Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made a surprise appearance at the Dhaka National Stadium on March 26, 2026, during a friendly football match organized to mark the country's Independence and National Day. The event, held at 3:30 p.m., featured former footballers divided into two teams, Red and Green, preparing to face each other when the Prime Minister arrived unexpectedly.

Rahman entered the field through the VIP gate, accompanied by his daughter Zaima Rahman and State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque. He greeted the players in the dugout, shook hands with them, and then walked around the stadium’s athletic track before taking his seat in the VIP lounge to watch the match between the two teams.

The Prime Minister’s presence added a special highlight to the celebratory event, which blended sportsmanship with the spirit of national pride on Bangladesh’s Independence Day.

A major controversy has erupted over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title as Senegal’s national football team has taken legal action after its championship win was annulled. Two months after celebrating victory in the January final, Senegal filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board’s decision that awarded Morocco a 3–0 win. CAF had ruled Senegal ineligible for the final after players briefly left the field in protest during stoppage time.

The Senegal Football Federation said it needed more time to appeal because the detailed reasoning behind CAF’s ruling was received late. The Senegalese government also requested an international investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the decision. CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb stated that all parties would receive a fair hearing and that the case would be resolved as quickly as possible, though a final verdict could take several months.

The dispute stems from a tense final in Rabat on January 18, where a penalty decision against Senegal sparked chaos and led to fines and suspensions before the result was overturned.

Bangladeshi-origin footballer Ronan Benjamin Sullivan delivered a stunning performance in his debut for the Bangladesh Under-20 team, scoring twice in a match against Pakistan. The 18-year-old forward first struck in the 53rd minute with a curling free-kick from about 25 yards, followed by a header in the 67th minute. His performance marked an extraordinary debut, drawing widespread attention for his skill and composure on the field.

Born and raised in the United States, Ronan proudly represents Bangladesh, embracing his South Asian roots. Coming from a football-oriented family, he grew up in Philadelphia alongside his brothers Quinn, Declan, and Cavan Sullivan, all of whom are involved in the sport. While Quinn plays for the Philadelphia Union and represents the United States internationally, Ronan and his twin brother Declan aim to represent Bangladesh on the global stage.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Sports and former goalkeeper Aminul Haque praised Ronan’s commitment, emphasizing that all players wearing the national colors are equally Bangladeshi. National team captain Jamal Bhuiyan also lauded Ronan’s debut goals. Ronan expressed his joy on social media, calling the match a “big moment” and a “great finish.”

Fifteen-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. has recently trained with Real Madrid’s youth academy, raising speculation about his potential move to the Spanish club. The Athletic first reported the development, later confirmed by Spanish outlet Marca, which noted that the young player could soon join the club officially. He has been practicing with Real Madrid’s Cadet ‘A’ team, playing as a winger while coaches assess his performance over several days.

Ronaldo Jr., currently part of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr academy, began playing there after his father Cristiano Ronaldo joined the club in December 2022. Before that, he represented youth teams of Manchester United and Juventus. Born in the United States, he chose to represent Portugal internationally and made his debut for the country’s under-15 team against Japan last May.

The teenager’s training stint at Real Madrid has reignited attention on his father’s legacy at the club, where Cristiano Ronaldo played from 2009 to 2018. Observers now await whether the younger Ronaldo will begin a new chapter at the same club that defined much of his father’s career.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a new selection panel, appointing former national captain Habibul Bashar Sumon as the chairman. Bashar, who has prior experience as a selector for both the men’s and women’s national teams, becomes the chief selector under the new arrangement. The announcement was made on March 23, 2026.

The panel includes two new members, Naeem Islam and Nadif Chowdhury. Naeem, aged 39, brings a two-decade-long cricket career to the role, having scored over 20,000 runs across domestic and international formats. He also holds the national record for the most first-class centuries, with 34 to his name. Nadif Chowdhury joins as another fresh face in the selection committee.

The formation of this new panel marks a structural update within the BCB’s selection process, combining experienced leadership with new perspectives from recently retired players.

