United News of Bangladesh

Centuries from skipper Shubman Gill and Lokesh Rahul powered India to a commanding 368 for 3 at stumps on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on Saturday. Gill remained unbeaten on 103 from 143 deliveries, while Rahul struck 100 off 165 balls as India made the most of winning the toss at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, the 31st venue in India to host a Test match. India got off to a steady start with Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal adding 41 runs for the opening wicket before Jaiswal was dismissed for 24, caught behind off Mohammad Saleem. Rahul survived an early scare when an edge went unnoticed by the umpire and Afghanistan opted not to review the decision. He capitalised on the reprieve to register his 12th Test century before being caught at extra cover off Ziaur Rahman. Rahul, who struck 11 boundaries, shared a 139-run partnership for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan contributed a fluent 81 off 104 balls, including 13 fours, before becoming Saleem’s second victim shortly before tea. Gill then combined with Rishabh Pant in an unbroken 121-run stand that further strengthened India's position. Gill’s century came without offering a chance and featured 11 fours and a six. Pant remained unbeaten on 50, hitting three sixes during his innings. The match marks only the second Test meeting between the two sides. Their previous encounter came in 2018 when India defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs in Bengaluru during Afghanistan’s inaugural Test match. The game is Afghanistan’s 13th Test overall and does not count towards the World Test Championship standings.

Amid mounting criticism over political infiltration and conflict of interest, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to hold its highly controversial election on Sunday. In a bid to defuse the growing backlash, BCB Ad-hoc Committee Chief Tamim Iqbal called on candidates to separate their personal backgrounds from their administrative responsibilities, urging them to leave their individual identities outside the stadium gates. "When you sit in those seats, you only serve Bangladesh cricket," Tamim said. However, Tamim’s appeal comes against a backdrop of severe institutional critique surrounding the integrity of the election. Observers have heavily questioned the moral grounding of the process, pointing out that seven of the eleven ad-hoc committee members including Tamim himself are actively contesting the election they were explicitly appointed to oversee neutrally. Furthermore, public frustration has intensified over the overwhelming influx of political figures into the sports body. The government faced open mockery, even earning the satirical moniker "Baper Doa Cricket Board"—roughly translating to "The Nepotism Cricket Board"—due to the inclusion of ministers' children who lack sports organizing experience. The democratic credibility of the election has also been rendered largely hollow by a total lack of competition. Out of ten available director positions in Category-1, seven candidates have already secured their seats completely uncontested. In the highly sought-after Dhaka club category (Category-2), sixteen candidates are competing for twelve seats amid serious allegations of behind-the-scenes manipulation and intense political pressure to dictate the final outcome. Despite these controversies and a wave of unsuccessful legal challenges from former board members, the election will proceed as scheduled. Tamim maintained that the process remains transparent and legally sound, expressing optimism that the vote will finally deliver a settled board capable of driving the sport forward.

Shaun Tait, the former Australian pacer, stepped down from his post of Bangladesh’s bowling coach, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed in a press release on Thursday. Since informing the BCB of his circumstances, Shaun had expressed his willingness to continue in the role with a shortened time. He joined the Bangladesh National Team support staff in May 2025 and has made a significant contribution to the development of the country's fast-bowling resources. The former Australian fast bowler was also part of a successful period for the Bangladesh team, with the side producing a number of notable performances and results during his time with the team. “It has been a privilege to work with the Bangladesh National Team and to be part of a talented and committed group of players and support staff,” Shaun said. “This was not an easy decision, and I sincerely appreciate the understanding and support shown by the BCB throughout our discussions. I am proud of what the pace bowlers have achieved and I believe they have an exciting future ahead. I wish the team every success going forward,” he added.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday announced the squad for the 1st and 2nd ODIs of this month’s series against Australia in Dhaka, with all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, and wicketkeeper batter Nurul Hasan Sohan making a comeback.   The three-match series will begin on June 9, with the second and third matches scheduled for June 11 and 14, respectively. From the squad that played in the last ODI series in April against New Zealand, batsmen Afif Hossain and Mahidul Islam Ankon have been left out. Mosaddek makes a return to the Bangladesh fold after four years. The 30-year-old right-hander had last played an ODI in August 2022. Wicket-keeper batsman Nurul is also back after missing the series against New Zealand. Australia will play a bilateral ODI series in Bangladesh for the first time in 15 years, making their first visit to the country since 2011. The hosts face a daunting historical challenge, having lost all previous home ODIs against the tourists. Overall, Bangladesh have managed just a single victory against Australia in their 22 encounters in the format. Bangladesh squad against Australia: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.

