United News of Bangladesh

For much of Wednesday, no one was sure if Pakistan would even show up for their Asia Cup fixture against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. By the time the team bus finally pulled out of the hotel, the game had already been delayed an hour, and a bizarre standoff over a handshake row had turned into the biggest story of the tournament. The drama began after Pakistan’s defeat to India on September 14. Indian players refused to shake hands with their rivals, a gesture they linked to the recent border flare-up in Pahalgam. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claimed match referee Andy Pycroft had mishandled the situation, even accusing him of asking captain Salman Ali Agha not to press the issue at the toss. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi — who also happens to be president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) — demanded Pycroft be removed from the referees’ panel. Twice the board wrote to the International Cricket Council. Twice the answer was no. The ICC reminded PCB that handshakes are not mandatory and insisted Pycroft had only relayed instructions from ground staff. That rejection pushed things into crisis mode. On Wednesday afternoon, Pakistan players stayed put in their hotel instead of leaving for the ground. The scheduled pre-match press conference was abruptly cancelled. Local media began to speculate about a boycott, even as Naqvi huddled with former board chiefs in Lahore and promised “consultations” before a final decision. India, Pakistan brace for new chapter in storied rivalry Finally, just before 8 p.m. Bangladesh time, the deadlock seemed to break, just 30 minutes before the match time. The team boarded the bus for Dubai International Stadium, cheered on by waiting cameras. Still, there was no clarity on whether Pycroft would remain in charge of the match — though the ACC’s official appointments listed him as referee. For the players, it was an odd buildup to what should have been a straightforward contest. Pakistan, badly beaten by India earlier in the week, need a win over the UAE to keep their campaign alive. Instead, they spent the day caught between boardroom brinkmanship and tournament rules. By the time the floodlights came on, the question wasn’t just about net run rates or qualification scenarios. It was whether cricket could finally take center stage again, after days of wrangling that turned a routine group-stage match into a political sideshow.

Bangladesh are still alive in the Asia Cup, but only just. Their eight-run win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday has left the Tigers in contention for a Super Four spot, though the final say now rests with the outcome of Thursday’s Sri Lanka-Afghanistan clash. Here’s how the path looks: if Sri Lanka win, Bangladesh are through. If the game is washed out, Bangladesh also qualify. But if Afghanistan win, the equation gets tangled in the unforgiving world of net run rate, where Litton Das’s side are on shaky ground. The numbers tell the story. Bangladesh have four points from three games, but their net run rate sits at –0.270. Sri Lanka, with two wins from two, already boast +1.546. Afghanistan, despite having just two points, carry a far superior +2.150. That means an Afghan victory — regardless of margin — would lift them above Bangladesh. What could still save the Tigers is a lopsided result. For instance, if Afghanistan score 200 batting first, Sri Lanka would need only 128 to advance with Bangladesh. If Afghanistan make 150, Sri Lanka would need 84. On the other hand, if Sri Lanka bat first, Afghanistan would have to chase inside 12 overs to knock Bangladesh out. Anything short of that keeps Bangladesh ahead. Bangladesh edge Afghanistan in nervy finish to stay alive in Asia Cup It is a frustrating wait for a team that has had to crunch similar calculations in past tournaments. Captain Litton admitted as much after Tuesday’s game. “Winning was important, but we know we left runs out there. Now we just have to hope results go our way,” Bangladesh captain Litton said. Still, there is a silver lining. Bangladesh have put themselves in a position where their fate hinges on only one remaining group game, not a maze of multiple scenarios. A Sri Lanka victory, which on current form looks more than likely, would wipe away all the complicated arithmetic and send Bangladesh into the Super Four without fuss. Until then, the Tigers and their supporters must do what they have so often done in tournament cricket: watch, wait, and cheer for someone else.

