United News of Bangladesh

The Netherlands cricket team arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday morning, making their way to Sylhet for a three-match T20I series against the hosts. The Dutch players touched down in Dhaka early in the day and spent a few hours at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before catching a noon flight east. By early afternoon they were in Sylhet, where all three games will take place at the Sylhet International Stadium. The series opens on August 30, with the next two matches set for September 1 and 3. All fixtures are day-night contests, starting at 6 p.m. For Bangladesh, the short series is a final tune-up before next month’s Asia Cup in the UAE. The squad will look to settle combinations and give fringe players valuable game time ahead of their September 11 opener against Hong Kong. For the Dutch, already qualified for next year’s T20 World Cup, the series provides a chance to sharpen up against a full-member side in subcontinental conditions.

Indian star cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has decided he’s bowled his last over in the IPL. The 38-year-old offspinner, who has been part of the league since its early years and remains among its most successful bowlers, announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from the tournament to pursue opportunities in overseas leagues. The 38-year-old announced his decision on Wednesday morning through a post on social media. “My time as an IPL cricketer is over. Today begins my time as an explorer of the game across different leagues,” Ashwin wrote. Ashwin departs the IPL as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in its history, with 187 scalps at an economy of 7.2. His journey began with Chennai Super Kings in 2009, where he later lifted back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. Over the years, he turned out for four other franchises — Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, whom he captained for two seasons — before returning to Chennai in 2025. But the homecoming did not unfold as planned. Bought for INR 9.75 crore at the mega auction, he played only nine matches this season, his fewest appearances since debut, while conceding runs at over nine an over — the costliest year of his IPL career. Still, Ashwin’s longevity in the format has been remarkable. In an era dominated by wristspinners, he stood out as the only traditional fingerspinner among the IPL’s top wicket-takers. Always seeking reinvention, he developed power-hitting skills for Rajasthan and even opened the batting in Tamil Nadu Premier League matches to expand his range. He was also never afraid of controversy, being the first cricketer in IPL to be “retired out” tactically, and among the first to run out a non-striker for backing up too far. Ashwin had already stepped away from international cricket in December 2024 during India’s Test tour of Australia. Now, freed from BCCI’s restrictions on active players, he is eligible to feature in overseas leagues such as the Big Bash in Australia, the SA20 in South Africa, the Hundred in England and the CPL in the Caribbean. The move mirrors the path of his state teammate Dinesh Karthik, who retired from IPL last year and soon after appeared in South Africa’s SA20. For Ashwin, who has never hidden his hunger to keep learning and competing, the next chapter looks like one of freedom rather than farewell. “This is about enjoying whatever cricket is left in me,” Ashwin wrote, hinting that while his IPL days are done, his competitive fire is not.//  

Zimbabwe have turned to one of their most seasoned batters for stability, with Brendan Taylor recalled to the one-day side nearly four years after his last international outing. Taylor, 36, last played an ODI in September 2021 against Ireland. Now, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is back in the squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, set for August 29 and 31 at Harare Sports Club. His return is being seen as both symbolic and practical: a nod to experience as Zimbabwe look to sharpen their white-ball cricket after a long stretch of Tests. Convener of selectors David Mutendera called Taylor’s comeback a boost for the dressing room. “His experience and quality are invaluable, especially in pressure situations,” he said. “We’ve tried to balance proven match-winners with players hungry to make their mark.” Craig Ervine will captain the 16-member squad, which also sees the return of left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava from injury. Alongside him, Blessing Muzarabani strengthens the pace attack. Four players — Clive Madande, Tony Munyonga, Brad Evans and uncapped seamer Ernest Masuku — come in after missing the Ireland series. For Zimbabwe, the challenge will be shifting gears. They’ve played seven Tests since February but no ODIs. Coach Justin Sammons admitted the adjustment won’t be simple. “We’ve just come off a tough red-ball run, and now it’s about getting up to the tempo of one-day cricket. Sri Lanka are a strong side; any lapse will be punished,” he said. Oman name squad for first Asia Cup campaign Ervine, too, stressed the need to adapt quickly. “Switching from red-ball to white-ball cricket is always a test,” the captain said. “We have to back our plans and use home conditions smartly.” Taylor’s return, however, is the headline. The former captain has scored 7,195 runs in ODIs at an average of 35, with 11 hundreds to his name. For a team in transition, his presence at the top order offers more than just runs; it signals a return of grit and reliability in a format where Zimbabwe have often lacked both. The ODI series will be followed by three T20 internationals in early September, giving Zimbabwe a quick turnaround before their next assignments. Zimbabwe ODI squad: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Ernest Masuku, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams.

