United News of Bangladesh

Tigers are is set to return to Chattogram today (Thursday) for their final series before the T20 World Cup, with a three-match contest against Ireland doubling as a full-dress rehearsal for next February’s tournament in India. Yet the cricket itself comes after a day of tension as captain Litton Das’s unusual criticism over the selection process has drawn discussion ahead of the opener. Litton, however, urged his teammates to set the noise aside and focus on the squad of 15 at hand. Bangladesh were swept 3–0 by West Indies in this city earlier in the year, and the captain repeated a familiar message — he wants his players to face difficult passages of play, and to learn how to win from them. “I want our players to be pushed,” Litton said after training on Wednesday. “We didn’t win the last series, but this time we want to come through tough situations and finish matches.” Chattogram has been chosen deliberately for back-to-back series in the build-up to the World Cup. The surface here typically rewards batters, a trait expected in Indian venues as well. With early-winter dew likely to aid strokeplay further, Bangladesh hope to refine their plans in similar conditions. Litton voices frustration over team selection ahead of Ireland T20 series One area under scrutiny is the middle order, which struggled in recent outings. Shamim Hossain’s omission and Mahidul Islam’s inclusion sparked debate, but Litton said he remains confident. “They’re all proven players. I believe they’ll bounce back,” Litton said.  Expressing optimism, Curtis Campher said the visitors want to sharpen both their batting aggression and wicket-taking options before the World Cup. Asked about the pitch, he offered a light-hearted reply.  “It’ll still be 22 yards — same for both sides. Hopefully a lot of runs,” he said.  

The last time South Africa won a Test series on Indian soil, Hansie Cronje and Sachin Tendulkar were captaining their sides. Nearly a quarter century later, the Proteas have finally repeated the feat, completing a dominant 408-run win on Wednesday to sweep the two-match series 2-0. South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship winners, took the opening Test in Kolkata by 30 runs before wrapping up the series in Guwahati. Off-spinner Simon Harmer produced a career-best 6-37 as India collapsed to 140 all out in the final innings. Cronje’s team had triumphed 2-0 in 2000 with victories in Mumbai and Bengaluru, but since then South Africa had managed only two wins in 13 Tests in India—until this year’s breakthroughs. “It’s a huge achievement, something we constantly strive for,” captain Temba Bavuma said. “Winning 2-0 in India is rare. Many of us have felt the pain of being on the losing end here, which makes this so much more satisfying.” India had been set an improbable 549 to win after South Africa posted scores of 489 and 260-5 declared. The hosts’ first-innings 201 left them far behind, trailing by 288. India crumble on final day Three wickets fell in the morning session before India slumped to 90-5 at tea. The remaining wickets tumbled in barely an hour, sealing India’s heaviest Test defeat by runs. The previous worst margin—342 runs—was against Australia in Nagpur in 2004. India have now lost five of their last seven home Tests, their worst home stretch in 66 years. “It’s disappointing. We need to improve, but credit to South Africa—they were the better team,” India captain Rishabh Pant said. “You can’t take home conditions for granted.” The loss also marked India’s second home series defeat in successive seasons, following a 3-0 sweep by New Zealand in October 2024, intensifying concerns about India’s red-ball transition. Pakistan, India placed in same group for T20 World Cup Harmer ended the series with 17 wickets, earning player-of-the-series honors. It was his first five-wicket haul in India after previously recording four four-wicket hauls. Aiden Markram set a new record with nine catches in a single Test. Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for India with 54, while the side missed captain Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to a neck injury sustained in Kolkata. Bavuma has now guided South Africa to 11 wins in 12 Tests as captain, including the 2025 World Test Championship final. Marco Jansen took player-of-the-match for his 93 runs and 6-48. Echoes of 2000 In South Africa’s 2000 series win, they edged the Mumbai Test by four wickets before crushing India by an innings in Bengaluru. Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald combined for 16 wickets, Nicky Boje took seven, and Gary Kirsten scored 149 runs. India’s stars included Anil Kumble with 12 wickets and Mohammed Azharuddin with a century in what became his final Test. That defeat ended India’s unbeaten home run since 1987 and was Tendulkar’s final series as captain. Cronje, later banned for match-fixing, died in a 2002 plane crash. Source: AP 