Bangladesh clung on by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday night, pulling off an eight-run win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi to keep their Asia Cup hopes alive. It was scrappy, tense, and far closer than it needed to be, but for now Litton Das and his men will take it. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh began brightly thanks to Tanzid Hasan, who lit up the powerplay with 52 off 31 balls. He looked in full command, launching four fours and three sixes, and alongside Saif Hassan (30) gave Bangladesh exactly the sort of start they had been crying out for in this tournament. At 63 without loss in the seventh over, they looked on course for something around 180. But as so often, the innings lost shape. Litton scratched to nine before being trapped by Noor Ahmad. Shamim Hossain fell for 11. Towhid Hridoy briefly countered with 26 from 20 but couldn’t push on. By the death overs, Bangladesh had slowed alarmingly. Jaker Ali and Nurul Hasan managed a few late strokes but 154 for five felt underwhelming, particularly after the flying start. If there were doubts about the total, Nasum Ahmed helped steady nerves with a dream opening spell. Brought back into the side, he struck with his very first ball, pinning Sediqullah Atal lbw, and then returned to remove Ibrahim Zadran. His four overs went for just 11 runs and earned him Player of the Match. Afghanistan limped to 27 for two in the powerplay and looked in real trouble. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to wrest back control with 35, but he was undone by Rishad Hossain’s leg-spin just after drinks. Gulbadin Naib (16) and Mohammad Nabi (15) came and went, neither lasting long enough to settle the chase. Then came the late drama. Azmatullah Omarzai stormed in, hammering three sixes in a rapid 30 off 16 balls that suddenly brought the equation back in Afghanistan’s favour. Bangladesh not playing their brand of cricket, says Mukund Litton tossed the ball to part-timer Shamim and paid the price as Omarzai went after him. Just as nerves started to jangle, Taskin Ahmed nailed a slower ball to have him caught, and with that the momentum swung again. Rashid Khan wasn’t done. The captain smashed 20 from 11, keeping Afghanistan’s hopes alive until Mustafizur Rahman produced a trademark off-cutter to end the threat. Still, there was one last twist. Noor Ahmad swung Taskin for back-to-back sixes in the final over, leaving Afghanistan needing 10 from three. Taskin, ice-cool this time, found his lengths and closed it out. Afghanistan were bowled out for 146, Bangladesh hanging on by eight runs. Mustafizur finished with three wickets, Taskin and Rishad two apiece, but it was Nasum’s miserly 2 for 11 that set the tone. Litton admitted afterwards: “We were 15–20 short with the bat. But the bowlers, especially Nasum, gave us a chance.” Rashid called it “a game we should have finished,” blaming his side’s rash shot selection. The result keeps Bangladesh alive, but only just. Their net run rate is still negative, which means they’ll be praying for Afghanistan to beat Sri Lanka heavily. For now, though, the Tigers live to fight another day.

A heated controversy has erupted following the recent Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) now formally demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. The dispute stems from the Indian team’s refusal to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts at the end of the match on September 14, when India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets. The PCB issued a statement alleging that Pycroft violated the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct and should be “immediately removed from the Asia Cup.” This demand follows a formal complaint lodged by the PCB with the ICC. On his official X account, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated, “The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup.” Bangladesh not playing their brand of cricket, says Mukund The PCB also brought the issue to the attention of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), describing the Indian team's actions as “unsporting” and “against the spirit of the game.” According to the report, Pakistan's team manager, Naveed Cheema, “strongly objected to the behavior of Indian players.” In protest, Pakistan’s captain did not attend the post-match ceremony. India’s Stance India's captain, Suryakumar Yadav, defended the team's decision, explaining it was a mark of solidarity and respect for the victims of a recent terror attack. At the post-match presentation, Yadav stated, “We stand with the victims and families of the terror attack and express our solidarity. We want to dedicate today's win to all of our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery.” The attack, occurred on April 22 in Pahalgam, reportedly killed 25 Indians. India blamed Pakistan for the attack — which Pakistan denied — and then launched air strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with Pakistan firing missiles back. The retaliatory actions from both sides led to the worst military confrontation between the neighboring countries in decades, resulting in dozens of casualties.

