United News of Bangladesh

Youth and Sports Minister Aminul Haque on Tuesday said the current leadership of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would bring greater dynamism to the development of cricket in the country, with particular emphasis on strengthening the national team's batting unit. Replying to a tabled question from Cumilla-9 MP Abul Kalam in Parliament, the minister said the BCB had adopted a long-term strategy to improve the technical, tactical and mental skills of batsmen from age-group teams through to the High Performance unit, Bangladesh 'A' team and the national side. Abul Kalam had asked what measures the government had taken to address the recurring batting failures of the national cricket team and identify weaknesses to enhance Bangladesh's international standing. In response, Aminul said a cricket team's success depended on collective performances in batting, bowling and fielding, requiring sustained long-term planning. He said the BCB was regularly appointing experienced local and international coaches, physiotherapists, trainers and analysts while conducting continuous training, technology-based performance analysis and monitoring programmes to improve batting standards. "As a result, several positive outcomes have already become visible in recent times," he said. The minister said Bangladesh had been producing competitive performances across all formats of international cricket and had recently secured important victories and series wins against strong teams such as Pakistan and Australia. He also highlighted the achievements of the Bangladesh women's national team, including their victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Aminul said national team batsmen had also contributed match-winning innings on various occasions, while emerging players from age-group competitions, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the Dhaka Premier League and other domestic tournaments were strengthening the national batting line-up. FIFA ranking Responding to a question from NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah, the minister said Bangladesh currently ranked 181st in the FIFA rankings, improving from 192nd in 2023. He said FIFA rankings largely depended on the number of international matches played, the quality of opponents and results achieved. While leading football nations typically play between 12 and 15 international matches annually, Bangladesh played only eight internationals in 2025, he said. Aminul attributed the limited number of matches to financial constraints, noting that the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) relied on funding from FIFA, the AFC and sponsors, while organising international fixtures and overseas tours remained expensive. He said Bangladesh's ranking could improve further by playing more international matches and achieving positive results against stronger opponents. The minister also pointed to recent progress in the national football team, saying the inclusion of expatriate footballers Hamza Choudhury, Somit Som and Fahmidul Islam had strengthened the squad. He noted that Bangladesh defeated European nation San Marino 2-1 on June 5 during an overseas tour, describing it as the country's first-ever victory over a European team, that was notched up after the BNP government assumed office. The result generated fresh enthusiasm among football supporters, Aminul said. Reviving kabaddi Replying to a question from reserved-seat MP Selina Sultana, Aminul acknowledged that although kabaddi remained Bangladesh's national sport, its popularity among younger generations had declined. He said the ministry had taken regular initiatives to revive the sport by making the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation more active and organising competitions at the local level. The minister said many successful kabaddi players had been brought under the government's sports allowance programme, while the ministry was considering expanding training and other support to improve their performance. He also said the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education had been requested to make sports compulsory from Class IV and include football, cricket, kabaddi, swimming and athletics in the national curriculum. Youth employment Responding to a question from Jamaat MP Syed Zainul Abedin, the minister said trained young men and women could receive loans ranging from Tk100,000 to Tk500,000 under the Department of Youth Development's credit programme to establish or expand self-employment ventures based on demand. He said the ministry was implementing several projects in Dhaka and other metropolitan areas to create employment opportunities, including mobile phone servicing and foreign language training, caregiver training with overseas employment prospects, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based skills development for IT-literate youth.

Former national team captain and current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal was named an honorary life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club on Sunday. Tamim was elected alongside four other former international cricketers: Cheteshwar Pujara of India, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine of New Zealand, and Mel Jones of Australia. He becomes the third Bangladeshi cricketer to receive the honor from the MCC, which was founded in 1787 and remains the sole authority on the laws of cricket. "We are delighted to be able to welcome five fantastic cricketers as our newest Honorary Life Members," Rob Lawson, the chief executive and secretary of the MCC, said. "Each of them is richly deserving of the recognition for their lifelong dedication to the game. We look forward to welcoming them to Lord’s as MCC Members in the years to come." Tamim previously earned a place on the honors board at Lord's after scoring a century against England in 2010. Following that performance, he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack’s Cricketers of the Year and Wisden’s Test Cricketer of the Year in 2011. He was recently elected as the youngest president of the BCB.

