United News of Bangladesh

A day after Bangladesh held their nerve in a last-over thriller against Sri Lanka, opener Saif Hassan said the team now firmly believes they can go all the way to the Asia Cup final. Saif was at the heart of Saturday night’s four-wicket win in Dubai, cracking 61 off 45 balls to set up Bangladesh’s chase of 169. His innings, followed by Towhid Hridoy’s 58, put the Tigers in control before a dramatic finish in which Nasum Ahmed nudged the winning single with one ball to spare. “Before coming here, everyone believed we could play the final,” Saif told reporters on Sunday. “Yes, definitely we are confident now. We are one step ahead but still have two tough matches left against India and Pakistan. Our focus is only on the next game.” The confidence was not misplaced. Bangladesh were staring at an early exit during the group stage but turned things around with a commanding batting display against Sri Lanka, who had been unbeaten in the tournament until Saturday. Bangladesh start Super 4s by edging past Sri Lanka in Asia Cup nailbiter

Bangladesh made it harder than it should have been but, in the end, they got the job done. With one ball left in the game, Nasum Ahmed nudged a single to seal a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Dubai on Saturday night and give the Tigers a winning start in the Asia Cup Super Fours. The drama in the final over had hearts racing. Five were needed off six balls from Dasun Shanaka. Jaker Ali crunched the first delivery for four, scores level. Next ball, bowled. Mahedi Hasan walked in and lasted two balls, edging behind without scoring. Suddenly, one run from two balls felt like a mountain. Nasum tapped Shanaka’s fifth delivery to point and sprinted, Shamim Hossain diving desperately to make his ground. Relief, not celebration, spilled from the Bangladesh camp. For most of the chase, it hadn’t looked so tense. After the early loss of Tanzid Hasan for a duck, Saif Hassan and Litton Das counter-punched to put Bangladesh on top. Litton’s brisk 23 ended to Wanindu Hasaranga, but Saif carried on, clearing the ropes four times on his way to 61 from 45 balls. Towhid Hridoy then grabbed the stage. Calm but brutal when he needed to be, he cracked 58 from 37 balls. His stand with Saif worth 54 runs seemed to have broken Sri Lanka’s grip. Even when Saif departed at 114 for 3, Bangladesh never really looked behind the rate. Sri Lanka owed their total of 168 for 7 almost entirely to Shanaka, who battered an unbeaten 64 off 37 balls after the top order stuttered. Bangladesh’s bowlers shared the spoils, Mustafizur Rahman sharp at the death with three wickets for 20, while Mahedi Hasan’s 2 for 25 kept the brakes on through the middle. Hasaranga did his best to pull things back with the ball, taking 2 for 22, but support was patchy. Nuwan Thushara bled runs, and Dunith Wellalage was treated with little respect. The victory snaps Sri Lanka’s unbeaten run in the tournament and, more importantly, keeps Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the final very much alive. For a side often accused of freezing in tight finishes, just getting across the line will feel like a weight off their shoulders.

Riding on a fiery half-century of Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka posted 168 for seven in their Super Four clash in the Asia Cup against Bangladesh on Saturday night. Asked to bat after Bangladesh skipper Litton Das won the toss, Sri Lanka made a brisk start through Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Nissanka struck 22 off 15 before Taskin Ahmed had him caught at the ropes, while Mendis added 34 with three sixes to keep the early momentum going. Bangladesh managed to get back some control through Mahedi Hasan, who bagged the wickets of Mendis and Kamil Mishara quickly. Mustafizur Rahman then applied further pressure, removing Kusal Perera for 16 and later claiming Kamindu Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga in the space of three balls. But Shanaka changed the tone of the innings. The former captain smashed 64 not out from just 37 deliveries, including six towering sixes. His clean hitting in the death overs, supported briefly by Charith Asalanka’s 21 off 12, lifted Sri Lanka from a middling 97 for 4 to a competitive total. Mustafizur was the best bowler for Bangladesh. He bagged three wickets for 20 runs in four overs. Mahedi Hasan bagged two wickets for 25 runs. But Shoriful Islam and Nasum Ahmed were expensive, leaking as many as 85 runs in their eight overs. 

Sri Lankan bowler Dunith Wellalage joined the Sri Lanka squad ahead of their Super Four match in the Asia Cup against Bangladesh on Saturday night.  Dunith Wellalage’s father passed away during Sri Lanka’s last match against Afghanistan, which Sri Lanka won.  The cricketer only learned about his father's demise after the match. He then travelled back to Sri Lanka from the UAE with the Sri Lankan team manager.  It was uncertain whether he would play in the Bangladesh match, but the Sri Lankan Cricket Board confirmed that he is set to join the squad. He is in the starting eleven. Bangladesh not playing their brand of cricket, says Mukund With the match against Afghanistan, Wellalage debuted in the Asia Cup. He has only played five T20Is so far.  In the first meeting of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in this Asia Cup, Sri Lanka won by six wickets. But the Super Four match is expected to be more competitive.

