United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s planned tour of Pakistan later this month remains uncertain, even as diplomatic efforts indicate a possible ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held a second round of internal meetings on Friday evening to assess the situation. While the board confirmed that the two-match T20I series against the UAE in Sharjah will go ahead as planned, no final decision has been made about the five-match T20 series in Pakistan. “The safety of players and support staff remains our highest priority,” the BCB said in a statement. “Any decision regarding the Pakistan tour will be made cautiously, considering the current situation in Pakistan and the best interests of Bangladesh cricket.” Earlier in the day, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, speaking at a swimming federation event in Dhaka, voiced concern about the tour. “Given the current situation, it is not wise to take any kind of risk,” he said. “We’ve also received security warnings from the Pakistan Embassy. The BCB will make the final call.” Although the series has not yet been officially postponed, discussions within the BCB suggest that the board may seek a mutual understanding with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to delay the tour, which is part of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme.  Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League has already been suspended, and Bangladeshi players Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana returned home after concerns grew over safety in Rawalpindi.

As uncertainty looms over the future of the remaining part of IPL 2025, a notable number of foreign players are leaving India amidst ongoing cross-border tension between India and Pakistan. The IPL was suspended on Friday amid rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Though, in a dramatic move, a ceasefire plan was revealed on Saturday afternoon.  Although no official cut-off date has been announced, the BCCI is preparing a contingency plan to restart the competition in late May, depending on government approval. Fifty-seven matches have been completed so far, with the 58th—between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala—called off after 10.1 overs. That match may be replayed, but no decision has yet been made. One major challenge facing the BCCI is the availability of overseas players. Following the suspension, most foreign players began flying home, and team camps started disbanding. Indian media report that the majority of overseas players are expected to leave India by the end of Saturday.

Bangladesh cricketers Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana returned to Dhaka on Saturday after their Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaigns were cut short due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters at the airport in Dhaka upon their arrival, Rishad shared what he described as a “war-like” experience in Rawalpindi, where explosions were heard near the stadium earlier this week, prompting the authorities to postpone the PSL. Rishad, who had been playing for Lahore Qalandars, had taken nine wickets in five matches and was enjoying his first overseas league experience when the situation turned tense. “At first, we were shocked and scared after hearing what happened,” Rishad said. “There was support from home, from the team management, and from the BCB. But it was still very difficult.” SAFF U-19 Football: Holders Bangladesh will play Bhutan on Sunday in last group match Nahid Rana, who joined Peshawar Zalmi after playing a Test against Zimbabwe, had not yet debuted in the PSL. Rishad recalled how his teammate reacted to the situation. “Nahid got a bit panicked and stayed quiet. I told him not to worry—we were together, and Allah is always with us,” he added. Following the attack near Rawalpindi Stadium, foreign players held a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board officials and expressed their desire to return home. The league was subsequently suspended, and the two Bangladeshi players were flown to Dubai before arriving in Dhaka. Despite the traumatic experience, Rishad said he is open to returning if the tournament resumes. “I would like to play again, but of course, if I go back to Pakistan now, that fear will remain,” he admitted. Rishad also said he tried to keep his family calm during the ordeal. “We tried to stay positive so they wouldn’t worry too much,” he said.

The suspension of IPL 2025 has triggered a wider disruption in the South Asian cricket calendar, with India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh and their participation in the Asia Cup now looking highly unlikely, according to Indian media. The Indian Premier League was put on hold following cross-border military escalation between India and Pakistan, including missile strikes and air raid alerts in northern Indian cities. The suspension began after Thursday night’s match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was abandoned mid-innings. Players, reportedly shaken by the events, were evacuated to Delhi by a special train. Air travel was suspended in the area. India halts IPL for a week amid rising tensions with Pakistan According to the Times of India, India’s cricket authority is now considering using the August–September window—originally earmarked for the Asia Cup and India’s tour of Bangladesh—to complete the remainder of the IPL. With India set to tour England for a five-Test series in early June, officials fear they may run out of calendar space later in the year if tensions continue. Even if IPL resumes sooner than expected, the Times of India reports that the BCCI is unlikely to revisit its decision regarding the Asia Cup or the Bangladesh tour. “Nation first,” posted Lucknow Super Giants on social media, hinted the mood within Indian cricket.  

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended indefinitely due to escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed. Before IPL, Pakistan Super League (PSL), Pakistan’s premier T20 event, was also disrupted by the same. PSL has moved to the UAE. The suspension comes a day after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was abandoned midway through the first innings. With airports in the region closed, players and staff from both teams were evacuated to Delhi by a special train arranged by IPL authorities. A formal statement from the BCCI is expected soon, though the decision has already sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. IPL match relocated amid India-Pakistan tensions The tournament had reached its 58th game, with 12 league matches and the playoffs still to be played across multiple cities including Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. This marks the first time since the pandemic-hit 2021 season that the IPL has been disrupted mid-tournament.

