United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh U-19 Cricket team tasted their first defeat in their 3rd match of the Tri-nation Under-19s Tournament in Zimbabwe losing to South Africa by five wickets at the Harare Sports Club ground on Thursday. With the day’s well merited victory, South Africa U-19 team not only took revenge of their one-wicket defeat against Bangladesh team in the 2nd match of the ongoing meet, but also advanced to the top slot in the three-nation tournament securing six points from four matches. Bangladesh followed the leader South Africa securing four points from three league encounters while hosts Zimbabwe yet to open the account playing three matches. In the day’s match, Bangladesh opted to bat first after winning the toss and were all out for 175 runs in 44.5 overs at the Harare Sports Club ground. One down Azizul Hakim played captain knock of 59 runs off 81 deliveries featuring five fours and two sixes while middle order Kalam Siddiki contributed an unbeaten 49 runs off 61 balls with three hits to the fence and one over the fence, were the only two Bangladeshi batsmen reaching the double figure. Jason Rowles grabbed three Bangladesh wickets for 35 runs while Bayanda Majola and Ntando Soni took two wickets each conceding 31 and 41 runs respectively. In reply, South Africa scored the match winning 176 runs for the loss of five wickets in 36.5 overs with one down Armaan Manack contributed the team highest 57 runs off 78 balls hitting seven boundaries. Besides, captain Jason Rowles (41), opener Muhammed Bulbulla (39) and Vihan Pretorius (not out 21) were notable Proteas batsman reaching the double figures.    Pacer Al Fahad claimed three wickets for 29 runs while Debashis Deba and Iqbal Hosain Emon took one wicket each conceding 18 and 43 runs respectively. Earlier, Bangladesh made a good start in the Tri-nation Youth meet with an exciting one-wicket victory over South Africa in the first match last Saturday, thanks to sensible batting by all-rounder Samiun Bashar. Bangladesh consolidated their position in the tournament beating hosts Zimbabwe by 91 runs in the 2nd match. In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will play hosts Zimbabwe again on Friday (August 1), South Africa on August 6 and Zimbabwe on August 8. Later, the top two teams of the tri-nation meet will play the final on August 10.

Nepal will host the next ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier from January 12 to 2 February next year. The ICC confirmed on Thursday. Ten teams will compete in the tournament for four spots at the main event, which will be held in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026. The Qualifier will feature a group stage, followed by a Super Six round and a final. Fixtures will be announced later. Bangladesh and Scotland have already secured their places in the Qualifier based on their participation in the 2024 edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Hosts Nepal and Thailand have qualified through the Asia regional pathway, while the USA has booked its place from the Americas. Tri-nation U-19 Cricket: Bangladesh to face hosts Zimbabwe on Monday The remaining five teams will come through regional qualifiers from Africa, Europe, and the East Asia-Pacific region. The 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will feature 33 matches played over 24 days at seven venues across England and Wales, with the final set to be held at Lord’s.

Bangladesh pacer Khaled Ahmed is confident the Tigers can make it to this year's Asia Cup final, even though they're in a tough group. The eight-team tournament starts on September 9 in the UAE, with the final set for September 28. Bangladesh landed in Group B with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. Group A, meanwhile, features hosts UAE, India, Pakistan, and Oman. Bangladesh will start their campaign against Hong Kong on September 11, before facing Sri Lanka on September 13 and Afghanistan on September 16. “I think we're a team that can make it to the Asia Cup final,” Khaled told reporters on Thursday. “If we can grab two or three wins in our group, we'll definitely make it.” With stiff competition among Bangladesh's fast bowlers, Khaled admitted it's tough to secure a spot in the playing XI. “Having competition in the squad is a good thing for any team,” Khaled said. “When you know you have to compete for your spot, it makes you work harder. For me, I've been focusing on improving my fitness so I can keep ahead. That's my motivation. If I fall behind, I'll be way behind—so I'm constantly pushing to stay ahead of the pack.”

Abhishek Sharma, the young Indian batter, has climbed to the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings following a string of impressive performances. The left-hander now sits at No. 1 with 829 rating points, pushing Australia’s Travis Head down to second place with 814 points. Since his international debut, Abhishek has earned praise for his aggressive style at the top of the order and has quickly become one of India’s most talked-about young players. Australia’s Cameron Green made the biggest leap in the latest update, jumping 64 spots to reach No. 24. Bumrah to miss Oval Test, Akash Deep likely to return His teammate Tim David also moved up 12 places to 18th after a standout century during the West Indies tour. Among Bangladesh batters, Towhid Hridoy remains the highest-ranked at 39. Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who struggled in the recent T20I series against Pakistan, has dropped five places to 43rd. Wicketkeeper-batter Zakir Ali Anik, named Player of the Series in that contest, also slipped—down six spots to 59. The bowlers’ rankings offered little relief for Bangladesh. Despite bowling well against Pakistan, Mustafizur Rahman has fallen three places to 12th. Off-spinner Sheikh Mahedi Hasan dropped one spot to 17th, while leg-spinner Rishad Hossain held his ground at No. 20.  

Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan says he is not losing sleep over a national team recall and is instead focusing on doing his job—scoring runs and leading from the front in domestic cricket.   Nurul has always been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. But he also struggled to bring his domestic glory to the international arena, which made him an irregular choice for the national team.    “My job is limited to playing cricket. I try to give my best. Sometimes I’ll do well, sometimes I’ll fail—that’s part of the game,” Nurul said recently to the reporters.    “Whether I get selected for the national team or not is not in my hands. I don’t want to think too much about it. Wherever I get the opportunity, I’ll try to give my best,” he added.    Nurul last played for Bangladesh in 2023 but has remained consistent in domestic circuits. Tri-nation U-19 Cricket: Bangladesh earn 2nd successive victory outplaying hosts Zimbabwe by 91 runs   Whether it’s the BPL, DPL, or Bangladesh A matches, the wicketkeeper has chipped in with runs and led from the front. Most recently, he captained Rangpur Riders to a second straight final in the Global T20 Super League, drawing praise for his leadership. Whether it’s BPL or other domestic leagues, Nurul has been one of the best batters. But his failure in the international circuit remains as a big mystery.    “What I want may not always match what happens. It’s up to the team management. From my side, whenever I get the chance, I’ll give my best,” he said about his possible national team comeback.    On comparisons between the BPL and the Global Super League, Sohan said the two competitions are quite different.   “In the Super League, you have teams from different countries. But in the BPL, Bangladeshi fans bring a different kind of emotion. They come to the grounds, they watch and support directly. Wherever I play, I just want to keep improving,” he said.

Indian Jasprit Bumrah will not play in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval against England, with the Indian team management deciding to rest the pacer as a precaution. Bumrah has shown a dip in rhythm recently, and the BCCI medical team has advised against his playing. They also said precautionary measures should be taken for playing Bumrah.  He was expected to feature in only three of the five Tests, and with appearances in the first, third, and fourth matches, the Oval Test was always uncertain for the pacer.  India coach Gautam Gambhir in heated exchange with Oval ground staff ahead of Test decider However, after India drew the fourth Test, the possibility of playing Bumrah at the Oval had increased. India is currently trailing by 2-1 in the series.  Head coach Gautam Gambhir had said Bumrah was available. But two days later, the decision was made to leave him out. Akash Deep, who missed the last match due to injury, is likely to come in. He bowled well in training on Tuesday and is expected to be fully fit. Akash took 10 wickets in the second Test and could play a key role again. With Bumrah out, Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace attack. Siraj has bowled 139 overs in the series so far, more than any other Indian pacer. Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh are in contention for the third seamer’s spot. Arshdeep, who had a hand injury, is now fit. India are also likely to retain Shardul Thakur to strengthen the batting. That could mean another match on the sidelines for Kuldeep Yadav, especially with The Oval pitch expected to favour seam and overcast weather in the forecast.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated confrontation with ground staff at The Oval on Tuesday, just two days before the fifth and final Test against England. England currently lead the series 2-1, with the final Test set to begin on Thursday at the iconic south London venue. The incident, captured on video, showed Gambhir clashing with Lee Fortis, the Oval’s lead curator. Fortis was reportedly overseeing India’s training session with a protective eye on the pitch area when the altercation occurred. In the footage, Gambhir can be heard firmly telling Fortis: “You can’t tell us what to do” and “You don’t tell any of us what to do.” He also added, “You’re just the groundsman, nothing beyond,” before walking away while speaking with India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who appeared to intervene in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Fortis then warned Gambhir that he might file a formal complaint, to which the former Indian opener replied, “You can go and report to whoever you want.” Kotak later told reporters that the dispute started when Fortis objected to a support staff member wheeling a cooler across the square. “He was sitting on the roller and shouted at our staff not to take the cooler there,” Kotak explained. “It’s fine to be protective of the pitch, but Gautam felt it was inappropriate to speak to our staff like that.” Four foreign firms show interest in organising BPL “At the end of the day, it’s a cricket pitch—not an antique that you can’t touch,” Kotak added. The episode marks a further escalation in tensions during what has been an increasingly combative series. While early matches were largely uneventful off the field, tempers flared during the third Test at Lord’s over alleged time-wasting by England batters Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. The fourth Test ended on a sour note, with England captain Ben Stokes expressing frustration after Indian batters Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja declined an early handshake offer while chasing personal milestones. Washington Sundar's witty reply to Gill question draws laughs after Test heroics With the series on the line, the confrontation at The Oval has added a fresh layer of drama ahead of the much-anticipated decider. Source: Agency

