United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday named a 15-member squad for the first Test against West Indies, which starts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on October 28. Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain the side, with all-rounder Mehidy Hassan Miraz as vice-captain. Shadman Islam and left-hander Tanzid Hasan are the specialist openers in the squad. The middle order includes Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Litton Kumer Das, Tawhid Hridoy and wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik. The squad has three spinners: left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and off-spinners Mehidy and Nayeem Hasan. Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam make up the pace attack. The match is the first of West Indies' tour of Bangladesh. Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Kumer Das, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz (vice-captain), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam.

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning chase of 430 runs to beat England in a one-day international after Harry Brook struck the first double century by an England batter in the format, scoring 202. Brook smashed 202 off 116 balls, including 21 fours and 10 sixes, reaching his double century in 114 deliveries - the fastest in men's ODI history. He surpassed Ben Stokes' previous England record of 182 as England posted 429-4, then the highest ODI total in Pakistan. Despite slipping to 24-2, Sri Lanka completed the second-highest successful chase in ODI history. Pavan Rathnayake scored 130, while Aviksha Fernando and Dasun Shanaka both made 97. England's bowlers struggled, with Sam Curran conceding 103 runs in nine overs. Jofra Archer was rested, while Adil Rashid was left out for tactical reasons. Dew also hampered England's fielding and bowling. Sri Lanka needed eight runs in the final over, bowled by Josh Tongue, who dismissed Dinuth Wellalage and Eshan Malinga on consecutive deliveries. However, Janith Liyanage hit a six off the penultimate ball when six runs were needed, sealing victory. The match produced 847 runs, the second-highest aggregate in ODI history, and a record 123 boundaries - 93 fours and 30 sixes. Brook's innings included a rapid acceleration after a cautious start, with 156 runs scored in England's final 10 overs. He became the first player in ODI history to score a double century in a losing cause. England remain winless after two matches in the tri-series and may need to beat Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday to stay in the competition ahead of next year's World Cup in southern Africa.

Captain Harry Brook smashed the fastest double century in men's ODI history and England's first, scoring 202 to propel England to 429-4-their fourth-highest total-against Sri Lanka in Thursday's tri-series match. Sent in at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Brook reached his double ton in 114 balls-two faster than Shubman Gill's 116-ball record for India against West Indies at Guwahati last month-before holing out off the final ball. He hit 10 sixes and 21 boundaries. Brook reached 100 off 75 balls with a ramped fine-leg boundary, reached 150 similarly, and completed his second century in 39 balls via a paddle sweep off Janith Liyanage. Joe Root (69), Will Jacks (66 not out), and Tom Banton (50) scored fifties, with Brook and Jacks adding 156 runs in the final 10 overs. Sri Lanka's seamers suffered: Eshan Malinga (0-91), Dilshan Madushanka (0-89), and returning Dasun Shanaka (0-74 off 6 overs). Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage took 2-56  . Both teams seek their first win after losing to Pakistan.

Bangladesh talk about winning trophies before every big tournament but do not back it up on the field, stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy said on after his side went out of the tri-nation series in the UAE. “When we go to play a big series, a tri-series, the Asia Cup or the World Cup, everyone wants to win the trophy, individually and as a team,” Hridoy told a press conference after the seven-wicket defeat to Afghanistan. “But we only say it. It doesn’t show in what we do,” he added.  Bangladesh needed to beat Afghanistan by at least 41 runs to reach the final after Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. They lost two wickets for six runs in 1.3 overs and four of their top five, Hridoy among them, inside seven overs. They were bowled out for 160 without batting their 50 overs. “We lost a few wickets early. I think that was the main reason,” Hridoy said at the post-match presentation. He is leading the side in the absence of the injured Liton Das. Hridoy said the problem was not confined to one position when he was asked if Bangladesh has enough batters in the pipeline.  “I don’t want to single out one place, because the whole batting unit failed together. There are certainly enough players in the pipeline,” he said. He also defended the state of the team. “I don’t want to judge the whole team on one or two matches or one or two series. I’d say the team is in a good place, but as a batting unit we have batted very badly in every match we’ve played away. That’s why the whole team is suffering.” Bangladesh had won home ODI series against West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia before July, when they lost a series in Zimbabwe. They failed to chase 141 in the first match there and 234 in the next. In the tri-nation series, they did not reach 200 in either of their two matches. Hridoy pointed to next year’s Asia Cup, which Bangladesh will host. “The Asia Cup at home is a big opportunity for us. We have to sit down properly, or do whatever it takes, to get the team into a good position, because the Asia Cup is an important stage for us. Hopefully, Inshallah, we’ll do something good,” he said.  

