United News of Bangladesh

The 2025-26 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has reached a fever pitch after 20 matches, with vintage performances from local stars overshadowing the looming diplomatic crisis surrounding the upcoming T20 World Cup. Mustafizur Rahman, fresh from the controversy of being removed from the IPL by the BCCI, silenced his critics with a match-winning final over for the Rangpur Riders against the Dhaka Capitals on January 4. Tasked with defending ten runs, he conceded only singles to seal the win, proving his focus remains unshaken despite the off-field political storm. Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Nasir Hossain produced the innings of the tournament so far for the struggling Dhaka Capitals. Returning from suspension, the 34-year-old smashed an unbeaten 90 off 50 balls to chase down a target against the Noakhali Express, rolling back the years with 14 boundaries. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed also made headlines for the Sylhet Titans, recording the best-ever BPL figures for a spinner (5 for 7) to decimate Noakhali for just 61 runs. However, the on-field brilliance is being played out against a backdrop of anxiety. With the BCB refusing to tour India for the World Cup due to security concerns, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted the uncertainty is taking a toll. “We ‘act’ as if nothing affects us since we are professional cricketers," Shanto said regarding the standoff and the Mustafizur saga. "But even you know that it affects us. It is not easy.” At the end of 20 matches of the event, Chattogram Royals is leading the table with 10 points form five wins in seven matches, while Rangpur Riders, Sylhet Titans and Rajshahi Warriors, are right behind them with 8 points each. Ranpgur and Rajshahi played six matches each, while Sylhet played eight matches. With 4 and 2 points, Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express are at the bottom of the table.

Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan smashed a quick fifty in an Indian domestic event called Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday. He reached the fifty off just 15 balls, the fastest-ever fifty by an Indian batter in a List-A match. The Mumbai batter reached the milestone in just 15 balls during a match, breaking the previous 16-ball record jointly held by Abhijit Kale (1995) and Atit Sheth (2021). After replacing his brother Musheer Khan at the crease, he dismantled the Punjab bowling attack, notably taking captain Abhishek Sharma to the cleaners with three sixes and three fours in a single over. He continued the assault against spinner Harpreet Brar before eventually falling for a blistering 62 off just 20 balls, with seven fours and five sixes. According to available data, this stands as the fourth-fastest fifty in List A history globally, sitting behind Kaushalya Weeraratne’s 12-ball record. Despite Sarfaraz’s heroics, the match ended in heartbreak for Mumbai. Chasing 217, the team was cruising at 169 for 3 before suffering a dramatic collapse. Sarfaraz has been in wonderful form this season, currently topping Mumbai’s run charts in the tournament with 303 runs at a staggering strike rate of 190.56.

The lean display continues for the Noakhali Express in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The newcomer in the business played six matches so far, and lost all of those. On Wednesday at the Sylhet International Stadium, the franchise suffered their sixth consecutive defeat, falling to the Rajshahi Warriors by 4 wickets. This latest loss keeps Noakhali rooted to the bottom of the points table, still hunting for their first win of the season. Chasing a target of 152, Rajshahi stormed to victory with six balls to spare, thanks largely to a blistering knock by Muhammad Waseem. The UAE opener smashed 60 off just 35 balls, featuring four boundaries and as many sixes. Although he was dismissed via an unfortunate run-out involving a collision with bowler Mehedi Hasan Rana, his innings set the foundation for the chase. Useful contributions from Tanzid Hasan (21) and unbeaten 19s from Mushfiqur Rahim and Ryan Burl ensured Rajshahi crossed the line at 152 for 6 in 19 overs. Earlier, asked to bat first, Noakhali posted 151 for 5, a total commentators deemed about 20 runs short on the surface. The highlight of the innings was Soumya Sarkar’s return to form. Breaking a 345-day drought without a BPL half-century, Soumya scored a fluid 59 off 43 balls. He was supported by Shahadat Hossain (30) and Mohammad Nabi (35), but the team struggled to accelerate significantly in the death overs against disciplined bowling from Ripon Mondol (2 for 27).

