United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday released the ticket price list for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Pakistan, with prices starting at 200BDT. Tickets will be available exclusively through the board's official website -www.gobcbticket.com- The lowest price point is set at 200 BDT for the Eastern Gallery, while the highest price is 2,000 BDT for the Grand Stand. Other seating options include the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Stand and Northern Gallery at 400 BDT. The Shaheed Mushtaq and Shaheed Jewel stands, located in the South and North Club Houses respectively, are priced at 600 BDT. Pakistan ended boycott because Bangladesh’s demands were met: PCB chief Tickets for the International Gallery North and South are available for 1,000 BDT, while the International Lounge South is set at 1,200 BDT. The series is scheduled to begin on March 11 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The remaining two matches will follow on March 13 and 15 at the same venue. All matches are slated to commence at 2:15 p.m. local time.

India national cricket team edged past England national cricket team by seven runs in a high-scoring semifinal to secure a place in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final on Thursday at Wankhede Stadium. India posted a formidable 253 for 7, the fourth-highest total in the tournament’s history, before restricting England to 246 for 7 in a thrilling contest that produced 499 runs and a record 34 sixes in a T20 World Cup match. The co-hosts will now defend their 2024 title against New Zealand national cricket team in the final scheduled for Sunday in Ahmedabad. Sanju Samson led India’s charge with a blazing 89 off 42 balls after being dropped early on 15. The wicketkeeper-batter struck powerful shots throughout his innings to anchor India’s big total. England pacer Jofra Archer conceded 61 runs for one wicket, the most expensive bowling figures by an England player in a men’s T20 World Cup.   Bethell’s century in vain England mounted a strong reply led by Jacob Bethell, who smashed his maiden T20 international century with 105 off 48 balls, including seven sixes. However, Bethell was run out on the first ball of the final over while attempting a risky second run, with England needing 30 runs from six balls. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah delivered a disciplined spell of 1 for 33 in four overs, while all-rounder Axar Patel impressed in the field with two spectacular catches and another key effort. India’s powerful batting display After being sent in to bat, India lost Abhishek Sharma early for nine, caught off Will Jacks. Samson then combined with Ishan Kishan, who scored 39, to put together a 97-run partnership from 45 balls. India reached 100 in the ninth over before Kishan was dismissed soon after. Promoted up the order, Shivam Dube added 43 off 25 balls with four sixes in another aggressive stand with Samson. Samson eventually fell in the 14th over after attempting a big shot, with India already well past 150. Late contributions from Hardik Pandya (27) and Tilak Varma (21) further boosted the total on a batting-friendly pitch. England fall short despite strong chase England’s chase started poorly when Axar Patel produced a superb running catch to dismiss Phil Salt for five. Bumrah then removed Harry Brook cheaply, while captain Jos Buttler struggled for rhythm, scoring 25 from 17 balls. Tom Banton hit two sixes but was bowled by Axar as England slipped to 95 for 4. Bethell and Jacks briefly revived the chase with a 77-run stand, but India maintained pressure in the closing overs. Pandya and Dube bowled the final overs effectively, sealing India’s victory and sending them into a record fourth T20 World Cup final. Samson was named player of the match for his match-defining innings.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is expected to be appointed as the new head coach of the Pakistan Test team, Pakistani media reported on Wednesday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to make an official announcement in the coming days. Sarfaraz is anticipated to begin his coaching tenure during Pakistan’s upcoming two-match Test series in Bangladesh, scheduled to start in May. Babar dropped as Pakistan names youthful squad for Bangladesh tour The head coach position has been vacant since the conclusion of Azhar Mahmood’s interim stint. Mahmood, who was originally contracted until March 2026, stepped down by mutual agreement following a 1-1 home series draw against South Africa. With no Test matches scheduled for the remainder of the year, the PCB and Mahmood opted to end the arrangement early. Sarfaraz, 38, brings extensive international experience to the role. A veteran wicketkeeper-batter, he has played 54 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 3,031 runs at an average of 37.41, including four centuries. His leadership credentials include captaining Pakistan across all three formats, most notably leading the side to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title. The appointment comes as Pakistan prepares for the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. The tour of Bangladesh will feature two Test matches, with the first starting on May 8 and the second on May 16.

Pakistan has announced a 15-member squad for their upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, headlined by the shocking exclusion of former captain and star batter Babar Azam. The squad, led by pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, signals a massive shift in direction for Pakistan cricket. Babar's omission comes as a major surprise given he scored a century in his last ODI appearance. However, his recent struggles in the T20 World Cup—where he managed just 91 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 112.34—appear to have cost him his place in the side. In a clear move toward a youth rebuild, the selectors have included six uncapped players. Leading the new faces is Sahibzada Farhan, who finished the T20 World Cup as the tournament's top scorer with 383 runs. He is joined by Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, and Shamil Hussain, most of whom recently impressed for the Pakistan Shaheens against England Lions in Abu Dhabi. The squad is also missing veteran opener Fakhar Zaman, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Pakistan team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on March 8. The three ODIs will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 11, 13, and 15. Pakistan ODI Squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, and Shamil Hussain.

