United News of Bangladesh

Both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) for 2025 are set to resume on May 17, following a week-long suspension caused by cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. However, the revised schedules have forced adjustments to other international commitments, including Bangladesh’s planned tour of Pakistan. The PSL will conclude on May 25, with four remaining group-stage matches taking place in Rawalpindi and the playoffs and final scheduled in Lahore. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the resumption via a social media post by Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. “Get ready for 8 thrilling matches starting 17th May, leading up to the Grand Final on 25th May,” Mohsin said.  Foreign players exit IPL, resumption plan in limbo  The revised PSL schedule now overlaps with Bangladesh’s previously scheduled T20I series in Pakistan, which was set to begin the same day as the PSL final. BCB has acknowledged that the tour will not go ahead as originally planned and confirmed it is in “active and ongoing discussions” with the PCB. Meanwhile, the IPL will resume play across six Indian cities: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. The final has been rescheduled for June 3. A total of 17 matches remain, including 13 league games and four playoffs. The delayed IPL will also impact the England-West Indies ODI series, the India A tour of England, and player availability for the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, starting June 11.  Nahid and Rishad to exit PSL amid tensions between India and Pakistan Both leagues now face the logistical challenge of recalling overseas players, many of whom had flown home. While some franchises are confident about player returns, the PCB is considering a replacement draft for the PSL to ensure balanced squads.  India tour of Bangladesh, Asia Cup in doubt after IPL halt

Kagiso Rabada was picked by South Africa for the World Test Championship final against Australia next month after serving a one-month suspension for using a recreational drug. The fast bowler has already been cleared to return to play and is back in the Gujarat Titans squad ahead of the restarting of the Indian Premier League on Saturday, AP reports. Rabada was banned for testing positive for a recreational drug during a domestic Twenty20 competition in South Africa in January. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said Rabada was eligible for a reduced one-month ban because he completed a substance-abuse treatment program. Rabada has said in a statement he is “deeply sorry” for his conduct. Cummins and Green set to return for Australia in cricket's World Test Championship final When announcing the 15-man squad on Tuesday, South Africa said the group will assemble in England on May 31 and play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe from June 3-6, before heading to London ahead of the WTC final starting June 11. The Proteas’ pace attack will also include Lungi Ngidi, who returns to the test fold for the first time since October 2024 after injury problems. Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.

Pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and allrounder Cameron Green have been recalled from injury and young batter Sam Konstas has been retained in Australia’s squad for the World Test Championship final against South Africa next month. Australia is the defending WTC champion and finished the league stage with an away win over Sri Lanka after a home series victory against India. “Those series capped a consistent performance across the two-year cycle and now presents us with the incredibly exciting opportunity to defend the World Test Championship,” Australia’s chief selector George Bailey said in a statement Tuesday. “It means a lot to the group to reach the final and they are very much looking forward to the challenge South Africa will present at Lord’s.” The same squad will head to the Caribbean for a three-test series against the West Indies following the June 11-15 WTC final. Emerging Team Cricket: Bangladesh earns dramatic 3-wicket victory over South Africa in series opener Green hasn't played international cricket since September because of back surgery, but the 25-year-old allrounder is making a graduated return and currently batting at county level in England. Skipper Cummins missed the two-test series in Sri Lanka with an injured ankle and Hazlewood hasn't played a test since developing a side strain in November, early in the series against India. Both veteran pacemen have been playing in the Indian Premier League, which was suspended last week because of the border tension between India and Pakistan but is set to resume this weekend. Virat Kohli retires from Test, ends glorious 14-year career “We are fortunate and looking forward to having Pat, Josh and Cam back in the squad,” Bailey said. Opening batter Konstas made an impressive debut against India with a half-century in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne but was dropped ahead of the subsequent tour to Sri Lanka.

