United News of Bangladesh

Captain Litton Das led from the front with a 76 as Bangladesh posted 177 for 7 in their 20 overs against Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Dambulla on Sunday night. Bangladesh lost the series opener, meaning a defeat in this match will end their hope to win the series. But a win will make the last match a final for both teams.  Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent to bat first. They suffered an early collapse, losing Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan within the first two overs for just 7 runs. However, Litton and Towhid Hridoy rebuilt the innings with a 69-run partnership, steadying the innings after the early jolt. Litton was in fine touch, hitting five sixes in his 50-ball knock, maintaining a strike rate of 152.00 before falling in the 18th over. It came as relief for Litton, who has been struggling with the bat for a while now.  Hridoy chipped in with a useful 31 off 25 balls. Shamim Hossain provided late fireworks, smashing 48 off just 27 balls with five boundaries and two sixes, propelling Bangladesh past the 170-mark. Sri Lanka's left-arm pacer Binura Fernando was the best for bowler for them, claiming 3 for 31, including two key wickets in the middle overs. Maheesh Theekshana and Nuwan Thushara picked up one wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers kept things tight without major breakthroughs. Despite the middle-order stutter, Bangladesh accelerated in the final overs, scoring 62 runs in the last five.  

Bangladesh have lost the toss and were put to bat first in the second T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh lost the first match, and are now on the verge of another defeat in the ongoing Sri Lanka tour. Winning the second T20I, that Bangladesh aimed, will give the Tigers a chance to seal the series in the last match. Bangladesh made a few changes to their playing XI. Jaker Ali returned to replace Mohammad Naim who was slow in the middle in the first match. Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam also made their way to the playing XI to replace Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. But Sri Lanka fielded an unchanged squad. FIFA, players' unions agree on minimum rest rules for footballers Bangladesh XI: Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (captain, wicketkeeper), Jaker Ali, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara//

FIFA has reached a key agreement with global footballers’ unions to introduce minimum rest standards aimed at safeguarding player welfare. The agreement includes a mandatory 72-hour rest period between matches and at least 21 consecutive days of vacation for players at the end of each season. This consensus was announced just ahead of the Club World Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea — a tournament that has drawn criticism for being held during Europe’s traditional offseason. Unions have expressed concern over rising player fatigue, injury risks, and insufficient recovery time due to the packed football calendar. Ahead of the month-long Club World Cup, there were growing demands from unions to address player burnout. France’s professional players’ union notably condemned the tournament, calling it essential to “stop this massacre” of athletes’ physical and mental well-being. Combing operation across Bangladesh from today: Home Adviser FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other officials met with union representatives in New York, calling the talks "progressive" and reaffirming that player health remains a "top priority." “There is consensus on a minimum 72-hour rest between games and a 21-day break after each season,” FIFA said, adding that clubs should coordinate these rest periods individually with players based on match schedules and existing collective agreements. Strict implementation of the 72-hour rule could significantly affect match scheduling and broadcast arrangements. For example, clubs in the Europa League often play on Thursday nights and resume domestic matches by Sunday — a practice that may no longer be feasible. In Germany, this could pose challenges. The Bundesliga had already scrapped unpopular Monday night games in 2021 after fan protests, even though those slots were originally intended to provide more rest for clubs in European competitions. The league's upcoming TV deal also excludes Monday fixtures. FIFA further stated that players should be allowed at least one rest day per week, and that travel logistics and climate factors will be considered when planning future tournaments. The expanded Club World Cup, now featuring 32 teams, has drawn ongoing criticism for adding to an already crowded football calendar. Scheduled to take place every four years between major international tournaments, the event has faced legal opposition in Europe, strike threats, and widespread concern over the toll on players’ health.

