United News of Bangladesh

Pakistan won the toss Monday and chose to bat in the second cricket Test against South Africa, whose lineup features the return of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Pakistan leads the two-match series following a 93-run victory in last week’s first Test at Lahore, played on a spin-friendly pitch. Maharaj, recovering from a groin injury, was available only for the second Test, replacing off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen. Seaming all-rounder Marco Jansen also returned to the side, taking the place of Wiaan Mulder, who struggled with both bat and ball in the first match. South Africa captain Aiden Markram said the team had learned “a couple of lessons” from the opening Test defeat, prompting the two changes. Anticipating spin-friendly conditions at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan included a third specialist slow bowler, awarding a Test debut to 38-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, who replaced Hasan Ali. Bangladesh announces squad for West Indies ODIs; Mahidul earns maiden call Pakistan captain Shan Masood explained his decision to bat first: “The pitch is a bit on the dry side, so better to bat first.” This marks Masood’s second consecutive toss win in the series. Line-ups:Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Asif Afridi. South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada. Source: AP

Australia won the toss and elected to bowl in the first one-day international against India at Perth on Sunday. India’s side is led by Shubman Gill, who recently took over as the national ODI and Test captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. Sharma returns to the squad as a batter alongside Virat Kohli, marking their first appearance since India’s Champions Trophy win in March. The team is looking ahead to the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Broad slams Australia’s Ashes squad as ‘worst in 15 years’ ahead of series Australia’s lineup features a refreshed side, with Mitchell Starc returning from rest. Mitch Marsh will captain and open the innings with Travis Head, supported by Matt Renshaw, Josh Philippe, Mitch Owen, and Cooper Connolly in a new-look middle order. India’s eight-match tour includes ODIs in Perth (Oct. 19), Adelaide (Oct. 23), and Sydney (Oct. 25), followed by five T20 internationals across Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast, and Brisbane. Source: AP 

Despite posting just 207 batting first, Bangladesh beat West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series by 74 runs on Saturday in Dhaka, with exciting young leg spinner Rishad Ahmed running through the tourists' brittle batting line up. Rishad became the first Bangladeshi leg spinner to bag a five-for in an ODI, and in fact his figures of 6/35 off 8 overs are the best ever in ODIs by any Bangladeshi spinner, and the second-best ODI bowling figures ever recorded for the country. Ahead of him are two pacers who both recorded figures of 6/26 - Mashrafe Mortaza against Kenya in 2006, and Rubel Hossain against New Zealand in 2012. In reply to Bangladesh’s 207, the West Indies were wrapped up for just 133 runs. Brandon King posted the highest of 44 runs, but his effort was not enough for his team to chase 207 because of Rishad’s exceptional bowling. Besides Rishad's heroics, Mustafizur Rahman bagged two wickets for just 16 runs. Earlier, Bangladesh lost the toss and were asked to bat first. But they failed to produce a good score on the board. Saif Hassan, who has been outstanding lately in T20Is, and Soumya Sarkar, returning to the ODI squad after a gap, failed to form a strong opening stand. Both were dismissed inside 8 runs on the board. However, in the third wicket stand, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy added 71 runs. Shanto fell for 32, but Hridoy hit a fifty, ending on 51 off 90 balls. Mahidul Islam Ankon, getting his first ODI cap, posted 46 off 76 deliveries. Jayden Seales bagged three for 48 runs. The second and third ODI of the series will take place on October 21st and 23rd at the same venue.

West Indies won the toss and asked Bangladesh to bat first in the first ODI of the three-match series in Dhaka on Saturday.  Right before this series, Bangladesh suffered a thumping defeat to Afghanistan.  However, before the 3-0 ODI series defeat to Afghans, Bangladesh beat them in the T20I series.  With the West Indies series at home, Bangladesh will aim to rectify previous mistakes and stand strong as an ODI team.  Bangladesh announces squad for West Indies ODIs; Mahidul earns maiden call Bangladesh XI: Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Mahidul Islam Ankon, Nurul Hasan (wk), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman West Indies XI: Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (capt & wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.  

