Virender Sehwag ridiculed Bangladesh’s performance after their 6-wicket loss to India in the Champions Trophy. Despite a valiant effort from Zaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy to lift Bangladesh to 228 runs, Sehwag felt there was no real threat from Bangladesh. He downplayed their abilities, saying there was no fear of them even when he played. India comfortably won with 21 balls to spare, thanks to a partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, with India cruising to victory despite a brief challenge.

Despite scoring a century in the Champions Trophy match against India in Dubai, Tawhid Hridoy took responsibility for the team's loss. He admitted that cramps hindered his ability to score runs in the final phase. The match started disastrously for Bangladesh, losing five wickets for just 35 runs in 9 overs. However, Hridoy and Zaker built a record 154-run partnership in 206 balls to stabilize the innings. Zaker scored 68 off 114 balls before being dismissed, after which the run rate slowed down. He commented that adding a few more runs at that stage could have made a difference. Hridoy stated that a total of 228 runs could have been enough had the team taken more early wickets.

Eighteen female footballers boycotted training in protest against British coach Peter Butler. After several rounds of meetings, the Women’s Football Wing Chairman announced that the players had withdrawn their protest, although the athletes themselves have yet to confirm this decision. Meanwhile, Adviser Asif Mahmud commented that Bangladesh’s female athletes are outstanding and deserve recognition, such as the Ekushey Padak. However, he stressed the importance of maintaining discipline in sports. Mahmud also expressed disappointment over the lack of emerging competitors for Shirin Akter, the fastest female sprinter, and the failure to nurture talents from grassroots levels. He assured that the government is working on addressing these concerns.

Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has questioned the prolonged delay in renovating the country’s national stadium, stating that two or three new stadiums could have been built in the time it has taken.

Speaking at an event on Monday, he stressed the need for an investigation into potential irregularities in the renovation project. He also revealed that an appeal for additional time had been rejected, insisting that the project be completed within the original timeline.

Bhuiyan expressed hope that the work would be finished by March and raised concerns about the feasibility of the overall renovation initiative.

Shakib Al Hasan has been released by the Los Angeles Knight Riders for the upcoming season. Despite playing four matches last season and scoring 60 runs, Shakib has been dropped from the team. The Knight Riders have retained only three foreign players: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Spencer Johnson. Shakib is currently banned from bowling for one year after failing the bowling action test. It remains uncertain whether any team will pick Shakib in the Major League Cricket draft scheduled for February 19.

Eighteen Bangladesh women footballers, who had threatened mass retirement demanding coach Peter Butler’s removal, have withdrawn their protest. Despite multiple meetings, they initially refused to train under Butler, putting their future at risk. However, BFF Women’s Wing Chairman Mahfuza Akter convinced them to return. The players will take a short break before rejoining training but will miss the UAE tour. Bangladesh will face the UAE on February 26 and March 2, but none of the 18 rebel players are in the squad.

On March 25, Bangladesh will face hosts India in the first match of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Bangladesh’s head coach has included English Premier League player Hamza Choudhury in the preliminary squad. Captain Jamal Bhuyan commented, “This is now our best squad with Hamza’s inclusion. We’re all eagerly waiting for him.” He added that Hamza will join the team a bit later and that Bangladesh has a 50-50 chance against India in what is expected to be a tough contest.

The controversy surrounding unpaid wages in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has now extended to the Dhaka Premier League (DPL). Cricketer Munim Shahriar has accused Partex Sporting Club of failing to pay his dues. Shahriar, who played for Partex during the 2023-24 season, revealed that a year has passed since the tournament ended, yet he has not received his full payment. Despite repeated assurances, the club has stopped responding. In a Facebook post, he mentioned that club representative Sajjad Saheb and his son Jarif had initially promised payment before the season ended, but they have failed to fulfill their commitment even after multiple follow-ups.

With less than a week remaining before the Champions Trophy kicks off, the Bangladesh national cricket team has left for the tournament. The team departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1:00 AM on Thursday. Before leaving, players requested prayers and support from the nation. While Pakistan is the official host of the tournament, India will play its matches in Dubai under a hybrid arrangement. Bangladesh’s first match is scheduled against India on February 20, with the ultimate goal of clinching the championship.

At a grand final event of a cricket tournament in Faridganj, Chandpur, former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Khaled Mahmud Sujon emphasized the need to eliminate political influence and nepotism from the sport.

“If cricket is freed from external influence and favoritism, Bangladesh’s ‘Tigers’ will become true champions,” he stated. He also stressed the importance of identifying talented players at the grassroots level and providing them opportunities on the national stage.

Mahmud expressed confidence that with proper nurturing, Bangladesh’s cricketers have the potential to bring home a World Cup in the near future. He urged for more frequent tournaments to keep young players engaged on the field, stating that national-level players will emerge from these grassroots initiatives.

The SAFF-winning Bangladesh women’s football team is set to receive the prestigious Ekushey Padak. However, the Ministry of Culture has requested a list of only 11 names to accept the award, creating a dilemma for the Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFF). The victorious squad consists of 23 players along with team officials, bringing the total to 32. BAFF is struggling to decide which 11 individuals will represent the team at the award ceremony.

In an effort to resolve the issue, BAFF General Secretary has reached out to Cultural Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooki. Meanwhile, BAFF Executive Committee member Tipu Sultan, who led the championship-winning team, remains hopeful that the ministry will find a fair solution to the situation.

Despite the tradition of warm-up matches before major tournaments, there will be none before this year’s ICC Champions Trophy. As a result, teams are engaging in bilateral and tri-series matches for preparation. Bangladesh, which has not played a single ODI this year, will face Pakistan in a warm-up match between February 14-17 to compensate for the lack of practice. Meanwhile, Pakistan has scheduled two additional warm-up games against Afghanistan and South Africa.

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan’s cricket team has found itself embroiled in controversy after two heated altercations with South African players during a tri-series. The high-stakes match saw Pakistan adopting an aggressive approach. After Shaheen Afridi bowled a defensive delivery to South Africa’s Britz, tensions escalated into a verbal spat. Later, when Pakistan’s team ran out Temba Bavuma, they aggressively celebrated near his face, drawing criticism for unsportsmanlike conduct.

A standoff has emerged between female footballers and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) over disciplinary issues related to the prestigious Ekushey Padak event. An internal BFF inquiry has accused some players of violating discipline, yet the federation has not taken any punitive action. The reason? If the footballers escalate the issue to the chief adviser, it could put BFF under pressure. Meanwhile, the players are unable to leave the training camp due to the upcoming award ceremony. With both sides at an impasse, reports suggest that four footballers might face disciplinary action, while the players may respond by publicly criticizing BFF’s handling of the situation.

The deadlock in Bangladesh women’s football persists as Sabina Khatun and her team refuse to train under coach Butler, while the coach is prepared to form a team without them. In this situation, the rebel players might be excluded from their contracts with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). Former national men's football team captain Aminul Haque has warned that if Sabina and 18 other players leave the camp, it will be an irreplaceable loss for Bangladeshi football. He urged BFF to address the issue seriously and take action against those responsible for the crisis while ensuring the players remain on the team.