FIFA has announced that it has reached a consensus with global soccer players’ unions on minimum rest standards, including a mandatory 72-hour gap between matches and a minimum 21-day holiday for players at the end of each season. The agreement emerged from discussions held in New York between FIFA President Gianni Infantino, other FIFA officials, and representatives of players’ unions from around the world. The talks took place ahead of the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea. The expanded tournament, held during the European offseason, has drawn criticism from unions amid growing calls for stronger safeguards to protect players from injuries and burnout. “There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period/holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season,” FIFA said in a statement. “This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements.” FIFA hailed the dialogue as “progressive,” stating that player health remains a “top priority.” Strict enforcement of the 72-hour rest period could lead to significant scheduling adjustments, particularly in European football. For instance, teams playing in Europa League matches on Thursday evenings may no longer be able to schedule domestic league games on Sundays and might have to shift to Mondays. Nottingham forest sign Brazilian defender Jair Cunha from Botafogo This could present a challenge for leagues such as Germany’s Bundesliga, which abolished Monday evening fixtures in 2021 following fan protests favoring weekend matches. The league had initially introduced Monday games to offer more rest to teams participating in Thursday night European fixtures. The new Bundesliga TV rights deal, effective from next season, does not include Monday matches. FIFA also emphasized that players should be granted one rest day per week and that travel demands and climate conditions will be considered in future competition planning. The expanded Club World Cup, involving 32 of the world’s top teams, has been controversial since its announcement, given the already congested football calendar. Scheduled to take place every four years between the FIFA World Cup, the European Championship, and Copa America, the tournament has proceeded amid legal challenges, threats of strike action, and ongoing concerns over the mental and physical well-being of players.

Bangladesh Women's Hockey team clinched a bronze medal in their maiden appearance at the Women’s U-18 Asia Cup Hockey 2025, thanks to a stunning hat-trick by Airin Akhter Riya that led them to a 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan in their final Super Four match at China’s Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre on Sunday morning. In the day's match, Airin Akhter Riya made a hattrick scoring three goals in a row in the 12th, 18th and 20th minutes--first two from penalty stroke and last from a field goal.  Later, she was adjudged the player of the match. Besides, captain Rimon Sharika , Kona Akhter and Riyasha Rishi scored one goal each for Bangladesh in the 35th, 50th and 53rd minutes respectively. Kazakhstan scored the match first goal in the 9th minute and the match last goal in the 59th minute. Bangladesh Women’s team, which reached the super four stage of the Women’s U-18 Asia Cup Hockey as the Pool A runners up beating Uzbekistan and Hong Kong by 3-0 goal each after suffering a huge 0-11 goal defeat against mighty Japan in the opener. Japan will play hosts China in the Way omen’s U-18 Asia Cup  final  Sunday (July 13) afternoon  at 3 pm at the same venue. U-18 Asia Cup Hockey: Bangladesh Men’s team  to face Malaysia, Women to play Kazakhstan in 3rd place deciders Meanwhile, Bangladesh Men's team was placed 4th in the eleven-team U-18 Men's Asia Cup losing to stronger Malaysia by 2-5 goal in the 3rd place deciding match at the same venue Sunday morning. Mohammad Mehedi and Jony Islam scored one each for Bangladesh in the 10th and 41st minutes respectively --first from a penalty corner and the remaining was a field goal Earlier, Bangladesh Men’s Hockey team finished Pool A runners up to qualify for the semi-finals securing nine points from four matches with three wins and one defeat after beating hosts China by 5-2 goals, Hong Kong, China by 3-0 goals, crushing Sri Lanka by 13-0 goals and conceded 3-6 goals defeat against favorite Pakistan. However, Bangladesh Men's Hockey team were eliminated from the Men's U-18 Asia Cup Hockey after conceding 4-6 goals defeat against stronger Japan in the first semi-final last Friday,  Pakistan, which qualified for the Men's final eliminating Malaysia by 4-3 goals in penalty shootout as the 2nd semifinal match between two teams was locked in 3-3 goals in the schedule time last Friday, will now play Japan in the final Sunday (July 11) afternoon.

