United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh secured a historic 8-wicket victory against Pakistan on Wednesday, chasing down a meagre 114-run target before the Iftar break at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. It was Bangladesh's largest margin of victory over Pakistan in terms of balls remaining, as they reached the target in just 15.1 overs. The host nation had previously beaten Pakistan by 8 wickets, but never this quickly. Chasing 114, Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain formed an 82-run partnership for the second wicket, turning the ODI into a rapid chase. Hossain contributed 27 runs off 33 balls before his dismissal. Tanzid remained unbeaten with an explosive 67 off 42 balls, striking five sixes and seven boundaries. Litton Das joined Tanzid to finish the match, with the winning run arriving via a wide delivery from Mohammad Wasim just moments before the Iftar fast-breaking meal. The chase was set up by a devastating opening spell from fast bowler Nahid Rana. After Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat survived the first nine overs without loss, scoring 35 runs against Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz introduced Rana in the 10th over. Rana immediately dismantled the Pakistani top order, taking five wickets in his first five overs. He removed Farhan, debutant Shamil Hussain, Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Agha, completing his maiden ODI five-wicket haul.

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a devastating spell of fast bowling on Wednesday, claiming his first career five-wicket haul to tear through Pakistan's inexperienced batting lineup in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Riding on his record-making bowling, Bangladesh wrapped up Pakistan for 114 in 30.4 overs in the first ODI. Nahid Rana bags maiden ODI five-wicket haul to dismantle Pakistan Rana, who entered the match with only five wickets in his previous five ODI appearances, took five wickets in his first five overs, also the first five wickets of the Pakistan innings, as the visiting side slid from 41/0 to 69/5. Pakistan, fielding four ODI debutants for the first time since 2008, clearly struggled to handle Rana's pace, as he made hay with the short delivery, after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to field. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adopted a cautious approach against new-ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, playing 24 dot balls in the first six overs. However, Rana's introduction in the 10th over immediately changed the game. He removed Farhan (27) with the final ball of his opening over, caught by Afif Hossain at point. In his next over, Rana dismissed debutant Shamil Hussain (4) with a short delivery that Hussain skied to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Rana continued his barrage of short-pitched bowling, removing Sadaqat (18) in the 14th over and veteran Mohammad Rizwan (10) in the 17th over, caught again by Das. He completed his maiden five-wicket haul by dismissing Salman Agha for 5 runs, caught by Tanzid Hasan at short square leg. Bangladesh captain Miraz bagged three wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each. For Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf was the highest runs scorer with 37 off 47 balls with six fours and one six.

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a devastating spell of fast bowling Tuesday, claiming his first career five-wicket haul to tear through Pakistan's inexperienced batting lineup in the first ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Rana, who entered the match with only five wickets in his previous five ODI appearances, took five wickets in his first five overs, single-handedly reducing the visiting side to a vulnerable position. Pakistan, fielding four ODI debutants for the first time since 2008, struggled against the pace attack after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and elected to field. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adopted a cautious approach against new-ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, playing 24 dot balls in the first six overs. However, Rana's introduction in the 10th over immediately changed the game. He removed Farhan (27) with the final ball of his opening over, caught by Afif Hossain at point. In his next over, Rana dismissed debutant Shamil Hussain (4) with a short delivery that Hussain skied to wicketkeeper Litton Das. Rana continued his barrage of short-pitched bowling, removing Sadaqat (18) in the 14th over and veteran Mohammad Rizwan (10) in the 17th over, caught again by Das. He completed his maiden five-wicket haul by dismissing Salman Agha for 5 runs, caught by Tanzid Hasan at short square leg.

Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid moved closer to the Champions League quarterfinals with commanding victories on Tuesday, while Liverpool suffered defeat and Barcelona needed a dramatic late penalty to avoid losing. Bayern thrashed Atalanta 6-1 away despite leaving top scorer Harry Kane out of the starting lineup. Atletico Madrid also produced a dominant performance, beating Tottenham 5-2 after racing to a 3-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes. In other matches, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in Istanbul, while Barcelona secured a 1-1 draw against Newcastle thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from teenage star Lamine Yamal. Bayern’s impressive display came even without Kane, who has scored 47 goals this season for club and country but was only fit enough for the bench. Michael Olise scored twice for the German champions, while Serge Gnabry and Nicolas Jackson both scored and assisted. Josip Stanisic and Jamal Musiala also found the net as Bayern overwhelmed Atalanta to take a commanding advantage into the second leg. Tottenham endured a disastrous start in Madrid after coach Igor Tudor opted to drop first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. His replacement, Antonin Kinsky, struggled badly on his Champions League debut. A slip and miskick in the sixth minute allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring for Atletico, before Antoine Griezmann doubled the lead shortly afterwards. Another error by Kinsky gifted Julian Alvarez an easy third goal, and the goalkeeper was substituted in the 17th minute. Vicario replaced him but conceded just five minutes later when Robin Le Normand scored Atletico’s fourth. Although Spurs managed to rally later in the game, the heavy defeat leaves them facing an uphill battle in the return leg. Mbappé misses Real Madrid training ahead of Man City clash; coach hints at return 'soon' “We knew how to take advantage of our opponents’ mistakes to gain a good lead,” Alvarez said, adding that Atletico now head into the second leg with a three-goal cushion. Barcelona were moments away from defeat at Newcastle before earning a late penalty deep into stoppage time. Malick Thiaw fouled Dani Olmo in the box and referee Marco Guida awarded a penalty. Eighteen-year-old Yamal calmly converted in the 96th minute to level the score, and the final whistle followed immediately after. Newcastle had taken the lead in the 86th minute through Harvey Barnes, who also struck the post earlier in the match. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted his side did not perform at their best but said the young squad has strong potential. Galatasaray, meanwhile, secured a narrow advantage over Liverpool in their round-of-16 tie with a 1-0 win in Istanbul. Mario Lemina scored the only goal with a header in the seventh minute, giving the Turkish champions the edge heading into next week’s second leg at Anfield. Galatasaray had opportunities to extend their lead, including a second-half strike from Victor Osimhen that was ruled out for offside, while Liverpool saw Ibrahima Konate’s effort disallowed for handball following a VAR review. Liverpool coach Arne Slot said the tie is far from over, noting that the return leg will be played at Anfield in front of their home supporters.

Pakistan will field three debutants in their top batting order for the first ODI against Bangladesh, as captain Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed claims that veteran batter Babar Azam was dropped from the squad. Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat will open the innings, followed by Shamil Hussain at number three, marking a major top-order overhaul for the visiting side. The absence of experienced players like Azam and Saim Ayub drew scrutiny, particularly after Azam scored a century in Pakistan's recent home series against Sri Lanka. Speaking to reporters in Mirpur on Tuesday, Afridi denied that any players were permanently removed from the roster. "No one has been dropped from this series," Afridi said. "We just wanted to give opportunities to the youngsters, who are our future. We need to prepare the team for the World Cup." The youthful Pakistani squad features six players without an ODI cap, four of whom have no international cricket experience. Both teams enter the series following contrasting recent performances. Pakistan secured series victories against South Africa and Sri Lanka, including a sweep of the latter. Bangladesh, despite a difficult year that included a series loss to Sri Lanka and a sweep by Afghanistan, recently defeated the West Indies at home. "Bangladesh is a good team at home," Afridi said. "They played good cricket and beat the West Indies. As a team, we are also prepared and must maintain the momentum from our last two series."

The Bangladesh national cricket team is implementing a formalized batting order to address recent collapses and stabilize the squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup, with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz moving to the number seven position. Speaking at a press conference in Mirpur on Tuesday before a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, Miraz outlined the strategic shift. The team has struggled to bat through a full innings, completing 50 overs only twice in their last nine outings. These batting failures recently contributed to a home series loss to Sri Lanka and a sweep by Afghanistan. To counter this, management is assigning players to fixed roles. Alongside Miraz's move, Litton Das is slated to bat at number five, followed by Afif Hossain at number six. Najmul Hossain and Towhid Hridoy will anchor the upper-middle order. Miraz, who has batted in every position from one to nine during his career, said he chose number seven to leverage his near-decade of experience batting with the tailenders. "I have batted in the top order a lot, maybe got a lot of runs, but many times the Bangladesh team did not win," Miraz said. The captain said the new lineup will see minimal changes moving forward to allow players to gain experience in their designated roles and build team cohesion for the squad's upcoming 22-match ODI schedule.

Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said that any leader requires time to properly develop a team, speaking during a press conference Tuesday ahead of a three-match ODI series against Pakistan. The first match is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The series marks the start of a critical year for Bangladesh, which faces a 22-match ODI schedule. The team aims to secure direct qualification for the upcoming World Cup by maintaining a position within the top nine of the global rankings. BCB announces ticket prices for Pakistan ODI series Addressing questions regarding his leadership philosophy and future, Miraz deferred long-term decisions to the cricket board. His current tenure as captain extends until June, and he emphasized his immediate focus is on guiding the team to a strong position during that period. "Whoever is given the captaincy, if given time, can build the team beautifully," Miraz said. "My role, for however long I have been given this responsibility, is to try and take the team to a good place." Miraz holds a difficult record as ODI captain, securing three wins in 13 matches, though two of those victories occurred during the team's recent series against the West Indies. He noted that the upcoming Pakistan series is crucial for the nation's World Cup qualification, prioritizing the team's advancement over his individual captaincy record.

India clinched a record third T20 World Cup title with a commanding 96-run win over New Zealand on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, thrilling over 86,000 fans. After losing the toss, India batted first and posted a massive 255-5. Opener Sanju Samson starred with a 46-ball 89, his third consecutive fifty, while Abhishek Sharma smashed a rapid 52 off just 21 balls. The pair’s blazing start helped India reach 92-0 in the power play, equaling the highest in T20 World Cup history. Ishan Kishan also contributed a quick fifty, with India crossing 200 by the 15th over. Shivam Dube’s 26 not out ensured India finished past 250. In response, New Zealand never threatened. Tim Seifert hit a 26-ball 52 with five sixes, but India’s bowlers dominated. Jasprit Bumrah took 4-15, including a hat-trick chance, while Axar Patel claimed 3-27. Varun Chakravarthy and Kishan contributed with key wickets and catches as New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs. Samson’s 89 became the highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup final, earning him player of the tournament for 321 runs at an average of 80.25. Bumrah, named player of the match, celebrated his 40th T20 World Cup wicket, the most by any pacer. India, which previously won in 2007 and 2024, became the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title and the first to lift the trophy on home soil. Suryakumar Yadav joined MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as Indian captains to claim the trophy, marking another historic day for Indian cricket.  

India clinched the T20 World Cup for a record third time on Sunday, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs before a crowd of over 100,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Batting first after losing the toss, India posted a formidable 255-5. Opener Sanju Samson struck 89 off 46 balls, including eight sixes, marking his third consecutive fifty. Abhishek Sharma contributed a 21-ball 52, while Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 26 from just eight deliveries. India’s top-order trio hit 15 sixes in total, helping the team reach 203-1 in 15 overs, the highest power play score in T20 World Cup history. James Neesham (3-46) took three crucial wickets in the 16th over, dismissing Samson, Ishan Kishan (54 in 25 balls), and captain Suryakumar Yadav for a golden duck. Chasing 256, New Zealand struggled throughout and were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs. Jasprit Bumrah picked up 4-15 and Axar Patel claimed 3-27. Tim Seifert top-scored with 52 off 26 balls. India became the first country to defend its T20 World Cup title and also the first to win the trophy on home soil. This edition of the tournament was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Yadav joined MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as Indian captains to lift the T20 World Cup trophy. New Zealand was aiming for its first T20 World Cup win and had previously finished as runners-up in 2021, losing to Australia in Dubai.

India posted a commanding 255-5 in Sunday’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand, though the hosts may have hoped for an even bigger total. Co-hosts India had raced to 203-1 in 15 overs before James Neesham (3-46) struck in the 16th over, taking three crucial wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which welcomed over 100,000 spectators. Neesham dismissed opener Sanju Samson for 89 off 46 balls, including eight sixes and five boundaries, and also removed Ishan Kishan (54 in 25) and captain Suryakumar Yadav for a golden duck. Abhishek Sharma contributed a 21-ball 52, while Shivam Dube finished unbeaten on 26 from eight deliveries. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had won the toss and opted to bat first against the defending champions. The Kiwis are seeking their first T20 World Cup title, having finished runners-up in 2021, when they lost to Australia in Dubai. India aims to become the first team to claim the trophy three times.