United News of Bangladesh

  For years, Bangladesh’s T20 cricket was more about nudges and placements than power. But the script is changing fast.   Two back-to-back wins against the Netherlands have not only sealed another series but also confirmed what the numbers already suggest: Bangladesh are hitting sixes at an unprecedented rate.   So far in 2025, the Tigers have cleared the rope 109 times in just 14 matches — third among Test-playing nations this year, behind only the West Indies and Pakistan.   Last year, they crossed the 100-mark in a calendar year for the first time. This time, they are on course to shatter that record with months still to go.   The driving forces have been openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon, who took turns rewriting the record book during the second T20I in Sylhet.   Emon briefly held the mark for most sixes by a Bangladeshi in a year before Tanzid overtook him minutes later, finishing unbeaten on 54 to guide Bangladesh home.   Asked if he sets out to clear the ropes, Tanzid downplayed any deliberate plan.   “We just play normal cricket depending on how the wicket behaves,” he said. “The communication with Parvez is good, and the intent is always there.”   That intent is exactly what team management has been demanding. Power-hitting coach Julian Wood, on a short-term contract, has been working with the batters this month.   Tanzid admitted his own style doesn’t rely on brute force but said Wood’s guidance on balance and shape has been helpful.   “Everyone has the freedom to play their role,” Tanzid added. “The message from the management is clear — execute your role the way you can.”   Bangladesh’s shift to a freer, more aggressive approach has already delivered results: three straight T20I series wins over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and now the Netherlands. With the Asia Cup days away, the timing of this six-hitting surge could not be better.    

England allrounder Jamie Overton has taken himself out of contention for this winter’s Ashes series, a sudden move announced on Monday that took even the country's limited-overs captain by surprise. The pace bowler won his second test cap against India at the Oval last month and had a strong chance of featuring in the squad for the trip to Australia. But Overton has decided to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket. The selectors will need to look elsewhere after he shared his decision to focus exclusively on white-ball opportunities. “After a great deal of thought I have decided to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket," Overton posted on social media. “At this stage of my career, with the demands of cricket across a 12-month calendar, it’s no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally.” Overton stopped short of declaring his retirement from first-class cricket but, at the age of 31, it looks unlikely he will be back in the test reckoning. England white-ball captain Harry Brook, speaking ahead of the first ODI against South Africa at Headingley on Tuesday, said he was "a little bit shocked to be honest. “I’d heard rumors but I hadn’t heard it from him until today,” Brook said. “You’ve just got to respect the decision and he obviously doesn’t feel like he wants to play red-ball cricket at the minute and we can’t do anything about it. It’s unfortunate, I thought he did really well in that last test match and it would have been nice to have him there in the Ashes."

Bangladesh needed just over 13 overs to brush aside a modest target set for them by the Netherlands and clinch the T20I series in Sylhet on Monday. The 9 wicket win gave Litton Das’s side a 2–0 lead with a game still to play. The Dutch batting never got going. Sent in to bat, they folded for 103 in 17.3 overs, undone by poor shot selection and Bangladesh’s disciplined attack. Only Aryan Dutt, who came in at No. 9, showed resistance with a 30-run cameo that included the visitors’ lone six. Opener Vikramjit Singh made 24, but seven others failed to reach double figures. Nasum Ahmed, playing his first match of the series, was the pick of the bowlers. The left-arm spinner struck twice in his opening over, finishing with 3 for 21 to earn Player of the Match honors. Taskin Ahmed (2–22) and Mustafizur Rahman (2–18) shared four wickets between them, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mahedi Hasan chipped in with one apiece. Chasing 104, Bangladesh never looked troubled. Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan gave the hosts a brisk start, adding 40 runs inside the first six overs. Emon made 23 before edging behind, but Tanzid carried on, crafting a composed half-century. He struck four boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 54 off 39 balls. BCB president eyes school cricket overhaul to spot next generation of cricket stars Captain Litton Das played second fiddle, finishing 18 not out as Bangladesh coasted home in 13.1 overs — their third-fastest T20I chase. It was Bangladesh’s third consecutive T20I series win, following victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan earlier this year.

