Former Bangladesh captains Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Mahmudullah Riyad have found their homes for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season, with franchises finalizing their rosters after Monday's player draft. The 11th edition of the BPL is set to begin on December 27, featuring seven teams, including newcomer Durbar Rajshahi. All teams secured players through direct signings or retention before completing their squads in the draft. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza rejoins Sylhet Strikers, where he played last season. His participation was initially uncertain as he wasn't retained, but the Strikers ultimately brought him back. Mahmudullah Riyad, another former national captain who recently retired from T20Is, returns to defending champions Fortune Barishal. Pre-Draft Signings: Who’s joining each BPL team for 2025? Teams previously announced their direct signings and retained players. The draft also saw dozens of international players join BPL teams alongside local stars. This year's tournament will feature big names like Moeen Ali, Thisara Perera, Kyle Mayers, Dawid Malan, Johnson Charles, and Alex Hales. Teams after the draft: Dhaka Capitals: Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan Tamim (direct signing), (Foreign direct signings) Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, Amir Hamza, Shahnawaz Dahani, Stephen Eskinazi, (from the draft), Litton Kumar Das, Habibur Rahman, Mukidul Islam, Abu Jayed Chowdhury, Saim Ayub, Amir Hamza Hotak, Sabbir Rahman, Munim Shahriar, Asif Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mushfiq Hasan. Chittagong Kings: (Direct signings) Shakib Al Hasan, Shoriful Islam, (Foreign direct signings) Moeen Ali, Usman Khan, Haider Ali, Angelo Mathews, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Binura Fernando, (From the draft) Shamim Hossain Patwary, Parvez Hossain Emon, Khaled Ahmed, Aliss Al Islam, Graham Clark, Thomas O'Connell, Mohammad Mithun, Naeem Islam, Maruf Mridha, Rahat-ul-Ferdous Javed, Sheikh Parvez Rahman, Marshall Ayub. Durbar Rajshahi: (Direct signing) Anamul Haque, (From the draft) Taskin Ahmed, Zisan Alam, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Sabbir Hossain, Saad Nasim, Lahiru Samarakoon, Sanjamul Islam, SM Meherob Hasan, Akbar Ali, Hasan Murad, Shafiul Islam, Mohr Sheikh. Fortune Barishal: (Direct signing) Towhid Hridoy. (Retained) Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, (Foreign direct signings) Kyle Mayers, Dawid Malan, Mohammad Nabi, Faheem Ashraf, Ali Mohammad, Jahandad Khan, (From the draft) Mahmudullah Riyad, Tanvir Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Ripon Mondol, James Fuller, Pathum Nissanka, Ebadot Hossain, Naeem Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taijul Islam, Nandre Burger, Shahidul Islam, Ariful Islam. BCB announced squad for Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman Sylhet Strikers: (Direct signing) Jaker Ali Anik, (Retained) Tanzim Hasan, Zakir Hasan, (Foreign direct signings) Paul Stirling, George Munsey, (From the draft) Rony Talukdar, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Rahkeem Cornwall, Samiullah Shenwari, Ruyel Miah, Ariful Haque, Nihaduzzaman, Nahidul Islam, Reece Topley. Khulna Tigers: (Direct signing) Mehidy Hasan Miraz, (Retained) Afif Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, (Foreign direct signing), Oshane Thomas, (From the draft) Hasan Mahmud, Naeem Sheikh, Imrul Kayes, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mohammad Hasnain, Lewis Gregory, Abu Hider Rony, Ziaur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mohammad Nawaz. Rangpur Riders: (Direct signing) Mohammad Saifuddin, (Retained) Nurul Hasan Sohan, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, (Foreign direct signings) Alex Hales, Khushdil Shah, Allah Ghazanfar, Steven Taylor, Saurabh Netravalkar, (From the draft) Nahid Rana, Saif Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Akif Javed, Curtis Campher, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Irfan Shukkur, Kamrul Islam, Toufiq Khan Tushar. BFF Election: Tabith Awal emerging as frontrunner to replace Salahuddin

