As the winter cricket season starts, fans usually expect Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain to shine in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). But this time, the young spinner is heading to Australia instead of Dhaka.

Rishad has decided to skip the BPL and join the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL). This move shows his ambition to play and learn abroad. Last year, Rishad was signed by Hobart but didn’t get a chance to play. So, he went on to play for Fortune Barishal in the BPL, but even there, his chances were limited.

Ironically, both teams, Hobart Hurricanes and Barishal, went on to win their leagues. This year, Rishad has full permission from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) through a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and is ready for his first complete BBL season.

Rishad Hossain's overseas ambition

Rishad explained his decision clearly. “As a leg-spinner, playing in overseas leagues helps me improve both my bowling and mindset. I spoke with a few people about what would be better for my career, and everyone said Big Bash is a huge platform , so I tried my best, and by the grace of Allah, it worked out,” he said. He added that no one pushed him; it was entirely his choice. “I just asked myself what I needed to do to move forward. Playing in a big league like the BBL, in those dream venues, is a big opportunity for me.”

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For a young spinner from Bangladesh, this is a bold step. He wants to test himself on faster and bouncier pitches. He also received praise from cricket legends Ricky Ponting and Aaron Finch, which motivated him even more. “It feels good when players of that stature talk about me. It motivates me to keep performing and live up to their words,” Rishad said.

The new BBL season is a huge opportunity for Rishad to develop, learn, and prove himself. As the Hurricanes look to defend their title, he can't wait to be part of it this year and not miss another season as a spectator.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has revealed the schedule for the upcoming six-match white-ball series of three ODIs and three T20Is against West Indies at home in mid-October. This will be a perfect preparation for both sides in the shortest format ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

The BCB, as reports claimed, reckoned that the three-match 50-over series will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka while the T20Is will take place at the Bir Shrestho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium, which was previously known as the Zahur Ahmed Cricket Stadium, in Chattogram.

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The series will start the home season for the Asian country, with the opening game being played on October 18, while the following games will take place on October 20 and 23, respectively. After a three-day break, the focus will shift to the T20I series from October 27, with the next two games being scheduled on October 30 and November 01.

Bangladesh to host West Indies for white-ball series at home

The series will be incredibly vital for both the home side and the tourists, considering it will be the last assignment for both teams to prepare for the World Cup. In Bangladesh, the conditions will be nearly similar to India and Sri Lanka, favoring the spinners and the slower bowlers, with dew anticipated late in the evening.

It will also be a busy schedule for the West Indies all-format players. The final of the ongoing 2025 season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will take place on September 21 at the Providence Stadium. A week later, they will travel to Sharjah for the historic T20I series against Nepal.

At the end of it, the Roston Chase-led side will turn their focus to India for the two-match Test series, before heading to Bangladesh for the white-ball series by the first week of November.

West Indies Tour of Bangladesh 2025

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul believes that the level of batting and bowling in the Asia Cup 2025 is not very similar. That's why the Bangladesh cricket team has high chances to go far in the tournament, he said. 

Ahead of their first match of the Asia Cup 2025 against Hong Kong, the BCB head said that the Bangladesh cricket team has enough talent and potential to attract a good outcome from the competition. He emphasizes running between the wicket and stunning efforts in fielding will be enough to create a gap between two teams. Bulbul opined that every participating team in the contest contains almost similar levels of batting and bowling quality, so extra effort in running and fielding is required. 

"The Asia Cup will be decided by running between the wickets and fielding... In this format, every team bats and bowls at a similar level. If we can score 15 extra runs through running and save 10 runs in the field, that alone could decide the match. These small margins will create the big difference, the BCB president said. 

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He specially mentioned the Afghanistan cricket team, as they are well aware of the conditions in the United Arab Emirates. Afghanistan treats the UAE as their second home ground. 

Bulbul opined, "UAE is Afghanistan’s home ground. They will feel comfortable there. But with the skills and talent our players have, I am confident that if they give their best, they will achieve good results." 

BCB president hoping for a good result 

The former Bangladesh skipper concluded his views by saying that the Tiger brigade has a bright chance to do well in the tournament. He feels more confident because of the Twenty20 format. 

"I truly believe we have the potential to go far in this tournament. T20 is a format where anything can happen, but I am very confident in this team. If we play to our strengths, the results will follow," he added. 

