United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will renew their Test rivalry as they meet in the first match of a two-Test series starting Sunday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The second Test will follow in Chattogram from April 28. The two teams have faced each other 18 times in Tests, with Bangladesh winning eight — their highest number of Test victories against any single opponent. However, Sylhet holds mixed memories for the hosts, who have won only once in three Tests at this venue. Their last meeting here in 2018 saw Zimbabwe secure a commanding 151-run win. Both teams arrive with questions hanging over their consistency in the longest format. Zimbabwe have played just four Tests in the past two years, losing three. Bangladesh, in contrast, played 13 and won five, but their top-order batting has remained a concern. “We have to be more consistent at the top. I personally got out after scoring 30 or 40 on several occasions last year, which is not acceptable. We’re trying to improve,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said ahead of the match.  “We want to play with the intent to win and post the runs necessary to take 20 wickets. The body language has to reflect that,” he added, expressing the importance of a shift in mindset.  With pace-friendly conditions expected in Sylhet, both teams are likely to lean on their fast bowlers. “There’s grass on the wicket. It looks pace-friendly. We’ve trained here for a couple of days and are confident with our preparations,” Craig Ervine, the Zimbabwe skipper, said.  Ervine also said Zimbabwe are embracing a no-fear attitude and looking at the series as an opportunity for young players to gain vital experience in subcontinental conditions. “We haven’t played a lot in Bangladesh, but that’s part of the learning curve. The players are keen to soak up knowledge and adapt,” he added.  Bangladesh’s young pacer Nahid Rana, who can bowl consistently over 140 km/h, has caught attention ahead of the match. “We’ve told him to keep bowling at that pace,” the Bangladesh captain said.  Bangladesh team: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Jaker Ali, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana. Zimbabwe team: Craig Ervine (capt), Ben Curran, Nyasha Mayavo, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nick Welch, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams, Trevor Gwandu, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Vincent Masekesa.

Four times champions  Bangladesh Men's Hockey team will fly for Indonesia Tuesday (April 15)  early hour at 2:30 am by a Thai flight in a hope to repeat their feat in the AHF Cup Hockey Tournament '2025 billed for Indonesia capital Jakarta from April 17 to 27. Earlier on last Sunday, Bangladesh Hockey Federation ( BHF) announced a 26- member Bangladesh national team, consists of 18 players and eight officials. BKSP emerge unbeaten champions outplaying Kishoreganj in hockey Celebrated forward Rasel Mahmud Jimmy dropped from team earlier due to age limit  while Mehrab Hossain Samin, who guided the Bangladesh U-21 team to the  Youth World Cup Hockey, also excluded from the squad. Senior player Pushkar Kisha Mimo named as the new captain of the Bangladesh National Hockey team for the AHF Cup Hockey,  a  qualifying tournament for the Men's Asia Cup Hockey. Holders Bangladesh will compete in the 10-nation AHF Cup Hockey alongwith Oman, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Singapore and Kazakhstan to repeat their feat  Top two teams of the AHF Cup Hockey will qualify for the eight-team Men's Asia Cup Hockey to be held in the Indian city of Rajgir, Bihar from Aug 27 to Sept 7. Six teams--Defending champions South Korea, hosts India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China--will directly play in the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey. Players of the Bangladesh national team are: Pushkar Kisha Mimo (Captain), Fazle Hossain Rabbi (Vice Captan), Huzaifa Hossain, Rezaul Karim Babu, Sohanur Rahman Sabuj, Farhad Ahmed Shetul, Ashraful Islam, Amirul Islam, Abed Uddin, Nayemuddin, Al Nahian Shuvo, Roman Sarkar, Arshad Hossain, Obaidul Hossain Joy, Rakibul Hasan, Mahbub Hossain, Biplob Kuzur and Abu Sayed Nikson. Women's Hockey: BKSP to face Kishoreganj DSA in final Saturday Eight officials are: Syed Bayazid Haider ( Manager), Kazi Abu Zafar Tapan (Assistant Manager), Mamumur Rashid (Head  Coach), Moshiur Rahman Biplob ( Assistant Coach), Alamgir Islam ( Trainer), Saifuddin Ahmed ( Physio),Taposh Barman (Video Analyst ) and Ismail Hossain Liton (Umpire).  

