Ashraful said the issue should never have reached this point and reiterated that cricket should remain confined to the field.

Indian politician and current Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor called out the BCCI for ‘deplorably’ forcing Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for IPL 2026, doubling down on his belief that politics should not be dragged into sports.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) heeded to the mounting pressure from politicians and religious groups in the country and instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), report several Indian media.

Former Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad bounced back from criticism over failure to score one off the final ball in the previous match with a match-winning 34 not out off 16 balls for the Rangpur Riders against Sylhet Titans in their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match in Sylhet on Friday.

Captain Ben Stokes on Saturday called the fifth and final Test against Australia a "huge game" for England and vowed there would be no coasting at the end of a long and draining Ashes tour.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reportedly already submitted the preliminary squad for the ICC T20 World Cup to the ICC and according to sources, is expected to make it public today.

Australia skipper Steve Smith said Saturday he had no end date to call time on his career, while keeping England guessing on how his team will line up for the fifth and final Ashes Test.

Ben Stokes has urged England chiefs to keep faith with "Bazball" architect Brendon McCullum despite a stinging Ashes defeat in Australia.

Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan produced a commanding all-round performance as MI Emirates secured a seven-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 Qualifier 2 at Sharjah on Friday to book a place in the final.

Rangpur Riders returned to winning ways with a six-wicket victory over Sylhet Titans in their third match of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Pacer Al Fahad returned to the fold as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15.

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman etched his name into the record books by becoming the fastest pacer to claim 400 wickets in T20 cricket during a Bangladesh Premier League match in Sylhet on Friday.

Aiden Markram will lead South Africa as the Proteas have named their 15-memeber squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Friday.

Chattogram Royals thrashed Dhaka Capitals by 10 wickets in the Bangladesh Premier League on Friday as openers Mohammad Naim Sheikh and Adam Rossington struck unbeaten fifties to help the BCB-managed side register their second win.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the home international schedule for the 2026 season on Friday, including the itinerary of the two-part home series against Pakistan and also the newly rescheduled home series against India, which was postponed last year.

Potts is the only unused seamer from the tourists' original 16-man squad and gets his chance after Gus Atkinson limped off with a hamstring issue in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

With the bat at No. 10, the right-hander made 10 runs from eight balls, striking two boundaries, in his second BBL knock of the season.

The 54-year-old, who played 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006 and 208 one-day internationals, fell ill while lying down last week and was rushed to hospital.

Usman Khawaja called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match, ahead of the team's net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 4-1 victors.