Nigar Sultana Joty, the captain of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team, says her side is ready to take the challenge of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. She said the side is upbeat to build on the success of their first appearance three years ago, when they beat Pakistan. Bangladesh will feature in their second 50-over World Cup when the tournament begins on September 30, with their campaign opening against Pakistan in Colombo on October 2. In 2022, Bangladesh made history by beating Pakistan to claim their first-ever World Cup win. “That game will stay with me forever,” Joty said in her ICC column, recalling Fargana Hoque’s match-winning knock in Hamilton. Fargana, Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer, is back in the squad alongside Sharmin Akhter, who has been shifted to the No. 3 slot. Joty said the team has depth in the spin bowling department, which can bring them the expected success. “Nahida is such an important player for us. She has been consistent in both ODIs and T20Is,” Joty noted. Seven members of the 2022 squad have returned for this edition, providing experience to balance the younger faces. The team has been in training camps for months, Joty said, and carries quiet optimism despite the scale of the challenge. “We are super excited and hopeful. We want to make it count this time,” she said. “We’ve worked really hard, and I just ask for prayers from Bangladeshi people and fans around the world.” Bangladesh squad: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter, Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Nishita Akter Nishi, Sumaiya Akter.

For the first time in Women’s World Cup history, every match official will be a woman — and Bangladesh will be part of it. Sathiara Zakir Jessy, a familiar face in the domestic circuit, has been named to the panel of umpires for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup starting later this month. She will make her debut on the very first day, serving as the fourth umpire in the opening match. It’s a landmark moment for Bangladesh cricket, as no Bangladeshi woman has ever officiated at a senior World Cup before. Jessy will be busy throughout the tournament with nine assignments in total — some on the field, others in the TV box, and some as fourth umpire. ICC unveils official song for Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Her schedule kicks off even before the main event, when she officiates the warm-up match between New Zealand and India A in Bengaluru this Thursday. After that, she’s set for high-profile fixtures including England vs South Africa on October 3, New Zealand vs South Africa on October 6, England vs Pakistan on October 15, and England vs New Zealand on October 26. For Jessy, it’s a personal milestone. For Bangladesh, it’s a sign that cricket is opening new doors — not just for players, but for women across all areas of the game.

Aiming to catch the energy and the passion of the game of cricket, the ICC has launched the official song for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which will be played across venues in India and Sri Lanka later this month.  Indian star singer Shreya Ghoshal sang the song titled “Bring it Home”. Its lyrics express themes of perseverance, including the Hindi refrain “Patthar pighlana hai, Ek naya itihas banana hai” — “We have to melt stones and forge a new history.” “It celebrates the spirit, strength and unity of women’s cricket. I hope it inspires fans and creates lasting memories,” Shreya Ghoshal said about the project.  Bangladesh and Sri Lanka set for another clash in Asia Cup Super Four The track is now available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, YouTube Music, JioSaavn and Apple Music.  The 13th edition of the Women’s World Cup will run from September 30 to November 2 across five venues — Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam and Colombo. Tickets, starting at just ₹100 (about $1.14), are being promoted as the most affordable in ICC history. A total of eight teams will participate in this year’s Women’s World Cup. The teams are: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.    

