United News of Bangladesh

Pakistan secured revenge for its upset loss to the United States two years ago with a 32-run win at the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, while New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen set a new record for the highest partnership in the tournament’s history. In Colombo, Pakistan registered its second straight victory in Group A by defeating the U.S., which had stunned it in Texas in 2024. The win comes ahead of Pakistan’s much-anticipated clash with India on Sunday, a match set to proceed after Pakistan withdrew its earlier boycott decision. After being sent in to bat, Pakistan posted 190-9, powered by 73 from opener Sahibzada Farhan and 46 from Babar Azam. Despite fast bowler Shadley van Schalwyk claiming four wickets for the second time in the tournament, Pakistan built a strong total. Babar overcame a slow start, scoring 15 off 18 balls before accelerating to finish at a strike rate of 143.75. Pakistan ended boycott because Bangladesh’s demands were met: PCB chief The U.S. struggled against Pakistan’s spin attack under lights at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq took 3-27, while Shadab Khan claimed 2-26. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed also picked up wickets as Pakistan used five spinners effectively. Shubham Ranjane scored 51 off 30 balls and Shayan Jahangir made 49 off 34, but the U.S. failed to build momentum. Tariq’s unusual bowling action troubled batters as he dismissed Harmeet Singh and Mohsin Ali off consecutive deliveries. The U.S. finished short, handing Pakistan a comfortable win. Meanwhile in Chennai, New Zealand cruised to a 10-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates after Seifert and Allen shared an unbeaten 175-run opening stand, the highest partnership for any wicket in men’s T20 World Cup history. Seifert struck 89 not out off 42 balls, following up his earlier half-century against Afghanistan. Allen remained unbeaten on 84 from 50 deliveries. New Zealand chased down UAE’s 173-6 in just 15.2 overs, reaching 175-0 for its second successive win in Group D. Earlier, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem made 66 not out off 45 balls and Alishan Sharafu added 55 as the team posted a competitive total. However, New Zealand’s aggressive start, including 78 runs in the power play, put the game beyond UAE’s reach. Seifert hit 12 fours and three sixes, including the winning shot, while Allen contributed five fours and five sixes. The previous tournament record of 170 runs was set by England’s Alex Hales and Jos Buttler against India in 2022. In New Delhi, Bas de Leede delivered an all-round performance to guide the Netherlands to a seven-wicket win over Namibia in Group A. De Leede took 2-20 as Namibia scored 156-8. He then scored an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls, hitting four sixes and five boundaries, to help the Dutch reach 159-3 in 18 overs and secure their first victory of the tournament.

New Zealand kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a record-breaking victory, chasing down a target of 183 to defeat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in Chennai on Sunday. This is now New Zealand's highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history, surpassing their previous best of 170. Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan posted a competitive 182 for 6 in their 20 overs. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib starred with a career-best 63, while Sediqullah Atal contributed 29 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 27. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis, taking 2 wickets in a single over during the powerplay to check Afghanistan’s momentum. Read More: T20 World Cup Opener: Pakistan opt to bowl first vs Netherlands In reply, New Zealand faced an early scare as spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck twice in the second over, removing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra to leave them at 14 for 2. However, a counter-attacking partnership between Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips steadied the ship. Seifert played a match-winning knock of 65, while Phillips smashed a quickfire 42 off 25 balls. Their aggressive approach ensured New Zealand never fell behind the required rate, with the team reaching 52 for 2 by the end of the powerplay. Later contributions from Mark Chapman (28 off 17) and Daryl Mitchell (25 off 14) helped the Black Caps seal the win with 13 balls to spare.

