Sports
First T20I: Mendis, Samarawickrama propel Sri Lanka to impressive total against Bangladesh
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama both notched up half-centuries, guiding Sri Lanka to an imposing total of 206 for six wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh on Monday in Sylhet.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Bangladesh got off to a promising start as Shoriful Islam claimed the first wicket in the very first over, signalling early pressure on Sri Lanka's batting lineup.
First T20I: Bangladesh opt to bowl first vs Sri Lanka
However, Bangladesh's early breakthroughs failed to seize the momentum as Sri Lanka swiftly recovered. Despite losing another wicket with the score at 37, Mendis and Samarawickrama orchestrated a foundational 96-run partnership for the third wicket, setting the stage for a commanding total.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series kicks off Monday
Mendis departed after a brisk 59 off just 36 deliveries, while Samarawickrama remained unbeaten with a solid 61 off 48 balls. Captain Charith Asalanka's quickfire 44 off 21 balls, embellished with six sixes, bolstered Sri Lanka's innings.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series can be watched from anywhere in the world
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Rishad Hossain each claimed a wicket for Bangladesh.
First T20I: Bangladesh opt to bowl first vs Sri Lanka
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first match of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka on Monday in Sylhet.
This match is the first international contest when Najmul Hossain Shanto is leading Bangladesh in his tenure as the full-time captain.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series kicks off Monday
In the last five matches, when these two teams contested, Sri Lanka won three matches and Bangladesh two. Historically, Sri Lanka was a tough opponent for Bangladesh, but in recent years, Bangladesh offered some tight competition to the Lankan Lions.
Ahead of the first match, Sri Lanka’s coach, Chris Silverwood, said they feel that they are at a better place as a team in this series. However, he also mentioned that tough competition is expected.
Bangladesh handed the T20I cap to Jaker Ali in this match. He was added to the team after Aliss Islam suffered an injury and was ruled out of the squad. Jaker is expected to play as a middle-order batter, as Najmul hinted earlier.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series can be watched from anywhere in the world
Bangladesh fielded a team with three pacers— Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam— with a leg-spinner, Rishad Hossain. Mahmudullah Riyad is also back to the playing XI.
Bangladesh XI: Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Sri Lanka XI: Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (captain), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana//
Cool- BSJA Media Cup Football begins on Tuesday
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series can be watched from anywhere in the world
Just a few days after the conclusion of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 10th season, Bangladesh cricketers are back on the field as they are set to face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series starting on Monday (March 04, 2024). Fans around the globe can tune in to watch this series promising exciting cricket.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that spectators in Bangladesh can enjoy live coverage of the series on two TV channels — GTV and T-Sports — and can also stream the action on the go via the Rabbithole and T-Sports apps.
Sri Lankan fans can catch the series live on Siyatha TV, with streaming options available through Dialog TV. In India, viewers can follow the action on the FanCode OTT platform.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series kicks off Monday
For fans in 27 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, the series will be broadcast on STARZPLAY, eLife, and Cricbuzz, with Cricbuzz also available in 10 countries in Southeast Asia.
Astro will broadcast the series in Malaysia, while Willow will cover it in 23 countries in North America.
For fans in other parts of the world, the series will be available on the Rabbithole and T-Sports YouTube channels, ensuring global access to the matches.
The first match of the T20I series is scheduled for Monday, March 4, with the remaining two matches taking place on March 6 and 9 in Sylhet. All matches will commence at 6 pm (Bangladesh time). Following the T20I series, both teams will head to Chattogram, Bangladesh’s main port city, for a three-match ODI series.
Barishal stuns Comilla to claim maiden BPL title
Bangladesh national football team reach Saudi Arabian city of Al Taif Sunday early hour
Bangladesh National Football team reached the Saudi Arabian city of Al Taif via Jeddah Sunday early hour at 3:30 am local time.
The Spanish head coach Havier Cabrera's Bangladesh national team scheduled their first practice session on Sunday at 5 pm local time.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Bangladesh national team left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia to conduct a two-week long preparatory camp at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in the Saudi City of Al Taif.After conducting the training camp in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh national team will fly to Kuwait on March 17 to play their away match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine on March 21 at 9:30 pm local time at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait city.
Bangladesh national team will return home from Kuwait on March 22 and will play their home match also with Palestine on March 26 at 3:30 pm local time at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka
Earlier, Bangladesh played two World Cup Qualifier matches against Australia and Lebanon.
Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goals defeat against hosts Australia in their away match on Nov 16 and drew 1-1 with Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka on Nov 21.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with World Cup playing Australia, stronger Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match.28-member Bangladesh squad are:
Goalkeepers: Anisur Rahman Zico, Mitul Marma, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom and Mehdi Hassan Srabon,
Defenders: Topu Barman Bishwanath Ghosh, Hasan Murad, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Shakil Hossain, Saad Uddin and Taj Uddin
Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Chandan Roy, Md Sohel Rana, Mojibor Rahman Jony, Rabiul Hasan, Jamal Bhuyan, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee and Jayed Ahmed;
Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rafiqul Islam, Rabbi Hossain Rahul, Shahriar Emon and Arman Foysal Akash.
Cool- BSJA Media Cup Football begins on Tuesday
The Cool-Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) Media Cup Football
Tournament' 2024, sponsored by Square Toiletries, begins on Tuesday (March 5) at the BFF Astro-turf in Motijheel here.
Thirty two media houses, split into eight groups, will initiatially participate in the meet on knock out basis.
Later, eight group champions will qualify for the quarterfinals.
The details of the tournament disclosed by BSJA officials at a press conference at the Dutch- Bangla auditorium of BOA on Sunday.
BSJA general secretary Anisur Rahman, tournament committee chairman Raihan Al Mugni and tournament's chief co-ordinator Ariful Rahman Babu and Assistant Marketing Officer of the meet's sponsor Square Toiletries Tehsina Khanam spoke on the occasion.
Former national striker Zahid Hasan Emily was also present on the occasion.
The tournament's draw, jersey and trophy unveiling ceremony were also held during the function.
Eight matches will be held on the opening day (Tuesday) from 9 am.
Bangladesh-Sri Lanka T20I series kicks off Monday
After the excitement of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final last week, it's time for Bangladesh cricket fans to shift their focus as the three-match T20I series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka kicks off on Monday at the Sylhet International Stadium.
Both teams are already honing their skills in Sylhet to take on each other in a series that promises to showcase the rivalry that has grown over the last few years between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Ahead of the first match, representatives from both teams have expressed their expectations for a competitive series.
Chris Silverwood, the head coach of Sri Lanka, said the main thing he wants from this series is competitive cricket on the field.
“First and foremost, I expect this to be a very competitive series between two good sides,” Silverwood said. “What happened in the past, for me, is history; now it’s gone. I think what we have to do is, certainly from our perspective, concentrate on what is in front of us.”
This series is also a chance for both teams to take one step closer to finalizing their T20 squad with an eye on the World Cup later this year, which will be played at venues across the US and the Caribbean.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said they aim to develop more as a unit in the shorter format of the game.
“The past year has been good in T20Is,” Najmul said Sunday. “Our T20 game is better than before, now if we develop more, we will be able to do well against any team in any condition.”
Najmul has recently been appointed Bangladesh team captain in all formats. This series marks his first opportunity to look into the future in this role.
“It’s a challenge to me,” Najmul said regarding his new role as the new full-time captain. He may find it more challenging due to his recent lean performance in the BPL, where he scored only 175 runs in 12 matches at an average under 15. But Najmul said he is not overly concerned about his dual roles as a batter and captain.
“Whether I’m the captain or not, I have to score runs, which is my first responsibility as the batter,” Najmul said. “I have to score because I’m the captain—this is not a factor.”
Najmul echoed the sentiments of the Sri Lankan coach regarding the rivalry. He said what happened between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the past is in the past, and he believes a good series is ahead.
Bangladesh has faced Sri Lanka in T20Is 13 times, but they have won only four games. Three of those wins were in Sri Lanka, with the other recorded in Bangladesh.
While the first match is on March 4, the other two matches will be played on March 6 and 9, respectively. All the matches of this series will begin at 6 p.m. After the T20I series, both teams will travel to Chattogram for a three-match ODI series.
This series will be broadcast live in Bangladesh by Gtv and T-Sports channels, along with Rabbithole and the T-Sports app.//
Celebrated Olympian archer Ruman Shana announces retirement from national team
Country's celebrated Olympian archer Ruman Shana announced his retirement from the Bangladesh national archery team recently.
Ruman Shana sent a letter to the Bangladesh Archery Federation in this regard showing "personal reasons".
General secretary of Bangladesh Archery Federation Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal said, "We have received a letter from him (Shana) where he requested to relieve him from national duties citing personal reasons."
