United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Women’s cricket team is on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup after securing a dominant 39-run victory over Thailand in the Super Six stage of the qualifiers on Wednesday.  It was the Tigresses' fifth consecutive victory in the tournament, maintaining a perfect record. Playing at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, Bangladesh successfully defended a total of 165, restricting Thailand to 126 for 8 to inch closer to the main event. Nigar Sultana’s side could confirm their World Cup berth later today if the Netherlands defeat the USA in the afternoon fixture. Even if the USA wins, Bangladesh needs just one win from their remaining two matches—or a washout—to seal their spot. After being asked to bat first, Bangladesh faced an early scare, losing opener Dilara Akter for a golden duck on the very first ball and Sharmin Akhter shortly after, leaving them reeling at 12 for 2. U-19 World Cup: Bangladesh eliminated after crushing 7-wicket defeat to England However, a brilliant 110-run partnership between Sobhana Mostary and wicketkeeper Juairiya Ferdous rescued the innings. Player of the Match Sobhana anchored the side with a stylish 59 off 42 balls, studded with four boundaries and two sixes. Juairiya provided excellent support with a steady 56 off 45 balls. A late cameo from Ritu Moni (15 off 6) helped propel Bangladesh to a competitive 165 for 8, despite a flurry of late wickets falling to Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong (3 for 22). In reply, Thailand’s chase faltered immediately as pacer Marufa Akter trapped Suwanan Khiaoto lbw on the first ball of the innings. While Natthakan Chantham offered resistance with a fighting 46 off 41 balls and skipper Naruemol Chaiwai added 30, the Thai batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of the rising required run rate. T20 World Cup: ICC rejects Bangladesh’s safe-venue request, includes Scotland Marufa Akter was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 25, while spinners Shorna Akter (2 for 21) and Ritu Moni (2 for 20) strangled the middle order to ensure a comfortable win.

Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 86 to steer South Africa to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in the opening match of their three-game Twenty20 international series on Tuesday. Markram’s 47-ball knock featured nine fours and three sixes. He put on 83 runs with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored 44, and later added an unbroken 93-run stand with Ryan Rickelton as South Africa chased down the target, reaching 176 for one with 13 balls remaining. Yousuf questions ICC governance: ‘Cricket must be ruled by principles, not influence’ Earlier, left-arm spinner George Linde delivered a match-winning performance with the ball, claiming 3 for 25 to earn the player-of-the-match award. Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch also contributed, taking two wickets each, as the West Indies were restricted to 173 for seven after South Africa won the toss and chose to field. Shimron Hetmyer was the top scorer for the visitors, hitting 48 off 32 balls with four fours and three sixes. He shared a 74-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Rovman Powell, who remained unbeaten on 29. The second match of the series will be played on Thursday in Centurion.

The Bangladesh government has officially confirmed that the national cricket team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing ‘genuine security risks' amidst a volatile regional political climate. The announcement made by the Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, on Thursday, effectively defies the ultimatum set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) just a day earlier. Speaking to the media, the Sports Adviser made it clear that the safety of the delegation is non-negotiable. “Bangladesh is not travelling to India to play the World Cup due to the security risk—this is a decision made by the Bangladesh government. No other entity has any rights to take this decision,” he said. Read more: Travel to India for T20 World Cup or be replaced: ICC warns Bangladesh This statement overrides the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) attempts to negotiate and directly challenges the ICC's insistence on the original schedule. Addressing the potential financial and sporting repercussions of a boycott, the Adviser argued that national dignity and human safety carry a higher value. He urged the public and media to consider the alternative cost of capitulation. “You should also consider what the damage would be if we played the World Cup,” he said. “Pushing our players, fans, and journalists into a genuine risk amidst this regional political situation, with our heads bowed down... is a damage that must be weighed.” Despite the ICC's vote on Wednesday to replace Bangladesh with Scotland if they refuse to travel, the government remains hopeful for a last-minute diplomatic solution involving a venue change. Read more: India wins T20 series against New Zealand by 48 runs The Adviser insisted that the demand to play in Sri Lanka is valid and rooted in history. “We still hope the ICC will do justice,” he said. “There are many precedents in the world where matches are played at a different venue due to security risks. We have not given up hope yet.”

