United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) comfortably clinched the top slot in the four-day 37th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition' 25 securing 70 gold, 62 silver and 32 bronze medals that concluded on Saturday at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.. Shilaidah Swimming Club finished distant 2nd collecting six gold, five silver and eight bronze medals, Amla Swimming Club of Kustia became 3rd with six gold, two silver and four bronzes while Rajshahi DSA was placed 4th bagging three gold and  two silver medals. BKSP swimmer Jui Akhter (Girls 18-20 years age group) was adjudged the best girls swimmer of the meet winning five gold with two new national records while another BKSP swimmer Monir Khan Tonmoy (Boys 18-20 years age group) named as the best boys swimmer of the meet clinching nine gold and one silver featuring one new national mark.  BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani consolidate claim for runners-up position BSF president and Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan was the chief guest at the closing function of the four-day meet on Saturday and later he distributed the prizes among the winners. Some 550 promising swimmers of 80 teams from different districts, divisions, swimming clubs and BKSP, divided in five age groups ( U-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18 years) , are competing in 100 swimming and four diving events.

The six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited consolidated their claim for the runners-up position in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football despite of playing 1-1 draw with mediocre Rahmatganj MFS at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday. In the day’s other match, last time champions Bashundhara Kings made their runners-up hope uncertain after playing 1-1 draw with Fortis FC at the home ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena Saturday evening. Dhaka Mohammedan SC, which clinched the first-ever BPL crown with three matches spare earlier, now bagged 39 points from 17 matches with 12 win, three draw and two defeats and will play lowly Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool in their remaining match on next Tuesday (May 29). The sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Ltd, which bagged 32 points from 17 encounters with nine win, five draw and three defeats, now needed just a draw against Brothers Unions Club in their remaining match on next Tuesday to assure league runners-up spot. After a barren first half in Cumilla, Nigerian forward Emeka Ogbugh scored first for Dhaka Abahani Ltd in the 64th minute (1-0) while Ghanaian striker Samuel Boateng neutralized the margin for Rahmatganj MFS in the 74th minute (1-1). At the Kings Arena, midfielder Mohammad Abdullah put Fortis FC ahead in the 67th minute (1-0) while national colored forward Shekh Morsalin leveled the margin for the Kings in the 80th minute (1-1).. Bashundhara Kings, bagged 29 points from 17 matches with eight wins, five draw and four defeats, now have to win their remaining match with lowly Dhaka Wanderers Club on Tuesday and also have to await for Dhaka Abahani’s defeat against Brothers Union to decide their fate. In the day’s another match, Bangladesh Police FC beating relagated side Chittagong Abahani Limited by 2-1 goals at the Mymensingh District Stadium Saturday afternoon. Al Amin scored both the goals for Police FC in 11th and 49th minutes while MS Islam netted the lone goal for port city team Chittagong Abahani in the 64th minute. 

The Kool-BSJA Media Cup Football Tournament 2025, an yearly football meet for the journalists, organized by Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA), begins on Monday at the Paltan Maidan here. Thirty two teams from different media houses, split into eight groups, will compete in the Knock out basis tournament. Eight matches will be held on the opening day (Monday) from 8:30 am to 12 noon. Convener of the tournament committee Raihan Al Mugni disclosed the details of the tournament at a press conference at the Dutch Bangla Auditorium of Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA) on Saturday. The ceremonial draw of the tournament was held during the day’s press conference where the tournament's jersey and trophy were also unveiled.  New Zealand A fightback after Heaphy and Carter lay platform The press conference, chaired by BSJA president Arifur Rahman Babu, also addressed by Head of the Marketing of the meet’s sponsor Square Toiletries Dr. Jesmin Zaman, former national footballer cum head coach of the BPL champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC Alfaz Ahmed and BSJA general secretary SM Sumon. BSJA joint secretary Arafat Zubair conducted the day’s ceremonial draw of the participating teams.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hinted that Cristiano Ronaldo may still play in the upcoming Club World Cup, despite his current club, Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, not qualifying for the tournament. Infantino, speaking to popular streamer IShowSpeed, revealed that discussions are underway that could see Ronaldo join one of the 32 participating teams for the inaugural edition of the tournament, which kicks off next month in the United States. “Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” Infantino said. “Some clubs are in talks, so if any club is interested in signing him, there's still time. It’ll be fun.” FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that a special transfer window is in effect for teams taking part in the tournament, sparking speculation that a club might sign the 40-year-old Portuguese forward on a short-term basis, possibly via a loan deal. While such a move would be unusual in modern football, it could be a strategic boost for FIFA, potentially raising global interest and ticket sales for the 63-match competition set across 11 U.S. cities. Questions remain about how many international fans will travel for the event. A transfer could also set the stage for a high-profile reunion between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who will feature with Inter Miami—an invitee to the tournament despite not winning the MLS Cup. Ronaldo has been loosely linked with several clubs, including Saudi side Al Hilal, Brazil's Palmeiras, and Moroccan team Wydad, though Wydad currently faces a FIFA transfer ban. FIFA's revised regulations allow participating clubs to make signings from June 1–10 and again from June 27–July 3. According to a FIFA statement, the aim is to help players with expiring contracts find opportunities to compete in the tournament.  