England will begin its home Test season against New Zealand at Lord’s on Thursday, hoping to put behind it the disappointment and criticism that followed a heavy Ashes defeat in Australia. The series marks England’s first Test action at home since a difficult tour in which the team suffered one of its quickest Ashes losses in more than a century. The defeat sparked criticism over England’s preparation, tactics and off-field conduct. Despite the backlash, director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes retained their positions following a review of the tour. McCullum acknowledged the disappointment among supporters but said the team had to accept criticism and focus on improving. England has since introduced several changes, including stricter team discipline measures and additional coaching support. Former England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has joined the coaching staff, becoming the first woman to work with England’s men's Test team. The hosts have also made changes to their batting lineup. Openers Zac Crawley and Ollie Pope have been left out, with Durham batter Emilio Gay and young talent Jacob Bethell earning opportunities. Bethell scored his maiden Test century during the final Ashes Test in Sydney earlier this year. Fast bowler Ollie Robinson has also returned to the squad after being dropped in 2024 over concerns about fitness and attitude. Robinson has taken 76 wickets in 20 Tests and will strengthen England’s pace attack while Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse remain unavailable through injury. New Zealand, meanwhile, arrives with a strong bowling unit led by tall fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke, who are expected to play together in a Test match for the first time after recovering from back injuries. The visitors have also welcomed the return of white-ball captain Mitchell Santner from a shoulder injury. All-rounders Santner and Glenn Phillips are competing for places in the playing XI. Attention will also be on veteran batter Kane Williamson, whose long-term international future remains uncertain after stepping away from a full national contract in 2024. The 35-year-old is closing in on the milestone of 10,000 Test runs and has suggested this could be his final Test appearance at Lord’s. Williamson described Lord’s as one of cricket’s most special venues, praising its traditions and unique atmosphere. The three-match series offers England an opportunity to rebuild confidence after the Ashes setback, while New Zealand will be aiming to continue its strong recent Test performances.

Fast bowler Nathan Ellis produced a career-best performance of 4-33 as Australia defeated Pakistan by 41 runs in the second one-day international on Tuesday, leveling the three-match series 1-1. Defending 231, Australia bowled out Pakistan for 190 on a challenging pitch that offered significant turn for spinners and uneven bounce for seamers. Ellis played a key role with the ball, striking early and regularly to derail Pakistan’s chase. Reflecting on the conditions, he said Pakistan’s pitches for the series were unlike most ODI surfaces seen around the world. "It's definitely different to the traditional one-day cricket we see around the world at the moment," Ellis said. "It's no secret that today it was pretty low and slow we saw the cutters and the slow balls working a lot today, and the ball started to tail and reverse swing through the 35-to-45-over mark." Australia’s innings was built around half-centuries from captain Josh Inglis (51) and Cameron Green (53), while Matthew Renshaw contributed a brisk 43 and teenager Oliver Peake added 31 off 32 balls. After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi chose to field first. Left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, who impressed on ODI debut in the first match, claimed 2-27, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took 2-34. Afridi and Haris Rauf shared five wickets, finishing with figures of 3-36 and 2-49 respectively. Pakistan’s chase was led by all-rounder Shadab Khan, who scored 71 from 104 balls after enduring a difficult outing with the ball. He shared a 59-run partnership with Arafat Minhas (33) to revive the innings after Pakistan had slumped to 78-6. However, Ellis broke the partnership by trapping Minhas lbw in the 32nd over. Shadab reached his half-century and struck two sixes, but he was eventually the last batter dismissed, stumped by Inglis off leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha. Ellis had earlier removed opener Maaz Sadaqat in his first over before dismissing Babar Azam for 16 with a delivery that sharply moved back into the batter. Australia captain Inglis said his side felt confident once they crossed the 200-run mark. "It was a pretty good total in the end," Inglis said. "It would have been nice for someone to go on and get a big score, but we thought anything over 200, we were right in the game. "You can always call on Nello (Ellis) on those sort of pitches, his variations are outstanding, and when you've got on-pace at 145 and then your slow balls at just over 100k an hour, it's really tough." Earlier, Australia's innings got off to a poor start when Alex Carey was bowled by the first ball of the match from Afridi. Pakistan quickly introduced spinners Minhas and Abrar during the power play and both found success. Abrar dismissed Matthew Short, while Minhas removed Marnus Labuschagne for 5. Inglis and Green then steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership, showing patience on the difficult surface. Inglis reached his fifty before being bowled by Minhas, while Green added another valuable stand with Renshaw. After completing his half-century, Green was caught at long-on off Abrar. Rauf later bowled Renshaw, but Peake’s late cameo, featuring two sixes and a boundary, helped Australia post a competitive total. Pakistan captain Afridi admitted his team conceded too many runs in the closing overs. "We gave away 20-30 extra runs towards the end," Afridi said. "We lost wickets early on and that built pressure on us it is a spinning track, not easy to bat on, but the way Nathan Ellis bowled - stump to stump - that brought him success." The deciding third ODI will be played at the same venue on Thursday.

