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The region has a rich cricketing history, and has produced the likes of Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain. The BCB’s recognition is long overdue

Mohammad Isam12-Aug-2025The BCB’s decision to include Mymensingh as a first-class team is long-awaited reward for a region where cricket has thrived for more than a century. It was regarded as the cradle of the game in undivided Bengal, as cricket clubs were formed there as far back as in 1898. First-class recognition brings renewed hope to Mymensingh, which has produced a large number of international cricketers in the last four decades.Mahmudullah, the former Bangladesh Test and T20I captain, is the biggest name to come out of the region. He spent his formative years in Mymensingh, before playing age-group and league cricket in Dhaka. Mahmudullah, whose 430 international matches across formats is currently the third-highest for Bangladesh, often returns to Mymensingh, where he has his ancestral home.The region was rich in cricketing heritage much before Mahmudullah was born. Mymensingh Mohammedan Club (1898) and Pandit Para Club (1910) are some of the oldest clubs from undivided Bengal. (landowners) would patronise these clubs, with healthy participation among the general population. After Bangladesh’s independence, Mymensingh’s left-arm spinner Ramchand Goala became a popular name in the Dhaka league, churning out overs even into his early 50s.Related

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Harunur Rashid, the feisty opener, was the first from Mymensingh to make his ODI debut for Bangladesh, in 1988. Pace bowler Saiful Islam and allrounder Sanuar Hossain, who were in Bangladesh’s 1997 ICC Trophy-winning side, were among the bigger names who played cricket in Mymensingh in the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, the region has produced the batter Mosaddek Hossain.It was curious that the BCB held back first-class status from Mymensingh despite this rich tradition. The government had made Mymensingh Bangladesh’s eighth administrative division in 2015. Rangpur began playing the National Cricket League (NCL), Bangladesh’s domestic first-class competition, from the 2011-12 season, less than two years after the government made it the country’s seventh division.Mymensingh’s sports organisers requested the BCB for a team on numerous occasions in the last ten years, but to no avail. Earlier this year, Md Mokhtar Ahmed, Mymensingh’s divisional commissioner, the highest-ranking government official in the region, wrote a letter to the BCB in this regard. The decision from the BCB came on August 9 during a board meeting in Dhaka. Akram Khan, the BCB’s tournament committee chairman, welcomed Mymensingh into the first-class fold.”They really deserve it,” Akram told ESPNcricinfo. “Firstly, they are a division for ten years. So if Rajshahi, Chittagong and Barisal can play NCL, why can’t Mymensingh? They also have cricketing heritage. They have a sporting culture that goes back to many, many years. I played with [the former India player] Raman Lamba in Mymensingh in the 1990s. They always had good cricketers, including, Belayet Hossain and Goala, who played in Mymensingh the 1970s. They continued to produce plenty of cricketers for Bangladesh too.”Could Mahmudullah turn out for his hometown team? Sanuar Hossain certainly hopes so•ICC via Getty ImagesAkram said Mymensingh has a strong base of homegrown players already.”I think they will be able to form a good first-class team. Look, the selectors have often sent players to Barisal as Barisal have struggled to make their [own] first-class team. I am sure that Mymensingh or any other first-class team will get that help [as well]. In any case, Dhaka Division and Dhaka Metropolis used to split players from the Dhaka region. So I am sure the same arrangement [for splitting players] would be made for Dhaka Division and Mymensingh.”Mymensingh native Sanuar, who played nine Tests and 27 ODIs, was delighted with the BCB’s decision. Sanuar is a senior figure in Mymensingh cricket, organising T20 tournaments in the region whenever he finds time away from his busy schedule as a flight steward.”It is a huge achievement for Mymensingh,” Sanuar said. “It was long overdue, given the region’s cricketing heritage and also if you consider that we have been a division for almost ten years.”

