United News of Bangladesh

Co-host Sri Lanka were knocked out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Wednesday after suffering a 61-run loss to New Zealand. A counterattacking seventh-wicket stand of 80 runs between captain Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie rescued New Zealand from a difficult position and set up the decisive victory. After Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bowl, New Zealand were in trouble at 84 for 6 and still only 90 for 6 after 15 overs. Santner then struck 47 off 26 balls, while McConchie made 31 from 23 deliveries, lifting New Zealand to a competitive 168 for 7. The momentum shifted rapidly during the death overs, with McConchie taking 18 runs off the 17th over from Dushmantha Chameera, followed by 21 runs conceded by spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the 18th. The pair added their 80 runs in just 43 balls before Santner was dismissed off the final delivery. Chameera and Theekshana finished with three wickets apiece. In reply, Sri Lanka never recovered from an early collapse and were restricted to 107 for 8. New Zealand seamer Matt Henry removed opener Pathum Nissanka with the first ball of the innings, and recalled batter Charith Asalanka soon followed, leaving the hosts reeling at 6 for 2. New Zealand’s spinners then tightened their grip, varying pace and flight to choke the scoring and force mistakes. Left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra delivered a career-best performance with 4 for 27, while Henry claimed two wickets for just three runs. Kamindu Mendis top-scored for Sri Lanka with 31, but the target proved far beyond reach. The match was a must-win for Sri Lanka following their opening Group 2 defeat to England, and the loss confirmed their elimination from semifinal contention. England have already secured a semifinal spot after beating Pakistan on Tuesday. New Zealand now sit second in the group with three points, having shared a point with Pakistan after their earlier match was washed out by rain. Pakistan must now defeat Sri Lanka by a large margin to keep their slim hopes alive, with both England and New Zealand holding strong net run rates.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has regained his position as the world's number one T20I all-rounder in the latest ICC weekly rankings update, rewarding his stellar performances that led his team to the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage. Raza reclaimed the throne from Pakistan's Saim Ayub, reaching 294 rating points compared to Ayub's 281. The two players have frequently swapped the top spot in recent times. The Zimbabwean skipper secured his return to the summit after playing crucial knocks of 45 against Sri Lanka and 27 against the West Indies during the group stage. ICC announces women's T20 World Cup 2026 schedule: Bangladesh drawn in tough Group 1 Further down the all-rounder list, India's Shivam Dube advanced two places to seventh, while Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi climbed three spots to eighth. In the batting rankings, India's Abhishek Sharma retained his number one spot despite enduring a dismal run of form in the ongoing tournament. After registering three consecutive ducks in the group stage and scoring just 15 against South Africa in the Super Eight, Sharma still holds an 815-point rating, keeping him 61 points clear of England's Phil Salt in second. Meanwhile, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan, the tournament's leading run-scorer so far, moved up two places to third. ICC opens hearings into former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte India's Ishan Kishan climbed to fifth, while South Africa's Dewald Brevis broke into the top ten, jumping ten spots to ninth. England captain Harry Brook also surged ten places to 18th following his match-winning century against Pakistan. The bowling rankings saw Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy hold onto the top position. However, South African pacer Corbin Bosch made a massive leap of 21 places to reach third after claiming seven wickets in four matches. West Indies fast bowler Matthew Forde also enjoyed a meteoric rise, jumping 23 spots to seventh, right ahead of India's Jasprit Bumrah, who climbed seven places to eighth. West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie advanced 17 spots to sit tied for 21st.

Test cricket is returning to Australia's tropical north, with Cricket Australia confirming that Bangladesh will play a two-match series in Darwin and Mackay this August. The series will mark Bangladesh's first Test tour Down Under since 2003. The fixtures will serve as the curtain-raiser for the 2026-27 Australian home international season. The opening match will be held at Marrara Stadium in Darwin from August 13 to 17, followed by the second Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from August 22 to 26. Mackay's inclusion is a significant milestone, as it becomes the 12th venue in Australia to host men's Test cricket and will be Queensland's sole Test host for the summer, stepping in while Brisbane's Gabba is sidelined. BCB sets salary caps for inaugural Women's BPL as icon players to earn BDT 1 million Scheduling the matches in the "Top End" allows Cricket Australia to utilize the region's hot and dry winter climate, effectively creating a new window for the longest format outside the traditional southern summer. While the region has regularly hosted white-ball internationals in recent years, it has not seen Test cricket since Sri Lanka toured in 2004. The two nations have not faced each other in the longest format since 2017, when Bangladesh secured a historic maiden Test victory over Australia in Dhaka. A subsequent Australian tour to Bangladesh slated for 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this upcoming series will be the first time the teams meet in the World Test Championship era. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg noted that the crowded international calendar makes the availability of world-class facilities in August a major advantage.

