United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh suffered a sudden blow in the Galle Test as Musfiqur Rahim and Litton Das fell in quick succession after Bangladesh passed the 450-run mark.  Mushfiqur made 163, while Litton fell for 90 after forming a 149-run stand. These double blows made it tough for Bangladesh to go for a total more than 500.  Bangladesh were at 292 for three at the end of day one. Following an early setback of losing three wickets inside 17 overs, Mushfiqur and Shanto formed a solid stand of 264 runs. Galle Test: Bangladesh pass 400-run as Mushfiqur crosses 150 During the partnership, both Mushfiqur and Shanto hit a century each.  It was the 12th century for Mushfiqur in his career, and the second in Galle after his double-ton in 2013.  Shanto fell prey to Asitha Fernando with only two runs short of 150. He was caught at mid-off. Angelo Mathews, who is playing his last Test, grabbed a low catch to send Shanto back.  Bangladesh, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, saw Litton and Mushfiqur forge a 100-run partnership, propelling the Tigers past the 400-run mark despite the absence of key player Mehidy Hasan Miraz due to illness.

Mushfiqur Rahim crossed the 150-run mark in the ongoing Galle Test against Sri Lanka, and Litton Das also hit a fifty after the fall of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, scoring 148. At the end of 127 overs, Bangladesh were at 412 for four, with Mushfiqur and Litton were unbeaten. Bangladesh were at 292 for three at the end of day one. Following an early blow of losing three wickets inside 17 overs, Mushfiqur and Shanto formed a solid stand of 264 runs. During the partnership, both Mushfiqur and Shanto hit a century each. It was the 12th century for Mushfiqur in his career, and the second in Galle after his double-ton in 2013. Galle Test: Shanto, Mushfiqur stand tall with centuries after early blow  Shanto fell prey to Asitha Fernando with only two runs short of 150. He was caught at mid-off. Angelo Mathews, who is playing his last Test, grabbed a low catch to send Shanto back. Litton came in after that and formed a 100-run stand with Mushfiqur to help the Tigers pass the 400-run mark in the innings. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in this match. The tourists are missing their key player, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, due to illness.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim stood tall in the Galle Test and put the hosts under pressure on day one on Tuesday.  Both Shanto and Mushfiqur hit a ton. They built the innings after Bangladesh suffered an early blow in the innings losing three wickets.  "At the end of first day, Bangladesh were batting at 292 for three, with Shanto (136), and Mushfiqur (105) remaining unbeaten." Debutant Ratnayake strikes twice as Bangladesh falters in first test against Sri Lanka After the magnificent double-ton in 2013, Mushfiqur now has his second three-figure innings in Galle. He reached the magical figure off 176 balls.  It was Mushfiqfur's 12th Test ton and fourth against his favourite opponent Sri Lanka.  Bangladesh lost three wickets inside 17 overs after deciding to bat first.  Debutant Tharindu Rathnayake bagged two wickets— opener Shadman Islam and experienced Mominul Haque.  Shadman failed to guess the delivery, which was spinning away, and fell off an outside edge. In the next ball, in another over, Tharindu sent back Mominul as well, setting up an early advantage for the hosts.  But the rest of the day's story belongs to Shanto and Mushfiqur. They forged a partnership of over 200 runs when Bangladesh were reeling at 45 for three.  Mushfiqur was particularly composed and firm. He waited for more than 10 overs for his fifth boundary, but still his strike rate was around 60.  Shanto was the first to reach his century—his sixth overall in his career, and first since November 2023. He has batted in 20 innings since his last century, only passing the 50-run mark twice in that period. With this Test, both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh kicked off their new cycle of the World Test Championship.    

