United News of Bangladesh

An all-round performance by Afghanistan international Azmatullah Omarzai proved decisive as the Sylhet Titans edged the Dhaka Capitals by six runs in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) encounter at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Opting to field first after winning the toss, Dhaka initially kept the Sylhet batting lineup in check. The Titans lost five wickets for 122 in 16 overs, despite a measured 44 from opener Parvez Hossain Emon. However, Omarzai single-handedly shifted the momentum with a breathtaking unbeaten fifty His 50 not-out came off just 24 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and three maximums, propelling Sylhet to a competitive total of 173 for 5. Salman Mirza was the best bowler for Dhaka, claiming 2, but leaking more than 40 runs. In pursuit of 174, the Capitals' innings started disastrously. The top order crumbled, with pacers Mohammad Amir and Omarzai taking wickets early. Dhaka slumped to a precarious 43/5 in just the eighth over, facing an uphill battle for survival. Enter Shamim Hossain. The left-hander launched a counter-attack, finding an able partner in Sabbir Rahman. Shamim's aggressive knock saw him race to a fifty off 32 balls, keeping Dhaka's faint hopes alive. His unbeaten 81 off 43 balls was a masterclass in crisis management. Despite Shamim's heroics, the early deficit proved too large to overcome. Omarzai returned to close out the innings effectively, finishing with figures of 3 for 40 to complement his batting performance. Nasum Ahmed also chipped in with two crucial wickets. Dhaka eventually fell six runs short of Sylhet. With this win, the Titans now stand at the second position in the points table.    

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup taking place in India and Sri Lanka this year. The ACB called back Gulbadin Naib and Naveen Ul Haq for the event. Rashid Khan, the premium Afghan spinner, will lead the team in the World Cup. The duo was not part of the Afghanistan team in their last assignment against Zimbabwe. While they made a comeback, some players were left off the squad who were the parts of the recent matches. Afghanistan will play in the Group D in the World Cup along with New Zealand, South Africa, The UAE, and Canada. A total of 20 teams will participate in this year’s T20 World Cup in four groups, with each group consisting of five teams. The World Cup will be played across eight venues— five in India, and three in Sri Lanka.    

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will not be played in Chattogram this season, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) revising the tournament schedule and shifting all fixtures originally allocated to the port city to Sylhet. Under the earlier plan, the Chattogram leg was set to begin on January 5. However, BPL officials confirmed that those matches have now been relocated to Sylhet, extending the Sylhet phase of the tournament from January 2 to January 12.  The competition will then move to Dhaka, where the knockout rounds and final will be staged. BPL Governing Council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman said the media that the decision was taken to ease broadcast logistics and to align preparations with Bangladesh’s upcoming T20 World Cup commitments. With limited time to relocate production equipment between venues, organisers opted to consolidate the group-stage fixtures in Sylhet before shifting operations to the capital. The schedule was also adjusted following the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia on December 30. Two matches scheduled that day were postponed as a mark of respect and will now be played on January 4 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. In total, Sylhet will host matches from December 26 through January 12, including the rescheduled fixtures and all games originally planned for Chattogram. The Dhaka phase will begin on January 15 and feature the final round of league matches, followed by the playoffs. The first eliminator and the second qualifier will be played on January 19, with another qualifier scheduled for January 21. The final of the tournament will take place in Dhaka on January 23, as originally planned.  

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has questioned suggestions that the Premier League title race this season is only between his side and leaders Arsenal. His comments came after Arsenal moved five points clear at the top with a dominant 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday. The defeat pushed third-placed Villa six points behind Arsenal, though City can cut the gap to two points with a win at Sunderland on Thursday. Asked if the title fight was now only between City and Arsenal, Guardiola expressed doubt. He said opinions have changed quickly in recent weeks, with different teams being counted in the race at different times. Liverpool are currently fourth in the table and trail Arsenal by 13 points as they try to defend their title. City ended 2025 strongly with eight straight wins in all competitions after a difficult, trophyless year. However, they face a tough test away to Sunderland, who are unbeaten at home this season. Guardiola said Sunderland have been strong since returning to the Premier League and noted that several top teams have struggled to win at their ground. He added that City are ready for a difficult match. The City boss also played down transfer speculation ahead of the January window. Reports have linked the club with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, while winger Oscar Bobb has been linked with a possible loan move to Borussia Dortmund. Guardiola said he had no updates on transfers and stressed that he was focused only on the upcoming matches.   With inputs from BBC

Former Australian international cricketer Damien Martyn is in a serious condition at a hospital on the Gold Coast, Australian media reported on Wednesday. The 54-year-old, who represented Australia in 67 Test matches, fell ill in recent days. According to Nine Newspapers, Martyn has been placed in an induced coma as he battles meningitis. Gold Coast Health confirmed in a statement that he remains in serious condition at Gold Coast University Hospital. Tributes and messages of support have poured in from across the cricketing community. Former teammate Darren Lehmann posted on social media, sending prayers and urging Martyn to stay strong, while extending support to his family. Close friend and former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist told News Corp. that Martyn is receiving excellent medical care and that his partner Amanda and family are aware of the widespread goodwill and prayers being offered. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg also expressed concern, wishing Martyn a speedy recovery and saying the thoughts of the Australian cricket community are with him. Renowned for his elegant stroke play, Martyn averaged 46.37 in Test cricket. Born in Darwin, he made his Test debut at just 21 during the 1992–93 home series against the West Indies and later captained Western Australia at the age of 23. His highest Test score of 165 came against New Zealand in 2005, one of his 13 centuries. Martyn played his final Test in the 2006–07 Ashes before moving into commentary. He also featured in 208 one-day internationals, was part of Australia’s 1999 and 2003 World Cup-winning squads, and famously scored an unbeaten 88 in the 2003 final despite a broken finger. Source: AP 

