The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the final list of players eligible for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, featuring seven Bangladeshi cricketers but excluding Shakib Al Hasan, the country’s most successful IPL representative to date. The auction is scheduled to take place on December 16 in the United Arab Emirates.

Among the Bangladeshi players, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has the highest base price at INR 2 crore. Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana, and Shoriful Islam each carry a base price of INR 75 lakh, while spinner Rakibul Hasan is listed at INR 30 lakh. The announcement comes as franchises prepare to rebuild squads ahead of the next season, which will follow the T20 World Cup.

Analysts note that Shakib’s omission may reflect his recent injury concerns and limited availability. The inclusion of several young Bangladeshi players, however, signals growing international recognition of the country’s emerging T20 talent pool.

Dubai’s tax-free environment and luxury lifestyle continue to attract elite athletes seeking both investment and indulgence. The city’s absence of property and inheritance taxes, coupled with its modern amenities, has made it a preferred destination for sports stars looking to diversify their wealth and enjoy year-round sunshine.

Cristiano Ronaldo owns land worth around $30 million on Jumeirah Bay Island and a penthouse overlooking the Burj Khalifa, while David and Victoria Beckham hold multiple properties, including a Palm Jumeirah villa and an apartment in the Burj Khalifa. Neymar has purchased a futuristic ‘Sky Mansion Penthouse’ in the upcoming Bugatti Residences, set to open in 2027. Tennis legend Roger Federer resides part-time in the Le Reve Tower, valued at over AED 86 million, and Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher was gifted an entire island in The World Islands project. Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, now a Dubai Sports Ambassador, continues to live in her Palm Jumeirah villa after her divorce, running her tennis academy there.

The trend underscores Dubai’s growing reputation as a global hub for luxury living and athlete investment, blending financial security with lifestyle appeal.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced its squad for the upcoming Under-19 Asia Cup, naming Azizul Hakim Tamim as captain and Jawad Abrar as vice-captain. The tournament is scheduled to begin on December 12 and conclude with the final on December 21 in the United Arab Emirates.

Pacer Al Fahad has been ruled out due to injury, while off-spinner Sheikh Parvez Jibon has been called up to replace Debashish Sarkar. The 15-member squad includes promising young talents such as Samiun Bashir Ratul, Rizwan Hossain, and Farid Hossain Faisal, with six additional players named as standbys.

The Under-19 Asia Cup serves as a key preparatory event ahead of the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Bangladesh, a former champion in the competition, will look to test its new leadership combination and assess bench strength under UAE conditions, which are expected to challenge both spinners and pacers.

England head coach Brendon McCullum admitted that his team’s heavy defeat to Australia in the Brisbane pink-ball Test was partly due to overtraining. Following the eight-wicket loss, McCullum said the players may have practiced too much instead of focusing on mental freshness. England had skipped a warm-up match before the Test, a decision that drew criticism, but McCullum argued the real issue was excessive preparation.

He explained that the game is played as much in the mind as on the field, emphasizing the need to stay physically ready yet mentally fresh to make sound decisions under pressure. England’s batting faltered despite a 96-run stand between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, and the team was bowled out for 241 in the second innings. Australia chased 65 runs in just 10 overs to secure a 2–0 series lead.

Critics, including former captain Michael Vaughan, had earlier questioned England’s preparation strategy. The team’s poor record in pink-ball Tests—two wins in eight matches—adds to the scrutiny over their training and planning approach.

Real Madrid endured their first home defeat of the season at Santiago Bernabéu, losing 2–0 to Celta Vigo in a chaotic La Liga match marked by three red cards. Despite dominating the first half and missing several scoring chances, Madrid fell behind early in the second half when Williot Swedberg opened the scoring for Celta.

The situation worsened as Fran García received a second yellow card in the 64th minute, followed by late dismissals for Álvaro Carreras and substitute Endrick, who was sent off for arguing with the referee. Coach Xabi Alonso also received a yellow card amid growing frustration. Swedberg sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal against a nine-man Madrid side.