Sri Lankan offspinner Tharindu Ratnayake made an impressive start to his Test career, picking up two crucial wickets on debut as Bangladesh struggled to 90 for 3 by lunch on day one of the opening Test in Galle on Tuesday. Bangladesh, who won the toss and chose to bat in the first match of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, found themselves on the back foot early. The 29-year-old Ratnayake, rewarded with a Test cap following consistent performances in domestic cricket, made a notable impact in his first session. It was fast bowler Asitha Fernando who gave Sri Lanka an early breakthrough, dismissing Anamul Haque for a duck with a catch behind the wicket. Fernando, coming off a strong county stint with Glamorgan, used his rhythm and bounce to good effect. Ratnayake, known for his ambidextrous bowling ability, then took center stage. In just his fourth over, he removed Shadman Islam, who edged a turning delivery to slip where Dhananjaya de Silva took the catch. The spinner struck again soon after, dismissing Mominul Haque with a delivery that bounced unexpectedly — once again De Silva was sharp in the cordon, completing a fine catch. Facing early trouble at 45 for 3, Bangladesh found some stability through a 45-run partnership between skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim. However, with much work left, the visitors still face an uphill battle. Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 20 at the break, aiming to end a 13-innings stretch without a fifty. Shanto, steady at the other end, was on 25 with three fours and a six. Sri Lanka also gave a debut to domestic stalwart Lahiru Udara, while the match marks the 119th and final Test appearance for the legendary Angelo Mathews. This Test kicks off the 2025-2027 WTC cycle, beginning just days after South Africa claimed the championship title for the first time by defeating Australia at Lord’s.     

Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.  Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are kicking off their new cycle of the World Test Championship with this match.  Medhiy Hasan Miraz is not playing this match due to illness. Bangladesh to field four bowlers— Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana.  Sri Lanka have two debutants- top-order bat Lahiru Udara and ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake- in this match. Tharindu Rathnayake has over 330 wickets in First-class cricket in just 73 matches. He has 26 five-fors as well. ICC Women's World Cup 2025 fixtures announced In the last cycle of the WTC, Sri Lanka narrowly missed a chance to qualify to the final. But this time, they are determined to prove their mettle to be one of the best Test teams in the world.  In contrast, Bangladesh also demonstrated its potential in the last cycle. But they missed key chances to be at a better position. This time, they are also intended to begin the new cycle on a positive note.  Bangladesh Playing XI: Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Nayeem Hasan. Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Milan Ratnayake, Tharindu Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando.  

Australia’s star batter Steve Smith will travel with the team to the Caribbean for their upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies, despite suffering a serious finger injury during the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Saturday that Smith won’t require surgery for the compound dislocation to his right pinkie, sustained during the final at Lord’s. However, his availability for the first Test, scheduled to begin on June 25 in Barbados, remains uncertain. “I’d say the first Test is probably unlikely, and we’ll assess from there,” Cummins said, adding that it’s still too early to make a definitive call. Smith sustained the injury while fielding at first slip during a key moment in the final against South Africa. Positioned closer to the stumps than usual, he was struck on the finger by an edge off the bat of South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma. Smith dropped the catch, allowing Bavuma — then on 2 — to go on and score 66 runs, forming a match-winning partnership with Aiden Markram, who made 136. ICC Women's World Cup 2025 fixtures announced Although Smith is expected to recover from the injury in about two weeks, he will have to wear a splint for up to eight weeks — the duration of the Test series — meaning his participation depends on how well he can manage with it on. The upcoming series marks the beginning of Australia’s 2025-27 WTC campaign. Following the disappointing five-wicket defeat to South Africa inside four days, Cummins said the team is eager to bounce back. “It’s good we get to dust ourselves off and turn around in a couple of weeks and start focusing on the next challenge,” Cummins said. “That’s one of the good aspects of the WTC — every series, every Test, holds weight.” Cummins emphasized the need to strike a balance between introducing fresh talent and maintaining a winning team, especially with an Ashes home series approaching in November. He hinted that some senior players may consider retirement afterward. “This feels like a bit of a fresh start,” he noted. “We’re already thinking a couple of years ahead — if we make the next final, who will be part of the team? Should we start giving game time to new players now? Or stick with the current squad?” Despite a strong personal performance — taking seven wickets and reaching 300 career Test wickets — Cummins admitted the team missed a golden chance to win back-to-back WTC titles. He pointed to Australia’s 74-run first-innings lead as a missed opportunity to build a bigger advantage. Mathews set for farewell as Bangladesh begin WTC campaign “There were plenty of turning points,” Cummins said. “We had a lead, but we should have batted South Africa out of the game with a score well above 300. Unfortunately, we gave them a chance to come back, and now we’re left with a sense of missed opportunity.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the complete schedule for the 2025 edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup on Monday. Hosts India will take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup '2025  on September 30  in the Indian city of Bengaluru, said an ICC media release on Monday. Defending champions Australia will open their title defence against Trans-Tasman rivals and defending T20 World Cup Champions New Zealand on October 1 in the Indian city of  Indore. Bangladesh start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 2 in Colombo while India-Pakistan titans battle billed for October 5 also in Colombo. In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will play England on October 7 in Guwahati, play New Zealand on October 10 in Vizag, play South Africa on October 13 in Vizag, Australia on October 16 also in Vizag, play hosts Sri Lanka on 20 in Colombo and another India on 26 in Bengaluru. The schedule for the eight-team tournament was confirmed by the ICC on Monday, with the event to run in India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2 . A total of five cities across the two countries will host matches, with Bengaluru, Vizag, Indore, Guwahati and Colombo all scheduled for fixtures. One semi-final will be held in Bengaluru, with the other to be played in either Colombo or Guwahati.  The Final is scheduled for November 2 in Bengaluru or Colombo. The eight-team tournament will be played with teams facing the rest of the competition in a single round-robin, with the top four sides progressing to the semi-finals. Teams will also contest in two warm-up matches each, starting on 24 September. Hosts India will be facing the runners-up from the 2022 edition of the tournament, England, in Bengaluru on 24 September, followed by a clash against South Africa three days later in Guwahati.

