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.

Homayra Akter Antora and Marzan Akter Priya, who previously won gold at the South Asian Games in Nepal, secured gold medals again at the National Karate Championship held at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday. Antora, representing Ansar, triumphed in the women’s under-61 kg category, while Priya, representing the Army, won in the under-68 kg division.

The championship also saw several other winners across different weight categories. In the men’s division, Md. Azad from Khagrachhari won the under-55 kg event, Siam Hossain from BKSP won under-60 kg, Monirul Islam from the Army won under-67 kg, Sajib Mondol from Ansar won under-75 kg, Mintu Dey from the Army won under-84 kg, and Arafat Enayet from the Police won in the above-84 kg category. In the women’s division, Deepa Rani Saha from the Army claimed gold in the above-68 kg category.

The results highlighted the continued dominance of experienced athletes and institutional teams such as the Army, Ansar, and Police in national-level karate competitions.

Football fans attending the World Cup will face steep travel costs in addition to expensive match tickets. According to the report, a round-trip train journey between New York City and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will cost 150 US dollars, equivalent to about 18,000 Bangladeshi taka. The distance between Manhattan’s Penn Station and the stadium is only nine miles, taking roughly 15 minutes by train.

Normally, the fare for this route is 12.90 dollars, or about 1,600 taka. However, during the World Cup period, the price will rise twelvefold. Transport officials have confirmed the fare increase, which adds a significant burden to fans already paying high ticket prices for the matches.

The sharp fare hike highlights the financial strain on spectators planning to attend games in person, as both ticket and travel expenses are expected to reach record levels during the tournament.

Super Star Sporting Club Sualak won the Bandarban Hill District Council T20 Cricket Tournament by defeating Rhythm Royal Club by three wickets in a tense final held on Saturday afternoon at Bandarban Stadium. Rhythm Royal Club scored 129 for 8 in 20 overs, while Super Star Sporting Club reached 130 for 7 in 18.5 overs, led by Rafi’s 66 runs and Dr. Tarek’s 25.

Following the match, a prize-giving ceremony was held under the chairmanship of Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Md. Saniul Ferdous, with Member of Parliament Saching Prue Jerry attending as chief guest. In his speech, the MP emphasized that sports help people avoid negative habits and called for expanding annual sports competitions in educational institutions. He also announced plans to arrange advanced sports training for boys and girls in collaboration with the administration to nurture emerging athletes from Bandarban.

Other speakers included the Superintendent of Police Abdur Rahman, former BCB director Dr. Siraj Uddin Mohammad Alamgir, and district council members. The winners received trophies and awards from the guests.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced its Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh. Led by Shan Masood, the team will arrive in Dhaka on May 3, 2026, featuring four new players—Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Aazan Awais, and Mohammad Ghazi. Eleven players from the previous home series against South Africa have retained their places, while seven others, including Abrar Ahmed and Abdullah Shafique, have been left out.

Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed as Pakistan’s head coach and will oversee a preparatory camp in Karachi from April 27 to May 1. Players currently participating in the Pakistan Super League will join the camp after completing their league commitments. The first Test will begin on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, followed by the second Test on May 16 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Both matches are part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle, marking Pakistan’s first Test tour of Bangladesh in this period.

Bangladesh batter Saif Hasan said there was no excuse for the team’s 26-run defeat to New Zealand, acknowledging that the home side failed to adapt to the slow and uneven pitch. Chasing 248, Bangladesh were bowled out for 221 with nine balls remaining. Despite a strong start with the ball, led by Shariful Islam, the hosts could not capitalize on their early advantage.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Saif admitted that the wicket was more challenging and uneven than expected but stressed that excuses would not help. He noted that Bangladesh’s batting collapse came at the wrong times and that better adaptation to the conditions could have changed the outcome. Saif compared the pitch unfavorably to the truer surfaces seen in the Pakistan series.

New Zealand’s Dean Foxcroft said his team succeeded by adjusting quickly to the conditions, describing the wicket as slow but balanced for both spinners and pacers. He credited their victory to understanding and adapting to the pitch behavior effectively.

NRBC Bank and City Bank advanced to the final of the Don RMC Bankers Club Cricket Tournament after two contrasting semifinal matches held in Rajshahi and Meghna. In the first semifinal at Padma Ground, NRBC Bank defeated Prime Bank by two wickets in a tense contest. Chasing 112, NRBC struggled early but recovered through Iqbal’s 44 and Helal’s quick 28 to seal victory at 14.4 overs with eight wickets down. Abir’s controlled bowling earned him the player of the match award.

In the second semifinal at Meghna Ground, City Bank dominated Eastern Bank to secure a five-wicket win. Opting to field first, City Bank restricted Eastern Bank to 111 all out in 15 overs, thanks to Raju’s five-wicket haul. Raju also contributed 29 runs in the chase, supported by calm batting from Alam, who scored 44, and Deep, who remained unbeaten on 35. City Bank reached the target in 12.4 overs.

The final will feature NRBC Bank’s resilience against City Bank’s confident form, promising a competitive title clash.

Bangladesh began their three-match ODI series against New Zealand with a 26-run defeat at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday. Despite a strong bowling performance that restricted New Zealand to 247 for 8, the hosts were bowled out for 221 in 48.3 overs. Shariful Islam, returning after 17 months, impressed with figures of 2 for 27, while Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed also contributed effectively.

Bangladesh’s chase faltered early as both Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto were dismissed by Nathan Smith in the fourth over. A 93-run stand between Saif Hasan (57) and Liton Das (46) revived hopes, but subsequent wickets derailed the innings. Towhid Hridoy’s 55-run effort was not enough to avert defeat. For New Zealand, Blair Tickner took four wickets and Smith claimed three.

New Zealand’s innings was anchored by Henry Nicholls’ 68 and Dean Foxcroft’s 59, helping them recover from early setbacks. Notably, the visitors did not hit a single six in their innings, a rare occurrence in a full 50-over match at Mirpur. The win gave New Zealand a 1–0 lead in the series.