Abhishek Sharma blasted 84 off 35 balls to power India to a commanding 48-run win over New Zealand in the first T20 of the five-match series on Wednesday. Riding on Sharma’s eight sixes and five fours, India posted 238-7, the third-highest T20 total against New Zealand. Captain Suryakumar Yadav added 32 off 22 balls, while Rinku Singh finished unbeaten on 44 off 20 deliveries to provide the late surge. After being sent in, India lost Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (8) early, but Sharma counterattacked and raced to a 22-ball fifty. He shared a rapid 99-run stand off 47 balls with Yadav as India crossed 100 inside nine overs. Yadav fell in the 11th over, and Mitchell Santner (1-37) then helped slow India’s momentum. Ish Sodhi struck in the following over to remove Sharma, and India slipped to 185-6 in 15.4 overs. Hardik Pandya scored 25 off 16 balls, while Shivam Dube and Axar Patel made 9 and 5 respectively. Singh, however, held firm at the end and accelerated in the final overs to lift India to a daunting total. Kyle Jamieson (2-54) and Jacob Duffy (2-27) took two wickets each for New Zealand. BPL Qualifier: Rajshahi defend 165 to knock out Sylhet, will face Chattogram in final In reply, New Zealand’s chase stumbled early as Devon Conway fell for a two-ball duck and Rachin Ravindra made 1. Tim Robinson scored 21 before Varun Chakravarthy (2-37) dismissed him in the seventh over, leaving the visitors at 52-3. Glenn Phillips kept the chase alive with a 78 off 40 balls, adding 79 off 42 deliveries with Mark Chapman, who scored 39 off 24 balls. Phillips reached his fifty off 29 balls and benefited from a few fielding lapses before he was eventually caught off Axar Patel in the 14th over. Despite Daryl Mitchell’s 28 off 18 balls and Santner’s unbeaten 20 off 13, New Zealand finished on 190-7, falling well short of the target. Sylhet Titans elect to field against Rangpur in BPL eliminator The series serves as preparation for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, beginning Feb. 7. The second match will be played in Raipur on Friday.

New Zealand A ended Day 3 of the second unofficial Test on a strong note, reaching 277 for 4 in reply to Bangladesh A’s first innings total of 357, trailing by just 80 runs with a full day left to play at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Nick Kelly led the visitors’ fightback with an unbeaten 83, striking five fours and six sixes in a composed 140-ball knock. He found steady support from Matthew Boyle, who was not out on 44 at stumps. The duo added 101 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket, navigating through weather interruptions and Bangladesh A’s varied spin attack. Earlier, New Zealand A’s top order made significant contributions, with Curtis Heaphy (71) and Joe Carter (62) steadying the innings. Pacer Khaled Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 78 runs. Soumya Sarkar ruled out of Pakistan tour; Mehidy Hasan Miraz called up Saif Hassan provided a vital breakthrough, dismissing Carter. Khaled Ahmed took three for 78 for the hosts. Rain and bad light disrupted proceedings throughout the day, but New Zealand A maintained their momentum. Bangladesh A will look for early wickets on the final day to force a result, while the visitors will aim to surpass the hosts’ total and push for a lead.

A New Zealand parliamentary committee has recommended the unprecedented suspensions of three Māori lawmakers for performing a protest haka in the debating chamber last year. The haka is a chanting dance of challenge of great cultural importance in New Zealand, and the three lawmakers from Te Pāti Māori, the Māori party, performed one to oppose a controversial bill that would have redefined the country’s founding document. A committee Wednesday recommended record suspensions and severe censure — the harshest penalties ever assigned to New Zealand parliamentarians — after finding the trio in contempt of Parliament. Government bloc lawmakers, who hold the majority, are expected to endorse the penalties in a vote Tuesday. But Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee took the unusual step Thursday of saying he would first allow unlimited debate before the vote due to the severity of the proposed punishments. The recommendations were the latest twist in the fraught saga over the bill, now defeated, that opponents said would have provoked constitutional havoc and reversed decades of progress for Māori, New Zealand’s Indigenous people. Poland votes for new president Sunday as worries grow about future Video of the legislators in full cry drew global attention last November. The bill they opposed was vanquished at a second vote in April. However, some lawmakers from the center-right government objected to the Māori Party legislators’ protest during the first vote and complained to parliament’s speaker. At issue was the way the trio walked across the floor of the debating chamber towards their opponents while they performed the haka. “It is not acceptable to physically approach another member on the floor of the debating chamber,” Wednesday’s report said, adding that the behaviour could be considered intimidating. The committee denied the legislators were being punished for the haka, which is a beloved and sacred cultural institution in New Zealand life, but “the time at and manner in which it was performed” during a vote, according to the findings.