“We have two very good facilities in Mymensingh that can be developed. Now, with the first-class team, we will have more impetus to develop quickly.”Former Bangladesh batter Sanuar Hossain

Sanuar felt first-class status would help Mymensingh improve its facilities. Mymensingh does have a stadium, but cricket is mainly played at the historic Circuit House ground, which is surrounded by all the club houses. The Brahmaputra river is quite close to the ground, making it a local attraction.”I think after an inspection last year, they found out that facilities were not up to the mark,” Sanuar said. “We have two very good facilities in Mymensingh that can be developed. Now, with the first-class team, we will have more impetus to develop quickly.”Sanuar was also confident Mymensingh could form a good first-class team with mostly homegrown players, and hoped Mahmudullah could turn out for them.”We have a number of established cricketers from Mymensingh. It is our advantage,” Sanuar said. “Many are already playing for Dhaka Division or Dhaka Metropolis. I want Riyad [Mahmudullah] to play at least the first season for Mymensigh. He has been our biggest source of pride over the years. I am sure he would love to play for his home team. Mymensingh will become more organised with Riyad in the team.”Mymensingh can pick players from the Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona and Sherpur districts, with the BCB allowing players not belonging to that particular region to play in the NCL.Dhaka Division beat Dhaka Metropolis to win the 2023-24 NCL title. Now the city will only have one team•BCBTo include Mymensingh, the BCB has decided to discontinue the Dhaka Metropolis team to ensure there remained an even number of teams in the NCL. Dhaka Metropolis’ last tournament will be the NCL T20s next month. The team started participating in the NCL from 2011-12, when Rangpur became a first-class team – that decision too was made to ensure an even number of participating teams.In theory, players born and based in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, would be playing for Metropolis, while the Dhaka Division team would be made up of players from Dhaka’s 16 other districts. This was the case for much of Dhaka Metropolis’ time in the first-class scene, but the selectors found it increasingly hard to pick a team with just players from the capital.For all its size and might, Dhaka hasn’t produced too many top cricketers in recent decades. Taskin Ahmed and Saif Hassan are the only cricketers of note to emerge from the city in the last 15 years. The rest have mostly come from the outskirts or other districts. Dhaka Metropolis have won and lost 23 matches each out of 87 matches in the NCL. They have never been champions of the NCL.Meanwhile, Mymensingh, who will replace Dhaka Metropolis, are quietly confident they can make a fist of their long-awaited opportunity. The prolonged monsoon has kept cricket away, but once the weather clears, expect the Circuit House ground to be packed with hopefuls. Cricket has a long tradition here, and this latest chapter could be the most exciting one yet.

The NWSL has seen remarkable growth in its second season on ESPN platforms, with viewership reaching record levels. According to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel, the league’s average viewership for the 2025 regular season rose 61 percent compared to the previous year, while Spanish-language broadcasts grew by an impressive 109 percent from the 2024 average audience.

Getty Images SportRecord-breaking audience numbers

The 17-match schedule broadcast across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes averaged 228,000 viewers (P2+), a sharp increase from 141,000 during the 2024 season – the NWSL’s inaugural year on ESPN.

This surge reflects the broader rise in women’s sports viewership across ESPN platforms, joining record-setting audiences for both the WNBA and NCAA Women’s Basketball. The league’s partnership with presenting sponsor Ally has further bolstered its media presence, ensuring consistent visibility across multiple broadcast and streaming outlets.

AdvertisementESPN expands playoff coverage

The 2025 NWSL Playoffs kicked off with expanded coverage on November 7, highlighted by a special edition of , ESPN’s weekly studio show dedicated to professional women’s soccer.

Hosted by Cristina Alexander and featuring expert analysis from former USWNT defender Ali Krieger, the program included an exclusive one-on-one interview with Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie as she prepared for her club’s quarterfinal clash against the San Diego Wave.

ImagnQuarterfinal matchups showcased league's competitiveness

The 2025 NWSL quarterfinals concluded with four teams advancing to the semifinals and several closely contested matches highlighting the league’s parity. Top-seeded Kansas City Current (21-3-2) were eliminated in a major upset by No. 8 seed NJ/NY Gotham FC (9-8-9), marking the first time in league history that an eighth seed has won a playoff match.

