United News of Bangladesh

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.

Dhaka Capitals’ assistant coach Mahbub Ali passed away after collapsing on the field just minutes before the start of their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against Rajshahi Warriors in Sylhet on Saturday. He was taken to a hospital after the collapse where he died. The incident occurred during the warm-up session at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, around 20 minutes before the scheduled start. Players from both teams and coaching staff were present on the field when Mahbub Ali suddenly fell to the ground, prompting immediate concern and a brief commotion. In a short statement, Dhaka Capitals said Mahbub Ali felt unwell during training and collapsed on the field.He was given CPR at the venue before being taken to hospital. Despite the incident, the match went ahead as scheduled. Dhaka Capitals won the toss and chose to field against Rajshahi Warriors, with the team regaining focus shortly before play began.    

Chattogram Royals made a clear statement in their opening match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. They cruised to a 65-run victory over Noakhali Express at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday night. Batting first after winning the toss, Chattogram posted a competitive 174 for six, built around a composed innings from Mirza Baig. The right-hand batter anchored the innings with 80 off 69 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes, and held the Royals together after early wickets. Mohammad Naim fell cheaply, but Baig found support from Mahfijul Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who kept the scoreboard moving through the middle overs. Captain Mahedi Hasan provided late momentum with a brisk 26 off 13 balls, lifting Chattogram past the 170 marks despite regular breakthroughs from Noakhali’s bowlers. Noakhali’s chase never gained traction. They lost three wickets inside the powerplay and were under constant pressure against a disciplined Chattogram attack. Maaz Sadaqat offered brief resistance with 38 off 27 balls, while Haider Ali added 28, but partnerships were short-lived. Mahedi Hasan led from the front with the ball, taking two wickets for 17 runs, while Shoriful Islam and Mukidul Islam struck at key moments. Tanvir Islam’s three-wicket spell further dismantled the chase as Noakhali collapsed to 109 all out in 16.5 overs.

Najmul Hossain Shanto opened the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with a statement inning on Friday, becoming the first centurion of the season. He guided Rajshahi Warriors to an eight-wicket victory over Sylhet Titans in the tournament’s opening match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Chasing a challenging target of 191, Rajshahi reached 192 for 2 with two balls to spare, riding on an unbeaten 101 from Shanto, who anchored the chase with authority and control. The left-handed batter faced 60 balls, striking 10 fours and five sixes, and paced the innings with assurance after early wickets threatened to slow the pursuit. Rajshahi lost both openers inside the powerplay, but Shanto steadied the innings before accelerating decisively. He found a reliable partner in Mushfiqur Rahim, who finished on 51 not out from 31 balls. Anamul serves legal notice after exclusion from BPL auction list The pair added an unbroken 130 runs for the third wicket, effectively shutting Sylhet out of the contest well before the final over. Earlier, Sylhet posted a competitive 190 for 5 after being sent in to bat. Parvez Hossain Emon led the charge with an unbeaten 65 from 33 balls, while Rony Talukdar contributed 41 and Afif Hossain added a brisk 33. Rajshahi’s bowlers, however, managed to contain the damage at the death, conceding just 10 runs across the final two overs.    

Australia collapsed for 152 yet still claimed a 42-run lead over England on the first innings in a remarkable opening day of the fourth Ashes test Friday in which 20 wickets fell. The day's play unfolded before a world-record crowd for a day of cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The attendance figure of 94,199 beat the 93,013 for the 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG. Australia was 4-0 in its second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 46 runs, after having to bat through one nervous over before stumps. The 20 wickets on the first day was also a record for a Boxing Day test, beating the 18 in the 1998 Ashes match. The all-time test record is 27 for the 1888 Ashes test at Lord's. England lost each of the first three tests to allow Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action. Josh Tongue claimed a career-best 5-45 as England bowled Australia out after winning the toss and bowling. In reply, England made 110 in 29.5 overs as Michael Neser grabbed 4-45. Tongue, in his eighth test, took three early wickets as Australia stumbled to 72-4 at lunch. Travis Head (12) and Jake Weatherald (10) fell cheaply as Australia reached 31-2 in the 10th over. Capitalizing on a pitch offering sideways movement, Tongue deceived Marnus Labuschagne (6) who edged to first slip at 34-3. In a key breakthrough, captain Steve Smith lost his middle stump while attempting to drive Tongue with the total on 51. “He’s an amazing player. I’ve grown up watching him,” Tongue said of Smith. “Getting him out is a very special feeling. It has been an amazing day of test-match cricket." Australia aimed to rebuild through veteran Usman Khawaja, but the 39-year-old was caught behind to Gus Atkinson’s bowling for 29 at 89-5. Alex Carey clipped a catch to leg gully two runs later. Neser (35) and Cameron Green (17) shared a 52-run partnership before Green hesitated and was run out at 143-7. Tongue was cheered off the field at tea after dismissing Neser and Scott Boland (0) with the first two deliveries of his 12th over, giving England’s spirits a boost after losing each of the first three tests. England was 8-3 in 4.2 overs as Zak Crawley (5), Jacob Bethell (2) and Ben Duckett (2) all departed in an action-packed opening to the innings. When Joe Root was caught behind for a duck off the bowling of Neser at 16-4 at the end of the eighth over, Harry Brook charged the next delivery from Mitchell Starc and clubbed it over mid-off for six. Brook bravely belted 41 off 34 balls including two fours and two sixes, adding 50 for the fifth wicket with Stokes. Boland (3-30) dismissed Brook, Jamie Smith (2) and Will Jacks (5) in three consecutive overs as England slumped to 77-7. Neser struck a key blow in the following over when skipper Ben Stokes (16) was caught at slip. England’s innings closed with just enough time for Australia to face the one over before stumps. Neser said with 20 wickets falling, Friday had been “a bit of a whirlwind." “I dreamed of this as a kid. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it,” he said. England named its team on Wednesday with the big news the loss of star bowler Jofra Archer for the rest of the series, including the fifth and final test starting Jan. 4 in Sydney.