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening T20 international at Hagley Oval on Thursday. The Indian team arrived in New Zealand only two days before the match, leaving little time for the players to adjust to local conditions ahead of a lengthy tour featuring five T20 internationals, five one-day internationals and two Test matches. “We have no complaints,” Iyer said. “We're a band of professionals and everyone knows that in the dressing room.” India made two changes to the side that played the fifth and final T20 international against the West Indies a week ago. Mayank Yadav replaced Prince Yadav, while Nitish Kumar Reddy came in for Shivam Dube. India won the first and third matches of that series by eight wickets and 14 runs, respectively, but the West Indies bounced back on both occasions. New Zealand selected four pace bowlers — Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson along with three spinners, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are expected to share the new ball for India. The two sides last faced each other in the T20 World Cup final in India, where the hosts secured a convincing 96-run victory.

Bangladesh have a year left before the ODI World Cup, and the tri-nation series in the UAE has shown where the work lies: in two matches, their batters did not reach 200 either time. Against Afghanistan on Wednesday, the top four were gone inside seven overs and eight of the 11 batters failed to reach double figures. The 160 all out ended Bangladesh's hopes of reaching the final and gave Afghanistan their fifth consecutive ODI win over them. Afghanistan chased the target with seven wickets and 87 balls to spare. They will meet Zimbabwe, who beat Bangladesh in the series opener, in the final in Sharjah. Bangladesh needed to win by at least 41 runs to qualify after stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. That meant keeping Afghanistan to 119, a mark they passed in the 27th over. The innings was in trouble inside two overs. Tanzid Hasan edged Yamin Ahmadzai to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Soumya Sarkar played on next ball, trying to cut a delivery just outside off stump. Najmul Hossain Shanto made 15 before he too was caught behind, and Hridoy was caught and bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai for a duck. Parvez Hossain, called into the squad as Liton Das's replacement, and Saif Hassan took Bangladesh from 28 for four to 121. Saif, who scored at under a run every two balls throughout, was caught at midwicket charging Mohammad Nabi for 41 off 82 balls. Parvez went on to make 70 off 96 balls, his second ODI fifty. Mehedi Hasan Miraz was dropped off a pull and caught two balls later playing the same shot, out for two. Rashid Khan took four for 31 as Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for 39 runs. Soumya, Hridoy, debutant Aliss Al Islam and Mustafizur Rahman were all out for ducks. Taskin Ahmed bowled Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal inside the powerplay, but Afghanistan had already made 26 from the first 16 balls, 10 of them extras. Rahmat Shah's unbeaten 67 took them home in the 36th over. The World Cup will be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe next October.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 160 in 41.2 overs against Afghanistan in their tri-series match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, losing their last six wickets for 39 runs after a fifth-wicket stand between Parvez Hossain and Saif Hassan. Bangladesh need to beat Afghanistan by at least 41 runs to reach the final. Parvez top-scored with 70 off 96 balls, with five fours and two sixes, while Saif made 41 off 82. The pair took Bangladesh from 28 for four to 121. Saif fell shortly after Parvez reached his fifty off 74 balls. He tried to hit Mohammad Nabi for a big shot and was caught at midwicket, and the collapse followed. Mehidy Hasan Miraz went for two, caught at backward square leg off Bilal Sami, leaving Bangladesh at 124 for six in 33 overs. Rashid Khan bowled Shoriful Islam for seven and then trapped Parvez leg before for 70. Parvez reviewed, but the on-field decision stood. Rashid also had Aliss Al Islam caught at slip by Nabi and bowled Mustafizur Rahman first ball, as Bangladesh lost their last two wickets off consecutive deliveries. Bangladesh had been in trouble from the start after captain Towhid Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat. Tanzid Hasan was caught behind off Yamin Ahmadzai, and Soumya Sarkar was bowled next ball, leaving Bangladesh at eight for two after two overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto made 15 off 23 balls before falling, and Hridoy was caught and bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai, as Bangladesh slipped to 28 for four in seven overs. Bangladesh made three changes from the side that lost to Zimbabwe, bringing in Parvez, Miraz and Aliss for Rishad Hossain, Nurul Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain.

