United News of Bangladesh

Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for his sixth and likely final FIFA World Cup, aiming to show that his move to Saudi Arabia has not affected his ability to perform at the highest level. The tournament will be Ronaldo’s first World Cup since leaving European football in late 2022 to join Al Nassr. The transfer surprised many in the football world and raised questions about whether playing in a less competitive league would affect his form. But Ronaldo, who turned 41 in February, has rejected suggestions that his performance has declined. He has continued scoring regularly for both Al Nassr and the Portugal national football team. Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said Ronaldo remains highly motivated and continues to prove his value. “He keeps performing and he keeps showing his value and he keeps showing that he is important for the national team,” Martínez said. “To have that hunger when you’ve won everything in the game is quite remarkable.” Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to become the first players to appear in six World Cups. Ronaldo holds the record for the most appearances for a men’s national team with 226 matches and is also the top scorer in international football with 143 goals. He is the only male player to score in five different World Cups. Martínez said Ronaldo is judged on his current performances, not his past achievements. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr midway through the 2022-23 season after leaving Manchester United. He reportedly accepted a contract worth $200 million a year and said he wanted to help change perceptions of Saudi football. The move drew criticism, with some fans and analysts saying he had effectively stepped away from elite competition. Ronaldo has consistently defended the Saudi Pro League, claiming it is stronger than both the French and Portuguese leagues. “The numbers don’t lie,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Piers Morgan. “For me it is easier to score in Spain than score in Saudi.” His move has not affected his form with Portugal. Since joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo has scored 25 goals in his last 30 international matches. He failed to score in five matches at the 2024 European Championship, where Portugal reached the quarterfinals. In 2025, Ronaldo helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League, scoring one of his eight goals in the tournament in the final against Spain national football team. Despite turning 41, Ronaldo has maintained excellent fitness. After recovering quickly from a hamstring injury suffered in February, he scored his 100th Saudi Pro League goal on May 7 in his 105th league appearance for Al Nassr. The club is chasing its first Saudi league title since 2019. Portugal and Al Nassr teammate João Félix said Ronaldo’s dedication continues to inspire younger players. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in 16 matches in his first season in Saudi Arabia. In his first full campaign, he netted 35 goals in 31 games to set a new league scoring record. He also led Al Nassr to the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, scoring twice in the final. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 25 goals in 30 matches. This season, he has scored 26 goals in 29 appearances and is five goals behind Ivan Toney of Al Ahli in the race for the league’s top scorer award. Ronaldo has said this will definitely be his final attempt to win the World Cup, although he has not indicated when he plans to retire. Martínez said predicting Ronaldo’s future is impossible. “I’ve learned very quickly not to predict the future with Cristiano,” he said. “He doesn’t make plans.”

Following the 104-run win in the first of the two-match Test series against Pakistan, several Bangladeshi players climbed in the latest ICC Rankings. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, climbed 16 places after his outstanding performance of hitting a ton in the first innings and falling short of another century in the second innings. Left-handed middle-order batter Mominul Haque scored twin fifties in the same match that lifted him to the 35th Test batter in the rankings. Mushfiqur Rahim, the former captain and wicketkeeper, also attained a better place. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also moved up in the rankings and is now the 13th Test bowler. Nahid Rana, the right-arm pacer who bagged a five-for in the fourth innings of the Test and sealed the match for the hosts, moved to 64th place. The second and final Test of the series will take place in Sylhet from May 17th. In the last meeting, Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-0 on their home soil. Bangladesh can complete a back-to-back series win over Pakistan if they can pull off another win in Sylhet.  

