, who held the role from May 2023, was suspended in September. There has been no official statement on Wahla’s employment status since.

Bangladesh spinners bagged all the wickets when West Indies tried to chase down the big target of 297 runs, and helped the Tigers win the match by 179 runs on Thursday evening in Dhaka. With this win, Bangladesh sealed the series by 2-1. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain bagged three wickets each. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Tanvir Islam shared the other four wickets equally among them.

Riding on a 176-run opening stand between Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar, Bangladesh compiled 296 for 8 in the series decider against West Indies in Mirpur on Thursday. It was Bangladesh’s highest total in ODIs in Mirpur in seven years. Before departing for 82 off 72 balls with six fours and six sixes, Saif shared a 176-run partnership with Soumya. Soumya fell for 91, missing a century by just nine runs. He struck seven fours and four sixes. Bangladesh set a new record for sixes in an ODI in Mirpur, clearing the rope 11 times. Their previous best at this venue was 10. Despite a flying start from Saif and Soumya, Bangladesh couldn’t push past the 300 mark. For West Indies, Akeal Hosein claimed four wickets while Alick Athanaze picked up two.  

Marizanne Kapp’s all-round brilliance powered South Africa to a commanding 150-run victory over Pakistan in a rain-affected Women’s Cricket World Cup match on Tuesday at R. Premadasa Stadium. Kapp scored an unbeaten 68 and took three wickets, guiding her team in a dominant performance. South Africa’s innings featured two other half-centuries, with Laura Wolvaardt making 90 and Sune Luus contributing 61. Nadine de Clarke added a rapid 41 off just 16 balls, helping the hosts reach 312 in a rain-shortened 40-over contest. Pakistan’s chase was repeatedly interrupted by rain, forcing their revised target to drop from 306 in 40 overs to 234 in 20 overs. When play resumed, Pakistan needed over 23 runs per over and managed only 83-7 at the end of their innings. West Indies bounce back in ODI series after Super Over drama vs Bangladesh Earlier, Wolvaardt and Luus built a 118-run second-wicket partnership, while Kapp added another 64-run stand with Wolvaardt. De Clarke’s explosive 41 helped boost the lower order, including a 52-run partnership with Kapp. Wolvaardt struck two sixes and 10 boundaries, Kapp hit three sixes and six fours, and Luus cleared the ropes twice and struck eight fours. For Pakistan, spinner Nashra Sandhu took 3-45 and seamer Sadia Iqbal claimed 3-63, with Sadra Nawaz top-scoring at 22 not out. The win confirmed South Africa’s place in the semifinals, while Pakistan remains winless and eliminated from the tournament.  Source: AP 

West Indies pulled off a dramatic win in a Super Over to bounce back in the ODI series against Bangladesh on Tuesday night in Dhaka. They lost the first ODI by 74 runs. Now, with this win, they made a comeback to the series, making the last match a virtual final. After the West Indies failed to chase 213 in 50 overs, the match went to the nail-biting Super Over drama. West Indies batted first in the Super Over and scored 10 runs off one wicket. Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford batted for them. Mustafizur Rahman bowled the Super Over for Bangladesh. Hope took a single off the first ball, and in the second ball, Saif Hassan took a spectacular catch to remove Rutherford for a duck. Eventually, they posted 10. To reply, Bangladesh scored 4 without even a legal delivery being bowled by Akeal Hosein. He gave a wide and a no-ball early, and that was a great advantage for Bangladesh. Late drama: Bangladesh - West Indies go to Super Over But with the dismissal of Soumya Sarkar off the fourth ball for 3 off 3, Bangladesh slides into big trouble. Najmul Hossain Shanto snatched only a single off the fifth ball, and Bangladesh needed 4 off the last ball. Akeal gave another wide ball, but Bangladesh eventually failed to score the required runs. They ended up on 9 for one and lost the match. To chase Bangladesh’s 213, the West Indies lost nine wickets for 213 at the end of 50 overs. In the last ball of the 50th over, Bangladesh had a chance to wrap up the match, but Nurul Hasan Shon missed a catch sprinting quite a good distance when Khary Pierre skied. Earlier, Bangladesh posted 213 for 7 in their 50 overs with Rishad Hossain’s explosive cameo at the end. The West Indies became the first team in ODI history to bowl an entire 50 overs using only spinners, eclipsing Sri Lanka’s previous record of 44 overs of spin in a single innings, set back in 1996. On a slow Sher-e-Bangla surface, the visitors relied solely on their spin arsenal — Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Roston Chase, and Alick Athanaze — in a rare and calculated gamble that paid off with constant pressure on Bangladesh’s batters. For much of the innings, that pressure worked. Bangladesh’s top order again faltered, slumping to 103 for 5 before Soumya Sarkar’s 45 off 89 balls and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 32 not out offered some stability. Rishad’s late assault lifts Bangladesh, as West Indies set world record with all-spin attack But it was Rishad Hossain, the young leg-spinning all-rounder, who brought late firepower — smashing 39 off just 14 balls, with three sixes and three fours, to drag Bangladesh past the 200 mark. Athanaze’s remarkable spell of 2 for 14 in 10 overs anchored the West Indies’ discipline, while Motie (3 for 65) and Hosein (2 for 41) did the damage at both ends. With the series is now hanging in the balance, the third match on Thursday became the final of the series.

