The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed the extension of Phil Simmons’ tenure as head coach of the national men’s team, with the former West Indies batter set to remain in charge until the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027. Simmons, 61, initially joined Bangladesh in October 2024 on a short-term deal that ran through to the end of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Following a positive impression during that period, which included series against South Africa, Afghanistan, and the West Indies, as well as the Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan and the UAE, the BCB has now opted to continue with him on a long-term basis. “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Bangladesh cricket on a long-term basis,” Simmons said in a media release issued by the BCB. “The talent within this team is undeniable, and I believe we have the potential to achieve great things together. I am looking forward to the journey ahead,” he added. Simmons praised the players he has worked with so far, highlighting their “skill and passion” and expressing confidence in the team’s future. Shakib cleared to bowl again, eyes return to competitive cricket “My time with the Bangladesh team over the past few months has been incredibly rewarding. The energy, commitment, and ability within this group have been nothing short of impressive. I’m excited to continue helping these players reach their full potential,” he added. A veteran coach with nearly two decades of experience, Simmons has previously led several international sides. After a playing career that included 26 Tests and 143 ODIs for the West Indies between 1987 and 1999, he transitioned to coaching, starting with Zimbabwe in 2004. He then led Ireland from 2007 to 2015, steering them to three ICC World Cups and a historic win over England in 2011. He had two stints as West Indies head coach and was at the helm when they lifted the ICC World T20 title in 2016. Simmons also coached Afghanistan from 2018 to 2019.

Ashutosh Sharma’s explosive 66 off 31 balls powered Delhi Capitals to a thrilling one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League on Monday. Sharma sealed the win in spectacular fashion, smashing a straight six off left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed to take Delhi to 211-9 with three balls remaining. The loss marked a disappointing debut as captain for Rishabh Pant, the IPL’s most expensive player, who was dismissed for a six-ball duck. Despite Pant’s early exit, Lucknow posted 209-8, thanks to blistering half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran (75) and Mitchell Marsh (72). Sharma’s Stunning Knock Rescues DelhiLucknow appeared in control until Sharma turned the game around with an explosive partnership alongside Vipraj Nigam, who contributed a quick 39 off 15 balls. Hyderabad, Chennai start IPL with season-opening victories Delhi suffered a shaky start, losing four wickets in the powerplay. Shardul Thakur dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk (1) and Abishek Porel (0) in his opening over. At 113-6 in the 13th over, when Tristan Stubbs was bowled by impact substitute Manimaran Siddharth for 34, Delhi’s chances looked bleak. However, Sharma and Nigam launched a counterattack before Nigam was dismissed in the 17th over with Delhi still needing 42 runs from 23 balls. Marsh fell soon after, misreading Ravi Bishnoi’s googly and skying a catch to Pant, while Kuldeep Yadav was run out in the penultimate over trying to rotate the strike. With six runs required in the final over, Mohit Sharma survived a close stumping call before taking a single off Ahmed. Sharma then wrapped up the game in style, smashing his fifth six to stun Lucknow. Pooran and Marsh Set the Stage for LucknowEarlier, Pooran and Marsh set a strong foundation for Lucknow with a combined 13 sixes and 12 boundaries, though wickets tumbled quickly in the final overs. Marsh, playing solely as a batter this IPL, partnered with Aiden Markram (15) in a 46-run opening stand, including 21 runs off Mitchell Starc’s (3-42) second over. Leg-spinner Nigam made an immediate impact on his IPL debut, removing Markram with his fourth ball. But Pooran and Marsh then launched an aggressive assault, hammering the bowlers all over the ground. Pooran, who was dropped on 17 by Sameer Rizvi, punished the bowlers by smashing three sixes off Nigam and four consecutive sixes off Tristan Stubbs in a 28-run over. New Zealand beat Pakistan by 115 runs in 4th T20I Marsh’s innings ended in the 12th over when he holed out at long-on, while Pant’s struggle ended with a catch to Faf du Plessis off Kuldeep Yadav (2-20). Starc, expensive in his first spell, made a strong comeback, cleaning up Pooran with a 140 kph delivery. Delhi’s bowlers tightened their grip, restricting Lucknow to just 49 runs in the last seven overs while taking six wickets. David Miller added late fireworks, smashing two sixes off the final two balls to finish unbeaten on 27 off 19 deliveries. Source: With input from agency 

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal who suffered a heart attack has regained consciousness after undergoing a stent procedure on his heart at a hospital in Savar. He has talked to doctors and family members, Tariqul Islam, an official at Mohammedan Sporting Club, told UNB. Earlier Dr Razeeb Hasan, Medical Director of the KPJ Specialised Hospital, said the stenting was done smoothly and efficiently, and the blockage has been completely cleared. “However, he is still under observation, and his condition remains critical. It will take a little more time,” he said at a press briefing.  Dr Razeeb said, “He came to us in a critical condition. We gave all the necessary treatment. By the grace of Allah, his condition is now better. He had a heart attack. To address it, we performed an angiogram, angioplasty, and placed a stent.” The procedure was carried out by cardiologist Dr Moniruzzaman Maruf. Tamim was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) grounds in Savar on Monday morning. CA Dr Yunus enquires about Tamim Iqbal’s health condition   Tamim, who was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club against Shinepukur Cricket Club in Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at BKSP in Savar, experienced chest pain after the toss. He was initially treated on the ground and later rushed to the nearby KPJ Specialised Hospital, where a blockage in his heart was detected. Tamim is currently in the hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) receiving close monitoring. Former national cricketer Salim Shaheed named as chairman of CWAB His wife Ayesha Siddiqui and brother Nafis Iqbal are by his side, while senior officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), including president Faruque Ahmed, visited the hospital.

