The Bangladesh women's hockey team has reached Jakarta, Indonesia, to compete for the first time in the Asian Games qualifiers. This marks the national women’s team’s debut in an international tournament, following previous appearances in age-level competitions. The eight-team event will determine four qualifiers for the main Asian Games hockey competition. Bangladesh is placed in Group A alongside Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Uzbekistan.

According to the schedule, Bangladesh will play its opening match against Chinese Taipei on April 23, followed by Uzbekistan on April 24, and Hong Kong on April 26. After the group stage, placement matches will be held, and teams reaching the semifinals will secure qualification for the Asian Games main round. The squad includes players such as Arpita Pal, Himadri Barua Sukh, Niladri Barua Neel, Riyasha Akter Rishi, and others.

The team’s participation is seen as a historic step for women’s hockey in Bangladesh, signaling the sport’s growing presence on the international stage.

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana delivered a standout performance in the second One Day International against New Zealand in Mirpur, taking five wickets for 32 runs after a costly first match. He emphasized that winning for the team is more important to him than personal milestones. Rana credited his success to executing his bowling plans effectively, something he admitted did not happen in the first game.

Three of his five wickets came on the first ball of an over, reflecting his focus on creating early pressure. He said he always aims to make an impact for the team, whether through a single over or an entire spell. Rana also revealed that he has been working closely with bowling coach Shaun Tait to improve his yorker deliveries, which contributed to his success in the match.

Rana added that he is concentrating on avoiding mistakes made in previous games and continuously improving his skills. His next challenge will come in Chattogram on Thursday, where he will play his first One Day International at that venue.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane led Al Nassr to a commanding 4-0 victory over Al Wasl on Sunday night, securing a place in the semifinals of the AFC Champions League-2. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 11th minute, followed by goals from Inigo Martinez and Abdulelah Al-Amri in the first half. Mane sealed the win in the 80th minute with his 13th goal of the season.

Joao Felix played a key role by assisting Al Nassr’s second and third goals, helping the team dominate from start to finish. The win sends Al Nassr into the West Zone final, where they will face the winner of the Al Ahli Doha vs Al Hussein SC match, scheduled to be held in Dubai.

In another match, Paris Saint-Germain suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Olympique Lyon in Ligue 1. Lyon’s Endrick and Afonso Moreira scored early goals, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted a consolation for PSG in stoppage time.

Manchester City strengthened their Premier League title hopes with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday night. The match, considered crucial in the title race, saw City come from behind after Hayan Shehki’s opening goal. Arsenal briefly equalized through Kai Havertz, capitalizing on a major error by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Erling Haaland’s second-half strike sealed the win for Pep Guardiola’s side.

City dominated possession with nearly 60 percent of the ball and took 15 shots, five of which were on target. Arsenal managed nine shots, three on target. The defeat marked Arsenal’s fifth loss of the season and their second consecutive setback, dealing a blow to their hopes of ending a two-decade title drought.

Despite the loss, Arsenal remain top of the league table with 70 points from 33 matches, while City sit second with 67 points from one game fewer, keeping the title race alive heading into the final stretch of the season.

Bangladesh defeated New Zealand in the second One Day International played under scorching heat, thanks to a fiery bowling spell from right-arm pacer Nahid Rana. The match took place on a sporting pitch with some grass after Bangladesh’s loss in the first ODI. Nahid Rana fully utilized the conditions, taking five wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs, including one maiden, as New Zealand were bowled out for 198 runs.

Rana struck early, dismissing Henry Nicholls leg before wicket with a 144.7 km/h delivery and later removing Will Young with extra bounce at 146.8 km/h. He continued to trouble the Kiwi batters across three spells, eventually claiming his fifth wicket by bowling Jayden Lennox with a 141.6 km/h yorker. This performance marked Rana’s second five-wicket haul in just ten ODIs, making him the second Bangladeshi bowler to achieve multiple five-fors within ten matches.

