A second-half brace from Sunil Chhetri powered India to an emphatic 3-1 victory over hosts Maldives at the National Football Stadium tonight to advance into the final of the SAFF Championship. 

Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the final of the SAFF Championship after 16 long years were dashed in controversial fashion as a dubious penalty decision late in the game saw the men in red and green relinquish a one-goal lead against Nepal in their last group match at the National Stadium in Male yesterday.

Following a four-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the first official practise game on Tuesday, Bangladesh will be looking to rectify their mistakes and get into the groove when they take on Ireland in the second and final warm-up game today ahead of the qualifier round of the ICC World T20.

Oscar Bruzon believes the controversial decision to send off goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico was the turning point of the game before another dubious decision to award Nepal penalty killed off Bangladesh’s dream of playing the final of the SAFF Championship at the National Football Stadium in Male yesterday.

Anjan Bista’s penalty, awarded by Uzbekistan referee Akhrol Riskullaev in a controversial fashion, in the dying minutes of the game broke the hearts of Bangladesh as Nepal came from behind to draw 1-1 in their final group fixture of the SAFF Championship at the National Football Stadium in Male yesterday.

India added pace bowler Shardul Thakur to their Twenty20 World Cup squad while all-rounder Axar Patel dropped out of the 15-man side and into a list of stand-by players, the country's cricket board (BCCI) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Ten-man Bangladesh failed to hold on to a slender lead as an 88th-minute penalty by Anjan Bista saw Nepal bounce back and eke out a 1-1 draw today in their final SAFF Championship group stage game in Male, denying the men in red and green a chance to make it into the final of the regional championship for the first time in 16 years. 

Five years after losing a heart-stopping T20 World Cup final to the West Indies, Eoin Morgan's England start as narrow favourites in their bid to become double world champions despite the absence of Ben Stokes.

Two of South Asia's best forwards in Sunil Chhetri and Ali Ashfaq, have traditionally been Bangladesh national team's tormentors in chief since they began representing their respective sides India and Maldives in the international arena. Both of them found the mark yet again in the ongoing SAFF Championship by scoring a goal apiece against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh lost their opening official warm-up fixture -- part of their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup -- against Sri Lanka by four wickets thanks to Avishka Fernando's powerful unbeaten knock of 62.

When head coach Oscar Bruzon asked the national football team manager Satyajit Das Rupu how many goals were scored by the forwards during training, Rupu signalled the Spaniard with his raised index finger and Bruzon heaved a big smile.

Bangladesh cricket team players will be wearing recyclable jerseys in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE. 

Spain were left feeling hard done by as they lost Sunday's Nations League final to a late strike from Kylian Mbappe, who appeared to be in an offside position.

Karim Benzema waited more than five years to make his France comeback and now the Real Madrid striker is in a hurry to win his first major trophy with Les Bleus.

Seven-time champions India beat Nepal 1-0 tonight to keep their and as well as Bangladesh’s hopes alive of reaching the final of the 13th SAFF Championship.  

Bangladesh national football team had a bitter experience in Maldives following a practice session yesterday as the booters had to return to the hotel walking on foot after the Football Association of Maldives refused to provide team bus due to the team’s extra training at Henveiru training ground in Male.

Having enjoyed a two-day rest following the defeat against Maldives, the national booters looked upbeat in the two-hour long training session today ahead of their do-or-die SAFF Championship fixture against high-flying Nepal.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the prize money for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Dubai with the winners taking away $1.6 million while the runners-up will bag $800,000.

The Decision Review System (DRS) will make its debut in the men's T20 World Cup to be held in Oman and UAE starting this month, after the ICC approved its usage in the tournament.

On the back of only a week-long preparation under interim coach Oscar Bruzon, Bangladesh national team surprised all in their first two matches against Sri Lanka and India in the ongoing SAFF Championship before suffering a defeat against hosts Maldives in their third match,