In the last over of the innings, West Indies needed five runs to win, but they managed four, and the second ODI of the three-match series went to the super over to decide the winner.  Saif Hassan bowled superbly in the last over and managed to defend 5 runs. He also scalped the wicket of Akeal Hosein in the last over.  To chase Bangladesh’s 213, The West Indies lost nine wickets for 213 at the end of 50 overs.  In the last ball, Bangladesh had a chance to wrap up the match, but Nurul Hasan Shon missed a catch sprinting quite a good distance when Khary Pierre skied.  Earlier, Bangladesh posted 213 for 7 in their 50 overs with Rishad Hossain’s explosive cameo at the end.  The West Indies became the first team in ODI history to bowl an entire 50 overs using only spinners, eclipsing Sri Lanka’s previous record of 44 overs of spin in a single innings, set back in 1996. On a slow Sher-e-Bangla surface, the visitors relied solely on their spin arsenal — Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Roston Chase, and Alick Athanaze — in a rare and calculated gamble that paid off with constant pressure on Bangladesh’s batters. For much of the innings, that pressure worked. Bangladesh’s top order again faltered, slumping to 103 for 5 before Soumya Sarkar’s 45 off 89 balls and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 32 not out offered some stability. But it was Rishad Hossain, the young leg-spinning all-rounder, who brought late firepower — smashing 39 off just 14 balls, with three sixes and three fours, to drag Bangladesh past the 200 mark. Athanaze’s remarkable spell of 2 for 14 in 10 overs anchored the West Indies’ discipline, while Motie (3 for 65) and Hosein (2 for 41) did the damage at both ends. Bangladesh, who opted to bat first, will take heart from Rishad’s hitting and their lower-order resilience.

Bangladesh posted 213 for 7 in their 50 overs against the West Indies in the second ODI in Mirpur on Tuesday, but the innings will be remembered as much for a slice of cricketing history as for Rishad Hossain’s explosive cameo. The West Indies became the first team in ODI history to bowl an entire 50 overs using only spinners, eclipsing Sri Lanka’s previous record of 44 overs of spin in a single innings, set back in 1996. On a slow Sher-e-Bangla surface, the visitors relied solely on their spin arsenal — Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Roston Chase, and Alick Athanaze — in a rare and calculated gamble that paid off with constant pressure on Bangladesh’s batters. For much of the innings, that pressure worked. Bangladesh’s top order again faltered, slumping to 103 for 5 before Soumya Sarkar’s 45 off 89 balls and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 32 not out offered some stability. But it was Rishad Hossain, the young leg-spinning all-rounder, who brought late firepower — smashing 39 off just 14 balls, with three sixes and three fours, to drag Bangladesh past the 200 mark. Athanaze’s remarkable spell of 2 for 14 in 10 overs anchored the West Indies’ discipline, while Motie (3 for 65) and Hosein (2 for 41) did the damage at both ends. Bangladesh, who opted to bat first, will take heart from Rishad’s hitting and their lower-order resilience, but defending 213 under lights will be a stern challenge.