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Abhinav Mukund has voiced his concern over Bangladesh's performance in the Asia Cup, suggesting the team has abandoned its aggressive, high-scoring style of play that defined their game in recent years. Highlighting the struggles of openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Parvez Hossain Emon, Mukund said Bangladesh are not showing the fearless style that once made them dangerous. “They [Bangladesh] hit a lot of sixes and played a different brand of cricket over the last couple of years. But that hasn’t been seen enough in this Asia Cup,” he said in a recent discussion with ESPNcricinfo. Mukund emphasized that a return to an attacking mindset is crucial, especially as Bangladesh faces a challenging Afghan bowling lineup. “I’d love to see them be brave, especially against Afghanistan, build a strong total, and put pressure on Afghanistan," he stated. The analyst noted that while both Tanzid and Emon have shown promise, they are struggling to adapt to international conditions. “They play a particular brand of cricket, but in international cricket, you need to adapt everywhere. I’ve seen them trying to be aggressive, but it just hasn’t come off,” Mukund said. Looking ahead, Mukund warned that Afghanistan's bowlers, particularly Fazalhaq Farooqi and Ghazanfar, will pose a significant challenge to the Bangladeshi batsmen. Bangladesh is playing its last group match against Afghanistan, where they have to win to go through to the next stage. Litton Das won the toss and decided to bat first. It remains to be seen whether Bangladesh could play their brand of cricket. Their Asia Cup run is hanging by a thread after a bruising loss to Sri Lanka on Saturday night. Bangladesh performed poorly in this tournament, especially after the powerplay. Quick wickets have left the middle order exposed. Mushtaq admitted those collapses weigh on the team.

Giving the Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team a taste of India before their World Cup journey, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Tuesday said cricket is really something that brings them together in many ways and the two nations are proud of the cricketers on both sides who are playing top quality cricket. “I think the women's cricket teams in both our countries - India and Bangladesh - have really made a very rapid transformation in these recent years. You are really competing with a great passion. You have added great capabilities, and I think you're really playing top quality cricket. This is something that both our nations are proud of,” he said. High Commissioner Verma along with his spouse Manu Verma hosted a reception at his residence - India House - in honour of the Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team which is departing for the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The National Cricket League T20 (NCL) tournament has been postponed indefinitely due to adverse weather conditions. In a media release on Tuesday, BCB announced that a new schedule would be released depending on the situation. “Due to inclement weather, the NCL T20, 2025-26 has been postponed. The bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will announce a new schedule soon,” the statement read. On Saturday’s opening day at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, last season’s runners-up Dhaka Metro defeated Rajshahi Division by 7 wickets in a shortened five-over contest. Another match scheduled in Bogura that same day was washed out by rain. With the outfield in Bogura unfit for play, the next two days’ matches were shifted to Rajshahi. But from the second day onward, no games could be held there either due to persistent rain. As a result, the entire tournament has now been put on hold. BCB said that the board is closely monitoring the situation, and a revised schedule will be announced in due course.  

Bangladesh will walk into Abu Jayed Stadium on Tuesday knowing the math is brutally simple. Beat Afghanistan or pack the bags. Even then, their fate will hang on other results. Spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed did not sugarcoat what worries him most. “Their spinners in the middle overs — that’s the biggest threat,” he told reporters on Monday. “Rashid, Nabi, Noor, the young lad Ghazanfar… they’re very good in these conditions. If we don’t handle that phase, we’ll be in trouble.” Bangladesh’s batting has been fragile in this tournament, especially after the powerplay. Quick wickets have left the middle order exposed. Mushtaq admitted those collapses weigh on the team. “It’s natural to doubt when you lose four or five early. But we can’t carry that into the next game. Our duty as coaches is to keep the boys believing, not to let them crawl into a shell,” he said. He also had a word for leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who has looked raw. Tensions off the field: No handshakes between India, Pakistan players “Young spinners often try too much. I told him today — land your first three balls in good areas, settle down, then think of variations. Good balls make good overs,” he also said. “Good overs build confidence. That’s the process.” Afghanistan, for their part, sound fresh and ready. Coach Jonathan Trott said the break after their opening win over Hong Kong came at the right time. “We’d played six games in 12 days before the tournament. A pause was needed,” Trott said. “Bangladesh have match-winners, but we’re looking forward to it. If we play well tomorrow, the schedule will feel like it’s worked in our favour.” The recent record gives Bangladesh a glimmer — they’ve won two of the last three against Afghanistan. But Tuesday is not about history. It is about survival.