Amjad Hossain has resigned from his position as a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He submitted his resignation letter to the board on March 23, 2026. The decision came a day after he was removed from his role as chairman of the BCB’s Media and Communication Committee during an unexpected reshuffle of the board’s standing committees amid the Eid holidays.

Following the changes, Mokhsedul Kamal Babu was appointed as the new chairman of the Media and Communication Committee. He will also continue to serve as chairman of the Welfare Committee, according to a BCB statement. With these adjustments, Amjad Hossain was left without any official responsibilities within the board.

The reason behind Amjad Hossain’s resignation remains unclear, as he did not respond to inquiries. The report also notes that another BCB director, Ishtiaque Sadeque, had previously resigned citing family reasons.

Four Bangladeshi cricketers left Dhaka on Monday morning to participate in the upcoming eleventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which begins on March 26. The departing players are Mustafizur Rahman, Shariful Islam, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Nahid Rana. Two others, Rishad Hossain and Tanzid Tamim, are scheduled to join later.

According to the report, six Bangladeshi players have secured contracts in this year’s franchise-based tournament. Mustafizur Rahman, known as the “Cutter Master,” drew particular attention after signing directly with Lahore Qalandars for 64.4 million Pakistani rupees. Parvez Hossain Emon will also play for Lahore Qalandars, while leg-spinner Rishad Hossain joined the new franchise Rawalpindi Pindis for 30 million rupees. Nahid Rana and Parvez were later picked up by their respective teams at a base price of 6 million rupees each.

The participation of multiple Bangladeshi players highlights the growing presence of the country’s cricketers in international franchise leagues.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has clarified confusion surrounding Jaima Rahman’s football background and reports linking her to Chelsea’s youth team. In a Facebook post on Monday, March 23, he explained that Jaima, daughter of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, regularly played football while studying in London and once had an opportunity to play as a goalkeeper for Chelsea’s youth side. Aminul said he learned this from Tarique Rahman himself.

He added that Jaima did not pursue professional football because her parents, Tarique Rahman and Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wanted her to focus on academics. Aminul recalled a conversation with Jaima at a cricket match in Mirpur, where she told him she had been a goalkeeper like him during her school days. He noted that her height gave her an advantage in goalkeeping.

Citing European education systems, Aminul emphasized that sports are an integral part of children’s development and said Jaima had a strong passion for football but ultimately prioritized her studies. He said he issued the clarification because social media had exaggerated or misrepresented his earlier remarks.

Mokhsedul Kamal has been appointed as the new chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Media and Communications Committee. The announcement was made on March 23, 2026. Kamal, who previously served as the committee’s vice chairman, replaces Amzad Hossain, who had held the position since October 2025. In addition to his new role, Kamal continues to serve as the chairman of BCB’s Welfare Committee.

Following his appointment, Kamal expressed gratitude for the continued support and guidance he has received, emphasizing his optimism about working collectively to create a positive impact and elevate the board’s media operations. He also sought cooperation from all stakeholders as he begins his new responsibilities.

The leadership change marks a continuation of internal restructuring within the BCB’s administrative committees, aimed at strengthening communication and media engagement within the organization.

The Bangladesh national football team conducted a one-and-a-half-hour training session on Sunday at the Youth Training Centre in Vietnam ahead of their upcoming FIFA international friendly. It was the team’s first on-field practice after arriving in Vietnam, following travel fatigue. Under the supervision of the coaching staff, players focused on fitness, ball control, and tactical drills.

Head coach Javier Cabrera said in a video message from the Bangladesh Football Federation that the short session was effective and covered several tactical aspects. Senior midfielder Sohel Rana noted that the session was important for both recovery and planning for the Vietnam match, which will help in preparing for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore.

The team arrived in Vietnam on Saturday and will play a friendly match there as part of their preparation. England-based player Hamza Choudhury’s arrival has been delayed by two days, and he is expected to join the squad on Tuesday, March 24.