Pakistan has been penalized for a slow over-rate against New Zealand in their second one-day international in Hamilton this week. Match referee Jeff Crowe fined the Pakistan players 5% of their match fees after they were one over short of the target on Wednesday after the time allowances were taken into consideration. New Zealand won by 84 runs. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan “pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing,” the International Cricket Council said on Thursday. India reveals schedule of a packed cricket season in 2025 It was the second consecutive match after which Pakistan was fined for a slow over-rate. The visiting team was two overs short of the target and fined 10% after losing the first ODI by 73 runs at Napier last Saturday. The third and last ODI is at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

Jacob Duffy and Zakary Foulkes shared seven wickets as New Zealand bowled out Pakistan for 105 Sunday to win the fourth Twenty20 international by 115 runs and clinch victory in the five-match series with a game remaining. Duffy took 4-20 and Foulkes 3-25 as New Zealand's pacers thrived in responsive conditions under the floodlights at Bay Oval and bowled out Pakistan in 16.2 overs. At 56-8 Pakistan was in danger of falling short of its lowest score in T20 internationals — 74 against Australia in 2012. But Abdul Samad made an unbeaten 44 to steer his team past that total and, at 91, past its lowest total against New Zealand. Earlier, Finn Allen made a half-century from 19 balls and captain Michael Bracewell made an unbeaten 46 as New Zealand posted 220-6 after being sent in. Tim Seifert made 44 from 22 balls to dominate an opening partnership with Allen that produced 59 runs in 4.1 overs. New Zealand went on to 79-1 after six overs, it’s highest power play total against Pakistan. Allen hit six fours and three sixes to accelerate the New Zealand scoring: the home team was 134-2 at the midpoint of its innings. Haris Rauf took 3-27 to curb the New Zealand scoring before Bracewell finished strongly. Heather Knight steps down as England Women’s Cricket captain after nine years “With Tim (Seifert) belting them it makes it tough to get some rhythm sometimes,” said Allen who was Player of the Match. “It's nice for me to sit at the other end and watch him go and then try to take over when he goes.” Pakistan lost three wickets in the first two overs including third match century-maker Hasan Nawaz for 1. O'Rourke and Duffy produced devastating opening spells to upset the Pakistan run chase. O'Rourke cut a ball back from outside off to bowl Mohammad Haris (2) with the second ball of the Pakistan innings. Duffy then removed Nawaz and captain Salman Ali Agha (1), both caught behind by wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay. The New Zealand pacers were able to move the ball around in conditions under floodlights that previously had seemed relatively benign. Even leg spinner Ish Sodhi found the purchase to turn the ball sharply. “We have to give them credit, they bowled really well and they outplayed us,” Ali Agha said. “It was swinging and turning as well. It did a lot in the second innings but we are an international team and we have to do better.” The final match of the series will be played at Wellington on Wednesday.