The strained political relations between India and Pakistan spilled onto the cricket field when no handshakes were exchanged between players — before or after their Asia Cup game in Dubai. The Pakistan Cricket Board said match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe requested both captains — Suryakumar Yadav of India and Salman Ali Agha of Pakistan — not to shake hands during the pre-game coin toss on Sunday. The PCB, in a late-night statement released in Urdu to domestic media, described Pycroft’s decision as “against sportsmanship” and said team manager Naveed Akram Cheema registered a “formal protest against the match referee’s behavior" with the International Cricket Council. The ICC is yet to issue a public response. “Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi wrote in a post on X. “Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Lets hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace.” Naqvi is also the current president of the Asian Cricket Council and demanded “an immediate removal” of Pycroft from further duties at the Asia Cup. Suryakumar, who hit the winning runs for India, didn't wait for the customary handshakes with opposing players after the match before walking to the dressing room along with his teammate Shivam Dube. Agha reacted by skipping a post-match TV interview with former India international cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, a move which Pakistan coach Mike Hesson described as a “follow-on effect.” “We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that,” added Hesson, a New Zealander who was appointed to the Pakistan job in May. “We sort of went over there to shake hands and they’d already gone into the changing room. "That was a disappointing way for the match to finish, and a match we were disappointed for the way we played but we were certainly willing to shake hands.” Sunday’s game was the first between the top cricket teams from India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam attack in April, when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. India is the designated host of the eight-nation Asia Cup, but the Twenty20 tournament is being played in the United Arab Emirates because the India and Pakistan cricket teams don't play on each other’s territory. There was also uncertainty over India’s participation in the Asia Cup until the government clarified that the cricketers would be allowed to compete against Pakistan in multinational tournaments. Suryakumar said the Indian team was aligned with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and government instructions that players wouldn't shake hands with Pakistan players. “Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today,” Suryakumar said in a post-match news conference. “We came here to just play the game. We stand with all the victims of Pahalgam terror attacks, stand with their families, and express our solidarity." Both teams are likely to play again in the Super 4 stage later this week, if they place first and second in Group A. END/AP/UNB/SIS

The Asia Cup stage is set in Dubai for another India–Pakistan showdown, but this one feels different. For the first time in more than a decade, the old guard — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan — will be watching from afar. In their place comes a new generation tasked with carrying one of cricket’s most intense rivalries into the future. Both teams arrive with confidence. India thrashed the UAE in their opening match, wrapping up the chase inside five overs. Pakistan brushed aside Oman, with Shaheen Afridi leading a bowling attack that looks balanced despite questions around the batting order. For fans, though, form counts for little. India–Pakistan games are about nerves, about moments that will live in memory far longer than the scorecards. Suryakumar Yadav, now India’s T20 captain, carries the weight of expectation. His record against Pakistan is modest — no score above 20 in five innings — but he has been India’s most audacious batter in this format. Shubman Gill, coming off a knock in practice, is fit to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Sanju Samson looks set to float in the middle order. With Dubai’s slow pitches in mind, India are likely to field a spin-heavy attack led by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. For Pakistan, Salman Agha has embraced the captaincy with bold intent, urging his batters to play without fear. Much will depend on openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan to blunt Jasprit Bumrah early. Mohammad Nawaz, described by coach Mike Hesson as “the best spinner in the world right now,” will again be central to Pakistan’s plans on a surface expected to aid turn. The backdrop is no less charged. This is the first India–Pakistan meeting since last year’s armed clashes in Pahalgam, adding an extra edge beyond cricket. Yet players on both sides have tried to cut through the noise. “For us it’s just about winning the game,” India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub echoed that sentiment: “We’re here not just for this match, but to win the tournament.”