A new 60,000-seat stadium for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, located in inner-city parkland, has been revealed as part of a major revision of the planning for the 2032 Summer Games. David Crisafulli, the third premier of Queensland state since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 2032 Games to Brisbane almost four years ago, presented the updated plans on a rainy Tuesday during a Future Brisbane forum. Jahir Raihan leaves for China to compete in 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championship It has been over 1,340 days since the IOC's decision in 2021, yet local organisers have yet to begin constructing Olympic venues. During this time, changes in government at both federal and state levels have occurred. After 150 days in office, Crisafulli declared, “The time has come to just get on with it — get on with it, and build.” He added, “We are going to start immediately. We've got seven years to make it work, and make it work we will.” A 25,000-seat aquatics centre has also been proposed for an Olympic precinct that includes the new main stadium at Victoria Park, a former golf course near downtown Brisbane. With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Summer Games, Brisbane is next in line. The 11 years initially allotted for Brisbane's preparations have now been reduced to seven, and leaders at all levels of government and sports federations agree that it is time to cease arguing over venues and begin constructing them. Newly elected IOC president Kirsty Coventry has overseen the early stages of planning for the Olympic movement and has been kept informed of the changes by Andrew Liveris, chairman of the 2032 organising committee. Liveris mentioned that there had been daily engagement between a review panel assessing all venue options and the local organising committee, which is responsible for running the Games. “The stage matters,” he said. “We’ve still got 7½ years to go, and we have a plan. None of this is embarrassing — this is a go-get-it-done plan.” Brisbane was the first Summer Games host chosen through a new process that allowed a preferred candidate to enter exclusive, fast-track discussions without competing against rival bidders in a vote. This change aimed to reduce the costs of campaigning and venue construction while avoiding vote-buying scandals. False starts It has been a year since local organisers abandoned plans to demolish and rebuild the Gabba, an iconic cricket ground, as the centrepiece of the 2032 Games after a review panel, appointed in 2023, suggested a new stadium in city parkland instead. The costs for rebuilding the Gabba had escalated, and the Australian Olympic Committee withdrew its support for the concept. At the time, Queensland's premier Steven Miles rejected the review’s recommendations, led by former Brisbane Mayor Graham Quirk. Instead, Miles planned to upgrade an existing rugby stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies and renovate an older facility in the city’s southern outskirts, built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games, to serve as the track and field venue. Quirk argued that a new stadium at Victoria Park, on former council-owned golf course land, would cost slightly more than the full Gabba rebuild but offer better operational efficiencies. Crisafulli, who ran for election late last year with a promise of no new stadiums, quickly instituted another 100-day review after taking power for the Liberal-National coalition. His cabinet approved the recommendations on Monday. A croc, or not? Ahead of the venue announcements, local media reported that rowing would take place on the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton on the central Queensland coast, where crocodiles are often sighted. Crisafulli confirmed the proposed Fitzroy River venue, noting that numerous events, including Australia's pre-Olympic rowing camps, had been held there. He added that local children swam and paddled in the river most weekends, and crocodiles posed no real threat. Rowing Australia stated that media concerns about crocodiles had been exaggerated but raised some concerns regarding the river's current. Liveris mentioned that World Rowing would visit the organisers in May. National Athletics: 3 more national records created on day-2 He also downplayed any concerns about crocodiles at the rowing venue, saying, “There’s sharks in the ocean and we still do sailing and we still do surfing. It’s a bit kind of Hollywood-ish. I’m not worried about crocodiles.”

After a recent successful bowling reassessment in Loughborough, Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been given the green light to resume bowling in competitive cricket by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).  After this decision, Shakib is now available to resume his bowling in domestic and international cricket, where he has not been available since September last year.    The all-rounder, who had never previously been reported for a suspect action in his two-decade-long career, was first called for an illegal action during a County Championship match while representing Surrey against Somerset. Subsequent tests confirmed the irregularities, and that led to his suspension from all formats under ICC regulations.   Shakib's road to clearance was not straightforward. He initially failed two separate assessments— one in Loughborough last year and another in Chennai this January.  Following these setbacks, he was out of Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy team. Earlier, he had said that he would retire from international cricket after this event.  A statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Shakib had “successfully remedied his action,” paving the way for his return to the bowling crease in domestic and franchise leagues. With the ECB’s clearance, he is now eligible to bowl in the upcoming County Championship season and The Hundred, where his all-round skills have made him a sought-after player. It’s not clear if Shakib wants to extend his career in international cricket. With two years to go ahead of the 2027 World Cup, he may rethink and extend his plan. His availability as a bowler could be a great option for the Bangladesh team.  