For a couple of days, Bangladesh supporters found themselves in the odd position of cheering for Sri Lanka. The equation was simple: if Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in their last group match, Bangladesh would squeeze into the Super Four of the ongoing Asia Cup. Sri Lanka obliged, and Bangladesh slipped through. The Lankans beat Afghanistan in style, chasing a big total, and knocked out the Afghans from the event. Now the goodwill is over. The two sides meet again in Dubai on Saturday night, in what has become one of the most intriguing rivalries in Asian cricket in recent years. The last meeting between the teams wasn’t kind to Litton Das’s side. Bangladesh collapsed to 139 for 5 after losing early wickets, a total Sri Lanka chased down in less than 15 overs. That defeat dented Bangladesh’s net run rate badly, almost enough to undo their big wins over Hong Kong and the UAE. Without Sri Lanka’s help later, Bangladesh might have been packing their bags already. Sri Lanka enter the Super Four with momentum, though not without questions. Their middle order struggled badly against Hong Kong before Wanindu Hasaranga rescued them. Against Afghanistan, they were far more convincing, thanks to Kusal Mendis’s unbeaten 74. Still, the batting beyond their top three remains fragile, and that’s an area Bangladesh will try to exploit. Bangladesh, for their part, have shuffled their lineup. Saif Hassan came in for Parvez Hossain Emon and looked steady, but the bigger responsibility sits on Litton’s shoulders. He is already within touching distance of becoming Bangladesh’s all-time leading T20I run-scorer, and he has been the one consistent voice in a sometimes stuttering batting lineup. Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain will need to provide better support if Bangladesh are to hold their ground. With the ball, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman remain the main hopes. Mustafizur’s figures against Sri Lanka earlier — his most expensive spell of the year — were a reminder that even seasoned bowlers can be targeted on these flat surfaces. He is also chasing personal milestones, just four wickets shy of 150 in T20Is, which could provide an extra spark. Sri Lanka’s strengths are clear. Their bowlers have been excellent in the Power Play, the only attack in the tournament to go under a run a ball in that phase. Nuwan Thushara has been especially effective, and his 4 for 18 against Afghanistan is the best return by a Sri Lankan in Asia Cup T20s. Charith Asalanka, leading the side, has leaned on that early discipline to give his batters the freedom to play their shots. Bangladesh’s bowling coach, Shaun Tait, suggested they are more focussed on their own game instead of thinking much about the opposition. “The good thing is we can just focus on what we're doing,” he said before the Super Four match against Sri Lanka. “And I'm sure Sri Lanka will do the same because we know each other well. It's a good contest.” The rivalry between these two has grown sharper over the last decade, often spilling onto social media with memes and banter. But on the field, it’s simple: since 2024, they’ve met eight times in T20Is and split the results evenly. Saturday night offers one team the chance to edge ahead, and to put the first Super Four points in the bag. The pitch in Dubai has been slow, with spinners bowling more than half the overs in this tournament. That means the spotlight will likely fall on Hasaranga, Theekshana, and Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain.

Bangladesh will wake up breathing easier today. Their Asia Cup fate, dangling on a knife’s edge, was salvaged by Sri Lanka, who beat Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night to send both themselves and Bangladesh into the Super Four. For Bangladesh, the equation had been clear: beat Afghanistan on Tuesday, then pray Sri Lanka did the same. They delivered the first part with an eight-run win, but their poor net run rate meant only Sri Lanka’s success could keep them alive. Afghanistan gave themselves a fighting chance with the bat. Veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi rolled back the years, smashing 60 off just 22 balls, including six towering sixes, to drag his side to 169 for eight. Five of those came in the last over, bowled by Dunith Wellalage. Rashid Khan chipped in with 24, but apart from those bursts, the innings never quite settled. Sri Lanka’s chase began shakily, but Kusal Mendis brought calm. The wicketkeeper, badly out of touch in recent weeks, found rhythm at the perfect moment. He steered the innings with an unbeaten 74 from 52 balls, mixing crisp strokes with smart running. Cameos from Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis ensured Sri Lanka reached 171 with eight balls to spare, never allowing Afghanistan to wrest back control. For Afghanistan, it was a night of what-ifs. Their vaunted bowling attack, usually their trump card in T20s, failed to bite. Rashid Khan bowled tidily but wicketless; Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad leaked runs under pressure. The spark Nabi had lit with the bat faded quickly once Sri Lanka settled into the chase. The result slammed the door shut on Afghanistan, who bow out alongside Hong Kong. Sri Lanka top the group with three straight wins, while Bangladesh, despite their stumbles, slip through in second place. Asia Cup: Bangladesh’s qualification hopes Rest on Sri Lanka-Afghanistan showdown For Litton Das and his men, the relief is obvious. Only 24 hours ago, they were staring at elimination. Now, thanks to Sri Lanka’s composure under lights, they are in the last four and still have a chance to push deeper into the tournament. Cricket, as ever, leaves room for twists. Bangladesh have been handed one. The question now is whether they can make it count.

Opener Phil Salt smashed 89 runs as England beat Ireland by four wickets with 14 balls remaining in the first T20 to give Jacob Bethell a winning start to his record-breaking captaincy on Wednesday. Ireland scored 196-3 in its 20 overs and England reached 197-6 in 17.4 overs in a victory for Bethell, who at age 21 became the youngest man to lead England in an international as he stands in for Harry Brook. Confusion, delays and a referee row: Pakistan’s Asia Cup match finally goes ahead Salt, less than a week after his remarkable 141 not out against South Africa, savaged his 89 runs off 46 balls — including 10 fours and four sixes — to take a decisive chunk out of a challenging target at Malahide. Having won the toss and sent the hosts in, Bethell saw Ireland captain Paul Stirling and Ross Adair share an attacking opening stand of 57. Both men holed out to spin — Liam Dawson claimed Adair's wicket and Adil Rashid dismissed Stirling. Asia Cup: Bangladesh’s qualification hopes Rest on Sri Lanka-Afghanistan showdown Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector picked up seamlessly with a 123-run partnership off just 68 balls. Tector finished 61 not out, with Tucker nicking Jamie Overton’s penultimate delivery of the innings behind for 55. The second T20 of the three-match series is on Friday at the same venue.