After three days of closely contested cricket, nothing separates England and India in the third Test at Lord’s, with both teams posting identical first-innings totals of 387 — a rare occurrence in Test history. This marks just the ninth instance in nearly 150 years of Test cricket where both sides ended the first innings on the same score. England ended Day 3 on 2 without loss in their second innings after just one over, setting the stage for a one-innings decider with the five-match series locked at 1-1. India’s bowlers were visibly frustrated as England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley employed deliberate time-wasting tactics in fading light, limiting play to just one over. The tension boiled over when Crawley clashed with India captain Shubman Gill, leading to heated exchanges and finger-pointing as players walked off. England’s players were seen laughing from the balcony during the altercation. Rishabh Pant not playing on Day 2 of England-India test because of injured finger India's innings featured a composed 100 from Lokesh Rahul, though he was dismissed immediately after reaching his century. Ravindra Jadeja contributed 72, while Rishabh Pant scored a lively 76 before being run out by Ben Stokes just before lunch. Nitish Kumar Reddy (30) and Washington Sundar (23) added useful runs down the order. England spinner Shoaib Bashir, who claimed Rahul’s wicket, left the field after injuring his left-hand little finger while stopping a shot from Jadeja. His condition will be assessed further. With two days remaining, a fiery finish to an already dramatic Test match is on the cards. Source: Agency 

Lionel Messi continued his remarkable form with a fifth consecutive multi-goal match, leading Inter Miami to a 2-1 win over Nashville SC on Saturday night and halting Nashville's 15-game unbeaten streak. With this victory, Miami (11-3-5) secured its fifth straight win and climbed to fifth place in the Supporters’ Shield standings, reinforcing its pursuit of back-to-back league titles. Messi, who made history earlier in the week as the first player in MLS history with four straight multi-goal games, added to that tally against Nashville. The 38-year-old Argentine star opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a low free-kick that curved through the defensive wall. Although Nashville drew level early in the second half with a header from Hany Mukhtar, Messi restored Miami’s lead in the 62nd minute, intercepting a poor pass from Nashville keeper Joe Willis and calmly slotting home. Messi now boasts 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, tying Nashville’s Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) as the league’s top scorer. Fernández warns of heat ahead of Chelsea-PSG final Nashville (12-5-5), previously unbeaten since mid-April across all competitions, had surged to third place in the Supporters’ Shield race. The streak was the longest active run in MLS and marked the best stretch in the club’s six-year history. Messi's first goal brought his total to 55 goals in 66 appearances for Inter Miami. Source: Agency 

As Chelsea prepares to face Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Club World Cup final, midfielder Enzo Fernández raised concerns over extreme heat conditions and urged FIFA to reconsider scheduling afternoon matches during next year’s World Cup. “Honestly, the heat is incredible,” Fernández said on Friday. “The other day I got a little dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous.” Chelsea and PSG will kick off at 3 p.m. EDT at MetLife Stadium, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final. Forecasts project a temperature of 83°F (28°C), but humidity will make it feel closer to 91°F (33°C). “The speed of the game is not the same,” Fernández added. “Everything becomes very slow. Well, let’s hope that next year they change the schedule, at least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle.” Chelsea captain Reece James echoed the challenge but expressed some optimism. “The game will be harder for the team that doesn’t have the ball,” he said. “I think we’ve played in it a fair amount now, so I’d say we’re slowly, slowly getting used to it.” Leverkusen sign US midfielder Malik Tillman in record deal Both teams were excused from media duties on Saturday by FIFA, which has also slashed ticket prices throughout the tournament. The lowest-priced tickets have now dropped from $330 to $199.60 ahead of the final. PSG enters the match aiming to complete a historic quadruple, having already secured the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. “We really want to go grab this title and this would make it an absolutely perfect season, which would be very hard to replicate,” said PSG captain Marquinhos. “We really want to make history.” Chelsea is looking for its second Club World Cup title after winning in 2021. The Blues have had an extra day of rest after defeating Fluminense 2-0 on Tuesday, while PSG thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 the following day. Despite a comparatively modest season — finishing fourth in the Premier League, and early exits from the FA Cup and League Cup — Chelsea lifted the UEFA Conference League title. “Everyone is picking up our opposition,” said James. “We are preparing right and we are going to win.” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged PSG’s dominance: “I agree with most of the people that they say that they are the best team in Europe, the best team in the world, and the reason why is because they are showing this — they show in France, they show in the Champions League, they are showing in this competition.”