The knockout stage for the T20 World Cup is officially set. Following the conclusion of the Super Eight phase, South Africa, England, India, and New Zealand have emerged as the final four contenders remaining from the 20-team tournament. Defending champions and tournament hosts India secured the last available spot by defeating the West Indies in their final Super Eight match. By finishing as the runners-up in Group 1, India booked a blockbuster second semi-final clash against two-time champions England. The high-profile encounter is scheduled to take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5 at 7:30 PM. The knockout phase will commence a day earlier on March 4 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Group 1 champions South Africa will lock horns with New Zealand in the first semi-final at 7:30 PM. Both teams will be fighting fiercely for a spot in the title clash, as neither nation has previously won the T20 World Cup. The winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the grand finale to crown the world champions. The championship match is set to be held in Ahmedabad on March 8 at 7:30 PM.

Dhaka, Feb 28 (UNB) — Pakistan secured a dramatic five-run victory over Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight match tonight, but the win offered little solace as they were officially knocked out of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The result simultaneously confirmed New Zealand’s progression to the semi-finals from Group 2. Heading into the clash, tournament hosts Sri Lanka had already been eliminated from the semi-final race. Pakistan, however, clung to a mathematical lifeline: they needed to defeat Sri Lanka by an enormous margin of at least 64 runs to surpass New Zealand’s superior Net Run Rate. Taking a bold approach by dropping stalwarts like Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, Pakistan set a daunting target, posting 212 for 8. The innings was anchored by a blistering, record-breaking century from Player of the Match Sahibzada Farhan (100 off 60 balls) and a mammoth 176-run opening partnership with Fakhar Zaman. To keep their semi-final dreams alive, Pakistan’s bowlers needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs or fewer. Despite early breakthroughs by Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah, Pakistan’s hopes were decisively crushed in the 15th over. Sri Lankan batters Pavan Rathnayake (58) and Dasun Shanaka launched a fierce counter-attack, pushing their team past the 148-run threshold and officially ending Pakistan's World Cup campaign. Having played spoilers, Sri Lanka then took aim at the actual target of 213, turning the match into a nail-biter. Needing 28 off the final over bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shanaka smashed three consecutive sixes to bring the equation down to just 6 runs from 2 balls. However, Afridi held his nerve with two crucial dot balls, leaving Sri Lanka stranded at 207 for 6. Ultimately, Pakistan's desperate final push and record-breaking batting were not enough to undo their earlier tournament struggles, leaving both them and Sri Lanka watching from the sidelines as New Zealand advances to the final four.  

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has been left stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, along with thousands of other passengers, following widespread flight cancellations sparked by the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, Rahim was scheduled to fly back to Dhaka via Dubai. However, his Emirates flight was forced to turn back mid-journey due to severe airspace security risks. Sharing the ordeal on his verified Facebook page today, Rahim detailed the sudden disruption to his travel plans. “Assalamu Alaikum. I came to Makkah a few days ago to perform Umrah,” Rahim wrote. “Alhamdulillah, after completing it, I was scheduled to return to Bangladesh today via Emirates. We took off from Jeddah for Dubai on flight EK0806 this morning. But unfortunately, due to the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran, all flights have returned to Jeddah,” he added. The cricketer expressed deep uncertainty about his return, noting that he is currently waiting at the Jeddah airport alongside thousands of fellow Bangladeshis and international travelers. “Only Almighty Allah knows when and how we will be able to return to Dhaka with the other Bangladeshis. I request everyone's prayers,” he added. The massive aviation disruption stems from the recent Israeli strikes on Iran, which have triggered a region-wide security crisis. In response to the growing threat and the possibility of retaliatory missile strikes, major international carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, have either rerouted or temporarily suspended all flights to Middle Eastern destinations.    

Pakistan's turbulent run in the ongoing T20 World Cup has sparked severe backlash from fans, resulting in personal attacks against captain Salman Agha and his family. Following a critical Super Eight defeat to England, disgruntled supporters directed abusive language at Agha's relatives, prompting the captain's wife to protest on Instagram, reminding fans that hurling insults will not bring the World Cup home. Left-arm pacer Salman Mirza strongly condemned the harassment, stepping up to defend his captain ahead of their crucial match against Sri Lanka. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mirza labeled the behavior "shameful," emphasizing that every player steps onto the field with the intention to perform. He firmly stated that an off day on the pitch never justifies targeting a cricketer's family. Despite the off-field toxicity, Pakistan's semi-final aspirations remain mathematically alive, kept breathing by England's victory over New Zealand in Group 2. However, the qualification equation is incredibly steep. To secure a spot in the semi-finals, Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka tonight by a margin of at least 64 runs or chase down their target within 13.1 overs. The match is scheduled for 7:30 PM Bangladesh time at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.