Bangladesh will hit the ground running by playing their maiden Asia Cup fixture against Hong Kong on September 11. Placed in Group G, alongside Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, the Tigers are surrounded by potent opponents, each of whom has at least one T20I victory against them. Bangladesh have traditionally not been at their best in recent Asia Cup editions. Throughout the history of the Asia Cup, despite showing flashes of sporadic brilliance, their performance has been very underwhelming. 

Nevertheless, Bangladesh, led by Litton Kumar Das, arrives at the Asia Cup 2025 with a lot of promise on the back of a dynamic bowling lineup, backed by strategic preparation. If their spinners thrive on UAE conditions and their batting units, especially the middle order, hold firm under pressure, they could potentially flip the script and get mighty close to clinching their maiden Asia Cup title, just the way it managed to do back in 2012. 

As Bangladesh looks to commence its Asia Cup campaign with positivity, we have performed an extensive SWOT analysis of the current squad in an effort to better evaluate its competitive edge. 

See also: Top 3 players to watch from Bangladesh ahead of Asia Cup 2025

Strengths

• Potent Bowling Arsenal: Bangladesh boasts a well-rounded bowling attack. The pace duo of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman brings experience and skill. Taskin, with his hitting-the-deck style of seam bowling, and Mustafizur, with his deceptive slower deliveries, make for a highly versatile pace attack. Spin options are varied and effective. From Mahedi Hasan (off-spin), to Rishad Hossain (leg-spin), and Nasum Ahmed (left-arm orthodox), Bangladesh have a plethora of spin bowlers to work with, as all of them offer different styles of bowling. 
• Emerging Power Players & Experience Blend: Litton Das leads the batting charge with aggression and keeps wickets, providing dual value. He put on a stellar show with the bat in the recently concluded T20I series against the Netherlands, finishing unbeaten in all three games. Towhid Hridoy has risen as a dynamic middle-order threat. The right-handed batter left his mark earlier this year in the Champions Trophy (also played in the UAE) by escorting Bangladesh from a tricky situation, catapulting them post a respectable total against India on the back of his gritty hundred.
• Positive Momentum & Preparation: Confidence remains buoyed after recent series wins and a structured build-up, including a T20I series against the Netherlands and a preparatory training camp.

Weaknesses

• Over-Reliance on Litton Das: There’s a growing dependence on Litton for batting stability. If he fails to deliver, the team often lacks alternative match-winners. 
• Inconsistent Batting and Middle-Order Fragility: The middle order has shown signs of collapses, especially under pressure, with a lack of a proven finisher to seal tight games.
• Inexperience in Multi-team Competitions: The squad includes newer faces and lacks seasoned campaigners accustomed to high-stakes tournaments.

Opportunities

• Historic First Asia Cup Victory: Having never lifted the Asia Cup trophy, Bangladesh enters with a strong incentive to break that barrier. Since they do not bear the burden of the champion's tag, they can express themselves and play with a lot of freedom.
• Youthful Talent Stepping Up: Emerging players like Towhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Rishad Hossain can inject excitement and unpredictability.
• Spin Advantage: It is a well-known fact that the spinners get to have a lot of say while bowling on the UAE pitches. As the Bangladeshi spinners have consistently performed well at home, the conditions in the UAE are almost identical to those of Bangladesh, thus making them a potent threat to contend with. 

Threats

• Formidable Group B Draw: Sharing a group with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan ensures a tough path just to reach the Super 4 round, as both teams have registered more T20I wins against Bangladesh in head-to-head clashes. 
• Choking in Pressure Situations: A recurring pattern of underperforming in critical moments raises concern, especially given the high stakes of continental tournaments.

Strongest predicted playing XL: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (captain & Wk), Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed

Mohammad Mithun, the new president of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), said that former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal played a key role in bringing CWAB back to life. Mithun talked about how hard Tamim worked to bring together past and current players on one stage, restoring faith in the organisation after years of inactivity.

CWAB had been mostly inactive for a long time, with no elections and little activity. Tamim, Bangladesh’s star player, stepped up to help the association get back on track, giving players confidence and a sense of unity.

Tamim Iqbal Key in Bringing CWAB Back to Life

Speaking to the media, Mithun said, “Our biggest challenge was to restore players’ trust in CWAB. Many had lost faith, thinking the association no longer stood by them. Tamim Iqbal played the most important role in bringing both current and former players together.”

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Mithun added that Tamim put in a lot of time and effort for CWAB, even while busy with international cricket. His active participation encouraged former cricketers to join again, and younger players were inspired to get involved after seeing his dedication. “We owe him a special thanks. His work has been key in giving CWAB a fresh start. Both former and current players gained confidence to engage with CWAB because of him,” Mithun said.