Four overseas companies are among five firms that have shown interest in organising the next edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said recently. In a media release, the board said it had received expressions of interest from five sports marketing and event management firms. The BCB had invited proposals earlier this month, seeking a partner to take charge of hosting the franchise-based T20 league, scheduled for December–January. The interested firms are- Apex Sports Consulting (UAE), IMG (USA), Real Impact and Absolute Legends Sports (India), the IPG Group (UAE), and Bangladesh’s own Transport Group. Of these, IMG has experience working with the Indian Premier League, while Absolute Legends Sports has previously been involved in TV production for BCB events. Mind Tree Limited, which owns the Khulna Tigers franchise, has teamed up with IPG Group to express joint interest in organising the tournament. BCB may include foreign teams in BPL if they meet criteria If selected, they have said they won’t participate as a franchise this season. The BCB will now draw up a shortlist and ask selected firms to make presentations and submit financial proposals. These sessions are scheduled for July 30 and 31. After that, the BPL Governing Council will decide which company will be awarded hosting rights. The board aims to finalise both the organiser and the list of franchises by the end of August. The players’ draft is likely to be held in the first week of October. BCB approves payouts to BPL 2025 franchises This year, the BCB has also consulted fans and other stakeholders in an effort to run the BPL in a more structured and professional manner.

India all-rounder Washington Sundar delivered a standout performance in the ongoing Test series against England, impressing both with the ball and the bat. After leading England’s collapse in the third Test with four second-innings wickets, the 25-year-old reached a personal milestone in the fourth Test, scoring his maiden Test century while batting under immense pressure at No. 5. Despite his achievements, it was Washington’s calm and humorous response to a tricky post-match question that caught everyone’s attention. During England’s first innings in the fourth Test, Washington was not given the ball for an extended period, during which the opposition crossed 300 runs. But after being brought on post-Lunch on Day 3, he struck twice in quick succession, removing Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in back-to-back overs. In a post-match interview on Sky Sports Cricket, Washington was asked, “Did your captain forget that you can bowl in the first innings?” — a reference to captain Shubman Gill's delayed decision to bring him into the attack. Tri-nation U-19 Cricket: Bangladesh earn 2nd successive victory outplaying hosts Zimbabwe by 91 runs With a smile, Washington replied, “I'm not giving any headlines this time!” prompting laughter from former England cricketers Stuart Broad and Nasser Hussain, who were on the panel. “You need to work on your tips and hints out there — ‘I'm loose, I'm ready to go,’” Broad joked, offering light-hearted advice. Washington added, “Most of the time, I am around the square, so I'm sure I cross him every now and then. But yeah, whatever the team needs.” The off-spinning all-rounder went on to deliver with the bat as well. Promoted to No. 5 after Rishabh Pant was ruled out with a toe injury, Washington steadied the innings alongside captain Gill. He showcased grit and maturity, running hard and negotiating the second new ball effectively. His innings of 101* included nine boundaries and a six — a vital knock that helped India save the fourth Test and keep their hopes alive of drawing the series. Speaking to Cheteshwar Pujara on JioHotstar, Washington said, “This Test hundred feels very special. I just wanted to fight for an entire day and that was the only message given to me by the coach (Gautam Gambhir).” India’s resilient Bbatting forces a draw, sets stage for decisive fifth test against England A former top-order batter in junior cricket, Washington said he was grateful for the opportunity to bat higher up. “I was anyway going to bat at No. 5. I was padded up for two sessions. I was very glad that I got that opportunity. If I could bat higher up the order in future, it would be a blessing,” he added. Source: NDTV

Bangladesh earned the  2nd successive victory in the Tri-nation Under-19s Tournament outplaying hosts Zimbabwe by 91 runs in their 2nd match at the Harare Sports Club ground  Monday evening With the day's feat, Bangladesh clearly dominated the three-naton meet securing full four points from straight two matches while hosts Zimbabwe remained points-less after playing two matches. Earlier, Bangladesh made a good start in the Tri-nation Youth meet with an exciting one-wicket victory over South Africa in the first match at the Sunrise Sports Club ground in Harare last Saturday, thanks to sensible batting by all-rounder Samiun Bashar. Sent into bat first in the day's match, Bangladesh piled up a comfortable 274 runs for 8 in stipulated 50 overs  featuring a polished 82 runs off 63 balls with 12 fours and one six by opener Zawad Abrar. Besides, wicket keeper Mohammad Abdullah  (56), captain Azizul Hakim (34), opener Rifat Beg (31), Debashish Deba(24) and Rizan Hossain (16) were the other notable contributors for Bangladesh. Tri-nation U-19 Cricket: Bangladesh to face hosts Zimbabwe on Monday Simbararashe Mudzenger , Brandon Senzere and Tetenda Chimugoro took two Bangladesh wickets each conceding 37, 45 and 61 runs respectively. In reply, hosts Zimbabwe U-19 team were all out for 183 runs in 42.2 overs with opener Nathaniel Hlabanganasming the team's highest 53 runs off 72 deliveries hitting eight boundaries. Samiun Bashar, who guided the Bangladesh team towards victory against South Africa rom a crucial situation last Saturday. today made major damage in Zimbabwe's innings grabbing three wickets for 14 runs in 8.2 overs. Azizul Hakim and Al Fahad took two wickets each conceding 38 and 39 runs respectively. In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will play South Africa on July 31, face hosts Zimbabwe again on August 1, South Africa on August 6, and Zimbabwe on August 8. Later, the top two teams of the tri-nation meet will play the final on August 10.