With this feat, Rana joined Taskin Ahmed as the joint second-highest Bangladeshi pacer in terms of five-wicket hauls, while Mustafizur Rahman leads with five such performances.

Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib has been recalled to the national squad for the third and final One Day International against New Zealand. The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 16-member team on Sunday, including the 23-year-old fast bowler. Tanzim missed the previous series against Pakistan due to a back injury and was not part of the squad for the first two ODIs of the current series. The third match will be played on Thursday at the Bir Shreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, starting at 11 a.m.

Tanzim last played an ODI for Bangladesh in October in Abu Dhabi. His return strengthens the pace attack alongside Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam. The team will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with key players such as Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Towhid Hridoy also included.

The match will decide the outcome of the three-match series, with Bangladesh aiming to finish strongly at home.

After the second One Day International, New Zealand batter Nick Kelly said his team took too long to understand the pitch conditions and lost wickets at crucial moments, which led to their defeat against Bangladesh. He explained that early grass on the wicket made batting difficult, and losing partnerships at critical stages proved costly for the visitors.

Kelly praised Bangladesh’s bowlers, noting that they performed well and were aided by the pitch. He specifically mentioned young pacer Nahid Rana, describing him as talented and quick, and said the wicket conditions suited him. Kelly contrasted his comments with teammate Dean Foxcroft’s earlier statement after the first match, when Foxcroft had said they understood the wicket well.

With this loss, the three-match series is now level at 1–1, turning the final game in Chattogram into a virtual decider. Kelly expressed hope that New Zealand could recover and win the series in the last match.

Tamim Iqbal, head of the ad hoc committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), announced that the board elections will be held in the second week of June. The National Sports Council had dissolved the previous BCB board, led by Aminul Islam Bulbul, on April 7 over allegations of irregularities and appointed an 11-member ad hoc committee. The committee was given 90 days to organize the next election, with its term ending on July 7.

Tamim stated that the committee does not intend to use the full 90-day period and plans to hold a board meeting soon to prepare for the election. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to organize the election by the first week of June, but if that is not possible, it will be held in the second week.

Additionally, Tamim revealed plans to introduce a special “Cricketers Card” offering privileges similar to a captain’s card for players who have represented Bangladesh. He also expressed his intention to reintroduce ball boys in domestic cricket, starting with the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand.

Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the second One Day International at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on April 20, 2026. The hosts chased down a target of 199 runs with 87 balls remaining, leveling the three-match series 1-1. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Towhid Hridoy guided the team to victory with an unbeaten 32-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 198 runs in 48.4 overs. Pacer Nahid Rana starred with the ball, taking five wickets for 32 runs—his second five-wicket haul in just his 11th ODI. Shariful Islam supported with two wickets for 32 runs. For New Zealand, opener Nick Kelly top-scored with 83 runs, while Muhammad Abbas added 19.

This was Bangladesh’s second-largest win over New Zealand in ODIs in terms of balls remaining. The series decider will be played on Thursday at the Bir Shreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram.

Bangladesh women’s cricket team achieved a historic milestone by defeating Sri Lanka for the first time in any format. The match took place at Rajshahi’s Kamruzzaman Stadium, where Nigar Sultana Joty’s side secured a three-wicket win in the opening game of the three-match ODI series. Chasing 206 runs, Bangladesh reached the target with nine balls to spare, despite a late collapse that briefly put pressure on the hosts.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 205 for nine in 50 overs, led by fifties from Imesha Dulani (52) and Hansima Karunaratne (54). Ritu Moni claimed three wickets, while Nahida Akter took two. In reply, Sharmin Akter anchored Bangladesh’s innings with a commanding 86 off 127 balls, supported by Sobhana Mostary’s 41 and Swarna Akter’s 35. Bangladesh finished on 206 for seven in 48.3 overs to take a 1–0 lead in the series.

The victory marked Bangladesh’s first-ever win over Sri Lanka’s women’s team, both at home and overall, giving them early momentum in the three-match ODI series.

