Swashbuckling batter Tilak Varma hit his maiden IPL century to lead Mumbai Indians to just their second win of the campaign as they hammered Gujarat Titans by 99 runs on Monday.

The Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) four-day competition is set to return to the domestic calendar after a gap of nearly two and a half years, with the 12th edition beginning on Tuesday in Sylhet.

Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib has been drafted into the Bangladesh squad for the third and final ODI against New Zealand, scheduled for April 23 in Chattogram.

The young pacer, who endured a costly outing in the series opener, responded in style with figures of 5-32 from his full quota of 10 overs, including a maiden.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to hold its next election ahead of the scheduled deadline, with the ad hoc committee aiming to complete preparations by June.

Bangladesh had previously faced Sri Lanka five times in the format, losing three while two matches ended without a result.

Rubel played his last international game in 2021 and has not been a regular in domestic cricket.

The 2015 ICC World Cup in Adelaide served as his professional zenith.

Bangladesh made one change from the first match, bringing in Soumya Sarkar for Afif Hossain. New Zealand kept the same playing XI after their 26-run win in the opening game.

“We weren’t expecting such a spinning track, so definitely it was a bit unexpected.”

As it stands, Bangladesh cricketers and their fans seem to share one defining trait -- an almost stubborn tendency to cling to hope.

Rinku Singh hit an unbeaten 53 to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to their first win of the IPL season as they beat Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in a low-scoring contest on Sunday.

Luck may finally be turning for Soumya Sarkar, with the left-hander expected to feature in Bangladesh’s eleven in the second ODI of the three match against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty has welcomed the decision to stage the three-match WODI series against Sri Lanka outside Dhaka, saying the Rajshahi wicket should encourage free-scoring cricket as the Tigresses gear up for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England in June.

The inclusion of Litton and Miraz in the same Rupganj side drew the most attention, with the national teammates set to play together for the club for the first time.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will honour Rubel Hossain ahead of the second ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, following the pacer’s retirement from international cricket after 12 years of service.

“It all comes from the communication from the batters in the first innings. We were getting relayed back the comms around the wicket, and we could see from side-on as well,” Smith told reporters on Sunday.

This tour marks Sri Lanka Women’s first bilateral series in Bangladesh.

The second match will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

There was a striking similarity between the starts of New Zealand and Bangladesh in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Mirpur on Friday, but the contrasting approaches that followed ultimately defined the outcome.