Bangladesh made light work of the Netherlands in the opening T20I on Saturday, chasing down 137 in just 13.3 overs to secure a big eight-wicket win and go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Taskin Ahmed gave the hosts the early edge with the ball, striking four times in a lively spell. The Dutch top order never really settled after losing Max O’Dowd for 23 and skipper Scott Edwards soon after. Teja Nidamanuru’s 26 was the highest score in an innings that stopped at 136 for 8. Saif Hassan chipped in with two wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman bagged one. Bangladesh’s reply began with fireworks. Parvez Hossain Emon cracked two boundaries and a six in the opening over, but Aryan Dutt cut short his stay with a quicker ball. From there, Litton Das took control. The captain mixed audacity with timing, racing to 54 not out from just 29 deliveries. He swept, drove and lofted at will, looking in total command. Cook wary of Sylhet’s pitch and weather At the other end, Tanzid Hasan offered steady support before falling for 29. His dismissal only brought more trouble for the Dutch: Saif Hassan, back in the side after a long gap, batted with freedom. He struck three sixes in his unbeaten 36 off 19 balls, finishing the game with two huge blows over the rope. The visitors struggled with the conditions. For Bangladesh, though, it was as clinical as they could have asked for — disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and a batting performance that left little doubt.

Ryan Cook, coach of the Netherlands, isn’t hiding his concerns about what awaits his team in Sylhet. The pitch, the weather — both could shape the series before a ball is bowled. “The last time I was here was probably back in 2018 or 2019 against West Indies,” Cook told reporters a day before the series. “We’ve looked at how it played during the last BPL and T20Is. That gives us some idea, but until we’re out there it’s guesswork. Hopefully it’ll be a fair wicket, something in it for bat and ball,” he said.  So far only 13 T20 internationals have been staged at the ground, but the reputation is clear enough: plenty of runs. In last season’s BPL, five totals crossed 200. And then there’s the rain. Thursday’s downpour wiped out training. “You can’t control the weather,” Cook said with a shrug. “We’ve only had one proper day to train, which isn’t perfect. But that’s what it is.” Even with the setbacks, he insisted the Dutch would be ready. Bangladesh open busy stretch with Netherlands T20Is “We’ve been preparing on good wickets back home. If we play the way we know we can, we’re capable of beating anyone. We’ve shown that before.” The first of three matches against Bangladesh starts Saturday evening. Rain isn’t in the forecast, but in Sylhet the skies rarely play by the script.

Bangladesh begin what promises to be a packed few months of cricket on Saturday, with the first of three T20 internationals against the Netherlands at the Sylhet International Stadium.     For most in the squad, it will be their first competitive outing since the Pakistan series in July. The team arrives in Sylhet with confidence, having beaten Sri Lanka and Pakistan 2–1 in back-to-back series.     Head coach Phil Simmons, however, was keen to keep the focus narrow.     “Well, you have to run the preliminaries before you get to the final,” he said ahead of the series, brushing aside talk of the Asia Cup. “This is an international series against an international team. That’s where our focus is.”     Bangladesh captain Liton Das will lead a side that includes recalled batters Nurul Hasan and Saif Hassan, both returning after long absences. Simmons, though, insisted there will be no room for experiments.     “Anytime you play international cricket, you have to maintain a certain standard,” he said. “It’s about how we play, and how we keep improving.”     The coach also confirmed Shamim Hossain is unlikely to feature in the opener because of injury, while Parvez Hossain Emon has been passed fit after a shoulder scare.     The Netherlands, meanwhile, treat the series as a crucial tune-up for next year’s World Cup. Their last visit to Sylhet came in the 2014 T20 World Cup, when they stunned Ireland in a record run chase.     The first match starts at 6 pm local time, with the series to be completed on September 1 and 3.    