England kept its unbeaten Super Eights run intact with a tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand on Friday, a result that hands Pakistan a slim remaining chance of reaching the T20 World Cup semifinals. New Zealand appeared on course to seal a semifinal berth after reducing England to 117-6 in the 17th over while defending 159. But a late onslaught from Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed swung the match, guiding England home with three balls to spare. Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner admitted a win would have simplified their path but praised England’s finish, highlighting the decisive hitting from Jacks and Ahmed. Despite the loss, New Zealand remains favored to advance from the Super Eights. Pakistan, however, still has a mathematical chance and must defeat Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday by 64 runs or chase down the target within 13.1 overs to qualify. England had already secured a semifinal spot but risked spoiling its perfect Super Eights record during a shaky chase. Phil Salt fell in the opening over, and Jos Buttler departed for a two-ball duck in the second. Buttler’s lean tournament continued, with just 62 runs in seven matches, and his 10th career duck set an unwanted England T20 record. Captain Harry Brook defended Buttler, calling him one of the finest white-ball players in the game and backing him to rebound. Brook and Jacob Bethell were dismissed within nine overs, while Tom Banton and Sam Curran added a cautious 42 off 35 deliveries. England still required 43 from the final 19 balls on a worn, turning surface. Ahmed, brought in for Jamie Overton to bolster spin options, impressed with 2-28 and made a crucial impact with the bat. He launched his second delivery for six as he and Jacks hammered 22 runs in the 18th over off Glenn Phillips, then added another 16 in the 19th against Santner to seize control. Jacks remained unbeaten on 32, striking a six and four boundaries, while Ahmed smashed 19 from just seven balls, including two sixes. Jacks, collecting his fourth player-of-the-match award of the tournament, credited Ahmed’s fearless hitting for shifting momentum. Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat and posted 159-7. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen put on 64 in seven overs, but regular wickets slowed progress. Phillips led the scoring with 39, and the Black Caps managed only 24 runs across the final three overs. England’s spinners — Jacks, Adil Rashid and Ahmed — claimed two wickets apiece.  

India posted the second-highest total in the history of the men’s T20 World Cup as its batters gave home fans a show of sixes in a 72-run win over Zimbabwe in the Super Eights on Thursday. South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets to advance to the semifinals. Hardik Pandya scored 50 not out off 23 balls, Tilak Varma smashed 44 not out off only 16 deliveries and Abhishek Sharma found form with a 30-ball 55 in defending champion India's 256-4 in 20 overs — second only to Sri Lanka's 260-6 against Kenya at the 2007 edition. Zimbabwe reached 184-6 in its 20 overs with opener Brian Bennett ending on 97 not out with six sixes in his 59-ball innings. India hit 17 sixes in all – its highest in a T20 World Cup innings — after Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bowl. India's win secured a place in the semifinals for South Africa after its dominant win over West Indies earlier Thursday in Ahmedabad, India. A whirlwind 95-run opening partnership between captain Aiden Markram (82 not out) and Quinton de Kock (47) in eight overs made short work of South Africa's chase. Ryan Rickelton added 45 not out and South Africa motored to 177-1 in 16.1 overs and stretched its unbeaten record in the tournament to six games, four of the wins in Ahmedabad. West Indies put up 176-8 from 83-7. Pacers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder batted their side to respectability. Shepherd (52 not out) and Holder (49) lifted West Indies with a remarkable 89-run stand for the eighth wicket. Shepherd notched his maiden T20 half-century. Holder and Shepherd pushed the accelerator in the death overs. Holder smashed Marco Jansen for 23 runs in the 18th over before he was run out in the final over. Shepherd completed his half-century with an inside edge off the final ball of the innings but South Africa kept the score under-par by about 50 runs. The Proteas play Zimbabwe in their last Super Eights game on Sunday in Delhi, when West Indies, which had been unbeaten at this edition, faces co-host India in Kolkata. The winner in Kolkata will advance with South Africa to the semifinals from Group 1. India lights up Chennai sky Sanju Samson made 24 off 15 balls to give Sharma some respite at the top. Sharma, the No. 1 ranked T20 batter, then regained his touch with four sixes on his way to a 26-ball 50 – his first in five games this tournament. Sharma and Ishan Kishan (38) put on 72 off 42 balls. Suryakumar Yadav – dropped on eight – scored 33 off 13 balls. Pandya and Varma lit up the night sky with eight sixes shared between them. India's previous highest-ever men’s T20 World Cup score was 218-4 versus England in 2007. Zimbabwe made 44 in the powerplay but was 73-2 at the halfway mark. The innings lost momentum when Arshdeep Singh (3-24) struck twice – Sikandar Raza was caught for 31, while Ryan Burl was lbw for a two-ball duck. South Africa’s confident chase Markram smashed seven boundaries and four sixes in his 82 not out off 46 balls. De Kock hit four sixes and four boundaries in a 24-ball 47. Rickelton maintained the express scoring with 45 not out off 28 balls as South Africa won with 3.5 overs to spare. Earlier, in a frenetic powerplay, West Indies was down to 52-4. South Africa also dropped three catches in the first six overs. Kagiso Rabada took 2-22 in four overs and Lungi Ngidi had 3-30, also in four overs.