Inter Miami earned a 3-2 victory over Colorado Rapids on Saturday night, with Lionel Messi scoring twice. The match marked the debut of sporting director Guillermo Hoyos as head coach, following the unexpected resignation of Javier Mascherano. The win extended Miami’s unbeaten run to seven matches, placing the team second in the MLS standings with 15 points from eight games.

Messi opened the scoring in the 13th minute from a penalty and sealed the win in the 79th minute with a decisive goal. After intercepting the ball in midfield, he advanced down the right flank, cut inside the penalty area, and fired a shot between two defenders into the net. The victory continued Miami’s strong form after losing their season opener to Los Angeles FC.

With his two goals, Messi now has seven this season, tying him with Sam Surridge and Petar Musa at the top of the MLS scoring chart.

Bangladesh pacer Shariful Islam has said that the toss could again play a decisive role in the upcoming second One Day International against New Zealand. In the first match, Bangladesh lost the toss and bowled first, managing to restrict New Zealand to a low total but ultimately failing to secure victory. Shariful noted that the team’s fortune at the toss might have influenced the result and expressed hope for a better outcome in the next game.

Shariful, who joined the national team directly from the Pakistan Super League, mentioned that adjusting to the heat was challenging but manageable. He said that switching from T20 to ODI cricket in such weather conditions was tough but he adapted with effort. Reflecting on his own performance, he described his bowling as satisfactory but admitted disappointment over the team’s loss.

The comments highlight Bangladesh’s focus on improving conditions and execution in the second match as they seek to level the series against New Zealand.

A new survey by Brazilian research institute Genial/Quest has revealed that public opinion is split over Neymar Jr.’s potential inclusion in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad. The poll, conducted from April 10 to 13 and published on April 18, found that 47 percent of Brazilians support Neymar’s return to the national team, while 45 percent oppose it. The final squad will be announced by coach Carlo Ancelotti on May 18, leaving uncertainty about Neymar’s participation.

The survey also highlighted a broader sense of pessimism among Brazilian fans. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they feel no excitement about the upcoming World Cup, and 68 percent believe Brazil will not win the tournament to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Only 12 percent expressed strong enthusiasm for the event.

Ancelotti’s approval rating as Brazil’s coach stands at 41 percent, with 29 percent dissatisfied and 30 percent undecided. Under his leadership, Brazil has played ten matches, winning five, drawing two, and losing three, reflecting a 56 percent win rate.

Brazilian footballer Neymar Junior has received the Bangladesh national football team jersey from Shahnoor Romen, a Bangladeshi expatriate living in Brazil. Romen, who works as a sports photojournalist, presented the jersey to Neymar during a media session at the Santos club training ground in Brazil. The event took place while Neymar was attending his club’s practice session.

In a video message from Brazil, Romen said he has been living there for over a decade and often photographs sports events. He mentioned that Neymar was pleased to receive the Bangladesh jersey and was aware of his popularity and the strong base of Brazil supporters in Bangladesh. Romen has previously gifted Bangladesh jerseys to other Brazilian footballers as well.

The gesture highlights the cultural connection between Bangladeshi football fans and Brazilian players, reflecting Bangladesh’s enthusiasm for global football icons.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal announced that the design of the Purbachal Stadium will undergo necessary changes following a site visit with State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on April 18, 2026. The long-delayed project, located in Purbachal, has seen limited progress despite being planned years ago. Tamim stated that the modifications are essential and not being made arbitrarily.

During the visit, Tamim explained that the design adjustments are required to meet current needs and that discussions will be held with the original designers and the National Sports Council (NSC) to finalize the updated plan. He also indicated that the stadium will not be limited to cricket but will accommodate other sports as well, emphasizing the BCB’s responsibility to support broader athletic development.

The proposed redesign aims to create a larger, multi-sport facility in collaboration with relevant authorities, reflecting the government’s and BCB’s shared vision for expanding sports infrastructure in Bangladesh.