At least three Afghan cricketers were among eight people killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province near the border, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said Friday. According to the ACB, the players — identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah and Haroon — had travelled from Urgun to Sharana to participate in a friendly match. They were later targeted “during a gathering after returning home to Urgun” in what the board condemned as “a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.” In a statement on X, the ACB expressed “deep sorrow and grief” over the deaths and announced Afghanistan’s withdrawal from next month’s tri-nation cricket series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka “as a gesture of respect to the victims.” Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives” in the Pakistani airstrikes, which also killed women and children. Calling the attack “immoral and barbaric,” Khan backed the ACB’s decision, saying national dignity must come first. Other Afghan cricketers, including Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi, also condemned the strike, describing it as “a heinous, unforgivable crime” against civilians and the nation’s cricket community. Afghan police accuse Pakistan of cross-border strikes after ceasefire ends Meanwhile, Afghan media reported that Pakistan carried out multiple airstrikes in Paktika’s Urgun and Barmal districts on Friday, breaching a temporary ceasefire between the two countries. The strikes came as both sides prepared for renewed peace talks in Doha aimed at easing border tensions. With inputs from NDTV  

Defending champions Australia stormed into the semifinals of the Women's Cricket World Cup with two matches to spare after thrashing Bangladesh by 10 wickets on Thursday. Skipper Alyssa Healy smashed an unbeaten 113 off 77 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield scored 84 not out off 72, guiding Australia to 202 without loss in just 24.5 overs, chasing Bangladesh’s 198-9. Healy’s knock, her second straight century following a 142-run innings against India, featured 20 boundaries and became the fastest hundred of the tournament. Litchfield struck 12 fours and a six as the pair shared Australia’s third-highest World Cup partnership for any wicket. Bangladesh announces squad for West Indies ODIs; Mahidul earns maiden call Leg-spinner Alana King starred with the ball, taking 2-18 in 10 overs, earning her the Player of the Match award. “We wanted to bowl to our strengths and keep them to a reasonable score,” King said. With nine points from five games, Australia extended their World Cup winning streak to 13, while Bangladesh, with two points, remained sixth. Australia will face England in Indore next Wednesday, while Bangladesh meet Sri Lanka in Navi Mumbai on Monday. Source: AP 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. After an ODI series defeat by 3-0 to Afghanistan, the Bangladesh team returned home on Wednesday There are two changes to the squad from the one that had played against Afghanistan recently. Opener Mohammd Naim and fast bowler Nahid Rana have been left out. Experienced batsman Soumya Sarkar returns to the ODI team having played his last match in February this year. Right-handed middle order batsman Mahidul Islam Ankon, the only uncapped player in the squad, is the other inclusion: Bangladesh ODI team vs West Indies: Mehidy Hassan Miraz (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumay Sarker, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud.

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, who has been staying abroad since the fall of the previous regime led by the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has inked deals for three new foreign leagues. The Bangladesh allrounder will represent Royal Champs in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, which kicks off on November 18. He has also joined the Houston Riders for the U.S. Global League, a T20 competition featuring top international players. And he will also take part in the Indian Haven League, a new T20 tournament set to begin in Srinagar, Kashmir, on October 25, though his team name there has not yet been disclosed. While Shakib is pursuing cricket in foreign leagues, his international career for Bangladesh remains uncertain due to his political connection with the Awami League, which was ousted following a popular uprising in Bangladesh last year. Shakib served as a member of the parliament for the Awami League party when they assumed power in early 2024 in an election tainted by allegations of irregularities and boycotts by their political opponents. Recently, he was involved in a social media clash with Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, who was one of the main leaders of the protest that toppled Hasina. Asif later said he will not allow Shakib to represent Bangladesh again. Shakib has played 447 international matches across the formats and scored 14,730 runs with 14 centuries and 100 half-centuries. He also has taken 712 wickets in international cricket with 25 five-fors across the formats. These stats established him as one of the great players of all time in the game.

The tournament committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the itinerary for the 27th edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) four-day version, set to begin on 25 October.  NCL is one of the main first-class domestic cricket events in Bangladesh.  In a move aimed at supporting player preparation for upcoming international red-ball commitments and as per the suggestions from the BCB cricket operations, the event’s technical committee has approved the use of Kookaburra balls for the first two rounds. The remaining rounds will be played with Duke balls. Additionally, as approved by the BCB Board during its 20th meeting held on August 9, 2025, Mymensingh Division has been included in the NCL four-day format for the first time. Consequently, the Dhaka Metro team will not be a participant in the upcoming competition.

Tickets for the ODI series between Bangladesh and West Indies are now available online. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), ticket sales for the three-match ODI series opened on Wednesday morning through the website www.gobcbticket.com.bd and the “Go BCB Ticket” mobile app, which is available on the Play Store for Android smartphone users. Ticket prices start at Tk 300 for the Eastern Gallery, while seats at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Stand and Northern Gallery are priced at Tk 400. The Club House galleries will cost Tk 800 each. Fans seeking premium views can opt for the International Galleries at Tk 1,500 or the Grand Stand at Tk 2,500. The ODIs will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on October 18, 21, and 23, all starting at 1:30 p.m. The action will then shift to Chattogram, where the sides will play a three-match T20I series on October 27, 29, and 31 at the Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium. After a bruising 3-0 defeat to Afghanistan, the Bangladesh cricket team is ready to take on the West Indies at home.