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.

Harry Brook struck his first Twenty20 international century as England edged Pakistan by two wickets on Tuesday, sealing a place in a record fifth successive T20 World Cup semifinal. Brook, who had endured a quiet tournament until then, was promoted from No. 5 to No. 3 following a suggestion from coach Brendon McCullum earlier in the day. He made the change count, powering England to 166 for 8 and steering the chase past Pakistan’s 164 for 9 with five balls remaining. England stumbled early in the reply as Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell inside the powerplay, before Tom Banton’s dismissal left them struggling at 58 for 4. Brook responded with an aggressive counterattack, sharing key stands with Sam Curran and Will Jacks. He reached his half-century from 28 balls, went past his previous T20 best of 81, and brought up a commanding 100 off 50 deliveries, becoming the latest England batter to score centuries in all three formats. Brook was bowled immediately after reaching the landmark, having struck 10 fours and four sixes. Afridi finished with 4 for 30 to become Pakistan’s leading T20 wicket-taker, but England remained in control despite losing two more wickets to Mohammad Nawaz. Jofra Archer then settled matters by hitting a boundary off the first ball of the final over. Star Sports deletes controversial 'cupcake' promo after India's crushing defeat Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat on a fresh surface, but apart from Sahibzada Farhan’s 63 off 45 balls, the batting failed to fire. Archer claimed 2 for 32, while spinners Liam Dawson (3 for 24) and Adil Rashid tightened the screws through the middle overs. Pakistan captain Salman Agha admitted the total was below par and credited Brook for taking the game away from his side. Pakistan still has one Super Eights match remaining against Sri Lanka, with its semifinal hopes hinging on other results. England, unbeaten in all five matches at Pallekele in recent weeks, will wrap up the Super Eights in Colombo against New Zealand on Friday. New Zealand plays Sri Lanka there on today.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially revealed the complete schedule and groupings for the expanded 12-team Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be hosted across England and Wales from June 12 to July 5. Bangladesh, having qualified unbeaten alongside Ireland, Scotland, and tournament debutants the Netherlands in Nepal last month, has been placed in a highly competitive Group 1. The Tigresses will face cricketing heavyweights Australia, India, South Africa, and Pakistan, as well as the Netherlands. ICC opens hearings into former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Group 2 will feature tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Scotland. A major highlight of the group stages will be the historic clash between England and Scotland at Headingley on June 20—marking the first time the two nations will meet in a World Cup match on English soil. Bangladesh will kick off their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 at Edgbaston. They will then face a stern test against Australia on June 17 at Headingley, followed by crucial fixtures against Pakistan (June 20), India (June 25), and South Africa (June 28). ICC confirms Bangladesh's direct qualification for 2028 T20 World Cup Reacting to the finalized schedule, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty expressed both excitement and determination. “We’re really happy to have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. I’m incredibly proud of the way the team performed, dominating in every game,” she said. “We have never played in England before so we’re excited but know it’s going to be a big challenge. We can’t wait for the big event and we’re going to prepare ourselves with everything we have,” she added. The 24-day tournament will feature a total of 33 matches across seven top-tier venues, including Old Trafford, Headingley, the Hampshire Bowl, and Edgbaston. The semi-finals will be held at The Oval on June 30 and July 2, with the grand finale scheduled for Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has disclosed that he was rejected for a coaching position in the Caribbean Premier League strictly because of his Pakistani nationality. Speaking on a recent cricket podcast, Mahmood detailed how a CPL franchise offered him a coaching role shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the offer was subsequently pulled when the team management informed him that they were not permitted to hire Pakistani coaches or players. Rain washes out T20 World Cup Super Eight opener between Pakistan- New Zealand Mahmood, who holds British citizenship and possesses extensive coaching experience in both the English county setup and the Pakistan national team, highlighted a growing barrier in global franchise cricket. He noted that as IPL-based ownership groups expand their reach into tournaments like the SA20 and Major League Cricket, securing opportunities has become increasingly difficult for Pakistani players and coaching staff. This revelation comes amid reports that four Indian-owned franchises in England's The Hundred tournament might actively avoid signing Pakistani cricketers in the upcoming draft. Pakistan, New Zealand clash in high-stakes Super Eight opener The England and Wales Cricket Board has responded by warning franchises that while it cannot dictate player purchases, any proof of discriminatory selection practices will trigger strict disciplinary actions and potential independent regulatory investigations. Prominent figures in English cricket have also voiced their disapproval. Current white-ball captain Harry Brook described the potential exclusion of Pakistani players from The Hundred as a sad development, while former captain Michael Vaughan firmly asserted that geopolitical issues must remain separate from cricketing decisions.