Ahead of the players’ draft for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season, each participating team has directly signed or retained select players. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently released the final list. Dhaka Capitals signed Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzid Hasan Tamim for Tk 6,000,000 and Tk 4,000,000, respectively, marking a new team for both players. Chattogram Kings secured Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam directly, both for Tk 6,000,000 each. BCB announced squad for Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman Fortune Barishal, the defending champions, retained their stalwarts Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, while also signing Towhid Hridoy directly. All three players will receive Tk 6,000,000. Sylhet Strikers kept hometown favorites Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Zakir Hasan, and added another local player, Jaker Ali, via direct signing. Sakib and Jaker will receive Tk 4,000,000, while Zakir will get Tk 2,500,000. Khulna Strikers retained Nasum Ahmed for Tk 2,500,000 and Afif Hossain for Tk 4,000,000, along with signing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for Tk 6,000,000. Rangpur Riders, the former champions, kept Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mahedi Hasan, each earning Tk 4,000,000, while also adding Mohammad Saifuddin for Tk 2,500,000 through direct signing. BFF Election: Tabith Awal emerging as frontrunner to replace Salahuddin Durbar Rajshahi, a new franchise in the league, brought in Anamul Haque Bijoy directly for Tk 4,000,000. The BPL season is set to start on December 27, featuring a total of seven teams.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced its 15-member final squad for the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup' 2024 to be held in Oman from October 18 to 27. The tournament will be played in the T20 format for the first time. Eight emerging cricket teams from Asia will compete in the meet which creates an exciting platform for young talents to showcase their skills. The previous three editions of the meet was played on 50 over a side match with Pakistan winning the title twice and rest one by India. Akbar Ali, who led Bangladesh to win the historic U-19 World Cup in 2020, will captain the Bangladesh A team in the upcoming tournament. Eight teams, split into two groups, will compete in the tournament with the top two teams from each of the group progressing to the semifinals billed for October 25. The grand finale of the inaugural T20 tournament will take place on October 27. Bangladesh A team put in Group A with Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong while Group B team consists of India A, Pakistan A, UAE and Oman. In the group matches, Bangladesh will play Hong Kong on Oct 19, Afghanistan on Oct 21 and Sri Lanka on Oct 23. Bangladesh team : Akbar Ali (captain), Saif Hassan ( vice captan), Parvez Hossain Emon, Naim Sheikh, Jishan Alam, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain Patwari, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby, Rakibul Hasan, Aliss Al Islam, Wasi Siddiqee,, Abu Hider Rony, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Ripon Mondal and Maruf Mridha. Stand by : Jaker Ali Anik, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Tanjim Hasan Sakib and Nasum Ahmed.

Bangladesh star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan is set to return home to play his final Test match in Mirpur, starting October 21, amid growing protests against him. However, concerns about his safety linger for this connection with the previous government which was ousted by an unprecedented student-citizen movement in August. Recently, a group of student protesters displayed graffiti expressing anger toward Shakib for his actions during the protests in July and August, during which, according to protesters, more than 1,500 people were killed. They also conducted wall-writing expressing anger to Shakib at the cricket stadium area in Mirpur. The protesters said they do not want Shakib to wear Bangladesh’s jersey again, citing his association with the “fascist government”—a reference to the previous administration led by Sheikh Hasina. Shakib Al Hasan ‘sorry for silence’ during student movement On Sunday, Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud said he sees no obstacles to Shakib’s return or his participation in the Test match. “He is a cricketer, he will play, and he is a citizen of Bangladesh. I don’t see any obstacle to his homecoming. The responsibility of the state is to ensure the safety of every citizen, including the cricket team. We will ensure that,” said Asif Mahmud while speaking to the media on Sunday.

