Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has announced that he will not participate in the upcoming 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, marking a significant decision in his cricketing career. The 37-year-old expressed gratitude for the opportunities and memories he gained through the IPL, where he represented four franchises — Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, and Punjab Kings. Maxwell stated that the league helped shape him both as a player and as a person. His decision follows similar moves by former South African captain Faf du Plessis and England’s Moeen Ali, who have opted to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead of the IPL. Both players expressed excitement about joining the PSL, describing it as a competitive platform featuring world-class talent and a chance for new experiences and growth in T20 cricket.

Bangladesh restricted Ireland to just 117 runs in their innings during the match held in Chattogram. After a strong start in the powerplay, Ireland lost momentum as Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain delivered an impressive spell that dismantled their middle order. Despite opener Paul Stirling’s effort of 38 runs, the Irish batting lineup collapsed under pressure and failed to recover. Ireland were bowled out in 19.5 overs, unable to build any significant partnerships. The disciplined bowling attack from Bangladesh, led by Rishad, ensured that Ireland’s innings ended well below a competitive total, setting up a strong position for the home side to chase.

Bangladesh gained control early in the third and final T20 match against Ireland at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram on Tuesday, December 2. After winning the toss and opting to bat, Ireland’s openers Paul Stirling and Tim Tector put on 38 runs for the first wicket. However, Bangladesh struck back quickly as Shoriful Islam dismissed Tim Tector, followed by Mustafizur Rahman removing Harry Tector in the next delivery. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain then tightened Bangladesh’s grip on the match by taking the wickets of Lorcan Tucker for 1 and Curtis Campher for 9. By the end of the 12th over, Ireland were struggling at 74 for 5, facing mounting pressure from Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack. The hosts looked poised to dominate the remainder of the contest.

In the latest Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction, all major Bangladeshi cricket stars found teams, though Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad initially went unsold. Later, Rajshahi Warriors picked Mushfiqur at his base price, while Rangpur Riders signed Mahmudullah. Rajshahi head coach Hannan Sarkar revealed that although Mushfiqur was not part of their initial plan, the team was prepared to spend up to Tk 1 crore to secure him if necessary. Sarkar explained that when their initial recruitment strategy did not go as planned, they saw an opportunity to bring in a player of Mushfiqur’s caliber and adjusted their approach accordingly. He added that no other available player matched Mushfiqur’s experience and leadership, and he had reserved funds specifically for the wicketkeeper-batsman. Ultimately, Rajshahi managed to sign Mushfiqur for less than the amount they were willing to pay, which Sarkar described as a fortunate outcome for the franchise.

Real Madrid missed the chance to reclaim the top spot in La Liga after being held to a 1-1 draw by Girona. Despite Kylian Mbappe scoring from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, Real could not secure a win. Earlier, Girona took the lead just before halftime through a powerful strike from Azzedine Ounahi. Mbappe had a goal disallowed for handball before Girona’s opener. Real Madrid pushed hard in the second half, with Vinícius Júnior creating several chances, but an offside call denied him a goal. The draw leaves Real Madrid in second place, one point behind Barcelona, who remain at the top of the table. Girona, with 12 points, stay near the relegation zone but earned a valuable point against one of the league’s giants.

India defeated South Africa by 17 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium. Batting first after losing the toss, India posted a record 349 for 8 — the highest ODI total ever at the venue — surpassing Australia’s 313 in 2019. Virat Kohli led the charge with a brilliant 135 off 120 balls, marking his 53rd ODI and 83rd international century. Rohit Sharma contributed 57, while Lokesh Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja added a quick 65-run stand late in the innings. In reply, South Africa stumbled early at 11 for 3 but fought back through Matthew Breetzke (72), Marco Jansen (70), and Corbin Bosch (68). Despite their resistance, the visitors were bowled out 17 runs short of the target, giving India a 1–0 lead in the series. The match also set a new batting benchmark for Ranchi’s ODI history.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchises have finally picked three experienced cricketers—Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Mominul Haque—after they initially went unsold in the first round of the players’ draft. According to the rules, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah, both listed in the ‘B’ category with a base price of 3.5 million taka, were supposed to be reintroduced in the ‘C’ category with a lower base price of 2.2 million taka. However, out of respect for their seniority, the organizers kept their original base price. Rangpur Riders signed Mahmudullah, while Rajshahi Warriors picked Mushfiqur Rahim. Meanwhile, Mominul Haque, who was also unsold in the first call, was later bought by Sylhet Titans for 2.2 million taka. The signings bring relief to the veteran players and add experience to their respective teams ahead of the upcoming BPL season.