Amid mounting criticism over political infiltration and conflict of interest, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to hold its highly controversial election on Sunday. In a bid to defuse the growing backlash, BCB Ad-hoc Committee Chief Tamim Iqbal called on candidates to separate their personal backgrounds from their administrative responsibilities, urging them to leave their individual identities outside the stadium gates. "When you sit in those seats, you only serve Bangladesh cricket," Tamim said. However, Tamim’s appeal comes against a backdrop of severe institutional critique surrounding the integrity of the election. Observers have heavily questioned the moral grounding of the process, pointing out that seven of the eleven ad-hoc committee members including Tamim himself are actively contesting the election they were explicitly appointed to oversee neutrally. Furthermore, public frustration has intensified over the overwhelming influx of political figures into the sports body. The government faced open mockery, even earning the satirical moniker "Baper Doa Cricket Board"—roughly translating to "The Nepotism Cricket Board"—due to the inclusion of ministers' children who lack sports organizing experience. The democratic credibility of the election has also been rendered largely hollow by a total lack of competition. Out of ten available director positions in Category-1, seven candidates have already secured their seats completely uncontested. In the highly sought-after Dhaka club category (Category-2), sixteen candidates are competing for twelve seats amid serious allegations of behind-the-scenes manipulation and intense political pressure to dictate the final outcome. Despite these controversies and a wave of unsuccessful legal challenges from former board members, the election will proceed as scheduled. Tamim maintained that the process remains transparent and legally sound, expressing optimism that the vote will finally deliver a settled board capable of driving the sport forward.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has provisionally suspended several players, team officials, and a franchise owner for allegedly breaching anti-corruption codes during the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The charges follow an investigation by the BCB Integrity Unit into betting activities, corrupt approaches, and the obstruction of investigations. Md. Lablur Rahman, a team manager, and Md. Towhidul Haque Towhid, a franchise co-owner, both face charges for refusing to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Official. The BCB alleged the pair failed to comply with demand notices and intentionally concealed or deleted relevant communications to delay the probe. Domestic cricketer Amit Mojumder and team manager Rezwan Kabir Siddique have also been charged with entering into bets related to the results and progress of matches. The BCB has given those charged 14 days to respond to the allegations. In a separate move, the board issued an exclusion order against Saminur Lablur for alleged corrupt activities spanning the 9th, 10th, and 11th editions of the BPL. Investigations linked Lablur to international betting networks and the facilitation of corrupt conduct. According to the BCB, Lablur waived his right to a response and accepted the exclusion order.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the schedules for two upcoming home series on Friday, confirming a two-match Test series against Pakistan in May followed by a six-match white-ball series against Australia in June. The Pakistan squad is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on May 3. The first Test will commence on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital. The teams will then travel to Sylhet for the second Test, which begins on May 16 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Both matches are part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Following Pakistan's departure, Australia will arrive on June 5 for three One-Day Internationals and three T20Is.. The ODI series is set to begin on June 9, with the second and third matches scheduled for June 11 and June 14. All ODI fixtures will start at 11 a.m. local time. The T20I leg of the Australian tour will start on June 17, followed by matches on June 19 and June 21, featuring 2 p.m. starts. The board has not yet confirmed the host venues for the Australia series.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has advanced the match timings for the upcoming home series against New Zealand and the Sri Lanka women’s team as part of a national effort to conserve fuel and electricity. Under the revised schedule announced on Thursday, the One Day International (ODI) matches will begin at 11 a.m. local time, instead of the previously scheduled 3 p.m. The Twenty20 International (T20I) games have been moved up to 2 p.m. from their original 6 p.m. start time. By avoiding evening hours, the board aims to conclude the ODIs by 6:30 p.m. and the T20Is by 5:10 p.m., significantly reducing the reliance on stadium floodlights. BCB President Tamim Iqbal indicated on Wednesday that daylight scheduling would be implemented to save energy, though the specific hours were formalized by the board the following day. The New Zealand national team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on April 13 for the white-ball tour. The three-match ODI series will commence at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on April 17, followed by the second match at the same venue on April 20. The teams will then travel to Chattogram, where the Bir Shreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium will host the final ODI on April 23. Chattogram will also stage the first two matches of the T20I series on April 27 and April 29. Both squads will subsequently return to Dhaka for the third and final T20I on May 2 at Mirpur. Along with these, the BCB confirmed that the match timings for the Sri Lanka women’s team's upcoming three-match T20I tour of Bangladesh this month have also been adjusted. Those fixtures, initially slated for 6 p.m. starts, will now be played in the afternoon.  