Three of the four quarterfinal games were decided by a single goal or required extra time, with only one ending in a two-goal margin. The results underscored the competitiveness across the league and set the stage for an evenly matched semifinal round in the race for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

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Viewership growth reflects momentum

The surge in NWSL viewership comes during a transformative period for women’s sports broadcasting, driven by ESPN’s expanded investment and dedicated programming. With playoff audiences typically surpassing regular-season figures, ESPN expects strong postseason numbers leading up to the 2025 NWSL Championship on Nov. 23.

Lyon being left out of Australia’s XI for just the second time at home in his career signals a significant shift in the selectors thinking

Andrew McGlashan04-Dec-20251:12

‘Speed isn’t the be all and end all’ – Starc bemused by Lyon omission

When Nathan Lyon was left out in Jamaica earlier this year for the day-night Test against West Indies, Tony Dodemaide, the selector on tour, termed it “exceptional circumstances” and a “one-off”. Three Tests later it has happened again with Lyon left “absolutely filthy” at being benched at the Gabba with Australia fielding an all-pace attack for the day-night encounter.Lyon missing out for this Test was a notion trailed since the opening match finished; a combination of his lack of overs in that game against England’s freewheeling batters, and the fact he only bowled one over in last season’s day-night against India in Adelaide. Still, as the Test neared, it felt as though his overall day-night record – 43 wickets at 25.62 – and concerns that the ball can go soft at this ground would work in his favour.Lyon found out about 30 minutes after arriving at the ground, following a final huddle by the pitch involving Steven Smith, Andrew McDonald and George Bailey.”Absolutely filthy,” he said on Channel 7 of his reaction when told by chair of selectors Bailey. “But yeah, can’t do anything about it. So, yeah, hope I can play my role in making sure I get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure that we get the right result here.””To be honest I haven’t really sat down with Ronnie [Andrew McDonald] or George yet. I’m letting things settle down in my own head and trying to make sure that I’m, as I said, doing whatever I can to make sure the guys out in the middle representing Australia do the right thing and get the right result for us.”Related

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“The communication is always there, I just hadn’t had it in me to sit down with the coach and George at the moment,” he added. “So that will happen. I’m not the first player to miss a Test match and I won’t be the last. But, yeah, obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket and especially a venue like this.”Bailey termed it a “one Test decision”, although it’s now happened twice in quick succession. “Nath will disagree with the decision, and that’s perfectly okay,” Bailey said. “I think he disagreed with the decision in Jamaica, and that’s perfectly okay. I have no qualms about players feeling like they can impact the game and the fact of the matter is he could have. So we could have picked a different squad…that could have been Beau Webster, that could have been Nathan Lyon, but that’s the path we go. Allow the disappointment and then build up a preparation for Adelaide.”Very much it’s a one Test decision, Nath will play in Adelaide,” he added. “It’s just how you think you’re going to structure up the resources and how it’s going to be used, when it gets dark here, when you think you’re going to be using seam bowlers, how many overs get bowled in a day, when you think new ball will be available and that sort of stuff.”It was just the second home Test Lyon has missed since his debut – a run of 69 matches before today – with the other being against India at the WACA in 2012 when Australia fielded an all-pace attack.It meant that Michael Neser played his third Test, all them having been day-night games. He previously played two in Adelaide: against England in the 2021-22 Ashes and West Indies a season later.”This is Michael Neser’s home ground and he knows the conditions really, really well,” Ricky Ponting said on Channel Seven. “But for someone like Nathan Lyon who is such a seasoned professional with a good record at the Gabba, I think it’s a massive call for the Aussies to make.”Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, George Bailey and Andrew McDonald discuss their selection options•Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesWhat does this all mean for Lyon? In the aftermath of not playing at Sabina Park he said he ultimately understood the decision but was still disappointed, believing he can be successful in all conditions.”I believe I can play a role in any conditions, and I still honestly believe that,” he said after that series. “I want to play every game for Australia, and I’ve just got that belief that I can play a role in any conditions, as every cricketer should have that belief.”In Jamaica, conditions with the pink Dukes ball were on the extreme end; the match ended before the first interval on the third day with West Indies skittled for 27. Whether it plays out a similar way in Brisbane, time will tell.Overall, there has been a diminishing role for spinners in Australia as the surfaces offer increasing assistance to the quicks. Lyon’s tally of 122.4 overs against India last season was the lowest amount he had sent down in a home summer.”I know how important spin bowling is, but there is a degree of me that’s concerned about spin bowling around the world, not just Australia, with the wickets we’re playing on,” Lyon said earlier this year.”If you look at spin bowling and your younger spin bowlers around the country, they’re not getting the overs or the opportunities to bowl on day-three, day-four wickets, or spinning wickets, or even green seamers because the fast bowlers are dominating.”Lyon will be back for the next Test in Adelaide, a day game, followed by the contests at the MCG and SCG. But it is now unarguable, that when Australia play day-night Tests, even at home, Lyon can no longer be assured of a place in the XI. And that is quite a shift.