"We requested him to reconsider his decision, but he is adamant to retire," he added.Shana has not been in good form in the domestic competitions very recently, he went behind in the race with junior players.
He did not compete in the local ranking tournament recently and left the national archery camp in Tongi.
He was not included in the Bangladesh national team for Asia Cup Archery, stage 1 held in Iraq last month for poor performances.
Earlier, he was given a two-year ban in 2022 for disciplinary reasons following misbehaved with a female archer, later, his suspension was reduced to six months.
Rumon Shana brought laurel for the country by winning first ever bronze medal for Bangladesh in the World Archery Championship in 2019 and emerged as the lone Bangladeshi archer to directly qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020
Premier Division Hockey League begins Friday
The 11-team Green Delta Insurance Metropolis Premier Division Hockey League' 2023-24 begins on Friday (March 8) at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium here.
The Club Cup Champions Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club will play old Dhaka hockey giant Usha KC in the opening match on Friday at 4: pm while former champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Dilkusha SC in the other opening day's fixture at 6 pm.
Club Cup Hockey: Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club retain title beating Abahani 2-0 in final
On the following day (Saturday), Bangladesh Sporting Club will face Victoria SC at 4 pm while Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Azad SC at 6 pm at the same venue.
After a long break of two-and- a- half years, the domestic hockey competition began here with the Club Cup Hockey Tournament on February 22.
Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club retained the Club Cup title for the 2nd consecutive time beating national star studded Dhaka Abahani Limited by 2-0 goals in the final on Saturday (March 2) night.
Club Cup Hockey: Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club retain title beating Abahani 2-0 in final
Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club retained the six-team 13th Club Cup Hockey title beating their old rivals Dhaka Abahani Limited by 2-0 goals in the final at the floodlight Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium here Saturday evening.
Dhaka Mariner Youngs clinched their first Club Cup Hockey crown also beating Dhaka Abahani Ltd by 3-0 goals in the final in 2021.
President of Bangladesh Hockey Federation and Chief of Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshall Sheikh Abdul Hannan witnessed the day's final as the chief guest and later he distributed the trophies.
In the day's final, Indian player Dipok Malik put Mariner Youngs ahead in the 19th minute by field goals (1-0) while captain Fazle Hossain Rabby sealed the fate of the scoring the 2nd goal in the 45th minute from a penalty stroke (2-0).Later, Fazle Hossain Rabby was adjudged the best player of the final.
Ten national players studded Dhaka Abahani failed to show their usual performances in the match spoiled some six penalty corners.
Ashraful Islam of Dhaka Abahani named as the best player of the tournament.
Earlier in the first semifinal Thursday afternoon, Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club, riding on a hattrick by Sohanur Rahman Sabuj, smartly reached the final eliminating Usha KC by 8-4 goals in the first semifinal at the same venue
Dhaka Abahani reached the final eliminating their arch-rival Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 3-2 goals in the other semifinal.
Bangladesh national football team leaves for Saudi Arabia Saturday afternoon en route to Kuwait
Bangladesh National Football team left Dhaka for Saudi Arabian city Jeddah Saturday (March 2) afternoon to conduct a two-week long preparatory camp at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in the Saudi City of Al Taif.
From Jeddah, Bangladesh team directly moved to Taif city on the day.
After conducting the training camp in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh national team will fly to Kuwait on March 17 to play their away match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine on March 21 at 9:30 pm local time at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait city.
Spanish head coach Havier Cabrera's Bangladesh national team will return home from Kuwait on March 22 and will play their home match also with Palestine on March 26 at 3:30 pm local time at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka
Earlier, Bangladesh played two World Cup Qualifier matches against Australia and Lebanon.
Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goals defeat against hosts Australia in their away match on Nov 16 and drew 1-1 with Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka on Nov 21.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with World Cup playing Australia, stronger Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match.
28-member Saudi Arabia-bound Bangladesh squad are:
Goalkeepers: Anisur Rahman Zico, Mitul Marma, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom and Mehdi Hassan Srabon,
Defenders: Topu Barman Bishwanath Ghosh, Hasan Murad, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Shakil Hossain, Saad Uddin and Taj Uddin
Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Chandan Roy, Md Sohel Rana, Mojibor Rahman Jony, Rabiul Hasan, Jamal Bhuyan, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee and Jayed Ahmed;
Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rafiqul Islam, Rabbi Hossain Rahul, Shahriar Emon and Arman Foysal Akash.