Bangladesh captain Litton Das expressed an unusual message on Tuesday, expressing frustration over the team-selection process ahead of the T20I series against Ireland. The tension surfaced when Litton was asked about Shamim Hossain’s exclusion from the squad. Shamim, who had scores of 0, 1 and 1 in his last three T20Is, was left out without prior discussion with the captain — something Litton said took him by surprise. “Of course it would have been good if he was in the squad,” Litton said. “But this wasn’t my call. The selectors dropped him without informing me — without any notice.” Litton went further, questioning the very process behind selection. “All my life I believed captains knew who was coming in and who was going out,” he said. “But apparently that’s not the case anymore.” His frustration sharpened when the conversation shifted to the new-look middle order, which now features five right-handed batters — Mahidul Islam replacing Shamim, alongside Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali and Nurul Hasan. “That’s a good point,” Litton told a reporter. “If that idea came from above instead of from you, it would help. At international level, you need right-hand and left-hand balance.” Litton said he had been explicitly told that he would have no say in selection. “I’ve been told by the board and selectors that I must work with whatever squad I am given. I won’t have a say in who I want or don’t want.” The captain also expressed regret over being unable to support Shamim during a lean patch. “Not everyone will perform every series. Shamim played extraordinary cricket for us before. As captain, I should have been able to support him. I’m really sorry I couldn’t.” Asked if he had raised concerns with the board, Litton did not hold back. “A distance has been created, yes. I’ve been told clearly: my job is to take the team I’m given and produce results.” On whether he would continue as captain under such conditions, Litton kept his response brief: “We’ll see.” Bangladesh play Ireland in the first T20I in Chattogram tomorrow.      

Traditional rivals India and Pakistan will meet in Colombo after being drawn together in the same group for the T20 World Cup, according to the groups and schedule announced Tuesday by the ICC. The 20-team tournament is divided into four groups of five. Italy, making its debut in a major ICC event, joins Group C with England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Nepal. Group B features co-host Sri Lanka along with Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman. New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada and the UAE make up Group D. India will begin its month-long campaign on Feb. 7 in Mumbai against the United States. It will then face Namibia on Feb. 12, Pakistan on Feb. 15, and finish its Group A fixtures against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on Feb. 18. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash will be held at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium — one of Sri Lanka’s three venues alongside Sinhalese Sports Club (Colombo) and Pallekele in Kandy. Pakistan, which plays all of its group matches in Colombo, opens on Feb. 7 against the Netherlands, then meets the United States on Feb. 10, India on Feb. 15 and Namibia on Feb. 18. The format mirrors that of the 2024 World Cup hosted by the U.S. and West Indies. The top two teams from each group move on to the Super Eight stage, split again into two groups. The leading two from each Super Eight group will advance to the semifinals. Should India progress to the Super Eight, it will play in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata. A potential semifinal for India would be staged in Mumbai. Colombo or Kolkata has been shortlisted to host the second semifinal if Sri Lanka or Pakistan qualifies. The tournament final is scheduled for Ahmedabad — unless Pakistan reaches the title match, in which case Colombo will host the final. India is the defending champion after beating South Africa in the 2024 final in Barbados — the same tournament in which captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20 cricket. Sharma was named the ambassador for next year’s World Cup on Tuesday. Having won titles both in 2007 and 2024, he is one of the few players to be part of two victorious campaigns. “I wish all the players the very best and hope they enjoy India’s hospitality while taking home wonderful memories,” Sharma said. Source: AP

Pakistan Shaheens claimed the Rising Stars Asia Cup title after a tense final in Doha went to a Super Over, where Bangladesh A fell short despite a stirring late surge from their lower order. Replying to Pakistan’s 125, Bangladesh A appeared done for at 53 for 7 before No. 10 Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and No. 11 Ripon Mondol scripted an extraordinary revival. Their fearless hitting produced 20 runs in the penultimate over, dragging the match to the brink of an unlikely steal. Bangladesh needed seven off the final over, then two off the last ball. A scrambled leg-bye levelled the scores, sending the final into a Super Over—just as Bangladesh had done in their semifinal win over India. But the momentum slipped quickly. Batting first, Bangladesh managed only six runs. Habibur Rahman took a single off the first ball before two quick wickets fell—Saqlain splicing a catch back to bowler Ahmed Daniyal, and Jishan Alam having his stumps rattled after a wayward delivery down the leg side gifted Bangladesh five wides. Daniyal, who had dominated the death overs all evening, finished the Super Over with two wickets for one legal ball faced. Chasing seven, Pakistan showed fewer nerves. Saad Masood and Maaz Sadaqat walked out calmly, and Mondol—Bangladesh’s hero with both bat and ball in previous matches—found no early breakthrough this time. A leg-bye and a single set up the winning moment before Masood flicked a low full toss to the square-leg rope. He punched the air as the Shaheens sealed the title, their third in this tournament’s history. For Bangladesh, the heartbreak was softened only by Mondol’s emergence as the tournament’s standout quick under pressure. His 3-for in the main innings had earlier kept Bangladesh alive when Pakistan were cruising at 96 for one. Bangladesh had clawed back with a flurry of late wickets, but 125 proved just enough for Pakistan on a wearing surface where run-making was sporadic. Saqlain’s fearless 16* off 12 balls and Mondol’s 11 off nine nearly flipped the script again, echoing Bangladesh’s dramatic Super Over win in the semifinal. But in the end, Pakistan held firmer in the decisive moments, with Daniyal’s control in the death overshadowing Bangladesh’s spirited fightback.