Spinner Sophie Molineux will captain Australia women's national cricket team at the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup following the retirement of former skipper Alyssa Healy. Cricket Australia announced its first women's World Cup squad since Healy stepped down earlier this year. All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has been named one of two vice-captains after missing out on the captaincy. Healy announced in January that she would retire after the home series against India women's national cricket team. She ended her one-day international career in March with a blistering 158 as Australia secured a comfortable victory over India. The 12-team tournament will be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, with 33 matches scheduled across seven venues. The final will be played at Lord's. Australia will begin its campaign against South Africa women's national cricket team on June 13 at Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Defending champion New Zealand women's national cricket team won the previous edition in the United Arab Emirates in 2024, defeating South Africa by 32 runs. Australia won the 2023 title, its sixth overall and third in a row. Left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton earned a surprise call-up in place of Darcie Brown, who has taken 34 wickets in 41 T20 internationals. Grace Harris and all-rounder Annabel Sutherland have returned to the squad. Selector Shawn Flegler said the squad has the experience and balance needed to challenge for another world title. He said Brown was unfortunate to miss out, but Australia opted for Hamilton because her left-arm pace offers a different option in conditions where outright speed may be less effective.

Bangladesh’s clinical 104-run triumph over Pakistan in Mirpur on Tuesday did more than just secure a series lead; it completely rewrote the nation’s Test record books. Led by a record-equalling performance from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and a historic five-wicket haul from express pacer Nahid Rana, the hosts signalled a profound power shift in Asian cricket. Nahid Rana’s five-wicket haul powers Bangladesh to comfortable win over Pakistan Rana became the first pace bowler in Bangladesh’s 26-year Test history to claim five wickets in the fourth innings of a match. His devastating spell of 5-40 not only dismantled the Pakistani chase but also ended a 16-year drought for Bangladeshi seamers on home soil. The last pacer to achieve a five-wicket haul in Bangladesh was Shahadat Hossain, who took 5-71 against India in 2010. The young speedster remained relatively quiet during the opening hour of the final session before unleashing a ferocious spell of 4.5-2-10-4 to gut the visitors' middle and lower order. Rana’s performance eclipsed the previous fourth-innings record for a Bangladeshi pacer, held by Taskin Ahmed, who took 4-37 against Afghanistan in 2023. Upon dismissing Shaheen Shah Afridi with a sharp bouncer to seal the match, Rana performed a sajdah of gratitude, having etched his name into the record books. Complementing Rana’s breakthrough was the tactical leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto, who equalled Mushfiqur Rahim’s record for the most Test wins as a Bangladesh captain. Remarkably, Shanto reached the milestone of seven victories in just 17 matches – exactly half the number of games required by Mushfiqur to set the original mark. Since taking the helm, Shanto has led the side to landmark victories against New Zealand, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, alongside a historic away sweep in Pakistan. Shanto nearly paired his leadership record with a rare batting feat. Having scored 101 in the first innings, the left-hander fell for 87 in the second, narrowly missing the chance to become only the fourth player in cricket history to score twin centuries in a single Test on three separate occasions. Despite the missed personal milestone, the victory consolidates Shanto’s position as the face of a revitalised Bangladesh squad. With a top order finding its rhythm and a historic resurgence from the pace battery, led by Rana, Bangladesh head into the next match with unprecedented momentum.

Express pacer Nahid Rana produced a devastating spell of fast bowling to claim 5-40, dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup and securing a comprehensive 104-run victory for Bangladesh on the final day in Mirpur. He took five wickets in just 9.5 overs. His five wickets for just 40 runs are now the best of his career. The win marks Bangladesh’s third consecutive Test triumph against Pakistan, sealing a dominant performance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 268 on a rapidly deteriorating surface, Pakistan’s resolve crumbled under Rana’s raw pace and accuracy. The young quick utilized the afternoon heat to extract steep bounce and movement, leaving the visitors with no answers as they were bundled out for 163 in 52.5 overs. Rana’s masterclass began in the morning session when he squared up Pakistan captain Shan Masood (2) with a delivery that straightened off the seam, forcing a thick outside edge to Litton Das. While Abdullah Fazal offered lone resistance with a gritty 66, Rana returned in the post-lunch session to clinical effect. He broke a burgeoning partnership by inducing an edge from Saud Shakeel (15) before producing the delivery of the match to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan. The ball pitched outside off and jagged back prodigiously at 147 kph to rattle the stumps, leaving Rizwan stunned. The victory was built on the foundation of a bold declaration by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto earlier in the day. Shanto, who missed a historic second century of the match by just 13 runs, declared the second innings at 240-9 shortly before lunch. His 87, combined with Mominul Haque’s 56, set a target that proved unreachable for a Pakistan side still reeling from their first-innings collapse. The match reached its climax when Rana charged in for the final blow against Shaheen Shah Afridi. Digging in a fierce, rising short ball, Rana forced the tailender into a defensive tangle. The ball clipped the glove and looped gently to the waiting hands of the short-leg fielder, sparking wild celebrations across the venue. As the catch was taken, Rana sprinted toward his teammates to celebrate his five-wicket haul, cementing a 104-run win that underscored a notable power shift in the rivalry. The second and final Test of the series will take place in Sylhet from May 16th.  

