After a disappointing clean sweep at home against South Africa in their last Test series, Bangladesh are gearing up to take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series, with the first match starting Friday in Antigua. Ahead of the series, Bangladesh played a two-day practice match against a West Indies Board XI, which ended in a draw. The highlight of the match was left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, who claimed a hat-trick, boosting his confidence ahead of the main series. Bangladesh will be without key players Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mushfiqur Rahim for this series. Bangladesh finish preparation in West Indies as Hasan Murad registers hat-trick Shakib is unavailable due to personal reasons and public backlash over his political affiliations with the former ruling Awami League, which was ousted in a recent popular uprising. Najmul and Mushfiqur, meanwhile, are sidelined with injuries. In Shakib's absence, Hasan Murad is expected to play a pivotal role as the team’s lead left-arm spinner. His hat-trick in the practice match has raised hopes of a standout performance in the upcoming games. Hasan Murad played 31 First-class matches and bagged 139 wickets with 12 five-fors. Bangladesh enter the series with a mixed Test record. After suffering a clean sweep against India and South Africa in their last two Test series, they previously registered a historic win against Pakistan in Pakistan. BCB announces Bangladesh U-17 Cricket team's schedule for Sri Lanka tour Before this series, Tigers have played 20 Tests against the West Indies, winning four. However, this time the team will rely heavily on its younger players due to the absence of key senior members. To compensate for Najmul’s absence, the selectors have called up Shahadat Hossain Dipu, who played 33 First-class matches and scored 1752 runs with three centuries. The team will lean on allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who will also captain the side in this series. With a relatively inexperienced squad, Bangladesh face a tough challenge but hopes to capitalize on the promise of its young players and the leadership of Mehdiy who has the experience of leading Bangladesh in the U-19 level.    

The ceremonial draw of the upcoming 10-team Federation Cup Football Tournament 2024-25 was held at a function at the BFF office in Motijheel on Wednesday putting Mohammedan and Dhaka Abahani in the same group. Grouping of the upcoming Federation Cup Football, scheduled to begin on December 3 in new format, was finalized during the day's ceremonial draw. BPL and Federation Cup champions Bashundhara Kings are in Group A while Federation Cup runners-up Dhaka Mohammedan and Dhaka Abahani Ltd in Group B. Trophies and prizes of last year's leagues and tournaments were also distributed at the day's function. BFF Sr Vice-President and Chairman of the Professional League Committee Imrul Hasan was the chief guest at the day's ceremonial draw and prize distribution ceremony. Grouping are: Group A: Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police FC, Fortis FC, Brothers Union Club and Dhaka Wanderers Club Group B: Mohammedan SC Ltd, Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Chattogram Abahani Ltd, Rahmatganj MFS and Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club. Ten premier division league clubs, split into two groups, will initially participate in the first phase of the Federation Cup Football on single league basis in three venues in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Cumilla. Later, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the meet's next round (qualification and elimination) like the BPL Cricket format. Meanwhile, this year's football season 2024-25 begins here on Friday (Nov 22) with newly introduced Bangladesh 2.0 Challenge Cup Football. The BPL and Federation Cup champions Bashundhara Kings will battle with Federation Cup runners-up Dhaka Mohammedan SC on Friday at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital. However, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football will kick-off on November 29 before the Federation Cup Football.