Hosts Bangladesh Emerging Cricket team earned a dramatic three-wicket victory over touring South African Emerging team to take 1-0 lead in the three-match unofficial ODI series at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Monday. Chasing a huge target of 302 runs, Bangladesh team reached their target for the loss of seven wickets with two balls remaining in 49.4 overs, featuring 87 runs off 89 balls with eight fours and two sixes by opener Mahfijul Islam. In the last stage of the match, Bangladesh were in a crucial situation needing 27 runs in last two overs with three wickets in hand, but number nine batsman Rakibul Hasan came to rescue Bangladesh quick-firing 20 runs in the 49th over with three sixes, leaving just seven runs in the last over, also with three wickets remaining. Earlier, captain Akbar Ali hammered 24-ball 41 runs with four fours and two sixes, Ariful Islam scored 36 runs off 68 balls with two sixes, Jishan Alam made 27-ball 31 runs including seven fours, Rakibul Hasan scored not out 24 runs off 10 balls with three sixes, Tofail Ahmed also made unbeaten 24 runs off 20 balls while Pritom Kumar scored 17 runs off 35 balls with two fours helping Bangladesh to stay in the winning race. Andile Mokgakane, George Van Heerden and Tsepo Ndwandwa took two wickets each. Sent into bat first, South Africa piled a good total of 301 runs for the loss of eight wickets in stipulated 50 overs featuring 71 runs by Connor Esterhulzen and 61 runs by Andile Simelane. Ripon Mondal grabbed three wickets for 84 runs and Ahrar Amin took two for 51 runs. The rest two unofficials ODI between two teams will be held on May and 14 and 16 both at Rajshahi.  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait as the Pace Bowling Coach of the Bangladesh National Team. The 42 -year old Shaun Tait will join the Bangladesh team later this month, having agreed terms with the BCB on a contract that runs until November 2027. Tait has previously served as bowling coach for the national teams of Pakistan, West Indies (Test team) and Afghanistan. BCB defends financial decisions, rejects allegations of irregularities He has also held coaching roles in various top-level leagues and competitions around the world, including the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Lankan Premier League (LPL) and English County Cricket. He was the Head Coach of Chittagong Kings in the most recent BPL season and also played for the team during the 2012–13 edition. Tait, one of the fastest bowlers in the history of international cricket, was part of Australia’s ICC Cricket World Cup-winning squad in 2007. He represented Australia in 59 matches across all formats. Speaking on his appointment, Tait said: “It’s a good time to be involved with the Bangladesh cricket team right now, a bit of a new era if you like. It’s been spoken about many times recently—the young talent with the fast bowlers—which is great. This is international cricket, not a development team, and everyone expects the talent to bring results, which is very much my focus with the fast bowling group and most importantly, getting more wins for the team. BCB security official Ikram dies during Sylhet Test duty “To have the opportunity to work with Phil Simmons is equally as exciting and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.” He added.    

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has issued a public apology after his comments about fellow PSL teammates Daryl Mitchell and Tom Curran sparked confusion and controversy. Rishad, who returned to Dhaka on Saturday after the suspension of the Pakistan Super League due to India-Pakistan tensions, had given a brief interview at Dubai airport. In it, he claimed that several overseas players, including Mitchell and Curran, were visibly frightened. He quoted Mitchell as saying he wouldn’t return to Pakistan, and described Curran as “crying like a child” during tense moments following nearby explosions in Rawalpindi. The remarks quickly circulated online, prompting criticism and concern. Late Sunday, Rishad took to social media to clarify the situation. He wrote: “I’m aware that a recent comment I made has caused confusion and has unfortunately been misrepresented in the media creating a false perception. The comment was made during a brief interview with Bangladeshi journalists while I was in transit at Dubai airport. It lacked full context and unintentionally overstated the emotions involved. I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused. I’ve offered an unconditional apology to Daryl Mitchell and Tom Curran. I hold deep respect for my fellow teammates and truly value the Qalandars brotherhood — where we always stand by one another, no matter what. Rishad, Rana return home after 'war-like' experience in Pakistan I look forward to rejoining my team when the Pakistan Super League resumes.” Rishad, 22, had a successful debut PSL season with Lahore Qalandars, taking nine wickets in five matches. The PSL is expected to resume within a week following reports of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.          