Six-time champions, Dhaka Abahani Limited dropped points with Brothers Union Club as the ninth round match of the Bashundhara Kings Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football ended in a goalless draw at the Bir Shreshtho Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Saturday. Despite the day’s draw in a keenly contested match, the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Ltd, without any foreign players, maintained their second slot in the league table, securing 20 points from all nine first-phase matches, while the Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union remained at the 5th slot with 15 points from nine encounters. Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed backs spin pitches for home test matches Meanwhile, Dhaka Mohammedan SC comfortably dominated the 10-team league, securing 24 points from nine outings despite conceding the first defeat against lowly Youngsmen’s Club Fakirerpool by a 0-1 goal in their ninth match on Friday. Last season’s treble winners, Bashundhara Kings, completed the nine-match first phase league in the third slot, collecting 17 points, while the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj MFS is in the fourth place by virtue of better goal differences, securing equal 15 points like the Brothers Union. Abahani’s national-coloured custodian, Mitul Marma, who did not concede any goals in the last six matches, also displayed his brilliance in the day’s match, saving some good opponent’s attempts and being adjudged player of the match. Ashraful Islam Rana of Brothers Union also played entertaining football in the match. In the day’s other match, Fortis FC advanced to the 6th slot in the league table, beating bottom-ranked Chittagong Abahani Limited by a 1-0 goal at the Bashundhara Kings Arena Saturday afternoon. 10th Shah Cement AKS Cup Golf Tournament begins Gambian defender Essa Jallow scored the match-winning goal for Fortis FC in the 34th minute. Fortis FC bagged 11 points from nine outings to move up to 6th place while Chittagong Abahani Limited remained at the bottom with three points from nine encounters.

Dhaka Capitals moved up to the fourth place of the points table, beating Chittagong Kings by eight wickets on Wednesday in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match in Chattogram. It was Dhaka’s third win in 10 matches, while it was Chittagong’s fourth defeat in nine matches. Chittagong batted first and posted 148 for six wickets in 20 overs. Naeem Islam was the highest scorer with 44, while Zubaid Akbari posted 23, and Graham Clark scored 19. U-19 WC: Bangladesh girls move into Super 6 For Dhaka, Mosaddek Hossain took two wickets for 13 runs in three overs, while Nazmul Islam and Ronsford Beaton scalped two wickets each. Tanzid Hasan led Dhaka’s reply with 90 off 54 balls. He hit seven sixes and three fours. Tanzid and Litton Das shared a 75-run stand in the opening partnership. Dhaka reached the target in just 18.1 overs.

Two teams--Rahmatganj MFS and Dhaka Abahani Limited—which already reached the qualifiers stage from Group B with two matches to spare, having all-win records, will play their 3rd  round matches at two separate venues across the country on Tuesday. Group leader Rahmatganj MFS will play bottom-placed Chittagong Abahani Limited at 2:30 pm at the Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh while Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet lowly Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool  also at 2:30 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla. Asian Snooker: Asif, Shuvo to represent Bangladesh in Asian Snooker Championship 2025 in Doha In Group B, Rahmatganj MFS and Dhaka Abahani Limited already moved into the qualifier stage with two matches to spare securing full six points each from straight two matches eliminating last time runners-up Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool and Chittagong Abahani Limited.    Maruful Haque’s Dhaka Abahani Limited, without any foreign booters, smartly booked a seat for the qualifiers shocking their traditional rivals Dhaka Mohammedan SC beating them by 1-0 goal in a titans battle. Dhaka Mohammedan SC collected three points from three matches to eliminate from the race with one win and two defeats. Dhaka register six-run win over Sylhet Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool earned one point from two matches while Chittagong Abahani Ltd also bagged one point playing three matches to eliminate from the meet.  In Group A, Fortis FC topped the group list securing seven points from all the four group matches with two wins, one draw and one defeat while defending champions Bashundhara Kings, Brothers Union Club and Bangladesh Police FC are still in the race securing six, six and four points respectively, playing three matches each.