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Germany was on a run of awful results and seemed on course to struggle when it hosted Euro 2024. Now it's back among the top teams in Europe, with an eye on the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Germany will end 2024 with 10 victories from its 15 games. In 2023, it won just three and lost six. The only loss this year was in the most important game, though, against eventual Euro 2024 champion Spain in extra time in the quarterfinals on home soil. It still rankles. Argentina beats Peru to close in on World Cup spot from South American qualifying Coach Julian Nagelsmann's instant reaction to a handball penalty that allowed Hungary to draw Tuesday's last Nations League group game 1-1 was to ask the referee if he'd seen Germany's loss to Spain, when a handball call wasn't given against Spain's Marc Cucurella, riling German players and fans. It’s been a big year for younger players like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, the “Wusiala” combo expected to shine at the 2026 World Cup. Wirtz scored six goals for Germany this year to be joint-top scorer with Arsenal's Kai Havertz and Musiala scored five. “At their young age, they're both world-class already,” Joachim Löw, who coached Germany’s World Cup-winning team in 2014, said Sunday on local broadcaster SWR. In 2021, Löw was the first coach to call up Musiala and Wirtz, then 18 and 17 years old respectively, to the national team, and he's impressed with how they've been crucial to Nagelsmann's project. Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion “They're obviously both incredibly creative, strong in one-on-ones, they're both goalscoring threats, and they've both made unbelievable progress in our national team over the last one or two years,” Löw said. “You really can't imagine the national team without them any more because they shape the game.” Several star names — Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gündogan, Thomas Müller — retired from international duty following Euro 2024. It doesn’t seem to have put a dent in Germany’s form. Still, some open questions remain about just how big — or sustainable — Germany's improvement is. A Nations League group of the Netherlands, Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina saw Germany rack up some big wins, even a 7-0 victory against Bosnia last week, but it wasn’t the hardest schedule the competition could have served up. Marc-André ter Stegen is Germany’s top goalkeeper after Neuer left, but is a long way from returning from the serious knee injury he sustained in September. Nagelsmann’s first-choice striker Niclas Füllkrug of West Ham hasn’t played since September with an Achilles tendon injury and will be 33 by the time the World Cup comes around. Gyokeres leads Sweden to Nations League win and the Dutch reach the knockout rounds Ahead of World Cup qualifying, Germany will have a tougher test in the Nations League playoffs in March, and will find out its quarterfinal opponent in the draw at UEFA headquarters on Friday. A yellow card Tuesday means Bayer Leverkusen's Wirtz will be suspended for the first leg of the quarterfinals.

Ahead of the Test series Bangladesh have completed their preparation well in West Indies.  Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, delivered a good performance in a two-day warm-up match against the West Indies Select XI in Antigua. Murad, who has played two T20Is for the national team, grabbed the spotlight with a stunning hat-trick to draw the game. Bangladesh declared their innings at 253 for 7 after winning the toss. Several batters, including Mominul Haque, Litton Das, Zakir Ali Anik, and Mahidul Islam Ankon, spent valuable time in the middle. England wins T20 series 3-1 after final match against West Indies is abandoned after only 5 overs Mominul scored 31 off 58 balls, while Litton made 31 off 53 balls before retiring to allow others to bat. Zakir contributed 48 from 110 balls, and Ankon chipped in with 41 off 87 balls. Rain and Bangladesh’s sharp bowling limited the West Indies Select XI’s opportunities with the bat. The hosts could manage only 87 runs in 27.4 overs, losing nine wickets in the process.  Hasan Murad was the best bowler for Bangladesh, completing his hat-trick in the 28th over by dismissing Daniel Beckford, Navian Bidaisee, and Chaim Holder in consecutive deliveries. Murad finished with figures of 1.4 overs, 1 run, and 3 wickets. The pacers also contributed well. Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud each picked up two wickets, with Taskin conceding 21 runs in 5 overs and Hasan Mahmud giving away just 15 runs in his 6 overs. BCB announces Bangladesh U-17 Cricket team's schedule for Sri Lanka tour The first Test of the two-match series will begin on November 22 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua, while the second Test will be played at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, from November 30. After the Test series, both the teams will lock horns in a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series. 