Approaching his 59th birthday in February, the world’s oldest active professional footballer is set to begin yet another chapter in his extraordinary career, entering what will be his 41st season. Kazuyoshi Miura, affectionately known as “King Kazu” in Japan, announced this week that he has signed with Fukushima United, a third-division J-League club. He joins the team on loan from Yokohama FC, following a season-long loan spell with fourth-tier side Atletico Suzuka, where he appeared in seven matches without finding the net. Miura’s career spans continents and decades. Since making his professional debut in 1986 with Brazil’s Santos — the legendary club associated with Pelé — he has played in leagues across Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia, Portugal and Japan. In 2017, at the age of 50, Miura set a global milestone by becoming the oldest player to score in a professional match, surpassing a long-standing record held by former England great Stanley Matthews. A trailblazer for Japanese football, Miura was among the country’s first major soccer stars. During the 1990s, he was a key figure for Japan’s national team, scoring 55 goals in 89 appearances and helping raise the sport’s profile nationwide. Even as he nears 60, Miura continues to defy age, driven by an enduring passion for the game. Source: AP

All scheduled Federation Cup and women’s football league matches were suspended on Tuesday following the death of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) confirmed that both Federation Cup fixtures slated for the day were postponed as part of nationwide mourning. The Under-15 National Championship final, scheduled to be held in Noakhali, was also called off. In women’s football, three league matches due to be played at Kamalapur Stadium were suspended, with revised dates to be announced later. BFF vice-president Fahad Rahman said the media all sporting activities for the day had been halted out of respect. He added that it remained uncertain whether matches would resume the following day, as Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayers were expected to be held on Wednesday. Khaleda’s Death: Govt announces 3-day state mourning, general holiday Wednesday Other national sports bodies, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), also issued condolence messages. Officials said further decisions on fixtures would depend on the duration of the official mourning period. Khaleda Zia, a two-time prime minister, died on Tuesday morning at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.    

Hugh Morris, former England cricketer and one-time chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has passed away at the age of 62. Glamorgan, the Welsh county team where Morris played much of his domestic cricket and served as captain, confirmed on Sunday that he died after battling bowel cancer during “extremely difficult” final years. An opening batsman, Morris made three appearances for England and played a pivotal role in Glamorgan’s 1997 county championship victory, which coincided with his retirement. Over his career, he scored 19,785 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 40.29. Following his playing career, Morris spent 16 years in administrative roles at the ECB, including a tenure as chief executive during a successful period for the men’s national team. He returned to Glamorgan in 2013 as CEO, helping the club overcome financial challenges and oversee the development of international-standard facilities at Sophia Gardens. Dan Cherry, Glamorgan’s current CEO, remembered Morris as “a great player, a tireless administrator, and a fine human being of great dignity and integrity.” He highlighted Morris’ legacy, including the stadium at Sophia Gardens and the establishment of the Welsh Fire franchise in The Hundred competition, both of which have positioned Welsh cricket for further growth in the coming decade. Morris’ contribution to both English and Welsh cricket, on and off the field, has left an enduring mark on the sport. Source: AP 

Defending champion Ivory Coast and five-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Cameroon played out a thrilling 1-1 draw on Sunday, while Algeria secured a spot in the last 16, with France legend Zinedine Zidane once again in attendance. Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo had a chance to snatch victory in the dying moments but was denied by Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou, who blocked the ball with his body. Both sides displayed determination throughout, with Cameroon showing unity under new coach David Pagou following the dismissal of Marc Brys amid a public dispute. The match in Marrakech saw Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo break the deadlock in the 51st minute with a curling strike, his second goal in two games. Cameroon equalized five minutes later via Junior Tchamadeu, whose deflected shot off Ivorian defender Ghislain Konan was recorded as an own goal. Both teams now sit on four points in Group F, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive. A moment of silence was observed before the match for former Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset, who recently passed away. Elsewhere, Algeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0, with Riyad Mahrez converting a 23rd-minute penalty for his third goal in two games. The Fennec Foxes topped Group E with six points, advancing to the knockout round. Zidane watched from the stands alongside Algerian fans, while his son Luca saw limited action in goal due to a teammate’s injury. Senegal cruise past Botswana as Nigeria edge Tanzania in Africa Cup openers Sudan revived its hopes of progression with a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca. The team faces Burkina Faso in their final group match on Wednesday, with a last-16 berth at stake, while Equatorial Guinea has been eliminated. The African tournament continues to produce intense clashes, with top teams aiming for progression and fans, including football legends, keeping a close eye on the action. Source: AP 

Bangladesh had hosted its first-ever stadium-based ultra endurance event, Dhaka Stadium Run 2025, at the National Stadium. Held from December 26 to 27, the 36-hour continuous race featured more than 350 runners, including foreign participants, competing in four categories—36, 24, 12 and 6 hours—under the slogan “Run for a Breathable Dhaka.” Ebad Ullah won the men’s 36-hour category and set a new national record by covering 233 kilometres, while Sifat Fahmida Eti claimed the women’s title. Winners were also crowned in the other categories across both divisions. Organised by Coastal Ultra Bangladesh with support from the Bangladesh Athletics Federation, the event was described by officials as a landmark step for endurance sports in the country.