United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday announced a sweeping increase in match fees for domestic cricketers, aiming to help players earn up to Tk 35-40 lakh a year from domestic cricket alone. BCB president Tamim Iqbal unveiled the decision at a press conference, saying the hike amounted to more than 100 percent in some categories. Under the new structure, first-class match fees will rise to Tk 1.5 lakh from Tk 70,000, List A fees will double to Tk 1 lakh from Tk 50,000, and T20 fees will go up to Tk 80,000 from Tk 40,000. Women's cricketers will also benefit, with three-day match fees doubling to Tk 40,000, fees for one-dayers rising to Tk 30,000 from Tk 15,000, and T20 fees doubling to Tk 20,000. Tamim said the proposal had come from the players themselves and was meant as a long-term solution rather than a seasonal fix. "The proposal came from the players. We are all one — the players, the board and the directors," he said. "I never wanted a solution for just one year. I wanted something that would benefit the players for years." He said a domestic cricketer could now earn Tk 35-40 lakh, or more than Tk 3 lakh a month, from domestic cricket alone, in addition to any earnings from the Dhaka Premier League or the BPL. Tamim also revealed that a new domestic tournament is in the pipeline, with about 85 percent of the preparatory work already done, and further details expected by the end of the month. He said national team players could feature in the tournament's first edition depending on their international commitments. The BCB chief added that players would be expected to maintain professionalism in return, saying there would be no exceptions for those who fail fitness tests. He said the board is also reviewing the salary structure for umpires, scorers, physiotherapists and trainers, and plans to upgrade academy facilities, including a new 110-metre athletics track.

Brazilian football star Neymar has suffered another injury setback after being substituted at halftime during Santos’ goalless draw with Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals. The 34-year-old did not return for the second half of Wednesday’s match as Santos crashed out of the competition after losing 3-0 on aggregate. After the match, Neymar criticised the condition of the pitch at Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium, saying preparations were carried out too close to the game. “I’d like to congratulate the person in charge of the pitch at Vila Belmiro,” Neymar wrote in a social media post. “Yesterday’s was the worst grass, full of holes because they did aeration a day before the match. Unbelievable!” The latest setback adds to Neymar’s injury troubles this year. He has made just 24 appearances for Santos, having struggled with recurring leg muscle and knee injuries.

Brazil will play Japan and Singapore in a double header of Asian friendlies later this year, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Thursday. The five-time World Cup champion will face Japan on November 14 and Singapore three days later, with both games to be played at the Singapore National Stadium. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said the games formed part of a rebuilding phase after the team's round-of-16 exit at this year's FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. "Facing Japan and Singapore will allow us to observe the team's performance in different contexts, which is fundamental at the start of this cycle," Ancelotti said in a CBF statement. The CBF previously announced that Brazil would face Australia on September 25 and 29 in Townsville and Brisbane, before confronting India in Kolkata on October 3.  

Harry Kane scored twice as defending champion Bayern Munich comfortably advanced to the second round of the German Cup with a 4-1 victory over second-division Osnabrück on Wednesday. Germany star Jamal Musiala was not included in Bayern's squad as he remained sidelined after collapsing during two preseason matches because of a neurological issue. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said Musiala “might” be available for Saturday's Bundesliga match against promoted Schalke. “But I don't want to put any more pressure on the guy,” Kompany said. Kompany opted against making major changes for the match against the lower-division side, starting star forwards Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise. New signing Ismael Saibari also made his first start since joining Bayern from PSV Eindhoven. Osnabrück took an early lead through a spectacular strike by Robin Meissner, who fired the ball into the top right corner from about 30 meters. Kane and even Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig congratulated Meissner for the goal. Kane equalized shortly afterward before Tom Bischof put Bayern ahead 2-1 in the 24th minute. Bayern had to wait until the 73rd minute for Olise to extend its lead and effectively settle the contest. Kane then completed the scoring from the penalty spot as Bayern began its defense of the German Cup with a comfortable victory.

