United News of Bangladesh

Four-time champions Bangladesh miserably eliminated from the semifinal stage of the 10-nation Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup losing to their traditional rivals Oman by a narrow 4-5 goals  at CBK Hockey Field in Jakarta Friday evening. Oman, which booked a seat for the final at the coffin of Bangladesh, will play the final on Sunday (April 27) at 6 pm at the same venue against Chinese Taipei, which qualified for the title deciding match crushing  Kazakhstan by 7-1 goals in the day's first semifinal. Both the finalists ---Oman and Chinese Taipei--also qualified for the final round of this year's Men's Asia Cup Hockey as the two top teams of the ongoing AHF Cup Hockey. With the day's shocking defeat, Bangladesh missed the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey after a long times. The eight team final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey 2025 billed for the Indian city of Rajgir, Bihar from Aug 27 to Sept 7 next. Six teams--Defending champions South Korea, hosts India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China--directly qualified for the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey as per their ranking.  However, Bangladesh will play the 3rd place deciding match against Kazakhstan on Sunday (April 26) at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time. In the day's 2nd semifinal, Sohanur Rahman Shobuj struck twice for Bangladesh in the 13th and 54th minutes -- first one from penalty corner and 2nd from a penalty stroke. Ashraful Islam and Obaidur Rahman Joy scored the remaining two goals for Bangladesh in the 24th and 38th minutes respectively.

Hosts Nepal Women’s Kabaddi team clinched the five-match Kabaddi Test Series 3-1 beating Touring Bangladesh National Women's Kabaddi team by 21-17 point in the 4th match at the Saatdobaato Taekwondo Hall in Lalitpur, Nepal on Thursday. Asian Games medalist Nepal Women’s Kabaddi team, narrowly dominated the first half of the day’s match by 10-9 points against Bangladesh after trailing by 0-3 point initially. Kabaddi Test Series: Touring Bangladesh taste first victory in 3rd match beating hosts Nepal The 5th and last match between two teams will be held on Friday at the same venue. Touring Bangladesh tasted the first victory in their 3rd match of the five- match Kabaddi Test Series beating hosts Nepal by 26-23 points after suffering 18-41 points defeat in the first match and conceded 22-29 points defeat in the 2nd match.

The 15th edition of the SAFF Championship, originally scheduled for this year, has been postponed to 2026 as the tournament venue and format have yet to be finalised, the SAFF announced in a press release on Thursday. The biennial South Asian football tournament has been deferred to allow more time for preparation, with both the SAFF authorities and title sponsor SportFive agreeing that additional arrangements are needed to ensure smooth execution. “The SAFF had planned to host the Championship in a home-and-away format this year, and preparations were underway. However, SAFF, our Member Associations, and SportFive felt that further steps are needed to deliver the competition seamlessly,” the press release stated. Format of SAFF Championship likely to change “Therefore, we have decided to postpone the SAFF Championship to 2026, giving all stakeholders and member associations sufficient time to organise the tournament on a grand scale.” SAFF also stressed the need to carefully select a suitable window for the event, especially as it will now coincide with a FIFA World Cup year.

The four-time champions Bangladesh reached the semifinal as Group B champions with all-win record outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals in their 4th and last group match of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup held at CBK Hockey Field in Jakarta on Wednesday. Bangladesh will play the semifinal with Group A runners-up either Oman or Chinese Taipei, now playing each in a Group A match on Wednesday. In the day’s match, Rakibul Hasan scored two field goals for Bangladesh in the 39th and 42nd minutes and was adjudged player of the match while Fazle Rabbi, Arshad Hossain and Naim Uddin scored one goal each for Bangladesh in the 43rd, 49th and 50th minutes respectively --first two were field goals and last one from a penalty corner. Premier Division Cricket: Title race heats up as Abahani, Mohammedan win again Bangladesh team made a flying start in the ongoing AHF Cup outplaying Kazakstan by 5-1 goals in the opening match, defeated hosts Indonesia by 3-2 goals in the 2nd match and beat Thailand by 2-1 goals in the 3rd match. Top two teams of the 10-team AHF Cup Hockey, held in two groups, will qualify for the final round of the eight-team Men's Asia Cup Hockey billed for the Indian city of Rajgir, Bihar from Aug 27 to Sept 7 next. Six teams--Defending champions South Korea, hosts India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China--will directly play in the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey.