Hasan Nawaz made an unbeaten 105 from 45 balls as Pakistan beat New Zealand by nine wickets in the third Twenty20 international Friday to keep alive the five-match series. Pakistan won the toss and was able to bowl first, reversing the trend of the first two matches which New Zealand won by nine and five wickets. Nawaz was supported in his first century by captain Salman Ali Agha, who made 51 from 31 balls in an unbroken partnership of 133 for the second wicket. Pakistan finished at 207-1, running down the home team's total of 204 with four full overs to spare to inflict New Zealand's heaviest T20 loss in terms of wickets. Nawaz made ducks in both of the first two matches. “I failed in the first two games and I thank the team for backing me,” he said through an interpreter. "When I went out to bat I wanted to score my first international run. “After I scored the first run the pressure was released and I wanted to win the game.” Mark Chapman made 94 from 44 balls before New Zealand was bowled out with one ball remaining in their 20 overs. Chapman hit 11 fours and four sixes but lacked support. Captain Michael Bracewell's 31 was the next-best effort by the Kiwis, who lost wickets regularly. Tim Seifert made 19, including 16 runs from the second over. Haris Rauf took 3-29 in an excellent bowling performance in the middle of the innings. The Pakistan selectors kept Nawaz and Mohammad Haris at the top of the order, giving them time to acclimatize to New Zealand conditions. Their opening partnerships produced only one run in each of the first two matches. But on Friday they put on 75 for the first wicket, within the six-over power play. Haris made 41 from 20 balls with four fours and three sixes to get the Pakistan innings off to the rapid start it needed. He hit two sixes from the first over bowled by Kyle Jamieson as Pakistan rushed to 50 from only four overs. Jamieson, who took 3-8 in the first match, conceded 30 runs from his first two overs. Pakistan was 124-1 at the midpoint of its innings where New Zealand had been 105-3. The 13th over bowled by Jacob Duffy went for 19 runs including two sixes as Pakistan's run rate ticked up over 12 per over. Rotating the strike and taking at least a boundary from each over, Nawaz reached his half century from 26 balls. Salman posted his first T20 international half century from 30 balls.    

Mitchel Santner, the New Zealand captain, said his team is confident as they are ready to take on India for the second time in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai.  While expressing confidence, the New Zealand captain said maintaining a consistent approach will be key for them in the final. “It's easy to say it's just another game, it's obviously not, but I think the way you approach it has to be the same,” Santner said at a press conference on the eve of the final.   “We've done a lot of good things in this tournament, and we’re just trying to build on them. It’s the biggest stage tomorrow, so the key is to stay confident, keep a relaxed environment, and let the guys enjoy the occasion,” the New Zealand captain added.  Before the final, New Zealand faced India once in this tournament and lost that match. But Santner said the experience of playing in Dubai before will help them do well in the coming match.  “You get to the business end of these tournaments, and it’s about standing up on the day,” he added. “We know we have to put in a good performance, but at the same time, we don’t want to get overawed by the occasion.” Ahead of the final battle, New Zealand’s biggest worry is the fitness of Matt Henry, who has taken the most wickets in this tournament so far. The pacer has injured his shoulder in the match against South Africa and is uncertain for the final.  India faces New Zealand in budding rivalry at Champions Trophy final “Matt’s going to have a bowl today, and we’ll assess his condition before making a decision,” Santner said in the press conference.  The Kiwi skipper also weighed in on India's bowling attack, particularly leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who took five wickets against New Zealand in the group match.   “He's a world-class bowler with a little bit of mystery,” Santner said. ”We’ve analyzed more footage, and the boys will be ready this time. We know what his threats are—especially that 115kph armball that got me!” It’s been two and a half decades since New Zealand won an ICC event. They are now aiming to end the drought in the final against India.

Virat Kohli is set to achieve a significant milestone as he becomes only the seventh Indian cricketer to play 300 ODIs. This landmark match will take place against New Zealand in the final group stage fixture of the Champions Trophy on Sunday in Dubai. To mark the occasion, Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, and his elder brother, Vikas Kohli, are expected to arrive in Dubai on Sunday. Sources confirmed their presence, emphasizing the importance of this milestone in the star batter’s career. Kohli’s recent form had been under scrutiny, particularly after a disappointing Test series in Australia. Although he showed signs of regaining his touch during the ODI series against England, it wasn’t enough to quell critics. However, in the Champions Trophy, after a sluggish start against Bangladesh, Kohli bounced back in spectacular fashion against Pakistan in Dubai. His performance evoked memories of his match-winning knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Melbourne. In that game, he sealed victory with a stunning shot, marking his 51st ODI century and becoming the fastest batsman to reach 14,000 ODI runs. King Kohli becomes fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket In his 299 ODIs so far, Kohli has amassed 14,085 runs at an average of 58.20 and a strike rate of 93.41. His remarkable record includes 51 centuries, 73 half-centuries, and a highest score of 193. Throughout his illustrious career, Kohli has consistently set new benchmarks, holding the record as the fastest batsman to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, and 14,000 runs in ODIs. Source: Agencies