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto spearheaded a calculated batting display before a bold declaration left Pakistan chasing 268 for victory on the final day in Mirpur. The hosts declared their second innings at 240-9 shortly before lunch, giving their bowlers approximately 75 overs to secure a 1-0 series lead. Shanto, who hit a masterful century in the first innings, fell just 13 runs short of a rare twin-ton. His 87 off 150 balls anchored the innings through a fluctuating morning session. When Shanto was eventually trapped leg-before by Noman Ali, it signaled a shift in strategy. Rather than batting a bit more with one wicket remaining, the Bangladesh management opted for a proactive declaration at 240-9, capitalizing on a 27-run first-innings cushion to set a target of 268. The penultimate day’s play had been heavily truncated by monsoon rain and poor light, which threatened to force a stalemate. However, the aggression shown by the middle order on the final morning revived hopes of a result. Mominul Haque’s disciplined 56 and Shanto’s resilience ensured the lead crossed the critical 250-mark, a threshold historically difficult to chase at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Pakistan’s attack found late success as the ball began to reverse. Hasan Ali led the visitors with 3-52, including the wickets of Shadman Islam (10), Mushfiqur Rahim (22), and Taskin Ahmed (11). Left-arm spinner Noman Ali was equally effective in the morning heat, finishing with 3-76 after removing both Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (24). Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with 2-54, accounting for Mominul and Litton Das. This Test has been a showcase of individual milestones and tactical shifts. On day three, Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 14th five-wicket haul triggered a Pakistan collapse that handed Bangladesh the initial advantage. Earlier, Taskin Ahmed entered the record books as only the third Bangladeshi pacer to reach 50 Test wickets, underscoring a disciplined performance by the home side’s seamers. The target of 268 on a fifth-day Mirpur track presents a stern test for Pakistan's batters, who struggled against the turn and uneven bounce in their first effort. Bangladesh’s spin duo of Miraz and Taijul Islam will spearhead the defense, looking to replicate the pressure that saw Pakistan lose their final five first-innings wickets for just 37 runs. With over two sessions remaining, the match is poised for a dramatic finish. Pakistan must decide whether to pursue the 3.5 runs-per-over required for victory or bat for a draw on a surface that is increasingly favoring the slow bowlers.

India batting great Rahul Dravid has been announced as the owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise ahead of the launch of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), the organisers confirmed on Monday. The ETPL finalised its six-team structure at a launch event attended by franchise owners and senior cricket officials from across Europe. The league will feature teams from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Dravid said he was attracted to the league due to its long-term vision of developing cricket in Europe through grassroots growth and creating opportunities for emerging players. “What attracted me to ETPL was the larger vision behind it, the opportunity to help grow cricket in Europe by strengthening grassroots development and creating pathways for emerging talent across Ireland and Europe,” Dravid said in a statement. Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has been appointed captain of the Dublin Guardians. The team will compete against franchises representing major European cities including Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. “Dublin already has a passionate cricketing community and enormous potential for growth. Nurturing the next generation has always been important to me, and I believe ETPL can play a meaningful role in that journey,” Dravid added. The event was attended by several prominent figures, including ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra, as well as international cricket personalities and officials from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The inaugural ETPL season is scheduled to run from August 26 to September 20 and will feature several international stars, including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen. Franchise ownership across the league includes notable names such as Glenn Maxwell in Belfast, Chris Gayle in Glasgow, Steve Waugh in Amsterdam, and Jonty Rhodes and Faf du Plessis in Rotterdam. #Via NDTV  

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has formed a three-member inquiry committee to look into Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Dr AKM Wali Ullah, Additional Secretary (Administration) of the ministry, will head the committee. The other members include former national captain Habibul Bashar and Supreme Court lawyer and sports organiser Barrister Faisal Dastagir. According to a notice signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Aonggyajai Marma, the panel must submit its findings within 15 working days. The 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, proceeded without Bangladesh after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) withdrew from the tournament.  Citing safety concerns, the then interim government directed the BCB to pull out after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected a request to move Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka. The security friction originated prior to the tournament when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dropped pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL following threats from extremist groups. While the BCB, then led by Aminul Islam, expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of players, coaching staff, and traveling journalists, the ICC maintained that security arrangements were sufficient.