 Indian batting great Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test, bringing the curtain down on a storied red-ball career spanning 14 years, 123 matches, and 9,230 runs. Kohli made the announcement via social media on Monday. “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off,” wrote.  The decision follows closely on the heels of Rohit Sharma’s unexpected retirement from Tests last week. Kohli’s exit marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, where the two had formed the batting backbone of the team for over a decade. Debuting against the West Indies in 2011, Kohli rose to prominence during the 2011-12 Australia tour, scoring his maiden Test hundred in Adelaide. He went on to become India’s most successful Test captain, winning 40 out of 68 matches. With 30 Test centuries and seven double hundreds, Kohli finishes as India’s fourth-highest century-maker in Tests, behind legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. Kohli had already stepped away from T20Is last year after India’s World Cup triumph and last played ODIs in this year’s ICC Champions Trophy.//    

Bangladesh’s planned tour of Pakistan later this month remains uncertain, even as diplomatic efforts indicate a possible ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held a second round of internal meetings on Friday evening to assess the situation. While the board confirmed that the two-match T20I series against the UAE in Sharjah will go ahead as planned, no final decision has been made about the five-match T20 series in Pakistan. “The safety of players and support staff remains our highest priority,” the BCB said in a statement. “Any decision regarding the Pakistan tour will be made cautiously, considering the current situation in Pakistan and the best interests of Bangladesh cricket.” Earlier in the day, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, speaking at a swimming federation event in Dhaka, voiced concern about the tour. “Given the current situation, it is not wise to take any kind of risk,” he said. “We’ve also received security warnings from the Pakistan Embassy. The BCB will make the final call.” Although the series has not yet been officially postponed, discussions within the BCB suggest that the board may seek a mutual understanding with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to delay the tour, which is part of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme.  Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League has already been suspended, and Bangladeshi players Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana returned home after concerns grew over safety in Rawalpindi.

As uncertainty looms over the future of the remaining part of IPL 2025, a notable number of foreign players are leaving India amidst ongoing cross-border tension between India and Pakistan. The IPL was suspended on Friday amid rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Though, in a dramatic move, a ceasefire plan was revealed on Saturday afternoon.  Although no official cut-off date has been announced, the BCCI is preparing a contingency plan to restart the competition in late May, depending on government approval. Fifty-seven matches have been completed so far, with the 58th—between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala—called off after 10.1 overs. That match may be replayed, but no decision has yet been made. One major challenge facing the BCCI is the availability of overseas players. Following the suspension, most foreign players began flying home, and team camps started disbanding. Indian media report that the majority of overseas players are expected to leave India by the end of Saturday.

Bangladesh cricketers Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana returned to Dhaka on Saturday after their Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaigns were cut short due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters at the airport in Dhaka upon their arrival, Rishad shared what he described as a “war-like” experience in Rawalpindi, where explosions were heard near the stadium earlier this week, prompting the authorities to postpone the PSL. Rishad, who had been playing for Lahore Qalandars, had taken nine wickets in five matches and was enjoying his first overseas league experience when the situation turned tense. “At first, we were shocked and scared after hearing what happened,” Rishad said. “There was support from home, from the team management, and from the BCB. But it was still very difficult.” SAFF U-19 Football: Holders Bangladesh will play Bhutan on Sunday in last group match Nahid Rana, who joined Peshawar Zalmi after playing a Test against Zimbabwe, had not yet debuted in the PSL. Rishad recalled how his teammate reacted to the situation. “Nahid got a bit panicked and stayed quiet. I told him not to worry—we were together, and Allah is always with us,” he added. Following the attack near Rawalpindi Stadium, foreign players held a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board officials and expressed their desire to return home. The league was subsequently suspended, and the two Bangladeshi players were flown to Dubai before arriving in Dhaka. Despite the traumatic experience, Rishad said he is open to returning if the tournament resumes. “I would like to play again, but of course, if I go back to Pakistan now, that fear will remain,” he admitted. Rishad also said he tried to keep his family calm during the ordeal. “We tried to stay positive so they wouldn’t worry too much,” he said.