South Africa’s captain wants to “play on the front foot” to once and for all stamp his team’s authority in the Test format

Firdose Moonda21-Nov-20251:57

Philander: SA batters have to ‘tighten up a bit’

Temba Bavuma and Shukri Conrad have already been where no other South African team have before – a WTC final victory, an undefeated streak as captain for Bavuma and a ten-Test unbeaten run for Conrad as coach. Now, they want to go one step further.Though South Africa have won a series in India before – 25 years ago – and a draw in Guwahati will be enough to achieve that for a second time, they have never won three Tests in a row in Asia. In itself, that may be nothing more than good pub quiz trivia but what it would do in underlining South Africa’s championship status is massive.If that sounds like all South Africa talk about is justification, it may be, but it comes against the backdrop of the conversation that was had before they lifted the mace at Lord’s. Things were said. True things like South Africa not playing either England or Australia in the cycle, and only faced India at home. Silly things like they weren’t properly tested in the subcontinent because Bangladesh (and this was said about South Africa not by them) don’t really count. South Africa always said those things didn’t bother them but they noticed them enough to be fuelled by them, and that shows.Related

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South Africa validated themselves after winning the mace by squaring a series in tough conditions in Pakistan, and doing it without regular captain Bavuma, and then taking the series lead against India in Kolkata. Imagine what a series win over India, who South Africa suffered two of their worst defeats to in 2015 and 2019, would say about this side?They know it would substantially elevate this group’s status and are looking forward to the opportunity to add a few more lines to what has been a near-perfect script over the last 24 months.”The mood is buoyant amongst the boys,” Bavuma said at the pre-match conference in Guwahati. “We’re excited to try and replicate our performance from the first Test. We’re also excited to be a part of the first Test here in Guwahati. Looking at where the series is at and the whole narrative around it, we’re looking forward to it being an exciting and thrilling game.”If South Africa win – and depending on what happens in Perth and then across the next month in the Ashes – they could also end up near the top of the WTC 2025-27 table, which is a position they will hold until they next play a Test in October 2026. While it’s far too early in the cycle to be concerned about where teams are, as defending champions, it’s far more palatable to be close to the summit than not.Temba Bavuma and Shukri Conrad hug after the Kolkata Test•AFP/Getty ImagesSpeaking of The Ashes, it’s impossible not to compare the hype and frenzy of what is going on between Australia and England to the contest between the much younger but equally intense rivalry between India and South Africa, and similarly impossible not to wish the latter had the length of the former.That this series is limited to two matches is a consequence of a Future Tours Programme (FTP) that was decided more than three years ago, when South Africa were not as desirable an opposition. That South Africa have only played two-Test series since early 2023 is a consequence of that same FTP, when Cricket South Africa (CSA) needed to be financially savvy as they neared bankruptcy, which translated to hosting fewer Tests, especially against loss-making opposition. (Sidenote: they also only hosted India, a profit-making side, for two Tests in 2023-24 but made even more money through white-ball matches against them and so, opted for more of those, including four T20Is in 2024).All that will change slightly next year when South Africa host England and Australia for three Tests each. For now, this two-match series is all they have and naturally, an Indian media that also wants more asked Bavuma about it. While Bavuma stressed that he has no say in the schedule, he provided a typically thoughtful answer.”Every player that has had the opportunity to interact with the media and that has that question (of whether they want to play more Tests) put in front of them, has voiced out their frustration,” Bavuma said. “It would be nice for a 3-4 match series against a formidable team like India. And I think it’s just good for the fans when people get to see good cricket, get to see one team dominating and then the other. As players, all we can do is what we’ve been trying to do out on the field: keep playing good cricket. I think that will attract the top nations to play a lot more cricket against us.”

