The eighth edition of Bangladesh Premier League is being played in a few days. In the second part of a series of reports on the six teams participating in the eighth edition, today we will talk about the Comilla Victorians.

In the eighth edition of BPL, many teams have appeared under new names under new ownership. The exception was Comilla Victorians. The team is going to take part in the upcoming edition of BPL under the old owner. Comilla, which has a record of winning the title twice in the BPL, wants to keep the title at home again. And for that purpose, Comilla Victorians have formed a balanced team. Nafisa Kamal, the owner of the franchise, has already stated that they are happy with the formation of the team. They will take the field to win the title.

The auction of the eighth edition of BPL was completed on Monday (December 27). Comilla Victorians have surprised everyone by including three popular foreign players in their team from outside the auction. Looking at the entire squad of Comilla after the auction yesterday, it was easy to guess that the success of the team will depend on the foreign cricketers. Sunil Narine, a popular cricketer of T20 format, was included in the Comilla team from outside the auction. Comilla also took star cricketer Faf du Plessis and English cricketer Moin Ali. There is a lot of demand for Narine, Du Plessis and Moin Ali in any franchise league in T20 format. Depending on these three cricketers, Comilla will want to win the title for the third time.

In the Players' Draft which ended yesterday, the team picked up Bangladesh national team wicketkeeper batsman Liton Das for the first time. In the second call of the first set, pacer Shahidul Islam was selected from the 'C' category. After that Comilla included Imrul Kayes in their team. Kayes has fond memories of winning the title in Comilla jersey even before that. Among the foreign cricketers selected from the draft are Sri Lanka's Kushal Mendis and West Indies fast bowler Ocean Thomas. Comilla Victorians also fielded Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque at the very end of the Players' Draft.

Analyzing the team, it is seen that this time the bowling lineup of Comilla team is quite strong. They are ahead of any other team by dincluding Sunil Narine, a very effective bowler in T20 cricket. The star cricketer will be the main head of the spin department. Comilla will be led by pace bowler Mostafizur Rahman. Comilla bowling will depend a lot on the performance of these two. Besides, the team will be looking at Ocean Thomas, Moin Ali and Abu Haider Rony. If two bowlers can consistently perform well in the T20 format, the team will benefit. In that case, if Mostafiz and Narine can perform to the best of their ability throughout the tournament, then Comilla will have nothing to worry about their bowling department.

Comilla is not as advanced in bowling as in batting. Faf du Plessis is the team's mainstay in batting. If he burns with the bat, he can stand in panic for any opponent. Moreover, the team has confidence in Liton Das of the national team. The team also has high hopes for Imrul Kayes, who is highly experienced.

It remains to be seen whether the three-star foreign cricketer will be able to win Comilla the title for the third time.

Comilla Victorians squad at a glance –

Mustafizur Rahman, Faf du Plessis, Moin Ali, Sunil Narine, Liton Das, Shahidul Islam, Imrul Kayes, Tanvir Islam, Kushal Mendis, Ocean Thomas, Ariful Haque, Nahidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Sumon Khan, Muminul Haque, Mahidul Islam, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abu Haider Rony, Mehedi Hasan.

Bangladesh's veteran opening batter, Tamim Iqbal, has been omitted from the 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, as announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, experienced batter Mahmudullah has secured his spot in the team.

The squad selection process generated considerable discussion, with several players being automatic choices. Tamim Iqbal, despite not being in peak physical condition, seemed like a surefire inclusion, especially after his confident return to international cricket with a fluent 44 against New Zealand.

However, reports emerged in local media just a day before the squad announcement, suggesting that Tamim had informed the management of his inability to play in all nine group matches of the tournament due to his fitness concerns. These reports reportedly left Shakib Al Hasan, the team's star all-rounder and captain, dissatisfied, even to the point where he contemplated stepping down as captain. Ultimately, the selectors decided against picking Tamim.

In a noteworthy development, Nafees Iqbal, Tamim's elder brother and the team's logistics manager, left the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium during Bangladesh's third ODI against New Zealand, and it appears he was removed from his post at Shakib's request.

The squad features some fresh faces as well, with Tanzid Hasan, who made his international debut in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, the promising fast bowler who impressed in his debut against India in the Asia Cup, earning their spots.

Bangladesh used the ongoing New Zealand series as an opportunity to experiment and assess potential options for the World Cup. Unlike most other teams, the selectors refrained from announcing a provisional squad, keeping fans and experts in suspense until just a couple of days before the ICC's deadline.

