Cricket
Virat Kohli latest victim of deepfake?
In a startling revelation that underscores the perils of advanced artificial intelligence, social media platforms have become battlegrounds for deepfake videos targeting celebrities. Recently, Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team’s star batter, found himself at the center of a controversy when a video falsely depicting him endorsing a betting app circulated widely, leaving fans and observers in disbelief.
This incident closely follows a similar situation involving Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary Indian cricketer, who publicly demanded stringent measures after a deepfake video of him promoting a betting app gained viral attention.
The latest video featuring Kohli was particularly shocking for its ability to replicate not just his appearance but also his voice, showcasing the frightening precision and potential harm of deepfake technology, according to an NDTV report.
Expressing his concerns, Sachin Tendulkar emphasized the critical need for vigilance among social media platforms. “Social Media platforms need to be alert and responsive to complaints. Swift action from their end is crucial to stopping the spread of misinformation and deepfakes,” Tendulkar advocated on X (formerly Twitter).
In response to the growing menace of deepfakes, the Indian government is contemplating the introduction of stringent regulations. Ashwini Vaishaw, the IT and Telecom Minister, highlighted the issue as “a threat to democracy,” signaling a move towards imposing penalties on both the creators of deepfakes and the platforms that host them. Proposed measures include watermarking AI-generated content, enhancing deepfake detection technologies, and implementing rules to address data bias, privacy concerns, and prevent the concentration of control.
BPL 2024: Abu Hider paints masterpiece as Rangpur tightens grip on BPL crown
Left-arm pacer Abu Hider Rony turned the pitch into his canvas, etching a historic performance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
His five wickets for a mere 12 runs was not just a spell; it was a masterpiece—the finest bowling figures ever by a Bangladeshi in the tournament.
BPL 2024: Litton's 85 in vain as Comilla suffer defeat to Sylhet
On Hider's brilliance, Rangpur Riders cemented their position at the summit of the BPL points table, overcoming a spirited Fortune Barishal in a tense Chattogram encounter.
Barishal batted first; the runs dried up like paint on a hot day. Despite a 46 by Kyle Mayers, their star batters, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, and Mahmudullah Riyad, faded against the bowling onslaught.
BPL 2024: Chattogram, Barishal inch closer to playoffs
For Rangpur, Abu Hider wielded his brushstroke deliveries with deadly accuracy, taking five wickets, while Hasan Mahmud provided able support with two of his own.
Rangpur's reply started shakily, and Mominul Haque dismissed him for a duck. But Brandon King and Shakib Al Hasan steadied the ship, weaving a solid partnership of 53 runs.
BPL 2024: West Indies stars Narine, Russell join Comilla Victorians
Obed McCoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck back for Barishal, each snatching three wickets, threatening to tilt the match. Yet James Neesham and Dwaine Pretorius held their ground, their cool heads and defiant strokes guiding Rangpur to a one-wicket victory with three balls to spare.
While Barishal's playoff hopes dim slightly, they still have a fighting chance, contingent on a potential win over the Comilla Victorians, and the fate of other matches across the league may also impact their path to the playoff.
BPL 2024: Litton's 85 in vain as Comilla suffer defeat to Sylhet
The Sylhet Strikers, despite already being eliminated from the playoff race in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season, secured a 12-run win against the Comilla Victorians at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Litton Das struck an 85 for Comilla, a career-best in T20s, but it wasn't enough to avoid defeat.
Winning the toss, the Strikers elected to bat and posted a competitive total of 177/5. Benny Howell's unbeaten 62 runs off just 31 balls powered their innings in the later overs. Kennar Lewis also contributed a solid 38.
For the Victorians, Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers, picking up two wickets, with Rishad Hossain also taking two.
In reply, the Comilla Victorians suffered early setbacks, losing opener Imrul Kayes and Towhid Hridoy cheaply. Skipper Litton Das offered resistance with his well-struck 85, but Tanzim Hasan Sakib's flurry of wickets (3/33) derailed their chase.