The loss was Real Madrid’s second in La Liga this season, widening the gap with leaders Barcelona to four points. With Villarreal close behind and a game in hand, Madrid face renewed pressure to stabilize their campaign before their next fixture.

Brazil claimed their first-ever FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup title after defeating Portugal 3–0 in the final held at the PhilSports Arena in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, December 7. The victory marked a historic moment for the Seleção women, who remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Emily Marcondes opened the scoring in the 10th minute, followed by Amanda Lisa de Oliveira’s strike in the 23rd minute, and Débora Vanin sealed the win with a third goal in the 38th minute. Marcondes also won the Golden Boot with seven goals. Portugal’s Ana Catarina was named Best Goalkeeper, while Brazil received the Fair Play Award. Spain finished third after defeating Argentina in the playoff.

The 16-nation tournament was the first official FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup, signaling a major milestone for women’s futsal globally. Brazil’s triumph adds to their impressive record, which already includes multiple continental and invitational titles, reinforcing their dominance in the sport.

Bangladesh Under-17 cricket team clinched a convincing 78-run win against Sri Lanka in Chattogram, driven by a superb century from opener Adrit Ghosh. Batting first, Bangladesh posted 271 for six in their allotted 50 overs, with Ghosh remaining unbeaten on 103 off 138 balls. Supporting contributions came from Naeem (32), Akash (39), and Saurav (32), while Sri Lankan bowler Himaru claimed two wickets.

In reply, Sri Lanka’s youth side struggled to build momentum and managed only 193 for seven in 50 overs. Fernando top-scored with an unbeaten 78, helping reduce the margin of defeat. Bangladesh’s bowlers shared the wickets evenly, with Akash Roy, Akash, Mahinuzzaman Mahabir, Faiyaz Arib, Jarif Siam, Mohammad Iftekhar, and Rakibul Hossain each taking one wicket.

The victory gives Bangladesh a 1–0 lead in the three-match youth series. The second match is scheduled for December 9, followed by the final on December 12, both in Chattogram.

Bangladesh Under-19 women’s cricket team took a 2–1 lead in the five-match T20 series against Pakistan after securing a convincing seven-wicket win in the third match held in Cox’s Bazar. Batting first, Pakistan managed only 86 runs for eight wickets, a total Bangladesh comfortably chased down in 13.3 overs.

Captain Sadia Islam led from the front with a quickfire 35 off 28 balls, including three sixes, forming a crucial 45-run partnership with Jannat after an early setback. Jannat remained unbeaten on 30 off 25 balls, guiding the team to victory alongside Maimuna Nahar. Earlier, Habiba Islam and Atasi Majumdar each took two wickets to restrict Pakistan’s scoring.

The final two matches of the series will also be played in Cox’s Bazar on December 10 and 12. With momentum on their side, Bangladesh will look to seal the series, while Pakistan aim to bounce back and level the contest.

Australia extended their dominance in the ongoing Ashes series with a commanding eight-wicket victory over England in the second Test at Brisbane. Despite a resilient 138-run innings from former captain Joe Root, England were bowled out for 334 in their first innings. Australia responded strongly, posting 511 runs without a single century, with contributions from multiple batsmen including Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith.

England, trailing by 177 runs, faltered again in their second innings, managing only 241 runs as Michael Neser claimed five wickets. Captain Ben Stokes top-scored with 50, while Zak Crawley added 44. Chasing a modest target of 65, Australia sealed victory within 10 overs, losing just two wickets.

Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, taking eight wickets across both innings and scoring a crucial 77 runs. With this win, Australia now leads the five-match series 2–0, putting England under immense pressure ahead of the third Test.

Inter Miami captured their first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup title on Saturday, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1 at Chase Stadium. Although Lionel Messi did not score in the final, his creative influence shaped all three goals, securing a landmark victory for the Florida-based club. The win capped a remarkable turnaround season that also saw Miami claim the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield.

Messi’s early midfield brilliance set up the opening own goal by Vancouver’s Edier Ocampo, while his second-half interceptions and assists to Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende sealed the result. The match also marked the final professional appearances of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, both former Barcelona legends who concluded their illustrious careers with this MLS title.