Shubman Gill has been named India’s new Test captain ahead of their five-match series against England, beginning June 20. The 25-year-old top-order batter replaces Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. His decision followed that of Virat Kohli, who also stepped away from the longest format. Sharma last captained India in the Boxing Day Test against Australia. While Jasprit Bumrah led India during parts of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy — including the opening Test in Perth and the final in Sydney — he was overlooked for the full-time captaincy due to ongoing fitness concerns and workload management, especially with a packed summer schedule in England. The first Test will be played at Headingley in Leeds. Gill, who debuted in Tests against Australia in December 2020, has played 32 matches so far, amassing 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05. He is also currently leading the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. At 25 years and 258 days old, Gill becomes the fifth-youngest player to captain India in Test cricket. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain for the England tour.

England ousted Zimbabwe cricketers at a rate on Friday that suggested their four-day test will be over with a day to spare at Trent Bridge. Despite an acclaimed fightback by Zimbabwe for much of the second day, the visitor was out for 265 and forced to follow on. At stumps, Zimbabwe was 30-2, still 270 runs away from making England bat again. A magnificent maiden test century by opener Brian Bennett kept Zimbabwe's spirit aflame, but his exit for 139 after tea sparked a collapse of six wickets for 26 runs, including Bennett in the second innings for 1. Rain won't appear to save Zimbabwe on Saturday, when clouds will return, giving England's battery ideal conditions to wrap up a big win in the first test matchup between the teams in 22 years. Centuries on Thursday by Zac Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope staked England to an intimidating 498-3 overnight on a flat pitch. The innings was declared at 565-6 after nine more overs on Friday morning. Pope added two runs to his overnight 169 until he drove at Tanaka Chavinga and nicked behind, ending the third highest of his eight hundreds. Captain Ben Stokes was bounced out, and declared when Harry Brook chopped on for 58 off 50 balls. Sam Cook, the first England debutant to bowl the first over in 32 years, was welcomed to test cricket by Bennett hitting three successive boundaries. But Cook got his maiden wicket in just his third over when Ben Curran edged to Brook at second slip. That was the only Zimbabwe wicket to fall by lunch, taken at 73-1 with Bennett and Craig Ervine cruising. Ervine, on 42, was also caught by Brook, and was the 50th test wicket for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir. He's England's youngest to the milestone at 21. Bashir also claimed Sean Williams. But soon after, Bashir left the field with a bloodied pinkie finger when he tried a caught-and-bowled against Sikandar Raza. Stokes finished bowling the over and another chance was mishandled when Joe Root at first slip dropped a sitter off Bennett on 89. An unfazed Bennett rushed to his century in the next over after hitting three straight boundaries against pacer Gus Atkinson. Angelo Mathews to retire from Tests after Bangladesh match Trent Bridge stood to applaud Bennett's maiden ton and the fastest test century by a Zimbabwean, in 97 balls. But Zimbabwe hopes of sighting the follow-on target of 416 were ruined by a double strike by Stokes in his first bowling stint in six months. He got Raza to nick behind and bowled Wessly Madhevere to have 2-3 off 2.2 overs. By tea, Zimbabwe was 210-5 and Bennett was steaming at 122 off 112 balls but running out of partners with teammate Richard Ngavara unavailable after suffering a back spasm on Thursday. Bennett was undone when he popped a Josh Tongue delivery to Pope at short leg. Bennett's 139 off 143 balls included 104 runs in boundaries. He received another standing ovation. Bashir returned to help wrap up the extra-short tail and took 3-62. Forced to follow on with 10 overs left in the day, Zimbabwe's first-innings leaders were both removed for the second time in the day; Bennett by Atkinson leg before on 1 and Ervine caught at short leg on 2.