Lautaro Martínez's goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru on Tuesday in a South American World Cup qualifying match in Buenos Aires. The victory nearly secures Lionel Messi's team a spot in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Messi crossed the ball in the penalty area in the 55th minute to give Martínez one of the few clear opportunities of the match. Gyokeres leads Sweden to Nations League win and the Dutch reach the knockout rounds Argentina leads South American qualifying with 25 points from 12 matches. The loss left Peru in the 10th and last position in the round-robin competition with seven points. Until Martínez scored, Argentina's best chance was in the 21st minute, when striker Julián Alvarez hit the Peruvian goalkeeper's right post. Messi once again had a modest performance, as he did in his team's 2-1 defeat at Paraguay on Thursday. Also on Tuesday, Ecuador won 1-0 at Colombia with a goal by Enner Valencia in the seventh minute, in which he dribbled through three players before scoring. Ecuador lost defender Piero Hincapié to a red card in the 34th minute but held on for the win. Bolivia and Paraguay drew 2-2 in a match between teams that could end up fighting for the seventh position in the region's qualifying, which secures a berth in an international playoff. Messi, Vinicius have frustrating nights as Argentina loses and Brazil draws in World Cup qualifying Chile, one of the worst performing teams in the region this year, showed some fighting spirit and beat Venezuela 4-2. The hosts scored with Eduardo Vargas (20), Tomás Rincón (own goal, 29), and Lucas Cepeda (38 and 47). Venezuela's goals were scored by Jefferson Savarino (13) and Ruben Ramirez (22). Brazil hosted Uruguay in a late match. The next round of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in March.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday announced a 16-member Bangladesh Under-17 Cricket team to tour Sri Lanka for playing two three-day and three one- day matches against their Lanka counterpart. Bangladesh team expected to leave here for the Island nation Sri Lanka on Thursday (November 21). Former national cricketer Tushar Imran was named as  the coach of Bangladesh U-17 team. Touring Bangladesh team will start their campaign through a one-day series taking on hosts Sri Lanka on November 24, 26 and 28. They will play the first three- day match from December 1-3 and the 2nd and last three dayer on December 6-8. Members of Bangladesh U-17 team: Ferdous Kabir, Abdullah Al Mohi, Hridoy Hossain, Farhan Sadik, Adrit Ghose, Ehsanul Haque Mahim, Rakibul Hasan, Rakib Khan, Mahinuzzaman Mahbir, Atiqur Rahman Akash, Al  Amin Hossain, Abdur Rahim, Mahir Islam Chowdhury, Imran Hossain, Al Rafi and Sourav Karmakar. Four stand by players are: Ehsanul Momin, Mobassir Islam Munim, Faiyas Rehman and Kawser Ahmed.  

Captain of the Swadhin Bangla Football team,  former vice- president of Bangladeshi Football Federation (BFF) and freedom fighter M Zakaria Pintoo passed away on  Monday noon at a local hospital. He was 81. He left behind one son,  three daughters and a large number of admirers to mourn his death. Zakaria Pintoo, also a member of Jatiya Press Club, was admitted to the Ibne Sina Hospital in the capital Sunday afternoon as he was feeling very sick after suddenly fell down at his residence.  Later, he was shifted to the ICU of the hospital Sunday evening as his condition was further critical and deteriorated  and finally he took his last breath there at about 11:45 am on Monday. Pintoo, a renowned defender cum captain of Dhaka Mohammedan SC,  made his first international appearance as the Bangladesh captain in the Merdeka Cup Football Tournament in Malaysia in 1973. During the Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971, Pintoo led the Swadhin Bangla Football, which played a good number of exhibition matches in India to raise funds for the country' s freedom fighters. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan condoled the death of the proud son of the soil. BFF president Tabith Awal, Sr VP, VPs and executive committee members also condole the death of Zakaria Pintoo    

Former Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, with this last First-class match. Alongside his Test career, Imrul also declared the conclusion of his First-class cricket journey, bringing an emotional close to a 17-year professional career. A few days back, Imrul made his announcement via social media. “I am about to make a difficult decision regarding my career. On November 16, I will officially end my Test and First-class cricket career. This is one of the most challenging and emotional moments in my life,” he said.  Looking back to his journey, Imrul, who played 39 Tests and scored three centuries and four fifties, expressed his gratitude and pride. “When I made my First-class debut in 2006, I never imagined I would play 39 Test matches for Bangladesh. Representing my country, whether in one Test or fifty, is an immense honor,” he added. “I’ve tried my best to contribute to the team, either with the bat or as a keeper.” Imrul’s Test career featured several milestones, including a record-breaking 312-run opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal in the Khulna Test against Pakistan in 2015.  “That innings of 150 will always remain a special memory for me,” he said. While he is proud of his contributions, Imrul mentioned some unfulfilled aspirations, especially the absence of a major trophy. “It’s a regret that despite playing with legends like Shakib (Al Hasan), Tamim, Mashrafe (bin Mortaza), Mushfiqur (Rahim), and (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai for so long, we couldn’t win a significant trophy for Bangladesh. Winning something like the Asia Cup or Nidahas Trophy would have made my career more fulfilling,” he said.  “The celebrations after that win were unforgettable. The love and support we received from the fans that night still gives me goosebumps. It showed how deeply cricket is loved in our country,” Imrul added.