Akbar Ali and Afif Hossain struck centuries while leg-spinner Rishad Hossain claimed a four-wicket haul on the opening day of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) one-day tournament, guiding their respective teams to comprehensive victories on Monday. At the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura, Akbar Ali’s maiden List A century propelled North Zone to a commanding 54-run victory over East Zone. Sent in to bat, North Zone posted a massive 335. After an 82-run second-wicket stand between Tanzid Hasan (54 off 44 balls) and captain Najmul Hossain (68 off 87 balls), Akbar took charge of the innings. He smashed 111 off just 87 deliveries, an aggressive knock laced with eight boundaries and six sixes. East Zone pacer Mohammad Saifuddin endured a forgettable outing, conceding 98 runs in his 10-over spell—the fifth most expensive bowling figure in Bangladesh's List A history. In reply, East Zone was bowled out for 281 with two balls to spare. Despite Mominul Haque’s fighting 83 and an unbeaten 50 from Naim, Rishad Hossain derailed the chase by taking 4 for 57 in his 10 overs. Star Sports deletes controversial 'cupcake' promo after India's crushing defeat Meanwhile, at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, South Zone cruised to a seven-wicket win against Central Zone, anchored by an unbeaten century from Afif Hossain. Chasing a target of 266, South Zone found themselves at 108 for 3 before Afif and Mohammad Mithun stitched together a match-winning 159-run unbroken partnership. The climax arrived in the 46th over bowled by Saif Hassan. With Afif on 96 and South Zone needing just two runs to win following a wide, the left-hander struck a boundary to simultaneously seal the match and bring up his hundred. Earlier, Central Zone posted 265, bolstered by half-centuries from Mohammad Naim, Mahfizul Islam, and Mahidul Islam, but the lower order failed to push the total past the 300-mark.

Official T20 World Cup broadcaster Star Sports has quietly deleted a controversial promotional video following India's humiliating 76-run defeat to South Africa in Sunday's Super Eight clash in Ahmedabad. The promo, which aired days before the match, depicted an Indian and a South African fan reaching for the last cupcake in a cafe. In the video, the Indian fan aggressively mocked South Africa's reputation as "chokers" and taunted them over their loss in the 2024 World Cup final. ICC confirms Bangladesh's direct qualification for 2028 T20 World Cup The advertisement drew immediate ire, not just for its overt arrogance, but because "Cupcake" is also the popular nickname of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The broadcaster's pre-match hubris backfired spectacularly on the pitch. Chasing a target of 187, Suryakumar Yadav’s team delivered a dismal batting performance, collapsing to 111 all out. Shivam Dube, who scored 42, was the only Indian batter to cross the 20-run mark during the massive collapse. As the hashtag #CupcakeGate trended across social media, Star Sports pulled the video from its X account. The deletion, however, failed to stop the mockery from fans. South African influencers quickly capitalized on the moment, with one viral post showing an actor happily eating a cupcake next to the final match scorecard with the caption, "So sweet!"

The India 'A' women's cricket team clinched their second consecutive Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars title, defeating Bangladesh 'A' by 46 runs in the final in Bangkok today. Defending a modest total of 134, the Indian bowlers systematically dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup, bowling them out for just 88 runs in 19.1 overs. The chase derailed completely after the powerplay. Bangladesh 'A' managed 36 for 1 in the first six overs but soon felt the pressure of a dipping run rate and quick dismissals. The team suffered a massive collapse, losing their last seven wickets for a mere 40 runs off 55 balls. Opener Shamima Sultana (20) and Sharmin Sultana (18) were the highest scorers, failing to build any partnership beyond 25 runs. Indian leg-spinner Prema Rawat led the bowling attack with exceptional figures of 3 for 12. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh 'A' captain and leg-spinner Fahima Khatun rattled the Indian top order, claiming 4 for 25. India 'A' found themselves in a precarious position at 53 for 4 at the halfway mark. However, a crucial 69-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Tejal Hasabnis and Radha Yadav shifted the momentum. Yadav contributed 36, while Hasabnis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 34 balls, capitalizing on a dropped catch in the final over to push the total to 134 for 7. Hasabnis was subsequently named Player of the Match. This victory mirrors the inaugural 2023 tournament in Hong Kong, where India 'A' also defeated Bangladesh 'A' to lift the trophy.