Mithun Wins CWAB President Election, Other Posts Filled Smoothly

Out of 215 registered voters, 190 cast their ballots, either online or in person. Two votes were declared invalid. Mithun received 154 of the remaining votes, comfortably ahead of former cricketer and referee Salim Shahed, who got 34.

“I see CWAB and the BCB as one family,” Mithun told reporters. “The board is our guardian. If we have concerns, we should be able to raise them, and I hope the board will listen positively. My goal is to expand CWAB’s activities beyond Dhaka, so every cricketer feels this body belongs to them.”

Most other posts were filled without contest. Shahriar Hossain was confirmed as senior vice-president, and current wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan as vice-president. Executive members include Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rumana Ahmed, Khaled Mashud, and Imrul Kayes.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to host Bangladesh for six white-ball games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the end of the Asia Cup 2025 on September 28. The three fixtures of the shortest format will be played on October 02, 03, and 05 in Sharjah, while the ODIs will take place on October 08, 11, and 14 in Abu Dhabi.

It has been reported that Bangladesh could stay back in the UAE after the end of the event to play the bilateral series. Both sides are part of the second group along with Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, and will face each other on September 16 in Abu Dhabi. Only the top two sides from each group will make it to the Super Four stage of the competition.

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India, Pakistan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are in the first group. The upcoming Afghanistan vs Bangladesh series will be the second part of what was expected to be an all-format trip in July last year, comprised of two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

Afghanistan announces dates for three ODIs and three T20Is against Bangladesh

The schedule was later revised to include the white-ball games, while the series was later postponed to the foul weather in Greater Noida, India, due to Bangladesh’s packed schedule. The two teams have had a rivalry between themselves for the last couple of years, especially since Afghanistan started to do well in the white-ball events.

Both sides have played each other in four bilateral ODI series, with the head-to-head record being leveled at 2-2. Bangladesh won the 2016 and 2022 series, while the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side pocketed the series in 2023 and 2024. It’s level in the bilateral T20I series with Afghanistan, winning in 2018. Bangladesh won in 2023, and a tied series took place three years ago.

Bangladesh tour of Afghanistan 2025

A recent probe has confirmed that several teams and players were involved in match-fixing during the last edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The revelations have sparked major concerns regarding the integrity of the competition and the effectiveness of its governance. According to reports, the investigation found multiple irregularities, with suspicious incidents linked to both domestic and international players. This has cast a shadow on the credibility of one of Bangladesh’s premier cricket tournaments, which has been a key platform for local and overseas talent.

The report published by Prothom Alo highlighted that the BPL’s investigation committee identified 36 unusual events in the previous season. These included questionable batting collapses, suspicious bowling tactics, and deliberate wides delivered at crucial moments. Among the flagged players were 10–12 cricketers, including two current Bangladesh internationals, a pacer and an off-spinner. Some domestic players were also found guilty of manipulating match outcomes by deliberately bowling poor deliveries to aid betting-related corruption.

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The inquiry classified players based on the weight of evidence gathered against them. Three to four cricketers were placed in the “highly flagged” category, with strong evidence directly linking them to corrupt practices. Others were labelled “medium” or “low flagged,” where suspicion existed but proof was insufficient for direct charges. Worryingly, one of the accused was part of Bangladesh’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, raising concerns about the possible infiltration of corruption into the national team setup.

Allegations extend beyond players

Interestingly, the probe revealed that most of the implicated cricketers are over the age of 35, reducing the chances of their return to international cricket. However, their careers now face a heavy cloud of suspicion. Shockingly, the list of accused also included a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sub-committee member, who allegedly helped facilitate fixing deals with franchises. Team officials from Durbar Rajshahi, Sylhet Strikers, and Dhaka Capitals were also found admitting their roles in manipulating matches, further tainting the tournament’s reputation.

The committee is expected to recommend barring all accused players, officials, and managers from participating in cricket until they can clear their names. The investigation also exposed irregularities involving broadcasting partners, as certain TV channels were found to have aired betting-related advertisements. These broadcasters allegedly earned 170–180 crore taka illegally through such promotions. The findings have triggered widespread debate in Bangladesh cricket circles, highlighting the urgent need for stricter regulations and stronger administrative measures to rebuild trust in the BPL.

There are several instances in the game when fielders injure themselves in the field due to showing crazy fielding skills and acrobatics. But there are rare and funny incidents of the fielders injuring the umpire mistakenly, whether by a poor throw or misjudgment of a shot or something else. Such an incident has taken place in Bangladesh.