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has finalized the salary structure for local and overseas cricketers ahead of the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL). The player draft for the three-team tournament is scheduled for March 14, with the competition slated to run from April 3 to 15. Local players will be divided into five categories, headlined by the "Icon" tier. Each franchise will recruit one Icon player, who will receive the highest remuneration of BDT 10 lakh. National team captain Nigar Sultana is confirmed as an Icon, while vice-captain Nahida Akter and Sobhana Mostary are under consideration for the remaining two spots. Following the Icons, six cricketers will be placed in Category A, earning BDT 7 lakh each, with franchises picking two players from this tier. Category B will feature 12 players earning BDT 5 lakh each. BCB introduces strict quotas for NCC amid opening eve mishap Around 20 players will be listed in Category C with a salary of BDT 3 lakh. Any player unsold in Category C will be moved to Category D, which carries a base price of BDT 1.5 lakh. National selector Sajjad Ahmed stated the final categorized list will be confirmed in the coming days. Franchises will have the option to sign foreign players directly before the draft or pick them from the draft pool based on player interest. Overseas recruits will be categorized into three salary tiers: Category A ($8,000), Category B ($6,000), and Category C ($3,000). Teams are mandated to include at least four foreign players in their squad and must field exactly two overseas cricketers in the playing XI for every match. The BCB has set the franchise ownership fee at BDT 30 lakh for the three-team event. Nabil Group, the owners of the reigning men's BPL champions Rajshahi Warriors, has already formally expressed interest in acquiring a team. Matches are expected to be hosted at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur and the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has implemented stringent age and residency regulations for the upcoming 64-team National Cricket Championship to boost competitiveness, though the tournament's eve was marred by a road accident involving the Chandpur district team. Beginning Sunday, the two-tier 50-over competition will restrict teams from fielding more than four players over the age of 30, a move designed to eliminate the casual participation of much older individuals and foster a stronger Under-23 development pipeline. And, squads are now limited to hiring a maximum of three players from outside their home district. This officially reverses a previous practice that sometimes saw entire squads formed by non-local cricketers. The board has noted they will consider exceptions for an extra over-30 player if districts can verify their superior quality over younger alternatives. The tournament structure features two 32-team tiers, with a promotion and relegation system in place. Top-tier group winners will advance to a three-day competition in April 2026, while the bottom eight teams will face relegation. To identify emerging talent, the board is deploying coaches across the 16 match venues for a dedicated scouting program. Top-level players not involved in the Bangladesh Cricket League one-day competition, such as Hasan Murad and Musfik Hasan, are also participating. Despite the board's push for increased professionalism, basic logistical challenges remain glaring. Highlighting these infrastructural hurdles, a Chandpur district player sustained injuries in a road accident while the team was travelling precariously with their equipment in an auto-rickshaw just before the tournament.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam has decided not to attend today’s high-voltage T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, reportedly because the Bangladesh national team is not participating in the tournament. According to BCB sources, Aminul returned to Dhaka yesterday morning following an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Kuwait and has decided to remain in the country. Despite attempts to reach him, he did not respond to queries regarding his travel plans. ‘World Cup boycott was govt’s  decision, I remain firm on this’: Asif Nazrul The decision comes despite Aminul’s pivotal role in the recent diplomatic efforts to save the fixture. He was a key figure in the trilateral meeting in Lahore involving the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), where he urged Pakistan to drop their boycott threat—a threat made in solidarity with Bangladesh’s exclusion from the World Cup. The ICC had invited the board presidents of the five Asian Test-playing nations to watch the match together in Sri Lanka, aiming to use the occasion to bridge diplomatic gaps. While PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and ICC Chairman Jay Shah will be in attendance alongside the Sri Lankan board chief, Aminul’s seat will remain empty.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced the launch of the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) T20, marking a historic milestone for women’s cricket in the country. The franchise-based tournament is scheduled to take place from April 3 to April 15, 2026. In a statement released on Wednesday, the BCB’s Women’s Wing confirmed that the debut edition will feature three franchise teams. The competition aims to blend experienced national cricketers with emerging local talent, who will be selected through a player draft system to ensure balanced squads. To elevate the competitive standard and provide global exposure, franchises will also be permitted to sign overseas professional players. “The WBPL will mark Bangladesh’s first-ever franchise-based Twenty20 competition for women, representing a pioneering step forward in the professional development of women’s cricket in the country,” the BCB statement read. The tournament will be overseen by a WBPL Governing Council chaired by Rubaba Dowla, BCB Director and Chairperson of the Women’s Wing. Further details regarding the franchises, draft regulations, fixtures, venues, and broadcast partners are expected to be announced soon.