Gary Lineker has revealed he believed the BBC preferred him to step down from Match of the Day, despite his desire to continue. Speaking to Amol Rajan, Lineker said, “Perhaps they want me to leave. There was the sense of that.” The BBC did not comment on the claim but had called Lineker a “world-class presenter” when his departure was announced in November. While stepping back from the long-running football show, which he has hosted since 1999, Lineker will continue with FA Cup and World Cup coverage. Lineker explained he had been negotiating a new contract and sensed the broadcaster wanted to refresh the programme as new rights periods approached. “I think it was their preference that I didn’t do Match of the Day for one more year, so they could bring in new people,” he said. In January, the BBC introduced new presenters: Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan. He expressed satisfaction with his continued involvement in BBC football podcasts and other coverage, calling the arrangement “a scenario that suits me perfectly.” Lineker also addressed his controversial tweets from March 2023, criticising the UK government’s immigration policy. His suspension sparked a major backlash and a presenter walkout in solidarity. Though he stood by his comments, Lineker admitted he wouldn’t repeat them due to the "damage" caused to the BBC. Ronaldo is rested and returning his attention to an Asian Champions League title The row led the BBC to review its social media guidelines, now requiring impartiality from high-profile presenters. Lineker criticised the revised rules, saying they unfairly shifted expectations for those outside news and current affairs. Lineker also backed calls to reinstate the pulled documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone on BBC iPlayer. The programme was removed in February after concerns were raised about the narrator’s connection to Hamas. Lineker said the BBC had “capitulated to lobbying” and insisted viewers should be trusted to make their own judgements. The BBC has acknowledged “significant and damaging” flaws in the documentary’s production and is continuing its investigation. Source: With inputs from BBC

Touring Bangladesh National Women's Kabaddi team tasted the first victory in their 3rd match of the five- match Kabaddi Test Series beating hosts Nepal by 26-23 ,points at the Saatdobaato Taekwondo Hall in Lalitpur Tuesday afternoon. Bangladesh were  trailing by 10-15 points in the first half. AHF Cup Hockey: Bangladesh earn 3rd consecutive victory beating Thailand 2-1 Bangladesh made a frustrating start in the first ever five-match series after conceding 18-41 points defeat in the opening match and conceded 22-29 points defeat against in the 2nd  match. After  a recess on Wednesday, Bangladesh will play the remaining two matches on Thursday and Friday at the same venue.

Four-time champions  Bangladesh earned their 3rd consecutive victory in the 10- nation Asian Hockey Federation Cup beating Thailand 2-1 in Jakarta Tuesday afternoon. Bangladesh team made a flying start in the ongoing meet outplaying Kazakstan by 5-1 goals in the opening match and defeated hosts Indonesia by 3-2 goals in the 2nd match on Sunday. In the day's match, Ashraful Islam put Bangladesh ahead in 23rd minute from a penalty corner (1-0) while Thawichat Kraiwich leveled the margin for Thailand  in the 29th minute from a field goal (1-1). Arshad Hossain scored the match winner for Bangladesh in the minute from a field goal (2-1). Italy's Olympic committee urges to halt sports events for Pope Francis’ funeral Later, Ashraful Islam was adjudged the best player of the match. Holders Bangladesh competing in the 10-nation AHF Cup Hockey, initially in two groups,  alongwith Oman, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Singapore and Kazakhstan to repeat their feat. Top two teams of the AHF Cup Hockey will qualify for the eight-team Men's Asia Cup Hockey to be held in the Indian city of Rajgir, Bihar from Aug 27 to Sept 7. Six teams--Defending champions South Korea, hosts India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China--will directly play in the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey.

