United News of Bangladesh

Zimbabwe caused a seismic shock at the T20 World Cup on Friday, defeating heavyweights Australia by 23 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium. This is only the second win of Zimbabwe over Australia in the T20 World Cup history. Defending a total of 169 for 2, the Zimbabwean bowling attack, led by pacer Blessing Muzarabani, dismantled the 2021 champions. Muzarabani delivered a career-best spell of 4 for 17, claiming a wicket with his first ball and reaching the milestone of 100 T20I wickets. He was ably supported by Brad Evans, who took 3 for 23. Australia’s chase began disastrously, collapsing to 29 for 4 inside the first five overs. A 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Glenn Maxwell (31 off 32) and Matt Renshaw briefly revived Australian hopes. However, once Maxwell was bowled by Ryan Burl in the 15th over, the momentum shifted back to Zimbabwe. Despite a fighting half-century from Renshaw (65 off 44), Australia were bowled out for 146 in 19.3 overs. Earlier, Zimbabwe’s innings was anchored by opener Brian Bennett, who remained unbeaten on 64 off 56 balls. Significant contributions came from Tadiwanashe Marumani (35 off 21), Ryan Burl (35 off 30), and a quickfire cameo from captain Sikandar Raza (25 not-out off 13). The victory moves Zimbabwe to second place in Group B with 4 points, significantly boosting their chances of reaching the Super Eight. Australia, sitting third with 2 points, now faces a must-win scenario in their upcoming clash against group leaders Sri Lanka.

Italy celebrated a landmark moment in its cricket history by registering its first-ever win at a T20 World Cup, thrashing Nepal by 10 wickets on Thursday, while India and Sri Lanka maintained their perfect starts to the tournament. At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, brothers Anthony and Justin Mosca powered Italy to victory with an unbeaten 124-run opening stand after Nepal were bowled out for 123. Anthony smashed 62 off 32 balls and Justin added 60 off 44 as Italy chased down the target in just 12.4 overs. It was Italy’s first win at a global cricket event and only the second 10-wicket victory by an associate nation in T20 World Cup history. Messi suffers hamstring strain, doubtful for Inter Miami’s MLS opener Earlier, Crishan Kalugamage claimed 3-18 and Ben Manenti took 2-9 as Nepal collapsed, losing seven wickets for 30 runs. In New Delhi, defending champion and co-host India defeated Namibia by 93 runs. Ishan Kishan struck 61 off 24 balls, while Hardik Pandya shone with 52 off 28 deliveries and 2-21 with the ball. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy triggered Namibia’s collapse with 3-7. Meanwhile, in Pallekele, Sri Lanka crushed Oman by 105 runs. Captain Dasun Shanaka blasted a 19-ball half-century as Sri Lanka posted 225-5, the highest total of the tournament so far. Oman managed 120-9 in reply. India top Group A, while Sri Lanka have two wins from two matches.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced the launch of the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) T20, marking a historic milestone for women’s cricket in the country. The franchise-based tournament is scheduled to take place from April 3 to April 15, 2026. In a statement released on Wednesday, the BCB’s Women’s Wing confirmed that the debut edition will feature three franchise teams. The competition aims to blend experienced national cricketers with emerging local talent, who will be selected through a player draft system to ensure balanced squads. To elevate the competitive standard and provide global exposure, franchises will also be permitted to sign overseas professional players. “The WBPL will mark Bangladesh’s first-ever franchise-based Twenty20 competition for women, representing a pioneering step forward in the professional development of women’s cricket in the country,” the BCB statement read. The tournament will be overseen by a WBPL Governing Council chaired by Rubaba Dowla, BCB Director and Chairperson of the Women’s Wing. Further details regarding the franchises, draft regulations, fixtures, venues, and broadcast partners are expected to be announced soon.  

Youth and Sports Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has clarified that the decision for Bangladesh not to play the World Cup matches in India was taken solely by the government due to security concerns, dispelling confusion arising from his recent remarks. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Adviser addressed the criticism he faced after seemingly attributing the boycott decision to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the players during a press interaction the previous day. "I have clearly stated since the beginning of January that not playing the World Cup in India due to security risks was the government's decision. I certainly remain steadfast in this statement," Nazrul wrote. He explained that the confusion arose from his response to a journalist's question about whether he had any "regrets" regarding the decision.  Speaking at an event where the BCB handed over Tk 2 crore to Dhaka University, Nazrul said he was "emotional" about the board's generosity during such a sensitive time. "When asked about regrets... I felt that my or the government's regret was not the main issue. The main issue was the sacrifice of the cricket board and the players," he explained. Nazrul drew a distinction between making the decision and accepting it. While the government made the call, he argued that the players and the board deserve the credit for accepting it without protest, despite facing financial losses and potential sanctions. "I admit my failure in not being able to explain the matter clearly during an unprepared discussion," he concluded, reaffirming that the government's stance would not have been easy to maintain had the players not complied so willingly.

Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has secured a lucrative deal in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 player draft, being signed by Rawalpindi Express for a staggering 3 crore Pakistani Rupees (PKR) on Wednesday. The 23-year-old all-rounder, who delivered an impressive performance for Lahore Qalandars in the previous season, sparked a bidding war between Karachi and Rawalpindi Express after his former franchise decided not to retain or bid for him. Rashed of Gono Odhikar Parishad joins BNP to contest polls The auction, which began at 12:30 PM Bangladesh time, featured 903 registered cricketers, including 53 from Bangladesh. While all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the first Bangladeshi name to be called, he failed to attract a buyer. Rishad was picked from the category of players with a base price of PKR 1.1 crore—a list that included 22 Bangladeshi cricketers. His price eventually escalated to PKR 3 crore during the bidding process. Three Bangladeshi veterans—Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Zakir Hasan—were listed in the highest base price category of PKR 2.2 crore.  

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field, sending 2024 runner-up South Africa in to bat in Wednesday’s crucial Group D match at the Twenty20 World Cup. South Africa had won its opening game against Canada, while Afghanistan lost its first match to New Zealand and must win to keep its hopes alive of reaching the Super Eights. Only the top two teams from each group will advance, and New Zealand currently leads Group D with a 2-0 record. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said the pitch, familiar from his Indian Premier League experience, is favorable for bowling first and that his team prefers chasing a target. T20 World Cup: Pakistan beats US, NZ duo set record stand Afghanistan had been a surprise semifinalist at the 2024 World Cup before losing to South Africa in the tournament held across the Caribbean and the United States. South Africa made one change to its lineup, bringing in left-arm spinner George Linde in place of all-rounder Corbin Bosch. Afghanistan also made an adjustment, calling up left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad to replace medium-pacer Ziaur Rahman. Later Wednesday, Australia is scheduled to play its first tournament match against Ireland in Group B, while England faces West Indies in Group C. The tournament’s most anticipated group-stage clash will take place on Sunday, when unbeaten Pakistan faces India in Group A after reversing its earlier decision to boycott the match.  