A gold medal from the 1904 St. Louis Olympics, awarded to the 110-meter hurdles champion, is being auctioned as part of a collection featuring hundreds of Olympic memorabilia spanning decades, reports AP. The medal, inscribed with “Olympiad, 1904,” depicts a victorious athlete holding a wreath on one side and Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory, alongside Zeus on the other, with an engraving specifying the hurdles event. Awarded to American athlete Fred Schule, it comes with its original ribbon and leather case. This marked the first Olympics where gold medals were introduced, with the U.S. dominating by winning 78 of 96 events. Unlike modern Olympic gold medals, which are primarily silver with gold plating, these were smaller and crafted entirely from gold. Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at Paris Olympics' closing ceremony Bobby Eaton, an Olympic memorabilia specialist at Boston-based RR Auction, highlighted the rarity of such medals, noting that few of the roughly 100 awarded in 1904 remain, as many have been lost or are held in private collections and museums. The 1904 Games, remembered for both achievements and controversies, were initially set for Chicago but were moved to St. Louis after disputes with the World’s Fair organizers, who threatened to hold their own competing athletic events. The marathon was marred by scandal when Fred Lorz, initially thought to be the winner, was found to have traveled part of the race by car. Additionally, “Anthropology Days” saw indigenous tribes competing without prior notice as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The event also introduced boxing and freestyle wrestling to the Olympics, alongside now-defunct events like croquet and tug-of-war. “These medals are more than symbols of competition; they represent the early days of the modern Olympics,” Eaton remarked, describing the auction as a rare opportunity for collectors. The auction also features other Olympic treasures, including a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics and gold medals from the 1932 Los Angeles, 1964 Tokyo, 1998 Nagano, and 2012 London Games. IOC president Thomas Bach plans to leave office next year. He says the Olympics needs a change Olympic memorabilia continues to attract high prices. In recent years, Luz Long’s 1936 Berlin Olympics silver medal sold for over $488,000, while a silver medal from the first modern Olympics in 1896 fetched $180,111 in 2021. More recently, Yuri Cheban of Ukraine sold his medals to support the war effort, and Ryan Lochte auctioned six of his medals for charity, retaining only his golds. Looking ahead, the Summer Olympics will return to Los Angeles in 2028, marking its third time hosting, after 1932 and 1984.

Rangpur Riders solidified their dominance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with an 8-run win over Khulna Tigers in Sylhet on Monday, maintaining their flawless record in the tournament. A disciplined bowling effort by Rangpur and a surprising late collapse by Khulna secured the Riders’ seventh consecutive win in a match that reached a climax in the last overs. Rangpur batted first and posted 186 for 5, powered by Khushdil Shah’s unbeaten 73 off just 35 balls, featuring seven sixes. His 115-run stand with Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored 43 off 36, rescued the Riders after a slow start. Khulna bowlers Abu Hider and Hasan Mahmud took two wickets each but struggled to contain Rangpur’s middle-order fireworks. BPL: Clark shines as Chittagong Kings beat Sylhet Strikers by 30 runs In their chase, Khulna appeared on course for victory at 164 for 4, needing only 22 runs off the final 18 balls with six wickets in hand. However, Rangpur’s bowlers, led by Akif Javed, who took 3 for 29 runs, and Saifuddin, who bagged 2 for 28 runs, turned the tide with a great comeback. A series of quick wickets, including two run-outs, saw Khulna collapse, losing six batters for just 12 runs and finishing at 178 for 9. Shakib, Litton left out as Bangladesh announce Champions Trophy squad Khulna’s Mohammad Naim scored 58 off 41 balls, while skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with a 39 off 24. Despite their efforts, Khulna fell short, extending their losing streak to three matches after winning their opening two.

The eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy' 2025 is set to begins on February 19, 2025 in Pakistan in promises to deliver intense cricketing action among the top teams in the world. Hosts Pakistan will play New Zealand in the opening match on February 19 in Karachi Bangladesh is likely to start their campaign taking on their giant neighbor India on the following day (February 20) at neutral venue in Dubai. BCB announces much-needed pay rise for women cricketers with central contracts The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash will take place on February 23. The highly anticipated tournament, hosted by Pakistan, will feature eight teams divided into two groups, will play across the Pakistani city of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.  Grouping of Champions Trophy : Group A: Pakistan, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh Group B: South Africa, England, Australia, Afghanistan U-19 cricketers get cash bonus from BCB for Asia Cup triumph As per latest ICC ruling, all the matches of the Indian team will be held in neutral venue, likely in Dubai,  as per its hybrid deal. The grand final will commence on March 9, 2025, with March 10 reserved as the backup day Tentative schedule of the Champions Trophy. Date Time (IST) Venue Match February 19, 2025 2:30 pm Karachi Pakistan vs New Zealand February 20, 2025 2:30 pm Neutral Bangladesh vs India February 21, 2025 2:30 pm Karachi Afghanistan vs South Africa February 22, 2025 2:30 pm Lahore Australia vs England February 23, 2025 2:30 pm Neutral Pakistan vs India February 24, 2025 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Bangladesh vs New Zealand February 25, 2025 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Australia vs South Africa February 26, 2025 2:30 pm Lahore Afghanistan vs England February 27, 2025 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Pakistan vs Bangladesh February 28, 2025 2:30 pm Lahore Afghanistan vs Australia March 1, 2025 2:30 pm Karachi South Africa vs England March 2, 2025 2:30 pm Neutral New Zealand vs India March 4, 2025 2:30 pm Neutral Semi-Final A1 vs B2 March 5, 2025 2:30 pm Neutral Semi-Final B1 vs A2 March 9, 2025 2:30 pm Neutral Final March 10, 2025 - Neutral Reserve Day