The victory cements Inter Miami’s rapid rise since Messi’s arrival and underscores his transformative impact on American soccer. The club now looks ahead to defending multiple titles next season and expanding its global fan base.

Barcelona secured a spectacular 5–3 win over Real Betis on Saturday night in a high-scoring La Liga encounter. Despite Betis leading early through an Antony strike in the sixth minute, Barcelona responded with dominance, led by Ferran Torres, who completed his hat-trick within the first half. Rooney Bardghji and Lamine Yamal added further goals to seal the victory for Hansi Flick’s side.

Real Betis showed resilience in the second half, pressing hard and managing two late goals through Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernández, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. Barcelona’s attacking efficiency and Torres’s finishing were the highlights of the match.

With this result, Barcelona remain at the top of the La Liga standings with 40 points from 16 matches, four points ahead of archrivals Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. The win reinforces Barcelona’s strong title ambitions under Flick’s management as the season approaches its midpoint.

West Indies’ former all-rounder Andre Russell has etched his name into cricket history by becoming the first player to achieve the combined milestones of 5,000 runs, 500 wickets, and 500 sixes in T20 cricket. The record was sealed on Friday, December 5, when Russell, playing for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20, claimed his 500th wicket against Desert Vipers. This achievement came in his 576th T20 match, where his career tally now stands at 9,496 runs, 500 wickets, and 772 sixes.

While several players have individually crossed these milestones, Russell remains the only cricketer to have reached all three. According to available data, 126 players have scored over 5,000 runs, six have taken 500 or more wickets, and ten have hit at least 500 sixes. Russell, who retired from international cricket in July, recently announced his decision to step away from the IPL as a player and will serve as an assistant coach for Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming season.

Michael Morrow, a 49-year-old swimmer from New York, has achieved an extraordinary feat by swimming 28.5 miles in open water while wearing handcuffs. Completing the route through the East River, Harlem River, and Hudson River in under ten hours, Morrow secured two Guinness World Records — for the longest open-water swim in handcuffs and for being the first and fastest to circle New York’s waterways under such conditions.

Morrow’s teammate Capri Zatyasmoro described the experience as thrilling, comparing the post-swim feeling to flying a kite. Morrow said he was inspired by stories of people who never gave up on pushing their limits, which motivated him to take on the challenge. A former national champion swimmer, Morrow returned to the sport in his mid-forties after a two-decade break.

His achievement highlights both physical endurance and mental resilience, adding a unique chapter to open-water swimming history. Morrow’s record may inspire others to redefine personal boundaries in endurance sports.

Football fans around the world are anticipating a potential clash between Brazil and Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking what could be their first World Cup encounter in 36 years. The two South American giants last met in the tournament in 1990, when Argentina edged out Brazil in the Round of 16. The possibility of a new showdown depends heavily on how both teams perform in the group stage of the expanded 2026 edition.

If both Brazil and Argentina top their respective groups, they would only meet in the semifinals or later. Even if both finish as runners-up, a semifinal meeting would remain the earliest possible stage. However, if one team qualifies as a third-placed side, the knockout bracket could create an earlier encounter, though the exact stage would depend on final group standings and FIFA’s knockout schedule.

The official knockout pathway is expected to be clarified once FIFA finalizes the 2026 World Cup bracket, fueling excitement among fans and analysts awaiting a possible renewal of one of football’s fiercest rivalries.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has expressed uncertainty about participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite his strong wish to be part of the tournament. In an interview with ESPN ahead of the World Cup draw in Washington D.C., the 38-year-old star said he hopes to be there but admitted that circumstances could prevent his participation. Messi, who fulfilled his lifelong dream by winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup, stated that even if he cannot play, watching the event as a spectator would still be a special experience. His comments have sparked mixed emotions among fans, many of whom are eager to see him lead Argentina once again on the global stage. The uncertainty stems from his age and the physical demands of top-level football, raising questions about whether the iconic forward will extend his international career to one more World Cup.