Australia overcame a spirited England fightback and a bout of final-day nerves to secure a five-wicket victory in the fifth Test at the SCG, securing a big win in the Ashes with 4-1 margin. The victory served as a fitting farewell for veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who retired from Test cricket on his home ground. Chasing a target of 160, the hosts appeared to be cruising before a middle-order collapse saw them slip to 5-121 on a pitch offering sharp turn. England’s hopes were ignited earlier in the day by 22-year-old Jacob Bethell, whose outstanding 154 dragged the tourists back into the contest and set a tricky fourth-innings chase. Josh Tongue (3-42) bowled a great spell to rattle the Australian lineup, dismissing Khawaja for just six in his final inning. The departing opener was treated to a guard of honour by the English side, leaving the field to a standing ovation and a “Thanks Uzzy” tribute painted on the turf. With the game in the balance, nerves were eventually settled by an unbeaten 40-run partnership between Alex Carey, 16 notout, and Cameron Green, 22 notout. Despite several mix-ups between the wickets that threatened to derail the chase, the close friends guided Australia home, with Carey hitting the winning runs through the off-side. Travis Head was named Player of the Match for his first-innings century, which capped a prolific series tally of 629 runs. Mitchell Starc took Player of the Series honors with 31 wickets.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026, which will take place in Nepal. Wicketkeeper-batter Nigar Sultana Joty has been named captain of the side, with spinner Nahida Akter serving as her deputy. The team is scheduled to fly to Kathmandu on January 12 to begin their campaign for a spot in the main event. Bangladesh Squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain), Nahida Akter (Vice Captain), Sobhana Mostary, Farzana Haque, Sharmin Akter Supta, Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Sultana Khatun. Standby Players: Sarmin Sultana, Farjana Easmin, Shorifa Khatun, Fatema Jahan Sonia, Habiba Islam Pinky.    

Veteran all-rounder Nasir Hossain turned back the clock with a dazzling, career-best innings of 90 not out, single-handedly guiding the Dhaka Capitals to a commanding 7-wicket victory over the Noakhali Express in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Wednesday. It was Dhaka’s second win in five matches. They are currently placed at the second last team in the points table.  Chasing a modest target of 134, Dhaka initially found themselves in precarious waters at 14 for 2 after three overs. However, Nasir arrived at the crease and instantly dismantled the pressure. He began by hitting three boundaries off Mohammad Nabi in the fourth over, followed by a brutal attack on Pakistani spinner Maaz Sadaqat, smashing four boundaries—including a six—in the fifth over. Nasir raced to his half-century in just 21 balls, which is now the fastest fifty of the ongoing BPL season. In a T20 career spanning 16 years and 157 matches, this was the first time Nasir crossed the 90-run mark. His previous best was 80 runs, scored for the Rangpur Riders against the Dhaka Gladiators way back in the 2013 BPL. This was his 10th half-century in the format. Nasir remained unbeaten on 90 off 50 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes. Supported by Imad Wasim’s brisk 29 off 16 balls, Dhaka chased down the target in just 14.1 overs, winning with 35 balls to spare. Earlier, the Noakhali Express struggled significantly after being put in to bat. Their top order collapsed, leaving them reeling at 40 for 5 inside 9.3 overs. It took a gritty 91-run partnership (off 61 balls) between foreign recruits Haider Ali and Mohammad Nabi to drag the team to a respectable total of 133 for six.  Haider Ali scored 47 off 36 balls, while Nabi remained unbeaten on 42 off 33 balls. For Dhaka, Nasir also contributed with the ball, taking 1 wicket for 24 runs in 3 overs. Hasan Mahmud was the lone warrior for Noakhali with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for 17 runs early in the innings before the Nasir show took over.  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday (January 07, 2026) dismissed media reports claiming it had received an ultimatum from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, and said it will continue ‘constructive engagement’ with ICC for T20 World Cup solution.  In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the board termed such reports as ‘completely false and unfounded,’ clarifying that the communication received from the global body was cooperative in nature. The clarification comes amidst a deepening diplomatic and sporting crisis triggered by the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, which led Bangladesh to request a venue change for their World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka citing security concerns. Read more: ICC to BCB: Play in India or forfeit points “The BCB categorically states that such claims (of an ultimatum) ... do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC,” the media release read. The board confirmed that the ICC has formally responded to Bangladesh's concerns regarding the safety and security of the national team. According to the BCB, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring Bangladesh's ‘full and uninterrupted participation’ and has expressed a willingness to work closely with the board on detailed security planning. The BCB emphasized that it would continue ‘constructive engagement’ with the ICC to reach an “affable and practical solution.” This diplomatic tone comes as a slight shift from the hardline stance seen earlier in the week, where government officials had signaled a potential boycott of the tournament if the venue was not changed. Read more: BCB eyes ICC intervention for World Cup security following Mustafizur’s IPL exit However, the board reiterated that the safety and well-being of the players remain its ‘highest priority.’