Pakistan secured revenge for its upset loss to the United States two years ago with a 32-run win at the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, while New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen set a new record for the highest partnership in the tournament’s history. In Colombo, Pakistan registered its second straight victory in Group A by defeating the U.S., which had stunned it in Texas in 2024. The win comes ahead of Pakistan’s much-anticipated clash with India on Sunday, a match set to proceed after Pakistan withdrew its earlier boycott decision. After being sent in to bat, Pakistan posted 190-9, powered by 73 from opener Sahibzada Farhan and 46 from Babar Azam. Despite fast bowler Shadley van Schalwyk claiming four wickets for the second time in the tournament, Pakistan built a strong total. Babar overcame a slow start, scoring 15 off 18 balls before accelerating to finish at a strike rate of 143.75. Pakistan ended boycott because Bangladesh’s demands were met: PCB chief The U.S. struggled against Pakistan’s spin attack under lights at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq took 3-27, while Shadab Khan claimed 2-26. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed also picked up wickets as Pakistan used five spinners effectively. Shubham Ranjane scored 51 off 30 balls and Shayan Jahangir made 49 off 34, but the U.S. failed to build momentum. Tariq’s unusual bowling action troubled batters as he dismissed Harmeet Singh and Mohsin Ali off consecutive deliveries. The U.S. finished short, handing Pakistan a comfortable win. Meanwhile in Chennai, New Zealand cruised to a 10-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates after Seifert and Allen shared an unbeaten 175-run opening stand, the highest partnership for any wicket in men’s T20 World Cup history. Seifert struck 89 not out off 42 balls, following up his earlier half-century against Afghanistan. Allen remained unbeaten on 84 from 50 deliveries. New Zealand chased down UAE’s 173-6 in just 15.2 overs, reaching 175-0 for its second successive win in Group D. Earlier, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem made 66 not out off 45 balls and Alishan Sharafu added 55 as the team posted a competitive total. However, New Zealand’s aggressive start, including 78 runs in the power play, put the game beyond UAE’s reach. Seifert hit 12 fours and three sixes, including the winning shot, while Allen contributed five fours and five sixes. The previous tournament record of 170 runs was set by England’s Alex Hales and Jos Buttler against India in 2022. In New Delhi, Bas de Leede delivered an all-round performance to guide the Netherlands to a seven-wicket win over Namibia in Group A. De Leede took 2-20 as Namibia scored 156-8. He then scored an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls, hitting four sixes and five boundaries, to help the Dutch reach 159-3 in 18 overs and secure their first victory of the tournament.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed that the national team agreed to play the upcoming T20 World Cup match against India only after the International Cricket Council (ICC) acknowledged the "injustice" done to Bangladesh. The uncertainty surrounding the high-voltage clash, scheduled for February 15, ended last night after the Pakistan government gave its green light for the team to participate. The decision followed a trilateral meeting in Lahore involving the PCB, an ICC delegation, and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam. Speaking to journalists in Peshawar on Tuesday, Naqvi asserted that Pakistan’s stance was entirely principled and focused on supporting their neighbors. "We kept no condition other than the context of Bangladesh (in our discussions)," Naqvi said. "Our only goal was to earn some respect for Bangladesh and remedy the injustice done to them". The crisis originated when the Bangladesh government refused to send its team to India due to security concerns, following the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL amid threats from communal extremists. After the ICC rejected Bangladesh's request to shift matches to Sri Lanka and replaced them with Scotland, Naqvi had publicly criticized the global body for "double standards". Naqvi claimed that the resolution was a victory for Bangladesh's rights. "You saw that everything Bangladesh wanted has been accepted, and that is the main point," he stated. "When their demands were met and it was admitted that injustice had been done to them, only then did we decide to play again". He further clarified that Pakistan had no self-serving agenda in the boycott threat. "We had no personal motive in this... our work was solely regarding Bangladesh," Naqvi added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will face no punitive measures for its decision to boycott the ongoing T20 World Cup. In a surprising gesture of reconciliation, the global governing body also revealed that Bangladesh will be awarded the hosting rights for a global tournament prior to the 2031 ODI World Cup. The decision was publicized in an ICC press release issued today following a meeting held in a “cordial atmosphere” between the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the BCB in Lahore. The ICC confirmed that under the current circumstances, no financial, sporting, or administrative penalties would be imposed on the BCB for skipping the World Cup. Additionally, the BCB retains its existing right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) if necessary. As part of the understanding reached between the boards, Bangladesh—who is already scheduled to co-host the 2031 ODI World Cup with India—will host another ICC event before that date, subject to standard hosting selection processes and operational conditions. The resolution comes shortly after BCB President Aminul Islam issued a statement requesting Pakistan to proceed with their match against India. The meeting in Lahore also covered the broader future of cricket in South Asia. Describing Bangladesh's non-participation as an “unfortunate absence,” the ICC reiterated its commitment to the nation, citing its importance as a vibrant market with over 200 million fans. ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta stated, “Bangladesh's absence from the T20 World Cup is regrettable. However, this does not alter the ICC's long-standing commitment to Bangladesh as a major cricketing nation”. He added that the ICC would continue to work closely with the BCB to ensure sustainable development for players and fans. Bangladesh had originally withdrawn from the tournament after the ICC rejected their request to move matches from India to Sri Lanka following security concerns sparked by the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL.

A major breakthrough in the ongoing T20 World Cup crisis appears imminent following a marathon five-hour meeting between the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in Lahore on Sunday. Sources indicate that a resolution could be announced within the next 24 hours, potentially saving the high-profile India-Pakistan clash scheduled for February 15 in Sri Lanka. The emergency talks, facilitated by the PCB, primarily focused on addressing grievances lodged by the Bangladesh Cricket Board regarding “past injustices”. Insiders revealed that a formula has been devised to address these concerns, with the ICC responding positively to the proposals. ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, who led the delegation, has departed to seek final approval for the proposed recommendations. Meanwhile, BCB officials have returned to Dhaka to brief their government on the developments. The two parties are expected to reconnect on Monday afternoon to finalise the agreement. ICC delegation lands in Lahore for crisis talks over India-Pakistan World Cup match Parallel to these developments, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is set to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within the next 24 to 48 hours. Naqvi will seek formal instructions regarding the national team's participation in the match against India, a decision that ultimately rests with the Prime Minister. This diplomatic push comes after Prime Minister Sharif had publicly backed the boycott earlier in the week, stating that “politics should be kept out of sports” and termed the decision not to play India as “appropriate".