“Our mindset is not on protecting the lead that we have. We want to play on the front foot, and we will continue to do so. Whatever opportunities are there within the game, we’ll look to be ruthless and take them”Temba Bavuma

And he confirmed what many of us suspect. “We woke up this morning to watch the Ashes and with a bit of jealousy, knowing that they’ve got five Tests. Hopefully, not too far in the future, but more in the near future, we’ll go back to playing four Tests against India. Whether here in India, or back home in South Africa.”The last four Test series between India and South Africa was in 2015, and South Africa lost 3-0. They have only played three other four-Test series since, all against England and lost them all.None of that will be on their mind when they line up to play India on Saturday. The sides are as evenly matched as they come: South Africa without Kagiso Rabada again, the leader of their attack, and India, without their leader, Shubman Gill, and both sides know as much about what to expect from the venue as the other.With no Tests played in Guwahati, though India have home advantage, they don’t have any more experience in Tests here than South Africa.The one thing both know is that given the time of year and how far east the city is, darkness comes early and play could be curtailed. Bavuma was even asked if that may help his side drag things out to a draw – nevermind that South Africa haven’t drawn in 13 Tests – and he made it clear that South Africa came to get a job done and they want to finish it.”Our mindset is not on protecting the lead that we have. We want to play on the front foot, and we will continue to do so. In terms of the game, we’ll play what’s in front of us,” Bavuma said. “We understand that light does become an issue but we don’t want to go in there with that defensive mindset.”Whatever opportunities are there within the game, we’ll look to be ruthless and take them. If there’s an opportunity for it to be 2-0, then so be it.”

كشفت تقارير إعلامية اليوم الخميس، عن آخر تطورات حالة لاعبي برشلونة الفنية والبدنية، ومدى جاهزيتهم قبل مباراة ريال بيتيس في الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

برشلونة سوف يحل ضيفًا على نظيره ريال بيتيس، وذلك في قمة مرتقبة بالجولة السادسة عشر من عمر الدوري الإسباني.

ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الانتصار على ريال بيتيس، وذلك من أجل الاستمرار في سلسلة نتائجه الرائعة خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

واستمر برشلونة في صدارة الدوري الإسباني، بعدما نجح في الانتصار على أتلتيكو مدريد بهدفين مقابل هدف يوم الثلاثاء الماضي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لتفادي سيناريو 2022.. إجراء صارم من برشلونة قبل مباراة فرانكفورت 

وذكرت صحيفة “سبورت”، أن تدريبات برشلونة شهدت أنباء سعيدة، حيث عاد فيرمين لوبيز نجم خط وسط البلوجرانا من جديد إلى التدريبات.

وأضافت أن وضع فيرمين لوبيز جيدًا للغاية ولا يشعر بأي ألم من الإصابة، إذ يتدرب اللاعب الآن بشكل فردي ومن المرجح أن ينضم إلى التدريبات الجماعية قريبًا.

وأوضحت أن فريكني دي يونج هو الآخر قد عاد إلى تدريبات برشلونة، بعدما غاب خلال الفترة الماضية بسبب الإصابة وغاب عن مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد.

كما لم يستطع دي يونج اللعب خلال مباراة برشلونة مع ديبورتيفو ألافيس يوم السبت الماضي، بسبب أسباب شخصية للدولي الهولندي.

Tottenham Hotspur recorded possibly their most impressive win of the season on Tuesday night as they beat Copenhagen 4-0 with ten men in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank’s side hit a seasonal high of eight ‘big chances’ created throughout the game, which shows that they were incredibly effective offensively.