Ishan Kishan smashed an unbeaten 106 off 47 deliveries as Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched a 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in their opening match of the 2025 Indian Premier League on Sunday. Kishan’s explosive innings, featuring 11 fours and six sixes, marked his maiden IPL century on debut for his new team, which recorded its second-highest total in tournament history. Travis Head contributed 67 off 31 balls, as Hyderabad carried forward its 2024 momentum to post a formidable 286-6 in 20 overs. New Zealand beat Pakistan by 115 runs in 4th T20I The team’s previous highest total was 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season, the highest-ever IPL score. In the later match, Chennai Super Kings triumphed over Mumbai Indians by four wickets with five balls to spare in a high-stakes showdown. Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad returned exceptional figures of 4-18 in four overs, helping Chennai restrict Mumbai to 155-9 after opting to bowl first. Tilak Varma top-scored with 31 off 25 balls. Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 off 45 balls, coupled with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s rapid 53 off 26, powered Chennai to 158-6 in 19.1 overs. Rajasthan’s Brave Chase Falls Short at 242-6 Despite putting up a strong fight, Rajasthan Royals could only manage 242-6 in response to Hyderabad’s massive target. Dhruv Jurel led the charge with 70 off 35 balls, while Sanju Samson struck 66 off 37. Sent in to bat first, Hyderabad got off to a flying start with Head and Abhishek Sharma (24) putting together a blistering 45-run stand in just 19 balls. Kishan shifted gears, reaching his half-century in just 25 balls. Having been acquired at the season’s auction, he proved to be an instant success, smashing his way to a dominant hundred on his first outing for Hyderabad. He shared an 85-run stand off 39 balls with Head, who also struck nine fours and three sixes before falling just before the halfway mark. Kishan, alongside Hyderabad, kept the scoring rate high. He found able support in Nitish Reddy (30 off 15) and Heinrich Klaasen (34 off 14). His second fifty came off just 22 deliveries, propelling Hyderabad to a commanding total in their opening game. Heather Knight steps down as England Women’s Cricket captain after nine years A Forgettable Outing for England’s Jofra Archer England fast bowler Jofra Archer endured a torrid spell, conceding 76 runs in his four overs—the most expensive figures in IPL history. Rajasthan’s chase got off to a shaky start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal departing for just one and Riyan Parag falling for four—both in the second over. Nitish Rana followed soon after, dismissed for 11, leaving Rajasthan at 50-3. Samson, introduced as an impact substitute, made an instant impression. He raced to 50 in 26 balls and put together a 111-run partnership off 60 deliveries with Jurel, keeping Rajasthan in the contest on a batting-friendly surface. Jurel reached his half-century off 28 balls, striking six sixes and five fours to anchor the chase. However, Adam Zampa removed him in the 15th over, while Samson fell in the previous over. With the required rate soaring, Rajasthan struggled to pull off the mammoth chase despite late cameos from Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23) and Shubham Dubey (34* off 11). Mumbai Struggles Against Spin in Chennai Ahmad starred with the ball after left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed claimed 3-29, including the prized wicket of Rohit Sharma for a four-ball duck. On a sluggish Chepauk pitch, Mumbai failed to gain momentum in their season opener. They also missed the services of captain Hardik Pandya, who was serving a slow over-rate suspension from last season. Stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav managed 29 off 26 before falling to Ahmad, who was assisted by a sharp stumping from Indian legend MS Dhoni, making his IPL return for Chennai at 43. Mumbai slumped to 96-6 in 13 overs and further to 118-7 in 16.1 overs. Deepak Chahar, making his Mumbai debut against his former team, chipped in with an unbeaten 28 off 15 balls, including two sixes, to push the total beyond 150. Chasing 156, Chennai was boosted by a 67-run second-wicket partnership off just 37 deliveries between Gaikwad and Ravindra. Gaikwad’s 50 came in just 22 balls, featuring three sixes and six fours. Mumbai fought back through 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur (3-32). Chennai kept losing wickets to Puthur and Will Jacks, but Ravindra ensured his side got across the line in the final over. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 0 off two deliveries.

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.