Towhid Hridoy finished unbeaten on 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, passing Tamim Iqbal's long-standing record for the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi. With this, Hridoy has also become the first Bangladeshi to make a first-class triple century outside the country. He went past Tamim's 334 on the final day of the four-day affair. Tamim set that mark for East Zone against Central Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League at Mirpur in 2019. Bangladesh A declared on 676 for eight, with Hridoy having faced 481 balls. Rejaur Rahman, who held up an end late in the innings, was 31 not out from 110 deliveries. Wickets fell around Hridoy through the day. The eighth went down with him on 225, leaving him to push the score along with the tail. He and Rejaur then batted through to the declaration. South Africa A, 164 behind on first innings, began their second innings with less than a session left, giving Bangladesh A no realistic chance of bowling them out.

Bangladesh fast bowler Khaled Ahmed has signed for Kent for the last four matches of their County Championship season.  In his first County assignment, he will bowl alongside compatriot Hasan Mahmud. Kent announced the deal on Tuesday, subject to regulatory approval, as the club chase promotion from Division Two. The 32-year-old right-arm seamer joins Hasan, who is back at Canterbury after an earlier spell this season. Hasan took 12 wickets in two matches in June, including 9-101 against Lancashire at Stanley Park, before leaving for international duty. "It's an honour for me to play county cricket and join a club with a big history such as Kent," Khaled said. "This is an important part of our season and I am determined to help the team achieve promotion." He added that Hasan and his agent had spoken well of the club, which made the decision an easy one. Khaled made his first-class debut for Sylhet in 2015 and has 190 wickets from 70 matches. He has taken 34 wickets in 18 Tests since making his debut for Bangladesh in 2018. Kent are second in Division Two, level on points with Northamptonshire and 40 points behind leaders Durham. Director of cricket Simon Cook said the club had been looking for another bowler to add depth for the closing weeks. "With three of our final four games at home, we can stick with a formula that worked well in the first half of the year, while also having the flexibility to rest and rotate our frontline bowlers," Cook said.

A proposed move by United States international Folarin Balogun from Monaco to Everton appears to have fallen through after a problem reportedly emerged during his medical examination. The Athletic reported that the transfer was called off on Tuesday, the final day of the Premier League transfer window. Balogun was reportedly at Everton's training ground but did not sign a contract. Everton did not immediately comment on the situation. Earlier reports, including from Britain's Press Association, said Everton had offered around 40 million pounds ($54 million) for the 25-year-old striker. Balogun has two years remaining on his contract with Monaco. He attracted significant attention this summer after scoring three goals for the United States at the World Cup, making him the team's leading scorer in the tournament. He also made headlines after receiving a red card and a one-match suspension during the United States' 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. FIFA later deferred the suspension following intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, allowing Balogun to play in the round of 16. He featured in the United States' 4-1 defeat to Belgium, which ended the team's World Cup campaign on home soil. Trump's intervention led to a formal complaint being filed with FIFA's ethics investigators. Born in New York, Balogun grew up in Britain and came through Arsenal's youth academy. He later played for Middlesbrough before moving to France, where he joined Reims and eventually Monaco. Balogun scored 13 goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended three individuals, including former Director Mokhlesur Rahman, over allegations of corruption and match-fixing during the 12th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The BCB announced the suspensions in a news release on Tuesday and gave the accused 15 days to respond to the charges. Mokhlesur, a former director of the board led by Aminul Islam, faces allegations of trying to influence the outcome, progress or conduct of BPL matches, or being involved in efforts to fix matches. He is also accused of encouraging or helping others involved in the tournament to take part in corrupt activities. The BCB further alleged that Mokhlesur failed to report a corrupt approach to anti-corruption officials and deleted or destroyed communications that could have been relevant to an investigation. Mokhlesur had stepped down from his role with the BCB’s audit committee after fixing allegations surfaced during the previous BPL. The other two suspended individuals are former BCB security liaison officer Zakir Hasan and Rakibul Islam Sani, a former member secretary of the board’s audit committee. Zakir is accused of trying to influence the outcome or progress of matches and of encouraging others to become involved in corruption. He also allegedly failed to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation without reasonable justification. Rakibul, a former Bogura district councillor who served as member secretary of the audit committee, is accused of failing to report an approach to engage in corrupt activities and of not cooperating with an anti-corruption investigation. The suspensions are provisional. The three have 15 days to submit their responses to the allegations.  

