Bangladesh continued their winning streak in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, securing a 30-run victory over Papua New Guinea in their second group match at Tribhuvan University Ground in Nepal. Led by captain Nigar Sultana Joty, the team posted 168 for 5 before restricting Papua New Guinea to 138 for 9. Sworna Akter starred with both bat and ball, scoring 37 off 14 balls with four sixes and taking one wicket to earn the player of the match award.

Bangladesh’s innings was built on solid contributions from Dilara Akter (35), Juwairia Ferdous (17), and Sharmin Akter (28), while Sobhana Mostary remained unbeaten on 34. In reply, Papua New Guinea’s captain Brenda Tau top-scored with 35, supported by Sibona Jimmy’s 28. Six Bangladeshi bowlers shared the wickets evenly, each taking one.

With two wins from two matches, Bangladesh now lead Group A and will face Namibia next at the same venue on Thursday.

Sports adviser Asif Nazrul announced that Bangladesh will not participate in any World Cup matches held in India. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he stated that the International Cricket Council (ICC) cannot compel Bangladesh to play in India through what he described as unreasonable pressure. He emphasized that Bangladesh would not bow to what he called India's unjust interference.

Nazrul explained that there have been precedents for venue changes in the past, citing Pakistan’s refusal to play in India, which led the ICC to alter venues. He said Bangladesh’s request for a venue change was based on logical grounds and that the government had no information suggesting Scotland would replace Bangladesh in the World Cup squad.

The adviser’s remarks indicate Bangladesh’s firm stance on the issue, while the government awaits further developments from the ICC regarding the tournament’s venue decisions.

Bangladesh continued their impressive run in the SAFF Women's Futsal Championship with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nepal at the Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The match, held on January 19, 2026, saw goals from Sabina Khatun, Krishna, and Lipi Akter. With this win, Bangladesh secured their second victory in three matches, remaining unbeaten in the tournament. They had earlier defeated India 3-1 and drawn 3-3 with Bhutan, collecting a total of seven points so far.

The tournament, being held for the first time, follows a round-robin league format featuring seven teams. Each team plays against all others, and the side finishing at the top of the points table will be crowned champion. Under coach Saeed Khodarahmi, Bangladesh’s consistent performance has kept them firmly in contention for the title.

Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka next on January 21 as they aim to strengthen their position in the championship race.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended its preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, expressing full support for Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which has refused to send its team to India citing security concerns. According to a report by Pakistani outlet Geo Super, the PCB described Bangladesh’s concerns as legitimate and justified, and has halted all training and planning activities for the tournament scheduled to begin in India on February 7.

PCB officials stated that if the International Cricket Council (ICC) fails to reach an acceptable resolution regarding Bangladesh’s position, Pakistan may reconsider its own participation in the tournament. The board has also instructed its team management to prepare an alternative plan in case Pakistan ultimately withdraws from the event.

Geo Super further reported that the PCB believes no host nation should use its position to pressure or threaten other countries, emphasizing the need for fairness and respect in international cricket governance.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) until January 21 to make a final decision on the country’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo citing ICC sources, the deadline was set following a meeting held in Dhaka on Saturday. The BCB’s official statement after the meeting did not mention this timeline, but the ICC is reportedly waiting for Bangladesh’s confirmation.

The uncertainty centers on whether Bangladesh will travel to India or play their matches in Sri Lanka. If Bangladesh decides not to tour India for the tournament, the ICC will select an alternative team. Based on current rankings, Scotland could receive the World Cup spot in that scenario.

The decision, expected by Wednesday, will determine Bangladesh’s participation and finalize the tournament lineup, which has drawn significant attention from cricket fans awaiting clarity on the issue.

New Zealand secured a historic One Day International (ODI) series victory in India, defeating the hosts by 41 runs in the third and final match in Indore. The win marked New Zealand’s first-ever ODI series triumph on Indian soil, sealing the three-match contest 2–1. Batting first, New Zealand posted 337 runs for eight wickets in 50 overs, while India’s chase ended at 296.

Virat Kohli’s determined effort, including a commanding 124 off 108 balls with ten boundaries and three sixes, could not prevent India’s defeat. His innings was his 54th ODI century and 85th in international cricket. Teammates Nitish and Harshit contributed 53 and 52 runs respectively.

For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips built a decisive 219-run partnership. Phillips scored 106 off 88 balls, and Mitchell added 137 off 131 deliveries, guiding their team to a match-winning total and a landmark series victory.

Bangladesh began their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 21-run victory over the United States at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu. After losing the toss and batting first, Bangladesh posted 159 for 5 in 20 overs, led by Sharmin Akter’s 63 off 39 balls. Sobhana Mostary added 32 and Swarna Akter contributed 16 runs late in the innings. In reply, the United States managed 137 for 9, falling short despite a strong start from openers Chetna Pagdiyala and Disha Dhingra.

Spinner Nahida Akter claimed four wickets for Bangladesh, including three in the 18th over, while Rabeya Khan took two. For the United States, Ritu Singh scored 33 off 13 balls but could not prevent defeat. Bangladesh’s next group matches are against Papua New Guinea on January 20, Namibia on January 22, and Ireland on January 24.

The top four teams from the qualifying tournament will advance to the main World Cup, with the top three from each group entering the Super Six stage to compete for those spots.

Bangladesh has refused to play its T20 World Cup matches in India citing security concerns, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains firm on its decision. The BCB prefers to play its matches in Sri Lanka instead. A meeting between the BCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dhaka ended without a final decision on the matter. During the discussions, one option considered was to move Bangladesh to a different group to minimize logistical changes.