Abhishek Sharma blasted 84 off 35 balls to power India to a commanding 48-run win over New Zealand in the first T20 of the five-match series on Wednesday. Riding on Sharma’s eight sixes and five fours, India posted 238-7, the third-highest T20 total against New Zealand. Captain Suryakumar Yadav added 32 off 22 balls, while Rinku Singh finished unbeaten on 44 off 20 deliveries to provide the late surge. After being sent in, India lost Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (8) early, but Sharma counterattacked and raced to a 22-ball fifty. He shared a rapid 99-run stand off 47 balls with Yadav as India crossed 100 inside nine overs. Yadav fell in the 11th over, and Mitchell Santner (1-37) then helped slow India’s momentum. Ish Sodhi struck in the following over to remove Sharma, and India slipped to 185-6 in 15.4 overs. Hardik Pandya scored 25 off 16 balls, while Shivam Dube and Axar Patel made 9 and 5 respectively. Singh, however, held firm at the end and accelerated in the final overs to lift India to a daunting total. Kyle Jamieson (2-54) and Jacob Duffy (2-27) took two wickets each for New Zealand. BPL Qualifier: Rajshahi defend 165 to knock out Sylhet, will face Chattogram in final In reply, New Zealand’s chase stumbled early as Devon Conway fell for a two-ball duck and Rachin Ravindra made 1. Tim Robinson scored 21 before Varun Chakravarthy (2-37) dismissed him in the seventh over, leaving the visitors at 52-3. Glenn Phillips kept the chase alive with a 78 off 40 balls, adding 79 off 42 deliveries with Mark Chapman, who scored 39 off 24 balls. Phillips reached his fifty off 29 balls and benefited from a few fielding lapses before he was eventually caught off Axar Patel in the 14th over. Despite Daryl Mitchell’s 28 off 18 balls and Santner’s unbeaten 20 off 13, New Zealand finished on 190-7, falling well short of the target. Sylhet Titans elect to field against Rangpur in BPL eliminator The series serves as preparation for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, beginning Feb. 7. The second match will be played in Raipur on Friday.

Sylhet Titans captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz won the toss and opted to field first in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) eliminator against Rangpur Riders. Sylhet have made four changes to their squad, while Rangpur captain Litton Das confirmed two changes in his squad for today’s match. Rangpur Riders squad: Dawid Malan, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das (c), Khushdil Shah, Iftakhar Hossain Ifti, Nurul Hasan (w), Mahmudullah, Faheem Ashraf, Nahid Rana, Aliss Al Islam, Akif Javed, Mehedi Hasan Sohag, Rakibul Hasan, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Nayeem Hasan, Abdul Halim, Mustafizur Rahman, Kyle Mayers, Kamrul Islam Dramatic final over sees Rajshahi edge past Sylhet by 5 runs Sylhet Titans squad: Tawfique Khan, Parvez Hossain Emon (w), Moeen Ali, Afif Hossain, Mominul Haque, Mehedi Hasan Miraz (c), Ethan Brookes, Shohidul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Ruyel Miah, Salman Irshad, Rony Talukdar, Ariful Islam Jony, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Rahatul Ferdous, Zakir Hasan

The ICC T20 World Cup faces fresh uncertainty as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly halted all national team preparations on Monday (January 19, 2026) with the board instructing team management to develop a ‘contingency plan’ in case Pakistan decides to withdraw from the tournament. Geo News, a mainstream Pakistani media, reported that the PCB has taken this drastic step in solidarity with Bangladesh, whose participation remains in doubt due to security concerns regarding venues in India. Read more: Mustafizur Rahman named in Wisden’s 2025 T20 team of the year Officials stated that Pakistan views Bangladesh’s security apprehensions as “reasonable and valid” and warned that they would reconsider their own participation if these grievances are not addressed. While the PCB has offered to host Bangladesh's matches as an alternative, logistical solutions appear to be narrowing after Cricket Ireland rejected a proposed group swap, confirming they have received “definitive assurances” that they will remain in Sri Lanka. The standoff is fast approaching a breaking point, with a final decision on Bangladesh's participation expected by January 21. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) must announce by this deadline whether they will travel to India or forfeit their spot. Should Bangladesh decline to participate, the ICC is expected to nominate Scotland as their replacement based on rankings. Read more: Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup deadlock: Ireland rejects group swap, Pakistan sides with BCB Despite the BCB's insistence on venue changes, the ICC maintains that there is “no specific threat” to the team and the original schedule remains unchanged. 