The Colombo Kaps has drafted Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud for the 2026 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The Colombo franchise confirmed Hasan's selection during the tournament's official player draft. And with this, he became the latest Bangladeshi cricketer to secure an international league contract. As a regular spearhead of Bangladesh's multi-format pace attack, the young fast bowler is expected to significantly bolster Colombo's bowling lineup with his raw pace and proven wicket-taking ability. Hasan's selection underscores a remarkably strong Bangladeshi contingent in the Sri Lankan franchise tournament this season. He joins several high-profile national teammates who have already secured spots in the competition. Earlier in the draft, veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was recruited by the Jaffna Kings, while opening batter Litton Das joined the Galle Marvels.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said this week that it will trial pink cricket balls in traditional Test matches to prevent play from being interrupted by fading light. The strategic shift addresses a persistent issue in the sport's longest format. While red balls become virtually invisible under murky skies, white limited-overs balls degrade too quickly to survive the rigorous demands of a five-day match. Pink balls, which are currently reserved exclusively for day-night Test matches under stadium floodlights, offer a durable and highly visible alternative. According to an official statement, the ICC Executive Board has approved "trialling the use of a pink ball in Test matches, with prior agreement from both teams, to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light." The governing body has also sanctioned fresh research into advanced stadium lighting technology to help match officials and host venues further reduce the amount of time lost to poor visibility. "Our discussions... have reinforced the ICC's commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally," said ICC Chief Jay Shah following the board's high-level meeting in India.

Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 75 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday. Chasing a modest target of 156 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru reached 161-5 in 18 overs after restricting Gujarat to 155-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Kohli anchored the chase with a 42-ball knock featuring nine fours and three sixes, sealing the victory with a six. It was his sixth score of 50 or more this season. Venkatesh Iyer also played a crucial cameo, scoring 32 off just 16 deliveries. With the triumph, Bengaluru became only the third franchise in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining Chennai Super Kings (2010-11) and Mumbai Indians (2019-20). Kohli ended the season with 675 runs in 16 matches, while pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished with 28 wickets. Earlier, Kumar claimed 2-29 and Josh Hazlewood took 2-37 as Bengaluru’s bowlers kept Gujarat’s batting lineup under control. Washington Sundar top-scored for Gujarat with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, including five boundaries. No other batter managed to score more than 20 runs. Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of Bengaluru’s bowlers with figures of 3-27 from four overs.

Bangladesh women’s captain Nigar Sultana Joty believes a successful campaign at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup can serve as a catalyst for local players to break into lucrative global franchise tournaments. The national team suffer from a severe lack of regular fixtures and international exposure throughout the calendar year. While women's franchise leagues are expanding rapidly worldwide, Bangladeshi cricketers are consistently overlooked. Nigar views the world stage as the definitive platform to alter that narrative. "Our team receive very little exposure," she stated during a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday. "The World Cup is a massive stage where the entire cricket community is watching. Delivering strong performances here forces people to talk about Bangladesh cricket, and that is our primary goal." The skipper emphasised that individual brilliance in the tournament will directly translate into personal career advancements for her squad. "When players excel individually on this stage, global opportunities naturally follow. The team is in a very positive frame of mind. A strong showing is vital for the collective growth of women's cricket in our country, but it will also immensely benefit the players on a personal level." The tournament is set to commence in England on June 12. In preparation, the Bangladesh squad will depart Dhaka in two separate flights tonight and tomorrow morning. They will initially land in Scotland to play a preparatory T20 triangular series involving the hosts and the Netherlands to acclimate to European conditions. "We have a great chance to win against the Netherlands and Pakistan," Nigar analysed. "We also have a lot of experience playing India, and we have beaten both India and South Africa in the past. Our strategy is to focus on one game at a time. Securing an early victory will give us the rhythm we need to carry us through the tournament." Bangladesh enter the tournament desperate to correct a poor historical record, having managed just three wins from 25 matches across previous editions. To secure a historic semi-final berth from a demanding group featuring Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, Nigar has mapped out a target of three group-stage victories.