Bangladesh cricketers Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain are returning home early from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) amid growing security concerns following escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) source confirmed the development, saying that despite earlier assurances of safety from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the decision was made in response to the players' requests to leave the tournament. The BCB has already begun arrangements to facilitate their safe return. Concerns escalated further after a drone strike near Rawalpindi Stadium just hours before a scheduled match. The incident prompted the PCB to relocate remaining matches away from the venue. Reports indicate that nearly 40 foreign players met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi following the attack, but many remained unconvinced by the board’s reassurances. IPL match relocated amid India-Pakistan tensions Nahid and Rishad, who were representing Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars respectively, communicated their desire to return home directly to the BCB. Their decision comes as anxiety rises among players in the wake of continued drone activity following last week’s missile strikes. Their departure also casts fresh uncertainty over Bangladesh’s own upcoming tour of Pakistan, where the national team is scheduled to play a five-match T20 series later this month. Speedster Nahid prioritises Zimbabwe series over PSL The BCB has yet to make a final call on that tour, saying it will continue to monitor the security situation closely.

An Indian Premier League (IPL) match scheduled for Sunday between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings has been relocated to Gujarat, according to local media citing cricket officials. Originally slated to be held in Dharamshala, the fixture was moved after the local airport was shut down amid escalating tensions and violence between India and Pakistan. Rohit Sharma retires from test cricket ahead of England tour However, Thursday’s game between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, also scheduled in Dharamshala, will go ahead as planned, along with other upcoming matches. “Sunday’s match will now be played in the city of Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat,” Anil Patel, Secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association, told the Press Trust of India. The decision comes as several airports across northern India were closed following airstrikes carried out by New Delhi on Pakistani territory. Source: Al Jazeera

The ongoing cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan have cast a shadow over the Bangladesh cricket team’s upcoming tour of Pakistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, said they had not yet decided to postpone the tour. On Tuesday night, India launched missile strikes at different locations in Pakistan. In response, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, which indicates a broader conflict in the region. Bangladesh team is scheduled to travel to the UAE on May 14 for a short T20 series, after which they are slated to fly to Lahore and Faisalabad for a five-match T20 series against Pakistan A. Given the current security concerns, the BCB held an emergency meeting Wednesday evening to assess the situation. BCB president Faruq Ahmed said no immediate decision has been made to cancel the tour, but the board will continue monitoring developments until May 10. He added that the BCB hopes the situation will stabilise before the team’s scheduled travel. Tensions soar as Pakistan vows retaliation over Indian strikes The board is also concerned about Bangladeshi players Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana, currently playing in the Pakistan Super League. Both players have informed the board they are safe. The BCB remains in close contact with the PSL and their respective franchises. The UAE leg of the tour may also be reconsidered, as the T20 series there was arranged with Pakistan in mind. If the Pakistan tour is canceled, playing in the UAE’s extreme May heat might not be deemed worthwhile, officials hinted.

India captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from test cricket Wednesday ahead of the squad's upcoming tour of England. The 38-year-old Sharma added that he will continue representing India in one-day internationals. “It’s been an absolute honor to represent my country in whites," he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for all the love and support over the years.” Sharma struggled during the 2024-25 season, averaging just 10.93 runs in 11 innings over eight tests. Overall, he scored 4,301 runs in 67 tests, an average of 40.57, with 12 centuries for the national team. Sharma replaced Virat Kohli as captain in March 2022 and guided India to 12 wins, nine losses and three draws, while scoring 1,254 runs during that time. It was a captaincy that ended with back-to-back series losses — a record 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand and a 4-1 loss to Australia that knocked India out of the 2025 World Test Championship. “Thank you, Captain … End of an era in whites! ... We are proud of you, Hitman,” India cricket said in a statement. Most recently, Sharma captained India to victories at the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy and the 2024 T20 World Cup, after which he announced his retirement from that format. India opens its five-test tour of England on June 20.  

Bangladeshi all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz advanced to World Number 2 in the ICC Men's Test All Rounder Ranking. As per latest ICC Men's Test All Rounder Ranking published on Wednesday, Miraz have secured 327 rating points to advance to his career best 2nd slot in the ICC All-Rounder ranking while Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja clinched the top slot securing 400 rating points. He toppled the Marco Jansen of South Africa (294), Pat Cummins of Australia (271) and former world number one Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (253) Miraz got the good news from ICC after displaying a brilliant performance in bat and ball against Zimbabwe in the recently concluded two-match home test series where he was also adjudged the player of the series . Miraz took ten wickets, five wickets in each in innings in the first test in Sylheti. Nurul, Mahidul guide Bangladesh A to series win vs New Zealand A He guided Bangladesh to earn a massive innings and 106 runs victory in the 2nd test against Zimbabwe in the Chattogram test scoring a century with a superb 106 runs in addition to five wickets haul.