Nabid Yeasin

Lionel Messi is now a free man. He has been ever since he inspired Argentina to lift their third World Cup four years back in Qatar in 2022, completing the one missing piece of a career that already stood at the summit of football.

Brazil shrugged off their World Cup opener disappointment with a 3-0 win over Haiti in their second Group C outing at the Philadelphia Stadium yesterday, but it was still not the resounding performance expected from a side chasing a record-extending sixth world title.

France arrived in North America as clear favourites to go all the way, tipped to become only the third team after Germany (1982-1990) and Brazil (1994-2002) to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.

Sports can be very cruel. Often, it is the final image that leaves the deepest imprint on fans’ minds.

Romanticism, Samba nostalgia, and the weight of a record five World Cup titles -- all of it met a sobering dose of reality as Brazil began their Hexa campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

In less than 24 hours since the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) staged its dramatic unveiling of Thomas Dooley as the new head coach of the national men’s team, the appointment has already descended into uncertainty -- exposing, yet again, the confusion and short-termism that continue to reflect recurring issues in Bangladesh football.

England took their time. Sam Curran, entrusted with the crucial final over with 10 runs to defend, first consulted skipper Harry Brook before conferring with the experienced wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler.

The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has seen an unusual casualty list -- not of players, but of matches.

In just a few hours, India and Pakistan will meet again -- for the third time in this Asia Cup. The venue, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and the day of the week, Sunday -- are the same as their two previous encounters during the group stage and the Super Four.

One glaring aspect of this Asia Cup -- and of most major cricket events, for that matter -- is the organisers’ relentless push to stage as many India-Pakistan clashes as possible.

When India and Pakistan meet -- in any sport -- the stakes spill over into something more than just a game. It becomes a clash between neighbours bound by political tension, history, and deep mistrust.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer the winger who once tore down flanks with blistering pace. More than a decade ago, he reinvented himself into a different kind of player -- one who recognised that his body needed adaptation, transitioning from a dazzling winger to a prolific striker for a more sustainable and record-boosting career.

From claiming he was here to play a “T20 innings” as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president to announcing his intent to contest in the upcoming board elections yesterday, Aminul Islam Bulbul has remained consistent in one regard -- the ambiguity that often characterises the leadership positions in any line of work in the country.

When it comes to Bangladesh cricket, finding flaws and shortcomings through examining stats and figures is disconcertingly easy.

Come June 26, Bangladesh will be completing its 25 years in Test cricket.

Evolving and growing through every phase of life is a natural phenomenon. For most, this brings about positive changes. But for the Bangladesh cricket team, the exact opposite is the case, as in every new series and tour, the Tigers unlock new problem areas in their game.

Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed that every player in the Tigers’ current XI is a "proven player" in both domestic and international cricket. His remarks came after the Tigers’ 57-run loss to Pakistan in the second T20I of the three-match series, which saw Bangladesh concede the series 2-0 with one game left to play.

Bangladesh turned things around in the Test series against Zimbabwe, winning the second and final Test by a resounding margin of an innings and 106 runs in Chattogram yesterday.

Every year, the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) begins with unwavering commitments from authorities to make it even more competitive than the previous years.

“Ben Duckett cost them [England] the game… scored too slow, mate… they should have got to at least 380,” former South Africa batter Herschelle Gibbs said about Duckett’s innings after England lost their Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore last Saturday, despite posting 351 for eight -- the highest total in the competition’s history -- only for Australia to chase it down with five wickets and 15 balls to spare.