Defending Champions Fortune Barishal Start Title Defense with a Stunning Win Over Durbar Rajshahi. Fortune Barishal began their title defense in style, pulling off a thrilling four-wicket victory against Durbar Rajshahi in a high-scoring clash of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. On Monday (December 30), Rajshahi set a challenging target of 198 runs for Barishal while batting first. In response, Barishal secured victory with 11 balls and 4 wickets in hand. With this win, Barishal started the tournament on a positive note. Rajshahi posted a competitive 197-7, fueled by an unbeaten 94 from Yasir Ali, who dazzled with seven fours and eight sixes in just 47 balls. Yasir, supported by skipper Anamul Haque Bijoy's 65 off 51 deliveries, helped Rajshahi recover from a precarious 25-2, sharing a 140-run stand for the third wicket. Kyle Mayers was the pick of Barishal’s bowlers, claiming 2-13 in three overs and dismissing both openers. Barishal’s chase began shakily, slumping to 61-5 by the ninth over as Taskin Ahmed (3-31) and Hasan Murad wreaked havoc. Taskin dismissed Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal (7) and dangerman Kyle Mayers (6), while Jishan Alam sent Najmul Hossain Shanto back for a first-ball duck. Towhid Hridoy offered brief resistance with a 23-ball 32 before falling to Murad, who also removed Mushfiqur Rahim (13). With Rajshahi firmly in control, veteran Mahmudullah Riyad turned the game on its head with a blistering 56 off 26 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes. He found an able partner in Pakistan’s Fahim Ashraf, who hammered 54 not out off just 21 balls, including one four and seven towering sixes. The pair shared an unbroken 88-run partnership off just 47 balls for the seventh wicket, steering Barishal to victory with 11 balls to spare. Ashraf sealed the win in style with a massive six, leaving Rajshahi stunned despite Taskin’s valiant effort. Earlier, Rajshahi’s Yasir Ali looked set for a maiden T20 century but was denied on 94, taking a single off the penultimate ball of the innings. His heroics gave Rajshahi hope, but Mahmudullah and Ashraf’s late blitz crushed their dreams of a winning start. Barishal’s thrilling victory showcased their resilience and highlighted the importance of experience and composure under pressure, setting the tone for another exciting BPL season.

India could have walked off the field with a draw after surviving three sessions on the fifth day of the Melbourne Test. The task was more difficult for Australia. On the final day, the Australian bowlers had to take all 10 wickets of India. After losing 3 wickets in the first session, India fought back strongly in the second session, with outstanding resistance from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. The hosts were slowly becoming frustrated. However, as soon as Travis Head dismissed Pant, India's resistance collapsed. One by one, India lost wickets and faced defeat in the Boxing Day Test. With this victory, Australia advanced towards the final of the World Test Championship. On Monday (December 30), Australia defeated India by a huge margin of 184 runs at the MCG. India needed 339 runs to win in the fourth innings, but they were dismissed for just 155. India lost their last 6 wickets for only 34 runs. With this win, Australia took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Yesterday, Australia finished the day with 228 runs for 9 wickets, and today, they added just 6 more runs before being all out. As a result, India’s target for victory was set at 340 runs.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the ticket prices for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament, which kicks off tomorrow (Monday). On Sunday, December 29, at noon, BCB issued a statement with details regarding ticket purchases. Tickets can be bought both directly and online. Ticket sales will start at 4 pm and continue until 7 pm today. Additionally, on the opening day of the BPL (December 30), tickets can be purchased directly at designated Madhumati Bank branches from 10 am to 4 pm. Ticket prices range from Taka 200 to Taka 2000. Fans can purchase tickets online via www.gobcbticket.com.bd or buy them in person at seven Modhumoti Bank PLC branches. The Modhumoti Bank PLC branches selling physical tickets are located in: Mirpur Branch (Mirpur 11) Motijheel Branch (Dhaka Chamber Building) Uttara Branch (Jasimuddin Road) Gulshan Branch (Between Gulshan 1 and 2) Dhanmondi Branch (Old Road 27) Kamrangirchar Branch VIP Road Branch (Polton Scout Building)   Ticket prices for specific stands are as follows: Grand Stand (Upper and Lower): Taka 2000 International Gallery North (Media Block): Taka 1000 International Gallery South (Corporate Block): Taka 800 International Lounge South (Corporate Block): Taka 1000 Club House South (Shaheed Mushtaque Stand): Taka 500 Club House North (Shaheed Jewel Stand): Taka 500 Southern Gallery: Taka 300 Northern Gallery: Taka 300 Eastern Gallery: Taka 200   Additionally, 300 seats in the Club House South-Shaheed Mushtaque Stand (Zero Waste Zone) are available at Taka 600 per ticket.

