Bangladesh women’s football team coach Peter Butler sharply criticized the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for poor preparation and internal mismanagement before the country’s first-ever appearance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Speaking at a press conference at the BFF headquarters on Thursday, hours before the team’s scheduled departure for Australia, the English coach questioned the football knowledge and professionalism of federation officials. Butler said the team’s planning had failed and accused some officials of spreading misinformation in the media.

He expressed frustration that the women’s team had not played any preparation matches since December, blaming the BFF for prioritizing domestic league fixtures over national team readiness. Proposed matches against the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand were disrupted due to scheduling conflicts. BFF women’s committee head Mahfuza Akter Kiron admitted that preparations could have been better and said more training or practice matches abroad would have improved readiness.

Bangladesh will face China, North Korea, and Uzbekistan in the group stage of the tournament in Australia, starting on March 3 in Sydney.

Arsenal were denied a crucial Premier League victory after Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a dramatic 2–2 draw on February 19, 2026. Teenage debutant Tom Edozie scored in added time to rescue a point for Wolves, leaving Mikel Arteta’s team frustrated. Arsenal had led 2–0 through goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapié, but Hugo Bueno’s strike and Edozie’s late effort changed the outcome. With 58 points from 27 matches, Arsenal remain top, though their lead over Manchester City—who have played one more game—has narrowed to five points.

Arteta admitted disappointment after the match, saying his team failed to maintain their level in the second half and missed key moments. Saka echoed that view, noting the difference in performance between the two halves. For Wolves, who sit near the bottom with just 10 points from 27 matches, the draw was a morale boost and a sign of resilience.

The result means Arsenal have won only three of their last eight league games, increasing pressure in their pursuit of the title.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Bangladesh will directly participate in the 2028 T20 World Cup. Although Bangladesh opted out of the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup due to security concerns, its ranking position ensures automatic qualification for the next edition. The ICC stated that the top eight teams from the 2026 Super Eight stage, along with the host nation and the next three highest-ranked teams, will qualify directly, making a total of twelve teams.

The 2026 Super Eight teams include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, West Indies, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand will co-host the 2028 tournament, with Australia joining as host since New Zealand already qualified through the Super Eight. The remaining three spots go to the highest-ranked teams outside the top nine, currently Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland. As no matches are scheduled before March 9, rankings will remain unchanged, confirming Bangladesh’s place.

This decision secures Bangladesh’s return to the global stage in 2028, maintaining its presence among the top cricketing nations.

Pakistan advanced to the Super Eight stage after a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia in their final Group A match on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Facing a must-win situation to stay in the tournament, the team led by Salman Ali Agha posted 199 for 3 in 20 overs, driven by opener Sahibzada Farhan’s unbeaten 100 off 58 balls. Contributions from Agha (38 off 23) and Shadab Khan (36 not out off 22) strengthened the innings, while Namibia’s Jack Brassell claimed two wickets.

Chasing a target of 200, Namibia were bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs. Usman Tariq led Pakistan’s bowling attack with four wickets for 16 runs, and Shadab Khan added three for 19. Namibia’s top scorers were Laurens Steenkamp with 23 and Alexander Busing-Lovshenk with 20.

Before the match, India had already secured the top spot in the group, while the United States held second place on equal points. Pakistan’s superior net run rate after this win ensured their progression to the Super Eight stage.

Bangladesh women’s cricket team finished the group stage in commanding fashion, defeating Malaysia by 90 runs in Bangkok on Wednesday. The victory, powered by Lata Mondol’s all-round performance, ensured Bangladesh’s third consecutive win and confirmed their place as group champions with six points. The team will face Pakistan in the semifinals on Friday.

Bangladesh’s campaign began with narrow wins, edging Sri Lanka by four runs in the opener and beating hosts Thailand by three wickets in a dramatic finish. Against Malaysia, however, the team displayed complete control. After early setbacks, Lata Mondol and captain Fahima Khatun built a 55-run partnership that set up a strong total near 150. Mondol scored 58 off 44 balls, while Sadia Akter’s quick 19 runs boosted the innings.