A video has gone viral where it has been seen that during an encounter, the wicket-keeper of the fielding side collected the ball and aimed for a direct hit to the non-striker’s end as the batter was coming out of his crease. But he missed the mark, and it banged into the knees of the on-field umpire.

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The umpire fell on the ground straightaway and looked in serious pain. He tried to stand on the ground but could only limp. For a few moments, he tried to stand on the field but couldn’t. Later, he limped off the ground as the fielding side came to apologise to the fielders. It was a bizarre incident in the middle.

Watch: Injured Bangladesh umpire limps out of field

In the past, there was another incident when a senior umpire in Australia went through a horrific on-field incident and was hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries during a game last year in Perth. Umpire Toy DeNobrega was officiating the third-grade encounter in North Perth when he was hit flush by a ball hit by the striker.

Oops.. Bangladesh what have you done? 😂😂 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/rQPJMK5mWu

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) August 17, 2025

The umpire was left with severe swelling around his lips, right cheek, and eye, and stayed under observation in the hospital. It was a straight drive from Tony in the middle of the face. The umpire spent the entire night in the hospital and was fortunate enough not to break any bones, despite which the doctor kept him under observation.

DeNobrega sustained no fractures but remains under observation. The association of the umpires expressed their well-wishes. There was another incident with the former Pakistani umpire, Aleem Dar, who was hit on his back when the fielder threw it, while the umpire had no idea of the direction of the delivery.

In a format built on aggression and power-hitting, Bangladesh have emerged as the most dominant six-hitting team in 2025 so far. This year, Bangladesh, not England, not the West Indies, not India, has hit the most sixes in T20 internationals of any Test-playing country.

Bangladesh have hit exactly 100 sixes in international T20 matches this year, making them the only Test-playing country to do so.  Their bold style of cricket has not only helped them beat tough teams, but it has also shown the world a braver side of the Tigers. This constant desire to attack shows how the team's thinking is changing and how much they want to play modern, high-impact cricket.

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Most Sixes by a Team in T20Is in 2025 (Test-Playing Nations):

1. Bangladesh – 100 sixes
2. Pakistan – 84 sixes
3. New Zealand – 78 sixes
4. West Indies – 76 sixes
5. England – 62 sixes

Bangladesh's success with sixes has come from quick starts and smart acceleration in the middle overs. Openers like Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Litton Das have given strong starts, and middle-order batters like Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali Anik have built on them.

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ sixes in T20Is in 2025— the first Test-playing nation to reach the mark 🇧🇩#BANvPAK #BangladeshCricket #BDCricTime #ActivePlus pic.twitter.com/xdOp8tHloV

— bdcrictime.com (@BDCricTime) July 25, 2025

Big hits have also come from players like Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the right moments. Even bowlers like Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam hitting sixes show how confident and deep Bangladesh is with the bat.

To train former international cricketers as match referees, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has started a special two-day training and workshop, which began on Saturday. Several former national team players were invited to join the program, but recently retired star Mahmudullah Riyad declined the invitation. Even after direct contact from BCB’s umpires department, Mahmudullah reportedly said that he is currently focusing on domestic cricket and has decided not to join the workshop at this time.

Mahmudullah Declines Match Referee Role for Now

BCB sources said that Mahmudullah wants to continue playing domestic cricket and is not ready to focus on being a match official. The veteran all-rounder retired from ODIs after the 2025 Champions Trophy. He had already retired from Tests in 2021 and T20Is in 2024.

Even though Mahmudullah no longer plays international cricket, he is still active in domestic matches.

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Workshop for Former Cricketers

Apart from Mahmudullah, several well-known former players were invited to the workshop. These include Habibul Bashar Sumon (former national captain and selector), Abdur Razzak (current selector), Dhiman Ghosh, Fazle Mahmud, Naeem Islam, and Elias Sunny.

They are among 30 first-class cricketers taking part in the training. The goal is to help them become certified match referees. BCB has been working for some time to give retired players a chance to work in administrative and match official roles. This workshop is part of that plan.

Habibul Bashar is now working in the BCB Women’s Wing under the Game Development department. Abdur Razzak is still part of the men’s national selection panel.

BCB Keeps Door Open for Mahmudullah

Mahmudullah, who played 50 Tests, 239 ODIs, and 141 T20Is for Bangladesh, has led the team in all formats. While he skipped the current workshop, BCB sources say they still hope to involve him in future roles.