Sri Lanka’s veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews has announced he will retire from Test cricket following the first match of the upcoming home series against Bangladesh, scheduled from June 17 to 21. Mathews, 37, confirmed the decision in a statement on Friday. “The first Test match against Bangladesh in June will be my last red-ball appearance for my country,” he said tomedia. England declares on 565-6 early on Day 2 of test against Zimbabwe “Whilst I bid adieu to the Test format, as discussed with selectors I will remain available for selection for the white-ball format, if and when my country needs me,” he added Making his Test debut against Pakistan in Galle in 2009, Mathews went on to become the youngest Test captain for Sri Lanka, leading the side in England at the age of 25. Over a career spanning 16 years, he has played 118 Tests, scoring 8167 runs at an average of 44.62, including 16 centuries and 45 half-centuries. He also took 33 wickets as a batting all-rounder. “It is time for me to say goodbye to the most cherished format of the game, international Test cricket,” he wrote on social media. “I have given my everything to cricket and cricket has given me everything in return.” Soumya Sarkar ruled out of Pakistan tour; Mehidy Hasan Miraz called up Mathews thanked fans for their support through highs and lows, adding that nothing matched the pride of wearing the Sri Lankan jersey. His retirement will mark the end of an era for Sri Lankan Test cricket, with the former captain leaving behind a legacy of consistency.

New Zealand A ended Day 3 of the second unofficial Test on a strong note, reaching 277 for 4 in reply to Bangladesh A’s first innings total of 357, trailing by just 80 runs with a full day left to play at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Nick Kelly led the visitors’ fightback with an unbeaten 83, striking five fours and six sixes in a composed 140-ball knock. He found steady support from Matthew Boyle, who was not out on 44 at stumps. The duo added 101 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket, navigating through weather interruptions and Bangladesh A’s varied spin attack. Earlier, New Zealand A’s top order made significant contributions, with Curtis Heaphy (71) and Joe Carter (62) steadying the innings. Pacer Khaled Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 78 runs. Soumya Sarkar ruled out of Pakistan tour; Mehidy Hasan Miraz called up Saif Hassan provided a vital breakthrough, dismissing Carter. Khaled Ahmed took three for 78 for the hosts. Rain and bad light disrupted proceedings throughout the day, but New Zealand A maintained their momentum. Bangladesh A will look for early wickets on the final day to force a result, while the visitors will aim to surpass the hosts’ total and push for a lead.

Real Madrid made it official on Friday that Carlo Ancelotti is leaving the club after the end of the Spanish league this weekend. Ancelotti had already been announced as the next Brazil coach but the Spanish club had yet to make any announcement about his departure. Ancelotti had another year left on his contract. “Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to bring an end to his time as Real Madrid coach,” the club said in a statement. “Our club wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for a man who is a true legend of both Real Madrid and world football.”  Messi's favorite goal, a header for Barcelona in 2009 Champions League final, to become work of art Madrid will pay tribute to Ancelotti on Saturday during the team's final match of the league season against Real Sociedad in the Spanish league at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Also bidding farewell on Saturday will be veteran midfielder Luka Modric. “Carlo Ancelotti will forever be part of the great madridista family," Madrid club president Florentino Pérez said. "We feel incredibly honored to have had the chance to enjoy a coach who has helped us achieve so much success, but who has also embodied our club’s values in such exemplary fashion.” Madrid had not released any reaction or statement about its coach since Brazil’s announcement. The official announcement of Ancelotti's departure opens the way for Madrid to announce its next coach, who is widely expected to be Xabi Alonso. The former Madrid player recently confirmed he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen. Ancelotti is leaving after four mostly successful years in his second stint with Madrid, which won both the Champions League and the Spanish league last season. Ancelotti also coached the club from 2013-2015. In total, he was in charge of Madrid in more than 350 matches and helped it win three Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, two Spanish leagues, two Copa del Reys, three UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups.  Man United faces more financial turmoil after Europa League final loss Madrid began the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup title but has mostly struggled since then. Many Madrid fans blamed Ancelotti for its relatively poor season, saying he lost control over the squad and wasn’t able to get the team ready for the clasicos against Barcelona, which won the league. Madrid lost all four matches against the Catalan club this season.

 England declared on 565-6 before lunch on Day 2 of the one-off test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge on Friday. Resuming on 498-3 after a dominant opening day in Nottingham, England quickly lost Ollie Pope for 171 after he added just two runs to his overnight unbeaten score.  Top three batters hit test centuries as England reaches 498-3 against Zimbabwe Captain Ben Stokes fell for 9 and Harry Brook raced to a 50-ball 58 before getting bowled by Blessing Muzarabani — after which England declared. Jamie Smith was 4 not out. Muzarabani had figures of 3-143 in the first innings of the four-day test. Soumya Sarkar ruled out of Pakistan tour; Mehidy Hasan Miraz called up The teams were meeting for the first time at test level in 22 years.