Former Scotland, Nottingham Forest and Derby County winger John Robertson, once hailed by legendary manager Brian Clough as “a Picasso of our game,” has died at the age of 72. Robertson was a central figure in Nottingham Forest’s golden era, scoring the winning goal as the club defended the European Cup against Hamburg in 1980. He had also delivered the cross for Trevor Francis’ decisive goal in the 1979 final against Malmo. At international level, Robertson earned 28 caps for Scotland, scoring a memorable winner against England in 1981 and finding the net against New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup finals. Born in Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, Robertson joined Forest in 1970 and became a key player under Clough after initially being listed for transfer. Between 1976 and 1980, he made 243 consecutive appearances for the club and scored the decisive penalty in the 1978 League Cup final replay win over Liverpool. He later moved to Derby County in 1983, though injuries limited his impact, and brief returns to Forest and non-league football followed. With Forest, Robertson won multiple domestic and European honours, including league titles, two League Cups and the Uefa Super Cup. In 2015, he was voted the club’s greatest-ever player in a Nottingham Post poll. After retiring, Robertson enjoyed a successful coaching career as assistant to Martin O’Neill at several clubs, including Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa, winning league titles and domestic cups in Scotland and helping guide Leicester to top-flight promotion.   With inputs from BBC

The owners of Chattogram Royals have relinquished control of the franchise just a day before the start of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).  They failed to meet financial obligations to players, leaving BCB to step in and take temporary charge of the team. The franchise owner, Abdul Kaiyum, informed the BPL Governing Council of his decision in a letter submitted to the board, citing an inability to secure sponsors and pay player salaries. Under BPL regulations, the responsibility of the franchise now falls to the board.  “We have received a letter,” BPL Governing Council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman said to media. . “We are now discussing the situation with the players and reviewing how to proceed. According to the rules, the board is expected to take responsibility.” BCB director and chairman of the board’s media and communication department, Amzad Hussain, confirmed the takeover to UNB. “They are unable to continue as the owner of the team,” Amzad said. “They were also unable to make the necessary payments, so the BCB is taking over the team. Since there is no time to appoint a new owner, this was the only option.” Chattogram Royals were awarded to Triangular Services by the BCB, but the franchise had been surrounded by uncertainty since the beginning. Under BPL regulations, franchises are required to pay at least 25 percent of player contracts before the tournament begins. That payment was not made, according to officials.

Indonesia cricketer Gede Priandana created history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to take five wickets in a single over in a men’s Twenty20 international. The seam-bowling allrounder achieved the remarkable feat during Indonesia’s match against Cambodia in Bali, with the visitors struggling at 106-5. Priandana began the over by dismissing opener Shah Abrar Hussain, who had scored 37, and completed a hat trick shortly afterward. After delivering a dot ball, he removed the final two Cambodian batters on either side of a wide — the only run conceded in the over. Cambodia were bowled out for 107, collapsing dramatically under Priandana’s spell. The achievement took his overall T20 international wicket tally to 24. Bangladesh to call back Mustafizur for key ODIs amid his IPL tenure Priandana also contributed with the bat, scoring six runs in Indonesia’s total of 167-5. Fellow opener Dharma Kesuma led the batting display with a dominant unbeaten 110, smashing six sixes. For Cambodia, India-born Luqman Butt top-scored with a rapid 48 from 30 balls, including four sixes, but his effort was not enough to prevent defeat. Source: AP