In reply, Malaysia faltered early as Fatema Jahan took two wickets in the third over, finishing with three for ten. Sharifa Khatun claimed two wickets, and Mondol added one more, sealing Bangladesh’s dominant win and momentum heading into the semifinals.

Real Madrid earned a 1-0 victory over Benfica at Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz in the first leg of the Champions League knockout playoff, just three weeks after losing 4-2 to the same opponent in the group stage. The win marked a swift turnaround for the Spanish club, which had been forced into the playoff after that earlier defeat.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain also began their playoff campaign with a 3-2 win against Monaco. Meanwhile, former champions Juventus suffered a heavy 5-2 loss to Turkish side Galatasaray, conceding two goals after Juan Cabal was sent off in the 67th minute. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund defeated Italian club Atalanta 2-0 to strengthen their position in the tie.

The results set the stage for decisive second-leg matches as teams aim to secure advancement to the next round of the Champions League knockout phase.

Former Bangladesh national football team captain and SAFF Championship winner Aminul Haque was sworn in yesterday as the state minister for youth and sports. The ceremony took place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. With this appointment, Aminul becomes the third footballer and athlete to join the cabinet, following Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin and Arif Khan Joy. He was appointed under the technocrat quota by Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Aminul Haque’s football career spanned from 1992 to 2013, during which he captained Bangladesh to the 2003 SAFF title. After retiring, he joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 2014 and faced multiple legal and political challenges during the Awami League government. Despite not winning the 2026 general election from Dhaka-16, his party entrusted him with the ministerial role due to his experience and dedication.

The BNP government expects Aminul’s leadership and deep understanding of sports to help reform the national sports sector. His appointment has raised public expectations that he will bring the same success to sports administration that he once brought to the football field.

Newly appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque lifted the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) restriction on journalist entry to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The decision came on Tuesday night, immediately after he assumed office and held a press conference. During the briefing, Aminul Haque called BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujon in front of reporters and instructed him to withdraw the ban, allowing journalists to resume their work freely from the next day.

The BCB had imposed the restriction on January 31, citing security concerns, and had issued several new guidelines for sports journalists. According to a previous BCB press release, media personnel were allowed entry only on match days, for official press conferences, invitation-based events, or pre-announced training sessions. The minister’s directive effectively overturns those limitations and restores full media access to the stadium.

The move signals a shift toward greater media freedom in sports coverage, following weeks of restricted access under the BCB’s earlier policy.

Barcelona suffered a 2-1 defeat to Girona on Monday night at Estadio Municipal de Montilivi, losing their top position in the Spanish La Liga standings. The Catalan club, previously one point ahead, dropped to second place with 58 points from 24 matches, while Real Madrid moved two points clear at the top with 60 points. Despite taking an early lead and attempting 26 shots, coach Hansi Flick’s side could not avoid defeat.

Girona matched Barcelona’s intensity throughout the match, with goalkeeper Joan Garcia making several crucial saves to deny at least seven clear scoring chances. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal missed a penalty in first-half injury time, hitting the post, which could have secured at least one point for the visitors. The loss marked Barcelona’s first league defeat after leading a match since December 21, 2014, when they lost 2-1 to Atlético Madrid.

The result leaves Barcelona under pressure in the title race, as Real Madrid’s earlier 4-1 win over Real Sociedad ensured their return to the top of the table.

Former national football captain Aminul Haque has officially taken charge as Bangladesh’s State Minister for Youth and Sports. After being sworn in at the National Parliament on February 17, 2026, he held a press conference at his Mirpur residence, announcing his goal to build a sports-friendly Bangladesh. He emphasized collaboration among sports journalists, athletes, organizers, and the public to promote a culture of sports across the nation.

Aminul outlined plans to make sports compulsory from the fourth grade, incorporating five events including cricket and football, while prioritizing three other disciplines with potential for success in the Asian Games and Olympics. He also discussed the future of cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, describing them as legendary players and expressing hope for a state-level resolution to facilitate their return to the country.

The new minister said he would soon meet with all sports federations and journalists to develop coordinated plans and assign responsibilities for implementing his sports development agenda.