Jasprit Bumrah, India’s recent bowling sensation, has reignited his team with an incredible feat. The right-arm pacer became the fastest Indian to claim 200 Test wickets. Globally, he achieved this milestone in the fourth-lowest number of balls bowled and tied for the tenth-fastest by matches. However, Bumrah made history by claiming 200 Test wickets at the lowest economy rate ever recorded. He is the only bowler in Test history to achieve 200 wickets with an average under 20 (19.56). Under pressure from Bumrah and Siraj’s fiery bowling, Australia collapsed to 91 for 6 in their second innings, adding to the drama of the fourth Test in Melbourne in the Border-Gavaskar series. Despite their struggles, Australia managed to surpass the 200-run mark, thanks to a 105-run first-innings lead. On the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test (Sunday), India was bowled out for 369 after adding just 11 runs to their overnight total. This effort was powered by a spectacular maiden Test century by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 114 off 189 balls, including 11 fours and one six. Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon each took three wickets for Australia in the first innings. In their second innings, Australia lost debutant opener Sam Constance for just 8 runs to a brilliant inswinger from Bumrah, who had previously stared him down in the first innings after his resilient 60-run knock. Mohammed Siraj then dismissed Usman Khawaja for 21 and Steven Smith for 13. Australia suffered a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets for just 11 runs, three of which were claimed by Bumrah. He reached the milestone of 200 Test wickets by dismissing Travis Head for just 1. Bumrah then sent back Mitchell Marsh (0) and Alex Carey, bringing his tally to 202 wickets in Tests. Fewest Runs Conceded for 200 Test Wickets Jasprit Bumrah: 3912 runs (average 19.56) Joel Garner: 4067 runs (average 20.34) Shaun Pollock: 4077 runs (average 20.39) Fewest Balls to 200 Test Wickets Waqar Younis: 7725 balls Dale Steyn: 7848 balls Kagiso Rabada: 8154 balls Jasprit Bumrah: 8484 balls Malcolm Marshall: 9234 balls Fastest to 200 Test Wickets for India Jasprit Bumrah: 8484 balls Mohammed Shami: 9896 balls Ravichandran Ashwin: 10,248 balls Kapil Dev: 11,066 balls Ravindra Jadeja: 11,989 balls

The 11th season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is just one day away from kicking off. The opening match will feature Fortune Barishal facing Durbar Rajshahi. The match will begin at 1:30 pm Bangladesh time. The 11th season of BPL will feature 7 teams, including three new ones. This nearly one-and-a-half-month-long tournament will conclude on February 7, next year. The seven teams competing in this year's BPL are Dhaka Capitals, Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi, Fortune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Rangpur Riders, and Sylhet Strikers. Notably, Comilla Victorians and Chattogram Challengers will not participate this season. Additionally, Dhaka has changed ownership, and Durbar Rajshahi has made a comeback. Let's take a quick look at the squads of all seven teams: Dhaka Capitals Local Players: Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Habibur Rahman, Mukidul Islam, Abu Jayed, Mushfiq Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Munem Shahriar, Asif Hasan, Shahadat Hossain. Foreign Players: Thisara Perera, Johnson Charles, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mir Hamza, Stephen Eskinazi, Saim Ayub, Amir Hamza. Chittagong Kings Local Players: Shakib Al Hasan, Shariful Islam, Shamim Hossain, Parvez Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Aliss Al Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Naeem Islam, Maruf Mridha, Rahatul Ferdous, Sheikh Parvez, Marshal Ayub. Foreign Players: Moeen Ali, Usman Khan, Haider Ali, Angelo Mathews, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Binura Fernando, Graham Clark, Thomas O’Connell. Durbar Rajshahi Local Players: Anamul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Zeeshan Alam, Yasir Ali, Sabbir Hossain, Sanjamul Islam, SM Mehrab Hossain, Akbar Ali, Hasan Murad, Shafiul Islam, Moher Sheikh. Foreign Players: Mohammad Haris, Bilal Khan, Saad Nasim, Lahiru Samarakoon. Khulna Tigers Local Players: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Naim, Imrul Kayes, Mahidul Islam, Abu Hider, Ziaur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman, Mahmudul Hasan. Foreign Players: Oshane Thomas, Mohammad Hasnain, Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Nawaz. Rangpur Riders Local Players: Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahid Rana, Saif Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Rezaur Rahman, Irfan Sukkur, Kamrul Islam, Azizul Haque Tamim, Toufiq Khan. Foreign Players: Alex Hales, Khushdil Shah, Allah Ghazanfar, Steven Ryan Taylor, Saurabh Netravalkar, Akif Javed, Curtis Campher. Sylhet Strikers Local Players: Zakir Hasan, Zaker Ali, Tanzim Hasan, Rony Talukdar, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Al Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Ruyel Miah, Ariful Haque, Nihaduzzaman, Nahidul Islam. Foreign Players: Paul Stirling, George Munsey, Rahkeem Cornwall, Samiullah Shinwari, Reece Topley. Fortune Barishal Local Players: Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Tanvir Islam, Najmul Hossain, Ripon Mondol, Ebadot Hossain, Naeem Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Ariful Islam, Iqbal Hossain Emon. Foreign Players: Dawid Malan, Kyle Mayers, Mohammad Nabi, Faheem Ashraf, Ali Mohammad, Khan Jahandad, James Fuller, Pathum Nissanka, Nandre Burger.