Despite high hopes for victory, Bangladesh succumbed to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Responding to the result, sports advisor Asif Mahmud stated, “Bangladesh played well.” He also noted that the match captivated millions of football fans across the country, adding, “Win or lose, this unwavering support will one day elevate Bangladesh to new heights in world football.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed deep anguish over the situation in Gaza while accepting an honorary degree from the University of Manchester.
“What’s happening in Gaza is heartbreaking. It hurts my entire body,” said Guardiola. “This is not about ideology or politics. When children aged four or five are killed by bombs, when hospitals cease to function—this is about humanity.”
He added, “Be careful. The next child could be ours. Since the nightmare in Gaza began, I’m scared every morning when I look at my children’s faces.”

The High Court has dropped from its docket a petition filed by former cricketer Farroque challenging the legality of appointing ex-captain Aminul Islam Bulbul as a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The National Sports Council had annulled Farroque’s nomination on May 29 and appointed Aminul the following day. Farroque challenged both decisions, but the court removed the case from its active list today.

Aminul Islam Bulbul has officially assumed his role as President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after being elected through a direct vote by board directors on Friday.

Speaking to the media, Aminul said, “I received a call from the Youth and Sports Adviser in late April, offering me this opportunity. I felt honored and didn’t look back. Now, my sole focus is to move Bangladesh cricket forward.” Comparing his leadership style to a fast-paced format, he added, “Test cricket lasts five days, ODIs for seven hours—I want to play a quick T20 innings.”

A scheduled Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings in Rawalpindi was disrupted by a sudden drone attack near the stadium Thursday morning. Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana was set to play for Peshawar. The PCB has now convened an emergency meeting and may relocate all remaining PSL matches to Karachi. Reports suggest similar drone attacks occurred across several Pakistani cities earlier in the day.

In the DPL title-deciding match, Mahmudullah Riyad charged at Mohammad Nadeem, who had used the word "fake" while speaking to the manager. Nadeem clarified he never directed the comment at Mahmudullah, but the latter charged at him after hearing it from the dressing room.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified that the decision to withdraw Tk 250 crore from risky banks and reinvest Tk 238 crore into ‘Green’ and ‘Yellow’ zone banks was a strategic move, not an individual decision by the chairman. “Certain media reports misrepresenting these transactions aim to malign Chairman Faruq Ahmed’s reputation,” the BCB stated, emphasizing that financial decisions prioritized security and were made collectively.

Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Foundation, met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and pledged to enhance sports facilities for female athletes in Bangladesh. She announced plans to help establish a dedicated foundation to provide equipment and manage sports-related infrastructure. Four female athletes accompanied the adviser during the meeting.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus will be accompanied by four female athletes—cricketers Sumaiya Akter and Sharmin Sultana, and footballers Afida Khandaker and Shaheda Akter Ripa—during his two-day official visit to Qatar on April 22-23. The athletes met with Dr. Yunus at the Jamuna office ahead of the trip.

Secretary of the National Sports Council Md. Aminul Islam announced that commercial establishments within Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium will not have their leases renewed after 2026. “The stadium will be free of commercial use,” he stated. The council has already issued letters to remove two shops blocking the main entrance. Officials also noted that street-level business activities were obstructing pedestrian movement and damaging the stadium’s aesthetics.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) conducted a raid at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today, focusing on financial irregularities in the Mujib Centenary program. Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan stated that Tk 250 million was reported as spent for a concert and related events, although actual spending was just Tk 70 million. Documents were also requested regarding ticket sales revenue of Tk 20 million, which was not reported. ACC suspects embezzlement may exceed Tk 190 million. Additional irregularities were found in third-division team selections as well.

Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud announced plans to revitalize grassroots sports, stating, “We’re giving importance to district-level sports. The Bangladesh Football Federation has been instructed to design a plan for district football. Once that’s in place, we aim to start within 2–3 months.” He emphasized ongoing efforts to bring structural reforms in the sports sector and has requested the government for more incentives to support this vision. Sports organizer Anjan Chowdhury Pintu also urged increased attention to district-level sporting activities.

Speaking at a prize-giving ceremony marking International Day of Sport, Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud announced plans to build sports hubs in all eight divisions of Bangladesh with the support of the United Arab Emirates. “From the beginning, we envisioned a centralized sports village. Now, with the UAE’s support and our decentralization plan, we’ll establish sports hubs across the country,” he said. While initial discussions had taken place with China, the Chief Adviser addressed the matter during a recent UAE visit, where Emirati officials expressed willingness to help. Asif Mahmud added that discussions are also underway to develop indoor sports facilities and federation offices on land owned by the National Sports Council in Gulshan.

Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has declared a zero-tolerance policy against extortion following the mass uprising. He urged Muradnagar residents to provide accurate information about extortionists to law enforcement authorities.

Asif Mahmud stated that the interim government aims to build a better Bangladesh in honor of those who sacrificed their lives in the July uprising. He vowed to crack down hard on those who engaged in extortion and drug trade during the previous fascist regime, which contributed to the destruction of the younger generation. The interim government is focused on rehabilitating youth through sports and educational competitions to secure a brighter future for the next generation.

A football tournament in Panskura, East Medinipur, organized by the club Kalimata Sangha, has barred Muslim players from participating, sparking widespread controversy. Many blame the ruling BJP for fostering religious division. However, BJP leaders have denied involvement, suggesting it was a result of local communal tensions. The organizers have since apologized and withdrawn the controversial restriction.