Harry Kane's 69th international goal sparked a second-half scoring spree that fired England back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday. In temporary head coach Lee Carsley's final game in charge, a 5-0 win against Ireland secured promotion and ensured England will be back among Europe's leading nations in the next edition of the competition. “I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and attacking,” Carsley said. “I see them do it day in, day out on the training ground. And now we’ve seen it (on the field).” England won its group on goal difference ahead of second-placed Greece, which beat Finland 2-0. Kane's 53rd-minute penalty at Wembley was a record-extending goal for his country after Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham in the box and was sent off for a second yellow card offense. Within five minutes England was 3-0 up through Anthony Gordon in the 55th and Conor Gallagher in the 58th. Substitute Jarrod Bowen made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch in the 75th and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, making his debut, headed in another four minutes later. “A really important win for us,” Kane said. “It was a tough first half, but we came out second half with a lot more energy and we finished it off.” England, which is set to welcome new head coach Thomas Tuchel in January, needed to match Greece's result to top Group B2. Anastasios Bakasetas had put Greece ahead in the 52nd in Finland, with Kane's England opener coming a minute later. Christos Tzolis scored the second for Greece, which faces a playoff to try to win promotion. After five wins from six games, Carsley will now return to his permanent role as head coach of England's under 21s. Tuchel begins in January and will lead the campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He should have plenty of options when he selects his first squad after Carsley handed debuts to eight players during his short reign. In his final game, Gordon, Gallagher, Bowen and Harwood-Bellis all scored their first senior goals for England. “Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League," English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham said. “The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles.” Rabiot double Adrien Rabiot scored two goals as France beat Italy 3-1 to win Group A2. Both teams had already secured their places in the quarterfinals before the match in Milan, but France needed to win by at least two goals to take top spot. “It’s been a while since we’ve played a match like that, fighting all together,” Rabiot told French television channel TF1. “The aggressiveness that we showed, our team spirit, that should all be highlighted. That is the real face of the France team.” Rabiot headed the visitors in front just inside two minutes. France shocked San Siro into silence in the 33rd when Lucas Digne curled in a magnificent free kick from 25 yards that went into the top left corner via the underside of the bar and Guglielmo Vicario. It went down as an own-goal from the Italy goalkeeper, who was a late replacement after Gianluigi Donnarumma fell ill with a stomach bug. Italy pulled a goal back two minutes later when Andrea Cambiaso volleyed past Mike Maignan. But Rabiot grabbed his second in the 65th with another header — the sixth goal in a row Italy has conceded from set plays. While the match had started with the Italy fans booing the French anthem, it finished with France supporters proudly singing the same song in triumph. It was the first time Italy had lost a home game by two or more goals since 1983, according to soccer statistician Opta. Also in the group, No. 6-ranked Belgium fell to a surprise 1-0 loss against Israel - ranked 81st. Yarden Shua's goal settled the game, which was held in Budapest, Hungary, in the 86th. Israel was relegated to League B despite the win. Belgium must now face a playoff to try to avoid relegation. Haaland hat trick Erling Haaland leads the Nations League scoring charts after hitting a hat trick in Norway's 5-0 win against Kazakhastan in Group B3. The Manchester City striker took his total to seven goals and is two clear of Viktor Gyokeres, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benjamin Sesko, who are all tied on five. Norway was promoted to the top tier, ahead of second-place Austria, which drew 1-1 with Slovenia.

England sealed a 3-1 win Sunday in its Twenty20 series against West Indies when the fifth and final match was abandoned after five overs because of rain. West Indies reached 44-0 at the end of the fifth over after losing the toss when torrential rain began to fall. Evin Lewis was 29 not out and Shai Hope on 14. With no hope of the rain abating and the outfield already soaked, the umpires made the decision to call off play about 6:15 p.m. local time with no result. England won the first three matches of the series by eight wickets, seven wickets and three wickets respectively. West Indies won the fourth match on Saturday by five wickets in a record run chase. The home team previously won the one-day international series 2-1. All seven completed matches were won by the team that won the toss and batted second.