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards says his side is treating the upcoming three-match T20 series against Bangladesh as more than just another tour — for him, it is the perfect lead-up to the World Cup. Speaking to reporters in Sylhet ahead of the series, Edwards said confidence in the Dutch camp has been building over the past year. “The belief in the squad’s been growing for a while now,” he said. “We’ve had to deal with pressure in qualifiers and at World Cups. Recent results show we can beat anyone on our day.” The series, starting Saturday at the Sylhet International Stadium, is the first bilateral contest between Bangladesh and the Netherlands on home soil. But the ground is not new to the visitors. Many still remember the 2014 World T20, when the Dutch stunned Ireland in Sylhet by chasing 189 in less than 14 overs — a result that secured their passage into the next round. “I wasn’t playing then, but some guys were around,” Edwards recalled. “It was a special moment for Dutch cricket. There’s a bit of history here for us.” Edwards admitted the trip also matters for reasons beyond preparation. “To get the chance to play here is amazing. It’s a warm-up for us ahead of the World Cup and also for Bangladesh before the Asia Cup. Very excited,” he said. The Dutch captain added that playing in Bangladesh has its own meaning. “In different parts of the world, cricket means different things to different people. Here it comes with big crowds and a lot of attention. It’s a beautiful thing to play in a country like this.”//    

Afghanistan, led by star spinner Rashid Khan, is being widely considered the favorite heading into a Twenty20 tri-series in the UAE, starting Friday. The tournament, also involving Pakistan and hosts UAE, serves as preparation for next month’s Asia Cup. Afghanistan’s recent record strengthens its claim. The team reached last year’s T20 World Cup semifinals, highlighting its dominance in the shortest format. Over the next 10 days, seven games will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with the top two sides advancing to the Sept. 7 final. The slow Sharjah pitches give Afghanistan an edge. Their spin-heavy attack includes Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi, uncapped youngster AM Ghazanfar, and IPL performer Noor Ahmad. Rashid and Mujeeb have exceptional records at the venue, combining for 43 wickets at miserly economy rates. Shakib confirms move to US Minor League, joins Atlanta Fire Pakistan, under new limited-overs coach Mike Hesson, is also banking on spin. However, the team continues to move past experienced batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, instead prioritizing big-hitters like Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris, and Saim Ayub. Pakistan’s recent results under Hesson have been mixed. Hosts UAE, meanwhile, aim to cause an upset. Four players return to the squad, including allrounder Mohammad Farooq and pacer Junaid Siddique. Coach Lalchand Rajput insists the side, fresh from a home T20 series win against Bangladesh in May, has the potential to trouble higher-ranked teams. Source: Agency 

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has confirmed he will feature in the upcoming US Minor League Cricket season, signing with Atlanta Fire as an international wildcard. Currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Shakib said in a video message released by his new team on Wednesday that he is excited to be part of Atlanta Fire for the 2025 season. “I’m delighted to announce that I’ve joined Atlanta Fire and will be playing for them in the Minor League Cricket tournament. It’s also great news that Atlanta Cricket is this year’s title sponsor of the 39th FOBANA convention. I wish the event every success and hope to see you all soon,” Shakib said. Atlanta Fire had already teased his signing earlier this month, calling him “a game-changer” whose experience and reputation would add star power to the franchise. The 2025 Minor League Cricket season begins on August 28 and runs through October 2. The competition, launched in 2021, is the feeder league to the U.S.-based Major League Cricket.      

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam wants to take school cricket back to where it once belonged: at the heart of talent discovery. Speaking in Chattogram on Wednesday, at the launch of a regional tournament, Aminul said Bangladesh’s future stars are still sitting in classrooms and must be brought into the system early. “Tomorrow’s Tamim, Shakib or Mushfiqur — they’re all in schools now. It’s our responsibility to identify them and give them a pathway,” he told reporters. For years, Prime Bank has backed the national school cricket competition, the country’s biggest grassroots event. It has unearthed players, but not in the numbers the board would like. Aminul, who himself came through school cricket, said the BCB now plans to rework the format to make it more effective. Former captain Aminul Islam Bulbul installed as new BCB president The board chief praised director Akram Khan for helping launch regional competitions, calling them a model for decentralisation. He added that the BCB’s development and high-performance wings will take on the responsibility of nurturing standouts from schools. “Matches alone won’t produce players,” Aminul said. “We must scout, hold on to the best talents, and make sure they’re supported until they’re ready for the big stage.”