Heavy rain and deteriorating light frustrated both sides on the penultimate day in Mirpur, as Bangladesh reached 152-3 at early stumps in the first Test against Pakistan.  Despite a significant loss of play, the hosts extended their overall lead to 179 runs, leaving the first Test poised for a high-stakes final day. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque spearheaded the effort before the weather intervened. Shanto, following his clinical first-innings century, remains unbeaten on 58. He found a reliable partner in Mominul, who struck 56 before falling late in the day. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim (16) navigated a tricky final period to keep the visitors at bay before the umpires called off play early due to visibility concerns. A major portion of the day was lost to a monsoon downpour that drenched the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The delay hampered Bangladesh’s efforts to set a rapid target and denied Pakistan’s seamers the chance to exploit the overcast conditions. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Abbas each claimed a wicket, but the lack of consistent play prevented the visitors from building sustained pressure. Bangladesh’s 413 in the first innings, anchored by Shanto’s 101, remains the benchmark of the contest of the Dhaka Test. Pakistan’s response of 386 was highlighted by debutant Azan Awais’s patient 103, but a dramatic collapse – triggered by Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 14th five-wicket haul – handed the hosts a 27-run cushion. Milestones have defined this encounter. Earlier in the match, Taskin Ahmed became only the third Bangladeshi pacer to reach 50 Test wickets, a feat last achieved by a local seamer in 2009. With a lead of 179 and only one day remaining, Bangladesh face a tactical dilemma. The deteriorating Mirpur track traditionally favours the hosts' spin duo of Miraz and Taijul Islam in the fourth innings. However, the time lost to rain may force Shanto into an aggressive declaration early on Day 5 to give his bowlers enough overs to secure a victory.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed his 14th five-wicket haul to lead a stunning bowling resurgence as Bangladesh secured a vital 27-run lead, bowling Pakistan out for 386 on the third evening of the opening Test in Mirpur. Pakistan’s first innings, which seemed destined to surpass Bangladesh’s 413 after they reached a comfortable 349-5, unraveled spectacularly in the final session. The visitors lost their final five wickets for just 37 runs, as the Mirpur track began to offer the sharp turn and inconsistent bounce that the hosts’ spin department exploited to perfection. Mehidy was the architect of the collapse, finishing with clinical figures of 5-102. His afternoon masterclass began by breaking a century opening stand when he trapped Imam-ul-Haq (45) leg-before. He then dismantled the middle order in a devastating spell, removing Saud Shakeel and the well-set debutant Abdullah Fazal (60). Mehidy eventually completed his five-for by inducing an edge from Noman Ali to slip and deceiving Shaheen Shah Afridi with a delivery chipped straight to short cover. Supporting the spin effort, Taijul Islam claimed the final wicket of Hasan Ali to finish with 2-39, while Taskin Ahmed played a crucial role earlier in the day. Taskin’s two wickets—including that of centurion Azan Awais (103)—not only broke a dangerous partnership but also saw him reach the milestone of 50 Test wickets, becoming only the third Bangladeshi pacer to do so. Speedster Nahid Rana chipped in with one wicket to complete a comprehensive bowling performance. Pakistan’s resistance was primarily defined by Azan Awais’s patient debut century and a brisk 59 from Mohammad Rizwan. However, once Rizwan was dismissed, the tail offered little resistance against the relentless pressure applied by Miraz. The slim 27-run lead provides Bangladesh with a psychological edge heading into the second innings. The hosts' first-innings total of 413 was built on a clinical 101 from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and a resilient 91 from Mominul Haque.