When Bangladesh starts their new cycle of the World Test Championship in Galle against Sri Lanka, the spotlight will be on the allrounder Angelo Mathews, who is set to end his Test career with this match against the familiar foes.  The first match of the two-Test series will be played at the Galle International Stadium from Tuesday, starting at 10:30 am (Bangladesh time).  The 36-year-old allrounder, Mathews, confirmed during a press conference on Monday that the upcoming match would mark the end of his 15-year-long journey in Test cricket. “This is a special moment. I’ve had a long and fulfilling Test career and I think it’s the right time to move on,” said Mathews, who has played 107 Tests since his debut in 2009. This farewell, however, comes against a team that stirs painful memories. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, Mathews was controversially declared timed out against Bangladesh after he failed to take strike within the allotted time due to a broken helmet strap. Then-captain Shakib Al Hasan did not withdraw the appeal, making Mathews the first cricketer to be dismissed in such fashion in international cricket. At the time, Mathews called it a disgrace. Now, reflecting on the incident, he says he has let go of the anger. “It was unfortunate and frustrating, but I have moved on. I don’t hold any grudges. The Bangladesh players are my friends. They’ve always treated me well,” he said. Mathews revealed that match officials had later reviewed the footage and expressed regret over the decision. West Indies Crush Ireland by 62 Runs to Seal T20 Series Despite those past tensions, Mathews has fond memories of Bangladesh. He lifted the 2014 T20 World Cup trophy in Dhaka and has played frequently in domestic cricket, including the BPL and Dhaka Premier League. “I’ve enjoyed my time in Bangladesh. I’ve always had a good rapport with the players and fans there,” he added. For Bangladesh, the Test marks a fresh beginning after a mixed run in red-ball cricket. They lost one of two Tests against Zimbabwe in their last series but bounced back in the second match. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his team to focus on the positives. “We made a strong comeback in the last match, and that’s the memory I want to carry into this series,” he said. Shanto remained tight-lipped about his batting position and the final playing XI. Bangladesh have only two specialist openers in the squad, and Shanto has opened in Tests before.   “I don’t want the opposition to get an early idea about our plans. The final XI will depend on our combination—and that includes Miraz’s availability,” he said.   Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, recently named Bangladesh’s ODI captain, is recovering from fever and missed the first day of training. His inclusion or absence will significantly shape the team’s balance. Bangladesh’s record against Sri Lanka in Tests is modest—just one win in 26 matches—but that lone victory came in Galle during their 100th Test match in 2017.  Shanto hopes the experience of playing in Sri Lankan conditions and the motivation to start a new WTC cycle will strongly inspire his team.