Micky van de Ven scored the pick of the goals with his incredible solo run from one box to the other to score his sixth goal of the season, making him the club’s top goalscorer in all competitions.

Randal Kolo Muani led the line for Spurs as their number nine and was unable to get on the scoresheet, but he did provide an assist for Wilson Odobert’s goal.

The PSG loanee has yet to score in seven appearances for the club, per Sofascore, and has missed three ‘big chances’ in front of goal in that time.

It, therefore, remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to retain his starting spot once Dominic Solanke is fit and available for action.

Why Dominic Solanke may be on borrowed time at Spurs

The England international has been out of action since August with an ankle injury, and is expected to be back and available for selection by the end of November.

Solanke will have to compete with Richarlison and Kolo Muani for a place in the starting line-up when he is back, and he may need to improve upon his form from his first season with the club.

The Lilywhites made him their club-record signing for a fee of £65m when they signed him from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, but he has yet to justify that outlay.

Solanke scored 16 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which was a decent return. However, his performances in the Premier League left a little bit to be desired.

24/25 Premier League

Dominic Solanke

Appearances

27

Starts

25

xG

10.97

Goals

9

Big chances missed

12

Minutes per goal

245

xA

1.15

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the English centre-forward underperformed his xG by roughly two goals and missed three more ‘big chances’ than goals scored.

A goal every 245 minutes for a club-record signing, who should be in the prime of his career at 27, does not suggest that Spurs have had much value for money so far.

Football Insider recently reported that Frank has been disappointed with the striker’s performances and injury problems, which does not bode well for his future in North London.

That report and Solanke’s underwhelming statistics, given the money paid for him, suggest that he may be on borrowed time with the Lilywhites.

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Kolo Muani’s start to life in England has been fairly unimpressive, with no goals in seven games, but Spurs do have another striker on the way who could end Solanke’s career in North London.

18-year-old centre-forward Mason Melia is due to arrive at the club to complete his move from St. Patrick’s Athletic when the January transfer window opens for business, after a deal was agreed in February before his 18th birthday.

Why Mason Melia could end Dominic Solanke's Spurs career

Frank will have a decision to make on the teenage marksman for the second half of the season, because he will have the option to bring the Irishman into the first-team squad.

Given that the Danish head coach is reportedly unimpressed by Solanke, the January transfer window would also provide Spurs with an opportunity to shuffle the pack by attempting to move their club-record signing on from the club.

With Kolo Muani and Richarlison already at the club, Melia’s arrival at the start of 2026 would mean that Frank has enough options in the number nine position to part ways with the English striker.

Whether or not Melia is ready to make the step up to the Premier League with Spurs remains to be seen, but his performances at a young age in Ireland have been impressive.

The 18-year-old marksman, who only turned 18 in September, has scored 25 goals in 98 appearances in all competitions for St. Patrick’s Athletic at first-team level to date, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has plenty of senior experience despite his age.

Melia’s composure in the clip above for one of his goals against Cork City is evidence that he has maturity and composure that belies his years. This suggests that he may be able to handle the pressure that would come with stepping into the first-team with Spurs next year.

2025 Premier Division

Mason Melia

Appearances

35

Starts

29

Goals

13

Minutes per goal

199

Conversion rate

15%

Big chances created

5

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the teenage centre-forward has scored 13 league goals for his club in the 2025 campaign, averaging a goal every 199 minutes, which is more impressive than Solanke’s aforementioned minutes per goal rate last season in the Premier League.

Melia, who was described as “relentless” and a “hidden gem” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has yet to prove himself in a major league, like the Premier League, but his goal output and composure at such a young age in Ireland are incredibly promising.

Tottenham clearly saw big potential in him, hence why they agreed to sign the forward in February, and Frank will have the chance to assess him up close in January when he arrives in North London.

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If Melia is able to impress the manager and fight for a place in the first-team squad, it could be the end of Solanke’s career at North London, for all the reasons mentioned above.