Oman have announced a 17-member squad for next month’s Asia Cup, their first outing in the tournament, with experienced opener Jatinder Singh set to lead the side. The group carries a mix of familiar names and new faces. Four cricketers — Sufyan Yousuf, Zikriya Islam, Faisal Shah and Nadeem Khan — are in line for international debuts, a sign of the selectors’ willingness to gamble as the team prepares for the biggest stage they’ve ever played on. Oman find themselves in Group A alongside Pakistan, India and hosts UAE, a daunting draw by any measure. But head coach Duleep Mendis is trying to strike a balance between excitement and realism. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us. Playing India or Pakistan — that’s what every cricketer dreams of,” he said. “One good over can change a T20 game, so we’re here to compete, not just turn up.” The squad looks slightly different from the one that featured in last year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. Regulars like Aamir Kaleem and Mohammed Nadeem remain, while the likes of Sufyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht and Karan Sonavale add depth. Afghanistan name spin-heavy squad for Asia Cup, Rashid to lead Oman’s preparations have included their national T20 tournament and a string of high-intensity camps at home. For a country that only entered the international fold in the past decade, the chance to line up against Asia’s giants marks a new chapter. Oman open against Pakistan on September 12, face UAE on September 15 and finish their group games against India on September 19. Oman Asia Cup squad: Jatinder Singh (c), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla, Sufyan Yousuf, Ashish Odedera, Aamir Kaleem, Mohammed Nadeem, Sufyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht, Karan Sonavale, Zikriya Islam, Hassnain Ali Shah, Faisal Shah, Muhammed Imran, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, Samay Shrivastava.

New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke will be out of action for up to three months after suffering a stress fracture in his lower back during the recent Test series in Zimbabwe. The 24-year-old speedster will not require surgery but will undergo a strength and conditioning program as part of his recovery. Australia crushes South Africa by record 276 runs in final ODI O’Rourke is set to miss New Zealand’s upcoming T20 series against Australia, the white-ball tour of England in October, and the limited-overs series against the West Indies in November. However, he is expected to be available for the three-Test home series against the West Indies in December. Since making his debut against South Africa last year, O’Rourke has established himself as a key part of New Zealand’s pace attack, claiming 39 wickets in 11 Tests.

Australia signed off the ODI series in style with a record 276-run win over South Africa in the third and final match on Sunday, handing the tourists their heaviest defeat in the format. Travis Head (142), skipper Mitchell Marsh (100) and Cameron Green (118 not out) all scored centuries as Australia piled up 431-2, its second-highest ODI total and just three runs short of the world record 434-4 it made against the same opposition in 2006. It was only the second time in ODI history that Australia’s top three all reached three figures in the same innings. Debutant Cooper Connolly then ripped through South Africa with 5-22, as the visitors collapsed to 155 all out in 24.5 overs. Dewald Brevis top-scored with 49, but no other batter offered resistance. Shaun Abbott (2-27) had earlier removed Aiden Markram (2) and captain Temba Bavuma (19) inside the powerplay before Connolly cleaned up the lower order. Australia opts to bat in final ODI against South Africa Head and Marsh set the tone with a blistering 250-run opening stand, Australia’s fourth-highest in ODIs, punishing an inexperienced South African attack missing senior quicks Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada. Head blasted 17 fours and five sixes, while Marsh struck a patient run-a-ball hundred before falling to Senuran Muthusamy. Promoted up the order, Green unleashed a late assault with six fours and eight sixes in his maiden ODI century, adding 164 runs off just 81 balls with Alex Carey (50 not out) in the final 10 overs. Despite already securing the series with wins in the first two games, South Africa’s weakened attack had no answer to Australia’s batting onslaught. Source: Agency 