The country’s top 16 brands participated in the “bKash Cricket Carnival 2025,” held recently at the Bashundhara Kings Cricket Ground. Organised by bKash, the carnival featured teams from Aarong, RFL, Bata, Walton, Shwapno, Unimart, Apollo Clinic, Shohoz, Artisan, Infinity Mega Mall, Easy Fashion, Jatri, GoZayaan, InterContinental Dhaka, Unique Hotel & Resorts, and bKash itself, according to a media statement. Artisan emerged as the champion, while Unique Hotel & Resorts finished as runner-up. bKash organised the tournament to strengthen its relationships with top merchant partners through a festive cricket event. By accepting payments through bKash, these leading brands are helping to reinforce the digital transaction ecosystem and promote cashless habits among customers, the statement said. After the final match on Saturday, bKash Chief Commercial Officer Ali Ahmmed handed over trophies to the champion and other winning teams.

Bangladesh completed a big 217-run victory over Ireland in the Dhaka Test on Sunday, sealing the two-match series 2–0. Bangladesh closed the match defined by milestones, dominant batting, and a super spin attack led by Taijul Islam and Hasan Murad. Ireland, set an improbable 509 to win, were bowled out for 291 deep into the fifth afternoon. Bangladesh needed 59.3 overs on the final day to take the last four wickets, with their spinners taking turns to tighten the noose on a surface that had grown increasingly mischievous. The final innings again revolved around Taijul, who collected four wickets to go with his four in the first innings, finishing with eight in the match. In doing so, the left-arm spinner overtook Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 249 wickets. Hasan Murad matched him blow for blow in the last innings, also taking four and underlining his growing promise as a long-term partner in Bangladesh’s spin attack. Ireland’s fight-back was anchored by Curtis Campher, who produced one of the grittiest fourth-innings efforts seen in Mirpur. The allrounder remained unbeaten on 71, facing 259 balls — the longest fourth-innings vigil ever played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Harry Tector added a composed 50, but wickets continued to fall around them. Bangladesh's victory was built on a towering first-innings total of 476, led by a century from Mushfiqur Rahim and a sublime 128 from Liton Das. Pakistan crushes Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in tri-series clash Mominul Haque added 63, while Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy provided steady starts. Andy McBrine’s six-wicket haul kept the visitors afloat, but they were unable to prevent Bangladesh from dictating tempo. Ireland responded with 265, as Lorcan Tucker fought for an unbeaten 75 and Jordan Neill struck 49. Yet the innings remained fractured by recurring collapses engineered by Taijul and Murad, who shared six wickets. In Bangladesh’s second innings, the hosts pressed ahead with intent, declaring at 297 for four. Mominul (87), Shadman (78), and Mahmudul (60) set up the total, while Mushfiqur added an unbeaten 53 to crown a historic personal milestone. The match marked Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test, making him the first Bangladeshi to reach the landmark. Barcelona celebrate Camp Nou return with 4–0 win over Bilbao He celebrated it with a hundred in the first innings and a fifty in the second, becoming only the 11th batter in cricket history to score a century in a 100th Test match. Bangladesh’s bowlers then took over, wearing Ireland down session by session across two days, with Taijul, Murad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed combining to secure the final push.