Bangladesh eliminated from Group B of the 10-team ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 losing to stronger South Africa by seven wickets with 16 balls remaining in their 4th and last match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday night. Bangladesh started their campaign in the ongoing World Cup beating debutante Scotland by 16 runs to taste their first victory after 16 consecutive defeats in last four editions of the World Cup in 10 years. But, they suffered a 21 runs defeat against the 2009 Women's T20 World Cup champions England in the 2nd match and conceded eight- wicket against another former world champions West Indies in the 3rd group match. After the day's Group B matches, South Africa dominated the group securing six points from all the group matches, West Indies and England bagged four points each playing three and two matches respectively. Bangladesh are in the 4th slot with two points from all the four group matches while debutante Scotland remained at bottom without any point playing three matches. In the day's last group match, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joyti decided to bat first after winning the toss and scored 106 runs for 3 in quota 20 overs, featuring 45 runs in the 3rd wicket stand by Sobhana Mostary and Nigar Sultana. One down Sobhana Mostary contributed the team highest 38 runs off 43 balls featuring four fours while skipper Nigar Sultana scored 38-ball 32 runs hitting two boundaries. Besides, opener Shati Rani (19), Shorna Akter (not out 4) were the other contributors for Bangladesh while another 13 runs of the innings came from extras. Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp and Nonkululeko Mlaba took one Bangladesh wicket each conceding 7, 10 and 11 runs respectively. In reply, the Caribbean team easily reach their target scoring the match- winner 107 runs for the loss of three wickets in 17.2 overs featuring 53 runs in the 2nd wicket stand by Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch. Opener Tazmin Brits hammered the match highest 42 runs off 41 deliveries including five fours while one down Anneke Bosch made run a ball 25 with two hits to the fence. Fahima Khatun grabbed two West Indian wickets for 19 runs in four overs while Ritu Moni took one for 22 runs.

Bangladesh suffered a crushing 133-run loss to India in the final T20I of the three-match series on Saturday in Hyderabad. India set a formidable target with a record-breaking total of 297 for six—their highest in T20Is and the second-highest in the format's history. In response, Bangladesh managed only 164 for seven. Opting to bat first, India dominated the Bangladeshi bowlers from the outset. Sanju Samson led the assault, scoring a quickfire century off just 40 balls. Four Indian batters maintained a strike rate above 200: Samson scored 111 off 47 balls, Suryakumar Yadav added 75 off 35, Riyan Parag hit 34 off 13, and Hardik Pandya contributed 47 off 18. Bangladesh's bowlers struggled to contain India’s firepower. Tanzim Hasan Sakib conceded a record 66 runs but managed to pick up three wickets, including two in the final over. He now holds the record for most runs conceded by a Bangladeshi bowler in a T20I inning. In their chase, Bangladesh failed to build the momentum needed to challenge India’s massive total. Towhid Hridoy scored a fifty, while Litton Das added 42, both at strike rates above 150. However, their efforts fell short of what was required. Ravi Bishnoi claimed three wickets for India, with Mayank Yadav taking two. This defeat caps off a winless tour for Bangladesh, who also lost the preceding two-match Test series. The match marked the final T20I appearance for Mahmudullah Riyad, who retires after 141 games in the format. Though his career includes many memorable performances, his last outing saw Bangladesh succumb to a tough defeat.

India delivered a masterclass in aggressive batting, amassing a record-breaking total of 297 in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Hyderabad on Saturday. This was the highest T20I score ever achieved by a full-member ICC team, and it ranks as the second-highest overall in T20I history. Indian batters unleashed a barrage of boundaries, hitting 22 sixes and 25 fours, surpassing their previous best of 260. At one point, India seemed poised to cross the 300-run mark, ultimately concluding their innings at 297. Opener Sanju Samson spearheaded the onslaught with a blistering 111 off just 47 balls, featuring 11 fours and eight sixes. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also made his mark with a rapid 75 off 35 balls at a strike rate above 200, while Hardik Pandya contributed a quickfire 47 off 18 balls. For Bangladesh, three bowlers conceded over 50 runs, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib yielding 66 runs despite picking up three wickets, including two in the final over. Sanju Samson’s innings included an over where he smashed five sixes off Rishad Hossain, reaching his century off a mere 40 balls. Bangladesh entered this match hoping for a consolation victory after losing both the previous T20Is, as well as the Test series. However, conceding 297 in 20 overs suggests they face the prospect of a heavy defeat in this final match.

Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent in to bowl first in the third and final T20I of their three-match series against India, which was also the farewell of Mahmudullah Riyad’s from the format. With the series already lost after defeats in the first two games, Bangladesh heads into this match hoping to end on a high note. Mahmudullah waves goodbye to T20Is The team made two changes to their lineup from the previous match. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker Ali were rested, allowing Tanzid Hasan and Mahedi Hasan to step in. Ahead of the game, the Bangladesh team presented Mahmudullah with a commemorative crest, thanking him for his years of service to the national team. 3rd T20I: Bangladesh take on India Saturday, aiming for consolation win Mahmudullah, who debuted in T20Is back in 2007 in Kenya, will be playing his 141st match in the format today.

The Tigers are set to face India in the third T20I of their three-match series on Saturday in Hyderabad, hoping to avoid a clean sweep after losing the first two matches. With both defeats behind them, Bangladesh now seeks a consolation win. Bangladesh’s T20I track record has never been particularly strong. Despite this, there was optimism for this series, as they brought a more experienced squad compared to India’s relatively youthful team. However, the Bangladesh batting lineup has failed to impress, unable to showcase their potential. In the lead-up to the final match, Bangladesh’s fielding coach, Nic Pothas, drew on their recent T20 World Cup journey for inspiration, where the team advanced to the Super Eights. “If you talk about performance, we played in the Super Eights at the World Cup, which we hadn’t done before,” Pothas said on Friday, indicating that a series loss doesn’t necessarily mean they haven’t progressed. He also mentioned their historic wins in New Zealand and Pakistan, where Bangladesh secured their first Test victories. While they’ve shown progress in ODIs and Tests in recent years, their T20I performance remains inconsistent. In the series opener, Bangladesh suffered a seven-wicket loss, followed by a crushing 86-run defeat in the second match. On both occasions, they failed to mount any real resistance against the hosts. Considering these losses, fans will likely temper their expectations for the final match. Still, a victory could provide a boost as the Tigers prepare for their upcoming home series against South Africa, featuring two Tests in Dhaka and Chattogram.

Cricket's 2,553th test match won't be forgotten in a hurry. England set records and reached milestones in compiling an extraordinary 823-7 declared against Pakistan in Multan. Here's a flavor of them: TOTAL SCORE It was the fourth time a team scored more than 800 runs — and the first time this century. Only three totals have been bigger: Sri Lanka's 952-6 declared against India in 1997; England's 903-7 declared against Australia in 1938; and England's 849 all out against the West Indies in 1930 JOE ROOT Root became England's highest run-scorer in tests during his career-best knock of 262 as he surpassed Alastair Cook. He moved to fifth place on the all-time list, behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid. 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will retire from tennis after next month's Davis Cup finals HARRY BROOK Brook outscored Root in hitting 317, tied for 20th in the list of highest individual scores in test cricket. He became the sixth Englishman to make a triple-hundred, and the first since Graham Gooch in 1990. Jurgen Klopp to take on new role as head of global soccer at Red Bull PARTNERSHIP Root and Brook put on a partnership of 454 runs, the highest ever for England and the fourth highest in test history. The biggest remains 624 between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for Sri Lanka against South Africa in 2006. BOWLING Six Pakistan bowlers conceded more than 100 runs. It is just the second time that has happened in tests, after Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka in 2004.