Bayer Leverkusen has signed United States international Malik Tillman from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven for a club-record transfer fee, the Bundesliga side announced Saturday. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder signed a contract with Leverkusen through June 2030. According to German sports magazine Kicker, the club is paying PSV a fixed sum of €35 million ($41 million), making Tillman the most expensive incoming player in Leverkusen’s history. “We’ve gained another strong and very dangerous attacking player,” said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes. “He can play in both the number 10 and the number 8 positions in midfield. Malik is an absolute top signing for us.” Born in Nuremberg, Germany, to a German mother and an American father, Tillman progressed through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich after moving from Greuther Fürth in 2015. He made only seven senior appearances for Bayern before joining Scottish side Rangers on loan in the 2022–23 season. Nottingham forest sign Brazilian defender Jair Cunha from Botafogo The following year, Tillman joined PSV Eindhoven on loan with an option to buy. PSV later activated that clause, making the transfer permanent. He scored 16 goals and assisted five more in 34 competitive appearances last season, playing a key role in PSV’s Eredivisie title-winning campaign. Leverkusen is undergoing a major squad rebuild this summer following the departure of star midfielder Florian Wirtz to Liverpool for a Bundesliga-record fee. Head coach Xabi Alonso also left for Real Madrid, while captain Jonathan Tah joined Bayern Munich and Jeremie Frimpong also signed with Liverpool. Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has taken over as head coach, with Leverkusen investing in a number of promising young players. On Friday, the club announced the signing of 18-year-old Cameroonian forward Christian Kofane from Spanish side Albacete. Other new arrivals include English defender Jarell Quansah from Liverpool, Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken from Brentford, French youth international Axel Tape from Paris Saint-Germain, and attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin.

Bangladesh Men's team will take on Malaysia while the Women's team will face Kazakhstan in their respective third-place deciding matches of the U-18 Men’s and Women’s Asia Cup Hockey 2025 at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre in China on Sunday. Bangladesh Men's Hockey team, which was eliminated from the Men's U-18 Asia Cup Hockey after conceding 4-6 goal defeat against stronger Japan in the first semi-final on Friday, will play another losing semifinalist Malaysia in the 3rd place deciding match on Sunday (July 13) at the Dazhou National Hockey Training Centre in China. Pakistan, which qualified for the final eliminating Malaysia by 4-3 goal in penalty shootout as the 2nd semifinal match between two teams was locked in 3-3 goals in the schedule time on Friday, will play Japan in the final on Sunday (July 11). In the Friday’s first semis, Bangladesh dominated match on three occasion against their mighty opponents Japan till the 50th minute, but, Japan took the match in their favor scoring three goals in a row in the remaining ten minutes of the 4th and last quarter to reach the final. Din Islam put Bangladesh ahead in the very 2nd minute from a penalty corner (1-0), Ismail Hosen doubled the Bangladesh margin scoring a field goal in the 12th (2-0),  captain Mohammad Abdullah scored the 3rd by a field goal in the 30th minute while Amit Hasan scored the 4th goal for Bangladesh in the 47th minute from a penalty corner. Earlier, Bangladesh Men’s Hockey team finished Pool A runners up to qualify for the semi-finals securing nine points from four matches with three wins and one defeat after beating hosts China by 5-2 goals, Hong Kong, China by 3-0 goals, crushing Sri Lanka by 13-0 goals and conceded 3-6 goals defeat against favorite Pakistan. Japan Men’s team clinched the Pool A title to qualify for the semi-final with all-win run securing full 12 points from straight four matches after beating Chinese Taipei 5-2 goals, Malaysia by 3-1 goals, crushed Kazakhstan by 12-0 goals and outplayed Uzbekistan by 6-2 goals Bangladesh Women’s team, which reached the super four stage of the Women’s U-18 Asia Cup Hockey in their first appearance as the Pool A runners up, played 2-2 draw with Pool B runners up Kazakhstan in their first super four match last Friday  (July 11)  at the same venue. After the match, both the Bangladesh and Kazakhstan have secured one point each from super four stage, will play each other again on Sunday at 6 pm to decide the 3rd place. Japan will play hosts China in the women’s final also on Sunday (July 13) at 3 pm at the same venue..     On way to the super four stage, Bangladesh women’s team beat Uzbekistan and Hong Kong by 3-0 goals each after suffering a huge 0-11 goals defeat against Japan.