Sahibzada Farhan blasted an unbeaten 80 off just 45 balls to steer Pakistan to a dominant seven-wicket victory over out-of-form Sri Lanka in the T20 tri-series on Saturday. Sri Lanka, still reeling from a heavy loss to Zimbabwe in their opening match, mustered only 128-7 after opting to bat first. Early promise from Kamil Mishara (22) faded quickly as Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their grip. Mohammad Nawaz led the attack with impressive figures of 3-16, while Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a wicket as Sri Lanka slipped to 80-5 by the 12th over. Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten 41 off 38 provided some late resistance, but disciplined death bowling from Mohammad Wasim and Mirza restricted the visitors to a modest total. Conway–Ravindra century stand guides NZ to 5-wicket win over WI in 2nd ODI Pakistan replied with authority as Farhan launched a flurry of strokes to give the hosts a rapid start. Despite losing Saim Ayub for 20, Farhan kept attacking, adding 69 valuable runs with Babar Azam (16) and reaching his fifty in 33 balls. Dushmantha Chameera claimed two wickets late in the innings, but Pakistan’s chase remained well on track. Farhan sealed the win — and surpassed his previous best T20 score — with a straight six off Malinga, guiding Pakistan to 131-3 in only 15.3 overs. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha praised the all-round performance, while Sri Lanka’s skipper Dasun Shanaka lamented his side’s ongoing batting struggles throughout the tour. Pakistan, unbeaten in the series so far, will face Zimbabwe next on Sunday. Source: AP 

Bangladesh ended the fourth day of the Dhaka Test needing only four wickets to complete a commanding win over Ireland, after declaring their second innings at 297 for three and setting a target of 508. Ireland closed on 176 for six, stretched by grit but increasingly constrained by a surface breaking down beneath them. The day belonged once again to Bangladesh’s spinners, with Taijul Islam reaching a historic milestone. His three wickets in Ireland’s second innings lifted him to 249 Test scalps — surpassing Shakib Al Hasan to become the highest wicket-taker in Bangladesh’s Test history. Taijul has already taken seven in this match, bowling with the sort of accuracy and control that has defined his decade-long career. Harry Tector offered Ireland brief resistance with a spirited half-century, but he fell moments after raising the milestone, chipping a drive to mid-off. That dismissal reopened the innings, and Bangladesh pressed hard through the final hour. Curtis Campher remained unbeaten on 34 at stumps, joined by Andy McBrine, but survival appeared a matter of time rather than possibility. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh tightened their grip with a disciplined, confident morning session. Mominul Haque produced his 25th Test fifty, and Mushfiqur Rahim — fresh from his century in the first innings — moved into the 40s with characteristic calm. Their 106-run partnership framed a statement of control as Bangladesh stretched the lead past 500. Shadman Islam’s 78 anchored the early scoring before Andy McBrine pinned him in front, and Jordan Neill removed captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with a sharp bouncer. Ireland might have had more to show had Cade Carmichael held a straightforward chance offered by Mushfiqur at deep backward square — a pivotal moment that ensured Bangladesh’s dominance continued unbroken. The home side declared shortly after reaching 297 for three, adding to their first-innings 476. Ireland, who posted 265 in reply earlier, were left to withstand a relentless attack on a pitch offering sharp turn, uneven bounce and the occasional shooter. Hasan Murad delivered another canny spell of off-spin, while Khaled Ahmed added a wicket with the old ball. Ireland have battled with spirit throughout the match, showing clear signs of improvement and a willingness to absorb long spells. But against Bangladesh’s well-drilled spin unit — on a surface deteriorating rapidly — the challenge remains steep.  

Bangladesh declared the second innings of the Dhaka Test against Ireland at 297 for three, securing a lead of 508 runs, and setting a massive target for the visitors.  A fluent half-century from Mominul Haque and another composed knock from Mushfiqur Rahim helped the hosts reach 280 for three in their second innings, adding 124 runs in an assertive morning session. Bangladesh resumed the day in full control and scored freely at a run rate of 4.24. Ireland did manage two breakthroughs, but the momentum never shifted. Andy McBrine trapped Shadman Islam for 78 with a delivery that thudded into the back pad, and Jordan Neill sent back captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with a sharp, rising ball. Ireland might have opened the door further had Cade Carmichael held on to a straightforward catch offered by Mushfiqur Rahim at deep backward square. The reprieve proved costly. Mushfiqur, fresh from his first-innings century, settled quickly and moved into the 40s with characteristic ease. At the other end, Mominul Haque played with calm precision, reaching his 25th Test half-century. The pair added 106 runs for the fourth wicket, rotating the strike smoothly and punishing anything loose. Their partnership ensured Bangladesh’s innings continued to build without urgency, and there were no immediate signs of a declaration. Earlier in the match, Bangladesh posted 476 in their first innings before bowling out Ireland for 265.