Bangladesh has achieved a rare feat in Test cricket history during their ongoing match against Ireland, becoming only the third team ever to record century partnerships for the fourth, fifth, and sixth wickets in a single innings. The achievement places Bangladesh alongside India and Pakistan, who previously accomplished this in 1979 and 2023 respectively. Despite a shaky start at 95 for 3, the team recovered through strong partnerships led by Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Liton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Mushfiqur’s 106 and Mominul’s 63 stabilized the innings before Liton and Miraz added another 123-run stand. This is only the third time in Bangladesh’s Test history that they have produced three century partnerships in one innings, the last being 12 years ago against New Zealand. The record underscores Bangladesh’s growing consistency and depth in batting.

Bangladeshi footballer Tariq Kazi has reportedly attracted interest from Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest ahead of the upcoming winter transfer window. According to transfer news outlet Transfermarkt, the club plans to explore the Asian market, with Kazi among its key targets. The Finland-born defender recently announced his departure from Bashundhara Kings, citing unpaid wages and irregular salary payments over the past year. Despite maintaining a good relationship with the club, he terminated his contract on legal grounds. Kazi, who has been a reliable player for the Kings for five seasons, continues to represent Bangladesh at the international level. He played the full 90 minutes against Nepal and was substituted due to injury during the match against India. If negotiations progress positively, Kazi could soon become the first Bangladeshi player to feature in Romania’s top football league.

Bangladesh’s national football team climbed three spots to 180th in the latest FIFA rankings, marking its best position in nine years. The improvement follows Bangladesh’s 1–0 victory over India in Dhaka, their first win against the neighboring side in 22 years. Sheikh Morsalin scored the decisive goal in the first half. The win earned Bangladesh 17.13 ranking points, raising their total from 894.06 to 911.19. India, previously ranked 136th, dropped six places to 142nd after losing the same number of points. Bangladesh’s previous best ranking was 177th in February 2016, while their lowest point came in 2018 when they fell to 197th. Among the top-ranked teams, Spain retained the number one position, followed by Argentina, France, and England, with Brazil moving up two spots to fifth place.

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed played a key role in Northern Warriors’ four-run victory over Saif Hassan’s Asprin Stallions in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. Batting first after losing the toss, Northern Warriors posted 114 for 1 in 10 overs, powered by Johnson Charles’ 55 off 34 balls and Colin Munro’s unbeaten 38 off 21. In reply, the Stallions fell short, finishing on 110 runs. Taskin Ahmed claimed two wickets for 21 runs in his two overs, while Shahnawaz Dahani took three wickets to seal the win. Saif Hassan, playing his first T10 League match, struggled both with bat and ball, conceding 17 runs in one over and scoring only 15 off 11 balls. The Warriors’ disciplined bowling attack ensured their narrow but crucial win in the day’s opening match.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the schedule for the 2025 Under-19 One Day International World Cup, set to begin on January 15 and conclude with the final on February 6. The tournament will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Bangladesh and India have been placed together in Group A, alongside the United States and New Zealand. Notably, archrivals India and Pakistan have been kept in separate groups. Matches will be hosted across venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Harare and Bulawayo among the key locations. Tanzania will make its debut appearance in this edition. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, followed by semifinals and the final. Reserve days have been allocated for both the semifinals and the final to ensure completion in case of weather disruptions.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 12-member squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia, scheduled to begin on Friday in Perth. The squad includes off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and four frontline pace bowlers, emphasizing England’s focus on pace-friendly conditions. Mark Wood, who recently recovered from an injury, has been retained after proving his fitness in the nets, while Josh Tongue has been left out. Brydon Carse earns a place in the squad, and Ollie Pope is set to bat at number three, replacing Jacob Bethell. England’s pace attack will feature Carse, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Wood, with Ben Stokes leading the side. The squad aims to balance experience and youth as England looks to start the Ashes series strongly in Australian conditions.

Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in a friendly match at Lille’s Decathlon Stadium in France. Despite dominating possession, Brazil conceded early due to defensive lapses before Estêvão equalized from the penalty spot just before halftime. Lucas Paquetá missed a crucial second-half penalty that could have secured victory. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, however, expressed no concern over the result, emphasizing that the team’s focus remains on reaching peak form for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He acknowledged Tunisia’s strong defensive organization and admitted Brazil failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Adding to Brazil’s worries, defender Éder Militão left the field in the 60th minute after feeling discomfort from a recurring ligament injury. Brazil, who finished fifth in the qualifying standings with 28 points from 18 matches, will not play any more friendlies before the World Cup.