Despite a late resurgence from Andre Russell (23), the Victorians ultimately fell short of the target, finishing on 165/6.
While Comilla has already secured a playoff place, this defeat might hinder their chances of finishing the league phase at the top of the points table.
Uncertainty surrounds Mustafizur's BPL comeback following head blow
Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm pacer from Bangladesh, suffered a head injury during a practice session with his Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) team, the Comilla Victorians at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, raising questions about his continued participation in the tournament.
Mustafizur was rushed to a hospital for a scan, which fortunately revealed no signs of internal bleeding. However, he remains under 24-hour observation.
Read: Mustafizur injured in BPL practice session mishap
Debashish Chowdhury, the chief physician of the medical department at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), stated that Mustafizur's future in the BPL will be determined following the observation period.
“A member of the BCB medical team is attending to Mustafizur at Imperial Hospital, in coordination with the BCB. If necessary, he will be transferred to Dhaka,” Debashish said.
Meanwhile, the Comilla team's physio, S M Zahidul Islam Sazal, confirmed that Mustafizur received stitches for his head wound.
Read: BPL 2024: West Indies stars Narine, Russell join Comilla Victorians
Debashish noted that recovery from such injuries typically takes about a week. In the current BPL season, Mustafizur has played nine matches, claiming 11 wickets.
Comilla, aiming to defend their title, currently ranks among the top four teams in the BPL standings. If Mustafizur fails to come back, it will be a great setback for Comilla.
Mustafizur injured in BPL practice session mishap
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman sustained a head injury after being struck by a ball during practice.
The incident occurred while Mustafizur, representing Comilla Victorians in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was participating in a practice session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday (February 18, 2024).
While returning to his run-up area during a net session, Mustafizur was hit directly on the left side of his head. He was immediately taken to a hospital in Chattogram.
Read: BPL 2024: Chattogram, Barishal inch closer to playoffs
Following a CT scan, the medical team from the Comilla Victorians confirmed that Mustafizur did not sustain an internal head injury. However, he will remain under observation as a precautionary measure.
“After (the) CT scan we are satisfied that he had only external injury. There was no intracranial bleeding,” stated S M Zahidul Islam Sazal, the physio of the Victorians.
Read: BPL 2024: West Indies stars Narine, Russell join Comilla Victorians
Sazal further mentioned that Mustafizur received stitches for the open wound.
Mustafizur's performance in the BPL has been consistent. In nine matches, he has secured 11 wickets for the reigning BPL champions.
BPL 2024: Chattogram, Barishal inch closer to playoffs
Chattogram Challengers and Fortune Barishal secured victories in Saturday's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches in Chattogram.
With these wins, both Chattogram and Barishal edged closer to confirming their spots in the playoffs. So far, only Rangpur Riders have theoretically secured a place in the final phase of the BPL.
In Saturday’s match, Chattogram Challengers clinched a 10-run win over Durdanto Dhaka. Chattogram set a target of 160 runs, propelled by Tanzid Hasan's remarkable 70 off 51 balls.
In response, Durdanto Dhaka managed 149/5 in their 20 overs, falling short despite a valiant effort.
In the other encounter of the day, Fortune Barishal triumphed over Sylhet Strikers by 18 runs. Barishal posted a challenging total of 183/6, with Kyle Mayers shining with both bat and ball, scoring 48 runs and taking 3 wickets for 12 runs.
In reply, Sylhet Strikers fought hard but could only manage 165/8 in their 20 overs. Despite Ariful Haque's 57 off 31 balls, Barishal's disciplined bowling, led by Mayers, secured the victory.
Rhythm Group Cricket : Gold Air emerge champions beating Vistara Air by 8 wkts
Gold Air emerged champions in the Rhythm Group Cricket Tournament beating Vistara Air by eight wickets in the final played at the Shaheed Zaiyan Chowdhury ground in Banani here on Saturday.