The diplomatic crisis surrounding the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has escalated to a new level, with Pakistan media reporting that the country may review its own participation in the tournament if Bangladesh's security concerns regarding India remain unresolved. The move follows a formal request for support from the Bangladesh government, prompting Islamabad to warn that failing to address these grievances could impact the wider tournament preparations. Pakistan has taken a firm diplomatic stance, emphasizing that no country should face pressure regarding hosting responsibilities and assuring Bangladesh of “full support”. Read More: BCB rejects ICC’s plea to reconsider India tour to play T20 World Cup The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also formally communicated its interest in hosting Bangladesh's fixtures if venues in Sri Lanka are unavailable, citing its readiness following the successful hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, a logistical solution proposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to swap groups with Ireland appears to have collapsed. Cricket Ireland dismissed reports of a potential exchange, stating they have received “definitive assurances” from the ICC that they will remain in Sri Lanka for the group stages. A Cricket Ireland official confirmed, “We're definitely playing the group stage in Sri Lanka,” effectively rejecting the proposal the BCB tabled during a meeting with ICC executives in Dhaka on Saturday. Read more: Rajshahi Warriors top table with a tense 3-wicket win over Chattogram This development leaves Bangladesh in a precarious position under the current schedule. They remain in Group B alongside West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy, with three matches scheduled in Kolkata and one in Mumbai starting February 7.//

The diplomatic tension between Dhaka and New Delhi has spilled onto the cricket field, as the captains of the Bangladesh and India Under-19 teams refused to shake hands during the toss at the ICC U-19 World Cup on Saturday in Zimbabwe. In a scene reminiscent of recent India-Pakistan encounters, Bangladesh acting captain Jawad Abrar and India captain Ayush Mhatre visibly avoided each other at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. While it remains unclear which team initiated the break in protocol, the two leaders dispensed with the customary sporting gesture before Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field. This incident mirrors the stance taken by India during the Asia Cup in September, where captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that his team would not shake hands with Pakistani players due to military conflicts. Read More: Bangladesh honours Mushfiqur Rahim as first cricketer to reach 100 Tests The breakdown in on-field courtesies comes amid “cold relations” between the two nations and a deepening standoff regarding the upcoming senior Men's T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains firm in its decision not to send the national team to India for the tournament in February, citing severe security risks. Tensions escalated recently after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL due to security threats, a concern reportedly validated by the ICC’s own “Internal Threat Assessment Report”.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is set to resume on Friday (January 16, 2026) after a successful late-night negotiation between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players, ending the boycott that stalled the tournament on Thursday. The breakthrough was announced by BPL Governing Council Member Secretary Iftekhar Rahman and CWAB President Mohammad Mithun following a meeting at the BCB office in Gulshan. Read more: BCB removes Nazmul from finance chair in bid to end player boycott Cricketers joined the discussions with board officials and franchise representatives around 10:30 PM to finalize the agreement. To accommodate the lost day, the tournament schedule has been revised. Thursday’s abandoned matches—Noakhali Express vs. Chattogram Royals and Rajshahi Warriors vs. Sylhet Titans—will now be played on Friday at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM respectively. Consequently, Friday’s originally scheduled games have been shifted to Saturday, while Saturday’s fixtures move to January 18. The Eliminator and Qualifier-1 have also been pushed back to January 20, though the date for the final remains unchanged. The standoff was triggered by offensive remarks from BCB Director M Nazmul Islam regarding player funding. While the players initially demanded his resignation and a public apology, the resumption follows the board’s decision to strip him of his Finance Committee chairmanship. Read more: BPL halted as players boycott match despite BCB’s show-cause notice

In a frantic effort to salvage the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and quell a full-scale player mutiny, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Director M Nazmul Islam from his post as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect. The decision, announced in a media release on Thursday evening (January 15, 2026), comes hours after cricketers followed through on their threat to boycott the day's BPL fixtures. The first match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express was abandoned after players refused to take the field, adhering to an ultimatum issued by the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB). Read More: BCB to continue ‘constructive engagement’ with ICC for T20 World Cup solution The BCB President exercised his authority under Article 31 of the constitution to strip Nazmul of his committee responsibilities, assuming the role of Acting Chairman himself. “The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority,” the board stated, adding that the move was aimed at ensuring the “smooth and effective functioning” of affairs. The release explicitly appealed to players to return to the field, hoping they would “display the highest standards of professionalism” to ensure the continuation of the BPL during this “challenging period”. The crisis erupted after Nazmul made a series of remarks, that cricketers found inflammatory, first labeling former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” and later mocking players by asking if the board should demand a refund of their salaries if they failed to perform at the World Cup. While the players demanded his resignation as a board director, it remains to be seen if his removal solely from the Finance Committee chairmanship will be enough to bring them back to the stadium. Read more: BPL halted as players boycott match despite BCB’s show-cause notice