Afghanistan have gone for balance and depth in their Asia Cup squad, announcing a 17-member side led by Rashid Khan with six all-rounders packed in for the T20 tournament starting next month in the UAE. The Afghanistan Cricket Board unveiled the squad in dramatic fashion on Saturday morning, releasing a video on social media that featured banners of players hanging from landmarks across the country — a flourish that has become something of a tradition for the board during major tournaments. Rashid, the poster boy of Afghan cricket, will once again captain the side. The selectors leaned heavily on multi-skilled players, naming spin all-rounders Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Rashid himself, along with pace-bowling options Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib. The spin unit remains Afghanistan’s strongest suit. Mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar joins regulars Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad, giving the squad a varied set of options for middle overs. In contrast, the pace attack looks lighter, with just three specialist quicks — Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Malik. Expectedly, Rahmanullah Gurbaz will take the gloves, with Mohammad Ishaq as backup. Top-order batter Ibrahim Zadran and middle-order hitter Darwish Rasooli also return, while Hazratullah Zazai and Zubaid Akbari miss out from the group that last played T20s in Zimbabwe in December. The announcement comes after a long lull in international cricket for Afghanistan. Since featuring in the ICC Champions Trophy in February, they have not played a single T20. However, most of their players have been active in global franchise leagues, including the IPL, PSL, BPL, ILT20 and SA20. The Asia Cup will be their first assignment of the year in the format, preceded by a tri-series in Sharjah with Pakistan and hosts UAE. Afghanistan open their campaign on September 9 against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, before meeting Bangladesh on September 16 and Sri Lanka on September 18 in Group B. Afghanistan squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Allah Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, and standby players: Wafiyullah Tarakhil, Nangyal Kharoti, Abdullah Ahmedzai.

Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s rock at No. 3 for more than a decade, has announced his retirement from international cricket, drawing the curtain on a career built on patience, grit and runs in every corner of the world. The 36-year-old made the announcement on social media late Friday, saying it was impossible to capture in words what wearing the Indian jersey had meant to him. “All good things must come to an end,” he wrote, adding that he steps away “with immense gratitude.” Pujara’s last Test appearance came at The Oval in June 2023, when India lost the World Test Championship final to Australia. By then, he had scored 7,195 runs from 103 Tests at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries. That tally places him eighth on India’s all-time run-scorers list. He first walked into the national side in 2010, debuting against Australia. It took him a few innings to settle, but once he did, India had found a successor to Rahul Dravid. Read more: Bangladesh, Afghanistan series right after Asia Cup At home, he churned out hundreds against England and Australia, including a double century in Ahmedabad in 2012. Abroad, he was the man entrusted to blunt the new ball — often standing firm while stroke-makers played around him. Pujara’s defining legacy may forever be his role in India’s famous 2020–21 series win in Australia. Bruised and battered, he absorbed hours of hostile bowling in Sydney and Brisbane, making scores that allowed his teammates to script one of India’s greatest triumphs. Against Australia alone, he piled up more than 2,000 runs in his career. Though Pujara’s white-ball opportunities were limited in an era of big-hitting line-ups, he thrived in domestic cricket, averaging close to 57 in List A matches. His temperament — sometimes criticized for being too slow — was exactly what India needed in Test match crises.

Bangladesh will barely have time to pause after the Asia Cup.  The Tigers are set to face Afghanistan in a white-ball series in the UAE in early October — three T20s followed by three ODIs. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed the schedule this week. The T20 series will start on October 2, with matches also on October 3 and 5. The ODIs are slated for October 8, 11 and 14. The dates mean both teams will go straight from the Asia Cup, which ends September 28, into another tough contest. For Bangladesh, it comes as part of a packed calendar that also doubles as World Cup preparation. ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan welcomed the series, calling it “a reflection of the strength of our partnership” and promising that fans can expect “top-level competition” even at a neutral venue. BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said his board values the contest just as much. “We are looking forward to a competitive and exciting series against Afghanistan,” he said. “This tour will be a valuable opportunity after the Asia Cup. It also reflects the mutual respect between our two boards. We thank the ACB for hosting.” The two sides have developed a fierce rivalry in recent years, particularly in T20s. Bangladesh beat Afghanistan in the group stage of last year’s World Cup but stumbled in the ODI series earlier this year. With both teams looking to build consistency, the October fixtures will add another sharp edge to the contest.  

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bat first in the third and final one-day international against South Africa on Sunday. The Proteas have already wrapped up the three-match series with emphatic wins — by 84 runs in Cairns and 98 runs in Mackay — marking their fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series triumph over Australia. South Africa welcomed back captain Temba Bavuma, who was rested in the previous match for workload management. Matthew Breetzke, who made history by scoring four consecutive 50-plus knocks in his first four ODIs, was left out to accommodate Bavuma’s return. The visitors also rested star pacer Lungi Ngidi, fresh off a five-wicket haul, along with Nandre Burger. Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka were drafted into the playing XI. Ngidi bags five as South Africa beat Australia to secure ODI series Australia, desperate to avoid a whitewash, kept faith in its misfiring top order but made two changes — Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly came in for rested duo Josh Hazlewood and Aaron Hardie. Playing XIs:Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kwena Maphaka. Source: Agency