Bangladesh will play the United Arab Emirates in Sylhet on the opening day of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, which Bangladesh and Nepal will co-host from January 21 next year. The International Cricket Council released the full schedule on Wednesday. The final will be played in Chattogram on February 6, and the city will also host both semi-finals on February 4. Only the semi-finals and the final have reserve days. The tournament will be played at four venues, two in each country. Sylhet and Chattogram will stage 12 matches each, while Mulpani will host eight and Kirtipur seven. The two Nepal grounds will hold group matches and some Super Six games. Eight teams will be in action on the opening day, with two matches each in Sylhet and Mulpani. Play will start at 9:30am and 1:30pm local time. Bangladesh are in Group C with Australia, the UAE and Nigeria, and will play all three group matches in Sylhet. After facing the UAE, they meet Australia on January 23 and Nigeria on January 25. Two-time champions India are in Group A with Ireland, Nepal and West Indies. Pakistan will take on New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa in Group B, while the USA, Scotland, England and Sri Lanka make up Group D. The group stage ends on January 26. The top three teams from each group go through to the Super Six, where qualifiers from Groups A and D form one group and those from Groups B and C the other. Each team plays two Super Six matches, and the top two from each group reach the semi-finals. India won the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2023, beating England in the final, and kept the title in Malaysia in 2025 with a win over South Africa. Bangladesh reached the Super Six in both editions but have never played in a semi-final.  

Gianni Infantino is set to take his FIFA presidential re-election campaign to Japan this week, where he is scheduled to meet leaders of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday. The meeting comes after Infantino apologised last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to FIFA's 37-member ruling council, which he chairs, for "mistakes" in putting together a now-abandoned $4.2 billion plan to sell off World Cup commercial rights. The council is FIFA's main decision-making body, comprising officials from across the world. The planned meeting with Asian soccer leaders will take place at a five-star hotel in Tokyo, with media access largely restricted. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC president, initially opposed Infantino and his proposal to establish a subsidiary to run the World Cup. However, he may have moved closer to the FIFA president, according to a report by The Athletic. Infantino has offered his critics an open and independent review of FIFA's decision-making process. Infantino seeks support ahead of election An Associated Press tally suggests Infantino is nearing the simple majority of votes from FIFA's 211 member federations needed to secure re-election in March for a fourth term. Some decisive votes could come from Asia. The AFC had joined criticism of Infantino following the proposed World Cup commercial rights sell-off, but its members appear divided over his leadership. Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, has expressed support for Infantino, while Jordan has declared its opposition. The FIFA Council is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Dec 16 in Doha, Qatar. According to the AP tally, 87 of FIFA's 211 member federations have indicated support for Infantino, either through individual comments or by endorsing statements of backing issued by their regional confederations. Europe accounts for the largest bloc of opposition. FIFA's election rules No incumbent FIFA president has lost an election since 1974. The deadline for candidates to submit nominations to challenge Infantino is Nov 18. Under FIFA rules, candidates must have "played an active role in association football (e.g. as a player or an official within FIFA, a confederation or an association, etc.) for two of the last five years before being proposed." They must also secure declarations of support from at least five of FIFA's 211 member federations. "FIFA is a massive patronage network," Jules Boykoff, a political scientist at Pacific University and a former professional soccer player, told the Associated Press. "It brings in billions from the men's World Cup and distributes it to football associations around the world in exchange for loyalty," he said. "The funds that FIFA distributes to soccer bodies around the world are meant to develop soccer, but there's scant oversight," Boykoff added. "To say FIFA is in need of structural overhaul it to make an enormous understatement."

Lionel Messi scored twice and provided an assist as Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Saturday. Germán Berterame opened the scoring in the final minute of the first half, converting a move set up by Messi and Luis Suárez to put Miami ahead. Messi then scored twice in four minutes, finding the net in the 56th and 60th minutes to extend Miami’s lead to 3-0. Berterame assisted on both goals, while Suárez provided an assist on Messi’s second strike. With his 15th assist of the season, Messi drew level with Los Angeles FC’s Son Heung-min at the top of the league’s assist standings. He also became the first player in MLS history to record at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons. The Argentine star’s goals took his league-leading tally to 25. He won the Golden Boot last season with 29 goals and, alongside Josef Martínez, is one of only two players in MLS history to score at least 25 goals in two regular seasons. Messi now has 40 goal contributions this season, nine short of Carlos Vela’s MLS record of 49, set with Los Angeles FC in 2019. Miami have four matches remaining. Berterame has recorded eight assists, while Suárez registered a career-high 11th assist. Atlanta pulled one back in the 89th minute when Fafà Picault converted a penalty. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made two saves, while Atlanta’s Lucas Hoyos also stopped two shots. Atlanta had played out a 2-2 draw with Miami at home earlier in September. Inter Miami will visit the New York Red Bulls next Saturday, while Atlanta United will host Chicago Fire.