Cricket news site ESPNcricinfo has learned that in a virtual call on Tuesday (January 06, 2026), the International Cricket Council (ICC) told the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that it was rejecting the latter's request to play Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches outside India due to security concerns.  The ICC is understood to have told the BCB that Bangladesh will need to travel to India to play the T20 World Cup or risk forfeiting points. The BCB, though, has claimed no such ultimatum has been relayed to them by the governing body. Read more: Snubbed by IPL, Mustafizur Rahman snapped up by PSL There has also been no official communication issued by either the BCCI or BCB on the outcome of Tuesday's call, which was arranged by ICC after BCB wrote in on Sunday asking to "consider" moving Bangladesh's matches outside India. The development comes nearly a month before the 20-team tournament starts in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 and concludes on March 8. Bangladesh, placed in Group C, are scheduled to play their first three matches in Kolkata: on February 7 (vs West Indies), February 9 (vs Italy) and February 14 (vs England) with their final group game, against Nepal, in Mumbai on February 17. The BCB's decision to write to ICC was triggered by the BCCI "instructing" Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who the franchise had bought in the IPL auction in December for INR 9.2 crore. The BCCI's decision was notified to media by its secretary Devajit Saikia. However, Sakia did not provide the reason behind KKR being asked to release Mustafizur, who was the only Bangladesh player bought at the 2026 auction. Read more: Bangladesh refuses to travel to India for World Cup next month

Just days after being unceremoniously dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to political pressure, Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman has found a new battleground. The left-arm sensation has officially signed up for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The development was confirmed via the PSL's official social media handles on Tuesday; sharing a photo of the pacer, the league issued a playful warning: “Batsmen beware… Mustafizur Rahman joins HBL PSL 11.” Read more: BCCI asks KKR to release Mustafizur from IPL 2026 squad Mustafizur’s entry into the PSL comes as a direct repost to his exclusion from the IPL. He was set to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who had purchased him for a record BDT 9.20 crore (INR 9.20 crore) after a bidding war with Chennai and Delhi. However, KKR released him last Saturday following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing threats from “extremist groups” and political objections. While the IPL's loss appears to be the PSL's gain, Mustafizur’s specific team in Pakistan is yet to be determined. He will enter the upcoming player draft, where he is expected to be a top pick. This year's PSL, scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, will be the tournament's largest edition to date, expanding to eight teams. Read more: “Days of slavery are over”: Bangladesh’s sports adviser reacts strongly to Mustafizur’s IPL exit This year will be Mustafizur’s return to the league after a seven-year hiatus; he previously played for the Lahore Qalandars in 2018, taking 4 wickets in 5 matches.

Bangladesh has officially decided not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, escalating the sporting standoff between the two countries to an unprecedented level. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul disclosed the major development on Sunday, calling the move as a necessary response to what he termed the ‘radical communal policy’ of the Indian cricket authorities. The decision came as a dramatic shift from the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) initial plan to merely request a venue change. It signals a definitive boycott of matches on Indian soil following the controversial exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Decision on IPL broadcast ban after legal assessment: Adviser Rizwana “Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board took this decision today,” Asif Nazrul wrote on his social media. “I welcome this decision adopted in the context of the Indian board's radical communal policy,” he added. The crisis was triggered on Saturday when the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman. The move was celebrated by certain Indian political leaders as a “victory for Hindus,” a rhetoric that has drawn sharp condemnation from Dhaka. In parallel, the government is moving to sever cricketing ties on the broadcast front.  Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan earlier said the administration is actively reviewing legal frameworks to ban the telecast of the 2026 IPL within Bangladesh. “There is no way to sit silent; a reaction must be shown,” Rizwana Hasan stated at the Secretariat, echoing Nazrul’s earlier sentiment that “the days of slavery are over.”