The Italian national Olympic committee has asked for sports events to be suspended on Saturday, the day of Pope Francis’ funeral. After the government declared five days of national mourning, the Olympic committee, known by its Italian initials CONI, requested Tuesday for Saturday’s events to be suspended and for a minute of silence to take place at other sporting events, reports AP. The pope, who died Monday at 88, was a lifelong soccer fan. Saturday’s events in Italy include three scheduled top-tier Serie A soccer games, one of them between league leader Inter Milan and Roma. Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants It wasn’t immediately clear whether other league and cup soccer games scheduled on other days this week might be affected too. All sports events which had been scheduled for Monday in Italy were postponed following the death of Francis. That included four Serie A games which were moved to Wednesday. Games in Pope Francis’ home country of Argentina were also suspended.

Touring Bangladesh National Women's Kabaddi team suffered 2nd consecutive defeat in the first- ever five- match test series losing to hosts Nepal by 22-29 points in a competitive 2nd match at the Saatdobaato Taekwondo hall in Lalitpur, Nepal on Monday Bangladesh made a frustrating start in the five-match series after conceding 18-41 points defeat against Nepal with three “lonas” in the opening match on Sunday Bangladesh, which also went down in the day's match trailing by 8-18 points in the first half, reorganised themselves in the 2nd half and snatched 14 important points with some good tackle against Nepalese collection 11 points, but failed escaped defeat due to first half debacle. They will play their next match on Tuesday at the same venue. Women’s Kabaddi Series: Bangladesh concedes 18-41 points defeat against hosts Nepal in opening match of five-match test series Bangladesh Women’s Kabaddi team playing their first-ever five- match Test series against Nepal as a part of their preparation for the Women's World Cup Kabaddi. The Women's World Cup Kabaddi will be held in the Indian town Rajgir in Bihar from June 1-8 next.

Dr Enayet Karim, a prominent economist and editor of English newspaper 'Daily Industry' has been appointed as the Regional President of the World Council of Indigenous Games (WIG) for Asia. The announcement was formally made by WIG Secretary General Dr. Mrs Ramya on Sunday. According to a press release, Dr Karim, who currently serves as the President of the Global Economist Forum and Editor of The Daily Industry, will hold the prestigious position for a three-year term effecting from April 20, 2025 until March 2027. He is also the President of the Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Shilpa Parishad, a national body representing the country’s newspaper industry. Following the announcement, Karim expressed his gratitude to the WIG authorities for entrusting him with the significant responsibility. He pledged to promote indigenous games throughout Asia with renewed enthusiasm and strategic initiatives. “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as the Regional President of WIG for Asia. I will do my utmost to revive and promote indigenous games across the region by organising regional events and establishing country-level committees,” he said. Highlighting his vision for Bangladesh, Karim added that he plans to work closely with both government and non-government organisations to create awareness and foster participation in traditional sports. “We must preserve our cultural heritage, and indigenous games are an integral part of that heritage,” he noted. As Regional President, Karim will play a key role in expanding the activities of WIG across Asia, focusing on the inclusion of traditional sports in educational and recreational sectors, fostering cultural exchange, and uniting diverse communities through heritage-based games. The World Council of Indigenous Games, an international body devoted to preserving and promoting native sports and cultural expressions, works to connect indigenous communities around the globe through events, tournaments, and advocacy. Dr Enayet Karim’s appointment is expected to further energise the indigenous sports movement in Asia, especially in Bangladesh, where traditional games are deeply rooted in rural culture but often overlooked in the face of modern entertainment. Stakeholders from various fields, including sports, culture, and education, have already congratulated Dr Karim and expressed optimism that his leadership will bring a new wave of recognition and revival to indigenous games across the continent.