State Minister for Sports Aminul Haque has said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s daughter, Jaima Rahman, was once selected as a goalkeeper for the women’s football team of English club Chelsea. He made the statement during a televised interview, noting that both Jaima and her mother, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, have a strong interest in sports.

According to the minister, he met Dr. Zubaida Rahman and Jaima Rahman during a visit to London to meet the Prime Minister. He added that the Prime Minister himself had told him that his wife and daughter were far more passionate about sports than he was. Aminul Haque further mentioned that although Jaima had the opportunity to play for Chelsea’s women’s team, she ultimately did not pursue it, possibly due to her father’s decision.

The minister also remarked that Jaima Rahman is tall and talented as a goalkeeper and that, like him, she is a fan of Manchester United.

Rwanda’s Fanny Utugushimaninde has set a new world record as the youngest player to score a century in international cricket, achieving the feat at just 15 years and 223 days old. She reached the milestone during her debut match at the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 Tournament, where she scored a commanding 111 runs against Ghana. Her innings, featuring 17 boundaries off 65 balls, helped Rwanda post a total of 210 for 3 and secure a 122-run victory after Ghana managed only 88 for 8 in 20 overs.

Before Utugushimaninde’s achievement, no woman had ever scored a century on debut in international cricket. The previous best debut score in women’s T20s was 96 not out by Australia’s Karen Rolton. Her record also surpasses Ireland’s Amy Hunter, who previously held the overall youngest international centurion title after scoring 121 on her 16th birthday in 2021. In men’s cricket, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi had held the youngest centurion record at 16 years and 217 days.

Utugushimaninde’s record-breaking performance marks a historic moment for Rwanda’s women’s cricket and sets a new benchmark for youth achievement in the sport.

A 13-member Bangladesh archery team has traveled to Thailand to participate in the Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament, Stage-1, and the World Archery Para Series. The World Ranking Tournament began on March 21 and will continue until March 28, while the World Archery Para Series will be held in Bangkok from March 31 to April 5.

Bangladesh will compete in both recurve and compound events for men and women. The recurve men’s team includes Ramkrishna Saha, Rakib Mia, and Abdur Rahman Alif, while Sonali Roy will represent in the recurve women’s category. In the compound division, Aishwarya Rahman, Newaz Ahmed Rakib, and Himu Bachar will compete in the men’s section, and Kulsum Akter Moni, Joma Akter (para archer), and Bannya Akter will take part in the women’s section. Coaches and managers Nure Alam, Imdadul Haque Milon, and Martin Fredrik are accompanying the team.

The team will compete in nine events, including individual, team, and mixed team categories across both recurve and compound disciplines.

Cricket Ireland is leading an initiative to organize a new continental tournament called the Euro Nations Cup, featuring top European cricket teams. The event, inspired by the European Football Championship, is expected to include England, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Italy. It will feature both men's and women's T20 competitions, following a format similar to the Asia Cup. Cricket Ireland chairman Brian MacNeice said discussions with stakeholders have advanced significantly, and the tournament could begin next year.

MacNeice expressed strong personal commitment to the project, noting that talks have evolved to a stage where he feels confident about its realization. He added that the Euro Nations Cup is expected to launch in the summer of 2027, with detailed plans and structure to be announced in the coming months.

The initiative aims to strengthen European cricket collaboration and visibility, with formal announcements anticipated within the next two months.

Cricket Ireland has postponed its scheduled three-match ODI and T20 series against Bangladesh, which was planned for this year. The decision was confirmed in the board’s newly released annual fixture list, where the Bangladesh series was omitted. According to a statement from Cricket Ireland, the postponement was due to financial constraints and logistical challenges. The board did not specify whether the series would be rescheduled in the future.

Officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said they were not aware of any detailed information regarding the postponement. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Test captain Andy Balbirnie expressed disappointment on social media, noting that the team will play only eight home matches this season.

The development reflects the ongoing financial strain within Irish cricket, which has affected its international scheduling and limited opportunities for home fixtures.