In the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction, several prominent national players experienced contrasting fortunes. Left-handed opener Naim Sheikh, listed in the ‘A’ category, was bought by Chattogram Royals for Tk 1.10 crore, while T20 captain Liton Das went to Rangpur Riders for Tk 70 lakh. However, veteran cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, both placed in the ‘B’ category with a base price of Tk 35 lakh, went unsold in the initial round as no franchise showed interest. Following the outcome, Mushfiqur posted a calm message on Facebook expressing gratitude. Despite being unsold, he still has a chance to be picked later, as he will be re-listed in the ‘C’ category in the next phase of the auction. The unexpected result has sparked discussions about the evolving dynamics of player demand in the BPL and the shifting priorities of franchise teams.

Pakistan ended 2025 on a high note by defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final of the T20 tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Batting first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 114 runs in 19.1 overs, with Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz taking three wickets each. Kamil Mishara top-scored for Sri Lanka with 59 off 47 balls. In reply, Pakistan reached the target in 18.4 overs, led by former captain Babar Azam’s 37 off 34 balls and opener Saim Ayub’s 36 off 33. With this victory, Pakistan set a new record for the most T20I wins in a calendar year, securing 21 wins out of 34 matches in 2025. The previous record was 20 wins in 26 matches in 2021. The triumph highlights Pakistan’s consistent performance and growing dominance in the T20 format ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

At 38, Lionel Messi continues to make history, breaking a 59-year-old world record for the most career assists in football. During Inter Miami’s 5–1 victory over New York City FC, which secured the club’s first-ever Major League Soccer Eastern Conference title, Messi provided his 405th career assist. The record surpasses the previous unofficial mark of 404 assists held by Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskás since 1966. Although Messi’s impact in the match was limited to a single assist, it proved decisive in both the game and football history. Among active players, Thomas Müller follows with 352 assists, while Luis Suárez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ángel Di María, and Cristiano Ronaldo trail behind. Messi’s career tally now stands at 896 goals, further cementing his status as the player with the most combined goals and assists in football history.

Bangladesh leveled the T20 series 1–1 with a record-breaking win, successfully chasing a target of 171 runs on home soil. The team achieved victory with two balls to spare and four wickets in hand. Liton Das led from the front with a top score of 57 runs, while opener Parvez Hossain Emon contributed 43 runs. In the closing stages, pace bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin played a crucial cameo of 17 runs off seven balls, including two boundaries and a six, bringing Bangladesh close to victory. Sheikh Mehedi Hasan then sealed the win with a boundary, scoring six runs off three balls. This chase surpassed Bangladesh’s previous highest successful home chase of 166 runs against Sri Lanka last year, marking a new milestone for the Tigers under Liton’s captaincy.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified why several national players, including top-order batsman Anamul Haque Bijoy and all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, were left out of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction list. In a statement, the BPL Governing Council said the decision followed recommendations from the board’s newly formed Integrity Unit, led by independent chairman Alex Marshall. The unit is investigating potential corruption-related issues and advised that certain individuals, including players, should not be invited to participate in this season’s tournament. The BCB emphasized that this is a temporary measure specific to the BPL to ensure fairness in ongoing investigations and maintain the league’s integrity. The board also noted that this decision does not affect other domestic competitions under its jurisdiction and urged restraint in public commentary while reviews remain ongoing.

Sri Lanka suffered a severe batting collapse in the tri-nation series final against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Pakistan sent Sri Lanka to bat first. The visitors started steadily, reaching 103 for 3 in 14.4 overs, but then lost seven wickets for just 11 runs to be bowled out for 114 in 19.1 overs. Opener Kamil Mishra top-scored with 59 off 47 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes, while Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka added 14 and 11 runs respectively. No other batsman reached double figures. Pakistan’s pace and spin attack proved too strong, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 3 wickets for 18 runs in 3 overs, Mohammad Nawaz claiming 3 for 17 in 4 overs, and Abrar Ahmed adding 2 for 18 in 4 overs. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling left Sri Lanka struggling throughout the innings.

Bangladesh are facing a challenging target of 171 runs to save the T20 series against Ireland after the visitors posted a competitive total in Chattogram. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Ireland made a strong start, scoring 75 runs for the loss of one wicket in the powerplay. Lorcan Tucker top-scored with 41 off 32 balls, while Tim Tector and Paul Stirling contributed 38 and 29 runs respectively, helping Ireland reach 170 for six wickets. For Bangladesh, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 25 runs in his four overs. Mohammad Saifuddin and Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed one wicket each. Bangladesh now need 171 runs to win and keep the series alive.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are meeting in the final of the tri-nation cricket series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan, who topped the group stage with three consecutive wins, secured their place in the final early but lost their last group match to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, had a shaky start, losing their first two matches and facing possible elimination. However, they bounced back strongly by defeating Zimbabwe and Pakistan in their last two games to reach the final. Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, missed out on the final after losing both their remaining matches. The final promises to be a competitive clash, with both teams aiming to deliver their best performance to claim the championship trophy.