Seventeen-year-old Thea Frodin is set to play one of the biggest matches of her young career when she takes on world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in her first US Open singles appearance. It is a huge challenge for the Los Angeles teenager, who once had another connection with one of tennis’ greatest stars — Serena Williams. Frodin served as the on-court body double for Serena’s character in the 2021 film King Richard. Actor Demi Singleton played the younger Serena Williams, while Frodin performed the tennis scenes. Now, instead of copying Serena’s game for a movie, Frodin will step onto the court as herself. “I've worked so hard to try and get to this level, and to have an opportunity like this is just really special for me,” Frodin said. She earned a wild card into the US Open after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships. Her journey into Hollywood also began through tennis. As a young player in California, Frodin won sectional titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the 10-and-under level. Her success later led to an audition for King Richard. Frodin spent six months on the film set, working alongside several actors, including Will Smith, who won an Oscar for playing Richard Williams, the father of Serena and Venus Williams. Having watched Serena throughout her career, Frodin found it relatively easy to copy the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s strokes. However, she said playing Serena for so long briefly affected her own technique. “After I was done with the movie, I got into the habit of playing with her strokes, and I couldn't switch back to mine,” she said, adding that it took time to return to her natural style. Frodin played in the US Open doubles last year but has never met Serena or Venus Williams. Wednesday’s match against Rybakina will be her first at the WTA Tour level. Earlier this year, she lost in the qualifying round in Miami during her previous attempt to reach a top-level tournament. With one year of high school still remaining, Frodin has not yet decided what comes next. But if Hollywood offers another opportunity, she would be open to balancing acting with tennis. “Tennis has always been my No. 1 focus,” she said. “But I loved being in that acting environment. If it’s possible to balance both, I’d definitely be interested.”

Lionel Messi announced Monday that he is retiring from international soccer after a remarkable two-decade career with Argentina. “It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old Messi said in a statement posted on Instagram. He said he had always given everything for Argentina, not only during the years when the team won major titles but throughout his entire international career. “I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” Messi said. Messi represented Argentina at a record-tying six World Cups, winning the title in Qatar in 2022. He also guided the team to this year’s World Cup final, where Argentina lost to Spain in extra time in New Jersey. Messi revealed that he had written his retirement message on June 21, two days after the World Cup final, but delayed publishing it because his father was suffering from health problems. Jorge Messi died in his hometown of Rosario on Aug. 8. The retirement will not end Messi’s club career. He will continue playing for Inter Miami, for whom he scored four goals in a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal over the weekend. Messi made his Argentina debut in 2006, but his international career was marked by years of disappointment before he finally lifted the World Cup trophy in 2022. “Thank you for all the love these past 20 years,” Messi said. “I'm going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I'm going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside.” The Inter Miami captain did not indicate how much longer he plans to continue playing at club level. “I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of,” he said. “Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all.” Second international retirement Messi’s recent success with Argentina came after a difficult period that had once led him to retire from the national team. In 2016, he announced his retirement after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile on penalties, with Messi missing one of Argentina’s spot kicks. He later reversed that decision and continued his career, starring for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 before finally securing the World Cup in 2022. Messi has also continued to excel at Inter Miami, winning the Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award in consecutive seasons and remaining one of the league’s most influential players. “He is pure history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. “History. A legend.”