Mahmudullah, who had been absent from the ODI side for a considerable period, finally earned a place in the team after lower-order batters failed to make their mark in recent series. Mahmudullah's performance in the New Zealand series proved crucial, as he top-scored with a 76-ball-49 in the second ODI amid a batting collapse.

The spin duo of Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan also secured their spots in the squad after delivering strong performances in the latter part of the Asia Cup and the early stages of the New Zealand ODIs.

Soumya Sarkar, on the other hand, auditioned for a role but struggled, recording a duck in the second ODI against New Zealand before being dropped from the squad for the third game.

The finalized squad for the World Cup comprises the following players: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzid Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Bashundhara Toiletries Limited, a sister concern of Bashundhara Group, the largest industrial company in Bangladesh, has become the title sponsor of SAFF Championship Football 2023, the famous South Asian World Cup in football. And in Bangladesh, the country's first ever sports channel, T Sports, owned by Bashundhara Group, has bought broadcasting rights. Bashundhara Toiletries Limited SAFF Championship 2023 will be watched live on T Sports App along with satellite channel T Sports.

From June 21 to July 4, the 8-team SAFF Championship match, including Bangladesh, is going to be held in Bangalore, India. In the second match of the opening day, 2 arch rivals India and Pakistan face each other.

Bashundhara Group, one of the sponsors of sports on the red-green map, has crossed the borders of the country and opened new horizons outside the country. Bashundhara Group is regularly sponsoring various tournaments of Bangladesh team and Bangladesh Football Federation in the hope of promoting football in the country. In continuation of that, Bashundhara Toiletries Limited is participating in South Asia's biggest football tournament with Bangladesh team. 

Safwan Sobhan, Vice Chairman of Bashundhara Group and President of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club said, "This news is a matter of pride and joy not only for Bashundhara Group but also for the people of Bangladesh. Any international tournament means the sponsorship of foreign companies, their presence in the field-gallery, especially the presence of Indian companies is high here. This time, a Bangladeshi company will be seen as the sponsor of the SAFF Championship to be held on Indian soil. We believe, that will motivate the Bangladesh team to perform well.”

Meanwhile, T Sports has brought great news for the football lovers of Bangladesh. This is the first time all the matches of SAFF Championship will be broadcast in Bengali language. T Sports will also broadcast analytical discussions with football experts before and after the start of the match.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ace Neymar and Bruna Biancardi have announced that they are expecting to welcome their first child into the world.

On Tuesday night (18 April), Bruna Biancardi posted five photos on her Instagram account, confirming that she and Neymar were expecting. The couple, who were glowing with happiness in the said images, did not confirm the sex of the child.

The post reads, "You're going to join a beautiful family, with my sister, grandmothers, uncles and aunts who already love you very much! See you soon son/daughter, we can't wait!"

The baby will be Neymar's second child after 11-year-old Davi Lucca. 

According to media reports, the couple started dating in 2021. Though they kept their romantic relationship private.

They officially announced their relationship to the public through an Instagram post in January 2022.

The ABG Limited extended their hands to support the National Women’s Football Team to make the team's progress easier toward the success in football.

The country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group’s concern ABG Limited extends their support for National Women’s Football Team.

ABG Limited inked a three-year deal with Bangladesh Football Federation to provide monetary assistance for women’s football league, national and international competitions and other development projects for women’s football at MD House at Bashundhara R/A on Thursday.

Managing Director of Bashundhara Group and ABG Limited and Chairman of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Ltd Sayem Sobhan Anvir on behalf of the sponsor ABG Limited while FIFA Council Member, BFF Executive Committee member and BFF Women’s Wing Chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron on behalf of the federation has signed the contract.

Bashundhara Group (EWPD) Deputy Managing Director and Head of Accounts and Finance, Bashundhara Kings President and BFF Vice-President Imrul Hassan, ABG Ltd advisor Mostofa Azad Mohiuddin, BFF vice-president Mohiuddin Mohi, BFF general secretary Md. Abu Nayeem Shohag, and T-Sports CEO Ishtiaque Sadeque attended the signing ceremony.

Also, Daily Sun Editor Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, Kaler Kantho Editor-in-Chief Imdadul Haq Milan, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, Kaler Kantho Editor Shahed Muhammad Ali, News24 Executive Editor Rahul Raha and other distinguished personalities were also present.