Fourteen legendary former Test cricket captains have written to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging that former captain, cricket icon, and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan be provided with proper medical treatment and minimum human dignity. The letter, sent on February 17, 2026, expresses growing concern over Khan’s deteriorating health, particularly reports of worsening eyesight during his imprisonment over the past two and a half years.

In their letter, the captains highlighted Imran Khan’s immense contribution to cricket, recalling his leadership in guiding Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup. They described that triumph as a symbol of skill, leadership, patience, and sportsmanship that continues to inspire generations. The signatories also noted his service as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, acknowledging his democratic election and leadership during challenging times.

The letter was signed by Michael Atherton, Allan Border, Mike Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Sunil Gavaskar, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Steve Waugh, and John Wright.

The English Premier League has announced that it will again allow short in-game breaks during matches throughout the holy month of Ramadan to enable Muslim players and officials to break their fast. The arrangement will begin this week as Ramadan starts and continue for the entire month. Team captains and match officials will jointly decide before each game whether a break is needed and at what point it should occur.

The designated time for iftar will not be treated as a tactical timeout or a regular water break. Matches will not be stopped mid-play, but a short pause will be allowed at the first natural stoppage, such as a goal kick, free kick, or throw-in, near sunset. In the United Kingdom, sunset during Ramadan is expected between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. GMT, so matches starting around 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. will include this brief pause.

This practice was first introduced in 2021, when Leicester City and Crystal Palace players were allowed to break their fast during a match, marking the beginning of this inclusive initiative.

Australia has been eliminated from the T20 World Cup group stage for the first time after Zimbabwe secured a spot in the Super Eight. The decisive moment came when the Zimbabwe-Ireland match in Pallekele was abandoned due to rain, resulting in both teams sharing points. That single point allowed Zimbabwe to surpass Australia and qualify for the next round. Australia’s earlier defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka had already placed their qualification hopes in jeopardy, leaving players and fans waiting in their hotel rooms for a favorable outcome that never came.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza expressed that the team is not content with merely reaching the Super Eight. Speaking after the rain-affected match, he described the qualification as a small achievement and emphasized their focus on adapting to different conditions and improving performance. Raza also highlighted the motivation the team draws from their supporters and reaffirmed their commitment to representing Zimbabwe proudly.

The result marks a historic milestone for Zimbabwe and a disappointing early exit for Australia, reshaping the tournament’s competitive landscape.

New Zealand confirmed their place in the Super Eight stage after defeating Canada by eight wickets in a T20 World Cup Group D match on February 17, 2026. Batting first, Canada posted 173 for 4, led by opener Yuvraj Samra’s maiden T20 century of 110 runs off 65 balls and captain Dilpreet Bajwa’s 36 from 39 deliveries. In reply, New Zealand chased down the 174-run target in just 15.1 overs with 29 balls to spare.

After losing two early wickets for 30 runs, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips guided the team to victory with an unbroken 146-run partnership off 73 balls. Ravindra remained unbeaten on 59 from 39 balls, while Phillips scored 76 not out from 36 balls, hitting four fours and six sixes. Phillips was named player of the match for his explosive innings. For Canada, Saad Bin Zafar took one wicket for 29 runs, and Jacob Duffy claimed one for 25 for New Zealand.

With this result, New Zealand became the second team from Group D to qualify for the Super Eight, joining South Africa.

Arsenal delivered a dominant performance in the FA Cup fourth round, defeating third-division side Wigan Athletic 4-0 at home. The London club sealed the result within just 16 minutes, scoring all four goals between the 11th and 27th minutes. With this victory, Arsenal advanced comfortably to the next round and kept their pursuit of titles alive in all four competitions this season.

Midfielder Eberechi Eze provided assists for the first two goals, finished by Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. Wigan’s defender Jack Hunt then inadvertently scored an own goal, before Gabriel Jesus added the fourth to end any remaining suspense. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made several key saves to preserve a clean sheet, notably stopping efforts from Joe Taylor and Rafael Rodriguez. Although Victor Gyökeres struck the crossbar in the second half, Arsenal’s first-half surge proved decisive.

The win marked the first time since the 1992–93 season that Arsenal scored four goals within the opening 30 minutes of an FA Cup match.