Bangladesh secured a historic 1-0 victory over India in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, marking their first win against the neighboring football powerhouse in 22 years. The decisive goal came from forward Sheikh Morsalin at Dhaka National Stadium, ending decades of frustration for Bangladeshi fans. Following the match, the Bangladesh Football Federation released a one-minute locker room celebration video on its official Facebook page, featuring players like Jamal Bhuiyan, Rakib Hossain, and Shamit Shome dancing joyfully. The video quickly went viral after the Canadian Premier League shared a clip highlighting Shamit Shome’s dance moves, captioning it humorously. Shome, who plays for Cavalry FC in Canada, has previously been recognized multiple times as player of the week in the league. The viral moment symbolized both national pride and international recognition for Bangladesh’s football resurgence.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to play 100 Test matches, marking the occasion at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Having made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2005, Mushfiqur has now completed over 20 years in the longest format of the game. His Test career spans 20 years and 177 days, placing him third among players with the longest Test careers, behind Pakistan’s Imran Khan (20 years 218 days) and India’s Sachin Tendulkar (24 years 1 day). While Tendulkar remains unmatched with 200 Tests, Mushfiqur’s longevity is remarkable given Bangladesh’s limited Test schedule compared to cricketing giants like India, England, and Australia. At 38, Mushfiqur has already retired from ODIs and T20Is, focusing solely on Tests. Whether he continues beyond his 100th Test or chooses to retire from international cricket remains to be seen.

Eight additional teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing the total to 42 confirmed participants out of 48. The final six teams will be determined through playoffs in March 2025. Spain clinched their place after a 2–2 draw with Turkey, extending their unbeaten streak to 31 matches. Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland, and Austria also secured qualification from Europe, joining earlier qualifiers Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany. In the CONCACAF region, Panama, Haiti, and Curaçao earned their spots, with Curaçao becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. Hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada automatically qualified. The European playoffs will feature 12 group runners-up and four top Nations League teams. The World Cup draw is scheduled for December 5, 2024, marking the first edition to feature 48 teams across North America.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been fined 10 percent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the final match against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The incident occurred in the 21st over when Babar, after being dismissed, struck the stumps with his bat in frustration. The offense was categorized as a Level 1 violation, resulting in one demerit point being added to his disciplinary record. Since Babar accepted the charge and admitted his mistake, no formal hearing was required. The punishment comes just after Babar ended a long century drought, scoring his first international hundred in 807 days and 83 innings. Despite his return to form, the disciplinary issue has drawn criticism from the Pakistan Cricket Board and former players, who have urged the star batter to maintain composure and set a better example for younger cricketers.

Bangladesh’s national football team achieved a historic 2-1 victory over India at the National Stadium, marking their first win against the neighboring rival in 22 years. The thrilling match drew a packed crowd, including dignitaries and sports enthusiasts. Following the victory, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan visited the dressing room to celebrate with the players and announced a Tk 20 million bonus for the team in recognition of their outstanding performance. Team manager Amer Khan stated that the announcement has further motivated the players. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President also congratulated the team and joined them for a celebratory dinner. Star player Hamza is set to leave for England the next morning. Previously, the same adviser had rewarded women footballers with Tk 15 million for their achievements in SAFF and Asia Cup qualifications, while BFF’s earlier promise of Tk 15 million to the women’s team remains unfulfilled.

Bangladesh achieved a historic 1-0 victory over India in the third-round return leg of the Asian Cup qualifiers held at Dhaka National Stadium on November 18. Sheikh Morsalin’s early goal in the 12th minute sealed the win, marking Bangladesh’s first home victory against India in 22 years. Indian media outlets reacted sharply, labeling the defeat as 'embarrassing,' 'humiliating,' and one of the biggest failures of the 21st century for Indian football. Publications such as India Today, The Indian Express, NDTV, Times Now, First Post, and Anandabazar criticized India’s poor performance and lack of finishing. The loss left India winless after five matches, placing them at the bottom of Group C, while Bangladesh celebrated a morale-boosting triumph. The victory has been hailed as a new chapter for Bangladesh’s emerging football generation, inspiring renewed hope among fans despite their elimination from the next round.

Scotland secured a historic return to the FIFA World Cup after 28 years by defeating Denmark 4-2 in a dramatic Group C qualifier. The Scots last appeared in the World Cup in 1998, making this qualification a landmark achievement for a new generation of players. Despite Denmark dominating possession with 63% and taking 20 shots, Scotland proved clinical, converting four of their five shots on target. Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a spectacular bicycle kick in the third minute, followed by goals from Lawrence Shankland, Kieran Tierney, and Kenny McLean. Denmark equalized twice through Rasmus Højlund and Patrick Dorgu but ultimately fell short. With four wins, one draw, and one loss, Scotland topped Group C with 13 points, while Denmark finished second with 11 points and will head to the playoffs. The victory sparked jubilant celebrations across Scotland as the team booked their long-awaited World Cup ticket.

Bangladesh’s top order faltered early on the first day of the Dhaka Test against Ireland, losing three wickets before reaching 100 runs. Openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam gave the hosts a solid start with a 50-run partnership, but Shadman fell for 35 to Andy McBrine, who went on to claim all three wickets. Joy followed soon after for 34, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed for just 8. At lunch, Bangladesh were 100 for 3, with Mominul Haque batting on 17 and Mushfiqur Rahim, playing his 100th Test, on 3. Having won the toss, Bangladesh opted to bat first, aiming to build on their series lead after a convincing win in the previous Test. Ireland’s disciplined bowling, led by McBrine, kept the hosts in check during the morning session.