As part of that proposal, Bangladesh could have joined Group C, replacing Ireland, while Ireland would move to Group B. However, Cricket Ireland (CI) dismissed the possibility of such a group swap. The BCB described the meeting as constructive, friendly, and professional, noting that both sides exchanged views openly on relevant issues.

No final resolution was reached, leaving the question of Bangladesh’s participation venue in the upcoming T20 World Cup still undecided.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers begin today, with Bangladesh taking on the United States in the opening match at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu, Nepal. The game is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. local time. Bangladesh are placed in Group A alongside the USA, Ireland, Namibia, and Papua New Guinea. The team will face Papua New Guinea on January 20, Namibia on January 22, and Ireland on January 24.

Before the qualifiers, Nigar Sultana Joty’s team played two warm-up matches, defeating the Netherlands by 26 runs and Thailand by 34 runs. The qualifiers feature two groups, with Group B including Zimbabwe, Scotland, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Nepal. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, from which the best four will qualify for the main World Cup.

The tenth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup will be held in England in June–July 2026. Eight teams have already qualified, while four more will join through this qualifying tournament.

Bangladesh drew 3-3 with Bhutan in their second match of the SAFF Women's Futsal Championship on Saturday at Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok. After a strong start to the tournament with a 3-1 win over India, Bangladesh stumbled early when Bhutan’s Deki Lajm scored in the fifth minute. Sumaiya Matsushima quickly equalized, but Bhutan regained the lead in the second half through two goals from Sonam Lhamo. Bangladesh fought back with goals from Sabina Khatun and Masura Parvin to secure a draw.

With this result, Bangladesh now have four points from two matches, while India lead the group with six points after defeating Nepal 8-1 on the same day. Bangladesh’s next match is scheduled for January 19 against Nepal.

Goalkeeper Jhili played a crucial role in keeping Bangladesh in the game, making several key saves that prevented Bhutan from taking the win. The draw keeps Bangladesh in contention for the next stage of the tournament.

Manchester United surprised rivals Manchester City with a 2-0 victory in the Manchester derby, ending a difficult spell for the Red Devils. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed the win, dealing a major blow to City’s English Premier League title hopes. The match also marked a strong start for interim coach Michael Carrick in his second stint in charge.

In Spain, Real Madrid bounced back after consecutive defeats to Barcelona and Albacete by defeating Levante 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The win helped the capital club regain momentum in La Liga after a brief slump. Elsewhere in the English league, Burnley held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory over Brentford.

The results reshaped the weekend’s football narrative, with Manchester United’s resurgence and Real Madrid’s recovery standing out as key storylines across Europe’s top leagues.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a show-cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam for making disparaging comments about cricketers. As of Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, he had not responded to the notice within the given deadline. It remains uncertain whether he will submit a reply at all.

The notice followed remarks Nazmul Islam made to the media after an event at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. He had previously made critical comments about player Tamim Iqbal as well. The BCB had set a deadline of 11 a.m. Saturday for his response, but no reply was received by that time.

The board is reportedly still uncertain about whether Nazmul Islam intends to respond, leaving the matter unresolved for now.

The Under-19 Cricket World Cup has officially begun, with India and the United States playing the opening match on Thursday. Bangladesh will start their campaign today against India at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. India began the tournament with a dominant win over the United States. The competition, jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, features age-level teams from around the world.

India holds the record for the most titles in the tournament’s history, having won five of the previous fifteen editions, including the latest in 2022. Bangladesh, on the other hand, claimed their only title in 2020 by defeating India in the final. This year, Bangladesh competes in Group A alongside India, the United States, and New Zealand. The team, led by captain Azizul Hakim Tamim, will face New Zealand on January 20 and the United States on January 23.

All of Bangladesh’s matches will be played in Zimbabwe. Fans in Bangladesh can watch the games live via Rabbithole streaming and on Star Sports, which will also broadcast matches in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, according to the ICC.

A full day of live sports broadcasts has been announced for January 17, 2026, featuring the ICC Under-19 World Cup match between Bangladesh and India starting at 1:30 p.m. Other cricket fixtures include Japan versus Sri Lanka at the same time, Bangladesh Premier League matches between Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders at 2 p.m., and Chattogram Royals versus Rajshahi Warriors at 7 p.m. Big Bash League, SA T20, and several football leagues will also be aired across multiple channels.

Football fans can watch English Premier League matches such as Manchester United versus Manchester City at 6:30 p.m., followed by Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal fixtures later in the evening. La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Africa Cup of Nations, and Saudi Pro League matches are also scheduled for live telecast through various international networks.

The broadcast lineup highlights a packed weekend for global sports audiences, offering simultaneous coverage of cricket and football tournaments across different continents on channels including Star Sports, T Sports, and FanCode.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed optimism that Bangladesh could one day play in the FIFA World Cup. Responding to a question on Instagram about whether Bangladesh might ever qualify, Infantino said the country has the potential to reach football’s biggest stage. He noted that FIFA’s goal is to help more nations participate for the first time, citing new qualifiers such as Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, and Jordan for the upcoming World Cup to be held in June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Infantino praised Bangladesh as a football-loving nation where the sport is improving, adding that FIFA is investing significantly in the country’s football development. He said Bangladesh has talent like many other nations and could soon reach the World Cup. The visit of the World Cup trophy to Bangladesh further inspired national players, including captain Jamal Bhuiyan and Sheikh Morsalin, who believe the new generation can lead the country to global competition.

Bangladesh last reached the Asian Cup finals in 1980, but recent progress and emerging talents such as Hamza Chowdhury and Shamit Som have revived hopes for future success.