Star batter Steve Smith and his dislocated finger are going with Australia to the Caribbean. Smith doesn't need surgery on the compound dislocation to his right pinkie from the World Test Championship final at Lord's, captain Pat Cummins said on Saturday. But Smith's appearance in the three-test series against the West Indies starting on June 25 in Barbados remained a major doubt. "I'd say first test maybe unlikely and then go from there, but it's a bit early just to tell,” Cummins said. Smith became the highest non-English run-scorer in tests at Lord's and was hurt at a decisive moment in the final against South Africa on Friday. Standing at first slip and closer to the wickets than usual, his finger was smashed by an edge off South Africa captain Temba Bavuma and he dropped the catch. Bavuma was on 2 and went on to 66 in a match-winning stand with opener Aiden Markram, who scored 136. Smith's finger should heal in two weeks and he could play depending on his tolerance for wearing a splint. He has to wear the splint for eight weeks, which encompasses the entire series. Cummins was grateful that the West Indies tests — their opening series in the 2025-27 WTC cycle — mean they don't have long to lick their wounds after losing the final by five wickets inside four days. South Africa wins World Test Championship, its first major cricket title in 27yrs “To make these finals, it's normally off the back of being really strong at home, but you've got to win some away series too,” Cummins said. "We've got a good chance to do that straight away. A three-test-match series out there, it means we're into some really important cricket. “So, in some ways, it's good we get to dust ourselves off and turn around in a couple of weeks and start looking ahead to the next one. That's one of the good things about the World Test Championship, every test series and every test match feels like you're playing for something significant.” Cummins said they naturally want to be in the 2027 final but the makeup of what is an aging team has to be balanced between giving new talent a chance while trying to win matches, with an Ashes home series coming up in November. It wouldn't surprise if there are test retirements after that. “It does feel like a little bit of a fresh start,” Cummins said. "Fast forward a couple of years, you start thinking about who's going to win. Hopefully if we make the final, who's going to be in that? Do we want to get some games into them? Do we feel like now is the right time to change? Or do you hold with the team that got us to the final? “A new WTC cycle in some ways does feel like a bit of a reset.” Cummins had a good final, taking seven wickets and reaching 300 for his career, but he believes Australia let slip a second straight WTC title after having the upper hand at times. He felt their 74-run first-innings lead could have been more. “There's lots of moments where both teams wrestled back control,” he said. "Our first-innings lead was really important. But it was an opportunity where we could have batted the opposition out of the game by putting on well over 300 plus. Markram powers South Africa's WTC final push with gritty century “We didn't give ourselves a big enough buffer and we let them back into the game. It's disappointing to miss a huge opportunity like this, and when it happens by a little bit it leaves you feeling a bit empty.”

South Africa won the World Test Championship against titleholder Australia by five wickets after knocking off the last 69 runs required on the fourth morning of the final on Saturday. The Proteas achieved their first major cricket title in 27 years, sparking celebrations at Lord's. They moved from a portentous 213-2 overnight to 282-5, the second-highest successful run chase in the 141-year test history at the home of cricket, reports AP. Australia didn't give up the WTC mace easily, relentlessly attacking the stumps and pressuring a South Africa side with an infamous history of blowing winning positions on big ICC stages. But South Africa was staunch and composed — only three boundaries in more than two hours — and lost only three wickets on Saturday in an air of inevitability. The desperate Australians used up all of their three reviews in vain within the first 90 minutes but fought to the end. They took the new ball but were still blunted by a flat pitch. Aiden Markram was the colossus Australia could not topple until it was too late. The opener resumed the day on 102 and was out for 136 when only six more runs were needed. He spent six hours, 23 minutes in the middle. About 15 minutes later, Kyle Verreynne broke the tension by hitting the winning run, a drive into the covers. Markram powers South Africa's WTC final push with gritty century Markram and captain Temba Bavuma set up the victory with an unbeaten and chanceless partnership of 143 runs the day before. They could not finish what they started, adding only four runs together before Bavuma edged Pat Cummins behind for 66, one more than he had overnight. Tristan Stubbs was castled on 8 by Mitchell Starc with 41 runs needed and South Africa was too close to the finish to be denied. But Markram couldn't have the pleasure himself. With six runs needed to win, he was caught at midwicket by Travis Head off Josh Hazlewood. Australia didn’t celebrate. Instead, players slapped Markram on the back and congratulated him on his match-winning knock as the Lord’s crowd stood and applauded.