Heather Knight has stepped down as captain of the England women's cricket team after nine years, following a series of disappointing results. England was eliminated in the group stage of last year’s T20 World Cup and suffered a 16-0 defeat in this year’s multi-format Ashes series against Australia. “Leading my country for the past nine years has been the greatest honor of my life, and I will always take immense pride in my tenure,” Knight said in a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Saturday. “I have relished the challenge of captaincy, but all good things must come to an end. It’s time for me to step back and focus on being the best batter and teammate I can be.” Her resignation follows the removal of head coach Jon Lewis just a day earlier, signaling significant changes within the team. Kohli’s half-century leads Bengaluru to IPL win over Kolkata The ECB confirmed that Knight, 34, will remain available for selection, with a new captain set to be appointed soon. Since taking over as captain in 2016, Knight has led England in 199 matches, steering the team to a World Cup victory on home soil in 2017 and two other ICC tournament finals. With 134 wins, she is England’s second-most successful women’s captain and oversaw a record-breaking streak of eight consecutive ODI wins. “Heather has been an exceptional leader for England Women,” said Clare Connor, ECB’s deputy chief executive. “She has set an example both on and off the field, serving as an inspiration through her performances and leadership.” Pakistan defeats New Zealand by 9 wickets in the third T20, keeping the series in contention Connor also praised Knight’s role in boosting the popularity of women’s and girls’ cricket, calling her a role model for both professional and recreational players. Source: Wiht input from agency 

Virat Kohli made a resounding start to the Indian Premier League Season with a 30-ball half century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets on Saturday. Kohli anchored Bengaluru’s dominant chase of 177-3 in 16.2 overs with an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls and gave new skipper Rajat Patidar a winning start to the lucrative two-month long T20 tournament. Kolkata couldn’t capitalize on captain Ajinkya Rahana’s swashbuckling 56 off 31 balls at Eden Gardens and was restricted to 174-8 after Patidar won the toss and elected to field. Salt steals powerplay Phil Salt, who was not retained by Kolkata for this season, was ruthless against his former franchise in the powerplay as Bengaluru sped to 80-0 in the first six overs. Salt smashed ace spinner Varun Chakarvarthy (1-43) for 21 runs in one over inside the powerplay and Kohli also showed plenty of aggression, lifting Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson for two back-to-back straight sixes. Chakarvarthy provided the belated breakthrough when Salt was caught at short third as he attempted another big hit against the spinner in the ninth over. Kohli raised his half century when he flayed Harshit Rana over cover for his fourth boundary as Bengaluru kept scoring at a rapid pace despite losing Salt. Patidar smacked Rana for four boundaries in one over in his breezy knock of 34 off just 16 balls before he holed out to mid-wicket as Liam Livingstone (15 not out) finished off the game quickly with a hooked six off Johnson and a boundary. Krunal squeezes Kolkata Rahane made a confident start to his captaincy stint at Kolkata with an attacking half century, but spinner Krunal Pandya (3-29) squeezed the home team in the second half of the innings. Kolkata eyed a big total as they cruised 107-2 in the first 10 overs when Sunil Narine was dismissed for 44 off 26 balls. However, Pandya’s impeccable bowling allowed Kolkata to score only 67 in the final 10 overs. Pandya got the key wickets of Rahane, Rinku Singh (12) and Venkatesh Iyer (6) while former Kolkata spinner Suyash Kumar had big-hitter Andre Russell clean bowled for only four. Rahane fell in the trap and couldn’t clear the fielder at deep mid-wicket while Singh and Iyer both got clean bowled as Kolkata lost their power-hitters before the final four overs and slipped to 145-5 in 15 overs. Kolkata slipper further when Kumar Russell was undone by Kumar’s perfect googly. Josh Hazlewood (2-22) bowled well up front and allowed Kolkata to score only nine runs in the first three overs before Rahane and Narine exploded with a 103-run stand. Pandya pulled back well for Bengaluru while Hazlewood and Yash Dayal also bowled well in the final overs to restrict Kolkata’s total.

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.    

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rewarded the Champions Trophy-winning squad with a massive INR 58 crore cash prize. The announcement follows India’s third Champions Trophy victory, secured with a four-wicket win over New Zealand in Dubai on March 9. Shakib cleared to bowl again, eyes return to competitive cricket The announcement of the reward came after India won their third Champions Trophy title, beating New Zealand. The financial incentive from the BCCI comes in addition to the ICC's prize money, which granted India USD 2.24 million as winners of the tournament. The runners-up, New Zealand, received USD 1.12 million, while semi-finalists Australia and South Africa earned USD 560,000 each. The total prize pool of USD 6.9 million was a 53% increase from the 2017 edition of the tournament. BCCI President Roger Binny emphasised that the cash reward was a recognition of the team's sustained excellence. “Winning back-to-back ICC titles is special, and this reward recognises Team India’s dedication and excellence on the global stage,” Binny said. “This was also our second ICC Trophy in 2025, following the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup, and it highlights the strong cricketing ecosystem in place in our country.” Farhad Reza leads Gulshan to win over Brothers Union While the financial rewards serve as recognition for their achievement, India’s challenge now is to sustain this dominance in upcoming tournaments, including the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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.