Bangladesh’s ICC Women's World Cup campaign ended in an agonizingly dramatic defeat. They needed 9 runs off the last over with five wickets in hand. Still, they failed to achieve that. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu produced a stunning four-wicket final over, including a run out, to snatch a seven-run win in a match that swung wildly until the very end at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday night. Chasing 203, Bangladesh looked in control for most of their innings, anchored by captain Nigar Sultana’s composed 77 off 98 balls and Sharmin Akhter’s unbeaten 64, but a late collapse saw them lose four wickets in four balls in the final over — all but sealing their exit from the tournament. The chase had begun steadily despite early setbacks. Fargana Hoque’s sluggish 7 off 35 deliveries and Rubya Haider’s early dismissal left Bangladesh wobbling at 24 for 2. But Nigar and Sharmin stitched together a patient 82-run partnership that rebuilt the innings and put Bangladesh firmly on course. When Sharmin retired hurt with cramps on 64, Bangladesh were 126 for 3 — still comfortably placed. The real drama began with 12 needed off 12 balls. Sri Lanka’s fielders, who had dropped chances earlier, suddenly came alive. Athapaththu, who had already dismissed Shorna Akter and Mehidy Ritu earlier, returned for the final over with Bangladesh needing nine runs. What followed was one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament. In an extraordinary spell, Athapaththu trapped Rabeya Khan lbw, then triggered a run-out off the next ball. Nigar, who had held Bangladesh’s chase together, mistimed a lofted drive to long-off — her dismissal effectively ending Bangladesh’s hopes. A fourth wicket followed immediately after, as Marufa Akter was pinned leg before. Bangladesh slumped from 194 for 5 to 194 for 9, before Sharmin could even face another delivery. Sri Lanka celebrated as if they had won a final. Athapaththu, who finished with figures of 4 for 42, was visibly emotional. “We kept fighting till the last over,” she said afterward. “It wasn’t our best game, but we believed anything could happen if we took it deep.” Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana, head bowed as the team huddled in silence, called it “heartbreaking.” “From the start, it was our game,” she said. “But losing wickets in key moments cost us again. We’ve lost three games like this. It hurts.” Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 202 after Hasini Perera’s gritty 85 off 99 balls held their innings together. For Bangladesh, Shorna Akter was exceptional with 3 for 27, keeping the target within reach. But in the end, it was Sri Lanka’s captain who had the final say.    

Bangladesh’s spin coach, Mushtaq Ahmed, wants Rishad Hossain to play in Tests as well. He said Rishad’s height and bounce may bring an advantage for him. Rishad bagged six wickets in the first ODI against West Indies, which helped the home side to win the match by a big margin despite having a below-par total on the board. It was only the first Time when a right-arm spinner bagged a five-wicket haul in an ODI for Bangladesh. He eventually ended up taking six wickets. After his debut, Rishad became a regular face in Bangladesh’s white-ball set-up. Now, the discussion has started on whether he can translate his white-ball success into Tests too. “He’s 100 percent capable of playing Test cricket,” the former Pakistan leg spinner said on Sunday in Mirpur ahead of the second ODI. “Even in Australia or England, where tailenders can bat well, they still struggle against quality leg spin. With Rishad’s height and bounce, he can be even more effective in red-ball cricket.” Despite his promise, Rishad’s exposure to longer formats has been limited. Since his first-class debut in 2018, he has played only 21 matches, taking 31 wickets. Last season, he featured in two National Cricket League games for Rangpur and claimed five wickets. “He knows the more he bowls with the red ball, the better he’ll become. Even though he’s not in the Test setup yet, he should be,” Mushtaq added. Bangladesh’s spin department has long relied on finger spinners like Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam. Mushtaq believes adding Rishad’s leg spin to the mix could give Bangladesh the variety they have long lacked.