Batting first, Vistara Air were all out for 111 runs in a 10-over- a-side match and later Gold Air won the match by eight wickets.
Mahtab of Gold Air was adjudged the man of the match and man of the tournament.
High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam in Bangladesh Haji Haris Bin Haji Othman was the chief guest in the day's final. Chairman of the Rhythm Group Ali Amzad was also present,among others, on the occasion.
BPL 2024: West Indies stars Narine, Russell join Comilla Victorians
West Indies stars Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have joined the Comilla Victorians for the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season.
After nine matches, Comilla are now in second place on the points table with seven wins.
Narine and Russell possess extensive BPL experience, and their inclusion will undoubtedly strengthen the defending champions.
Sunil Narine has a strong BPL track record, having taken 41 wickets in 43 matches prior to this season. He debuted in the BPL in 2013.
Andre Russell has been participating in the BPL since its inaugural season 2012. He has played 54 matches to date, scoring 857 runs with an impressive average of 34.28.
BPL 2024: Rangpur confirm playoff berth, Khulna back to winning streak
The Rangpur Riders and Khulna Tigers emerged victorious in their respective Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) clashes on Friday in Chattogram.
Rangpur's win secured their spot in the playoffs, affirming their stature as formidable contenders in the tournament. For Khulna, it was a much-needed triumph after enduring five consecutive defeats, providing a timely boost to their campaign. Conversely, Durdanto Dhaka's loss extended their dismal run, marking their tenth defeat in eleven matches, a record losing streak in BPL history.
Rangpur Riders showcased their dominance with a hard-fought 18-run triumph over the Chattogram Challengers. Batting first, Rangpur set a challenging target of 187/8, propelled by Shakib Al Hasan's explosive 62 and the valuable contribution of Mahedi Hasan.
Dwaine Pretorius then dazzled with the ball, scalping 3/14 to stifle the Challengers' chase. Despite a late blitz from Romario Shepherd, Rangpur's total proved insurmountable, securing them a crucial victory.
Meanwhile, Khulna Tigers orchestrated a comfortable 5-wicket win over Durdanto Dhaka in a low-scoring affair. Opting to bat first, Dhaka faltered against Wayne Parnell and Mukidul Islam's menacing spell, managing a modest 128/7.
Khulna's chase was led by Parvez Hossain Emon and Afif Hossain, who steered them to victory with composed batting despite early setbacks. Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam tried to stem the tide with two wickets each, but Khulna's determination prevailed as they clinched victory with 28 balls to spare.
“I’m Not Bangladeshi, I'm an English Cricketer”: Sylhet’s Samit Patel Sparks Controversy with Media Outburst
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been marred by recent off-field controversy as Sylhet Strikers' English cricketer Samit Patel allegedly targeted Bangladeshi media with foul language.
The BPL is currently underway in Chattogram. Following a one-day break on Thursday, matches will resume on Friday with Durdanto Dhaka facing the Khulna Tigers.
During a practice session for the Sylhet Strikers, Samit Patel gave an audio interview to a local reporter. Shortly after, he confronted the reporter and demanded the audio be deleted, claiming he had been asked “stupid questions”.
In the altercation, he reportedly used foul language and emphasized that he is an English cricketer, not Bangladeshi. His motivations behind this statement remain unclear.
UNB spoke to two media members present at the scene, who confirmed that Patel had used inappropriate language.
A reporter from a private TV channel alleged that Patel's remarks were made in front of several reporters. The reporter who spoke with UNB questioned Patel’s behavior, to which Patel refused to say anything foul and offered only a thumbs-up gesture.
Following the incident, Sylhet Strikers issued a statement describing the outburst as "unintended." It claims, "Samit offered an apology upon realising his wrongdoing." Additionally, team manager Nafees Iqbal addressed the situation with Patel, warning team members against similar future behavior.