On June 26, 2000, Bangladesh became the 10th nation to gain Test status from the ICC -- a historic milestone that sparked hope and pride across the country.

The Daily Star’s Ekush Tapadar, Anisur Rahman, and Atique Anam delve into Bangladesh’s prospects in this much-anticipated encounter, examine the influence of these high-profile players on the national team and address the persistent issues crippling the country's domestic football.

This episode of The Daily Star’s podcast Pitch Perfect takes a deep dive into the unfolding crisis and tries to shed light on the root causes of the dysfunction and explore what it would take to bring Bangladesh cricket back from the brink.

If the BFF utilises this upsurge in interest from footballers and fans, it could be a game changer for Bangladesh football.

A couple of moments of magic from Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz helped Real Madrid edge city rivals Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 Champions League encounter between the sides at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. 

Ricky Ponting said that Bangladesh will struggle in the upcoming Champions Trophy

The latest episode of Pitch Perfect brings you an in-depth discussion of the disappointing plight of the BPL and its future.

The last time Chelsea won the Premier League was back in 2016-17. Since then, despite being in the fight for the crown on a few occasions, The Blues have struggled to find the killer instinct and have suffered from several setbacks centred around an unexpected change in ownership. Performance levels had also reached severe lows in the 2022-23 season and they ended up finishing 12th in the league.

Shakib Al Hasan wanted to play the last test of his career on home soil but the biggest cricket star of the country could not return to the country even after reaching Dubai owing to security concerns. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud advised the 37-year-old star all-rounder not to return to “avoid untoward situations”. Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August, there has been uncertainty about Shakib’s return to the country.

In a bombshell press conference on Thursday, Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said that he had informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that the upcoming South Africa Test series at home in October-November will be the last Test series of his career.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, the Adviser for Youth and Sports to the Interim Government, has pointed out several issues he has had to encounter since being sworn in for the role on August 8. Asif explained his take on the current issues and the solutions he intends to provide. He said that the constitutions upon which the sports federations operate need to change to establish democratic practices and create a culture where accountability is paramount. 

Sports in Bangladesh has been affected by the unrest following the change in government. The partisanship over the years in federations such as the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Football Federation has created unrest and uncertainty. How can such situations in the country's sports federations be avoided? How can worthy organisers take positions in these federations? To answer all of these, The Daily Star's sports podcast Pitch Perfect brings you an in-depth discussion in its latest episode.

In the latest episode of The Daily Star’s podcast Pitch Perfect, we bring you an in-depth discussion about the key battles that may shift the balance in the grand finale of the tournament. 

The semifinals lineup of the European Championships 2024 is set as a high-flying Spain will take on France, while a limping England side will square off against a spirited Netherlands.  The Daily Star’s podcast Pitch Perfect brings you an in-depth discussion about the semifinal matchups and potential candidates who might make it of the grand finale of the tournament.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will have to come up with his best against France in the quarterfinal of the ongoing Euro 2024. The 39-year-old, who is yet to find the net for Portugal in this edition, has taken the most number of shots by any player and has already missed a penalty in a Round of 16 fixture against Slovenia. Against a formidable France, Ronaldo will have to step up, like he did in Portugal’s triumphant campaign in 2016, for a spot in the last four. 

Brazil and Argentina have expectedly reached the quarterfinals of the Copa America 2024. The Selecao have a relatively more difficult road to the finale as they will face Uruguay in the last eight, whereas the Albiceleste will square off against Ecuador. 

The latest episode delves into the month-long football extravaganza.

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Bangladesh managed to reignite their confidence after winning their opening T20 World Cup fixture against Sri Lanka in New York on Saturday. Having come under immense scrutiny in their build-up to the major event, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side seemed to have turned a corner and now eye a place into the Super 8s of the tournament following the thrilling win against the Lankans. With an encounter against South Africa up next, The Daily Star’s podcast Pitch Perfect brings you a discussion about Bangladesh’s chances to go through to the next stage.

Real Madrid withstood a Borussia Dortmund barrage to win the Champions League for a 15th time as Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior struck late in a 2-0 win at Wembley on Saturday.