Bangladesh secured a historic Test series victory against Pakistan, clinching the deciding second Test by six wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today. This win completed a 2-0 series sweep, marking Bangladesh’s first-ever series victory over Pakistan, and making them only the third Test nation after Zimbabwe and West Indies to fall to the Tigers in a series.

The triumph was hard-fought and dramatic, especially after Bangladesh’s first-innings collapse to 26-6. Displaying extraordinary resilience, the team turned the tables, eventually setting a target of 185 runs, which they chased down with six wickets remaining.

Senior players Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan were at the crease when Shakib hit the winning boundary, sealing the series victory. Mushfiqur, who played a heroic role in the first Test, remained unbeaten on 22, while Shakib was not out on 21.

The chase began on Day 5 with Bangladesh at 42 for no loss. Despite losing opener Zakir Hasan early, followed by Shadman Islam, the team held its nerve. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque then added a crucial 57-run partnership, before Shanto was dismissed for 38. Mominul followed with 34 runs, but by then, Bangladesh was well on its way to victory.

Liton Das was instrumental in this historic win, especially with his remarkable 138 runs in the first innings, where he and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (78) put on a record-breaking 165-run stand for the seventh wicket. Their partnership was the first in Test cricket’s history to exceed 150 runs after a team had lost six wickets for fewer than 50 runs.

In the second innings, Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Hasan Mahmud’s 5-43, dismantled Pakistan for just 172 runs, ensuring Bangladesh needed only 185 to win. Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed also contributed, with Rana taking 4-44.

This victory, a true team effort, brought immense joy to a nation that had faced hardships in recent months, and it will undoubtedly be remembered as one of Bangladesh cricket’s finest achievements.

Nazmul Hassan Papon has officially resigned from his position as President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), making way for former national team captain and ex-chief selector Faruk Ahmed to assume the role.

An emergency board meeting was convened today at the Ministry of Youth and Sports located in the Bangladesh Secretariat to facilitate this leadership transition. The meeting, led by interim government advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, accepted Papon’s resignation and confirmed Faruk Ahmed’s appointment as the new BCB president.

According to a statement released by the BCB following the meeting, Faruk Ahmed was nominated as a director by the National Sports Council (NSC) before being elected to lead the country’s cricket governing body.

Papon’s departure marks the end of a 12-year tenure that began in 2012 when he was first appointed by the government. He was subsequently elected as president in October 2013 and served three uninterrupted terms without facing any electoral opposition. Despite previously expressing confidence in his continued leadership, recent developments have prompted significant changes within the BCB’s structure.

The shake-up at the BCB comes amid broader transformations following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. In recent days, Jalal Yunus, head of the cricket operations department, also resigned upon request from the NSC to accommodate the new administration. Another NSC-appointed director, Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby, has been asked to resign but has yet to do so.

These resignations were intended to create vacancies for new directors, with Faruk Ahmed and veteran coach Nazmul Abedeen Fahim being considered for the roles. With Yunus stepping down, Faruk Ahmed’s appointment was finalized, while the inclusion of Nazmul Abedeen remains pending due to Alam’s continued position on the board.

The leadership changes are expected to usher in a new era for Bangladesh cricket as the board undergoes restructuring to align with the country’s evolving political landscape.

A hot-air balloon bearing an Olympic ring of fire illuminated the rainy sky, and Celine Dion’s powerful voice echoed from the Eiffel Tower as Paris commenced its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday. The four-hour, rule-defying opening ceremony took place along the Seine River, transforming the city into a giant open-air theater.

Intermittent showers did little to dampen the spirits of the athletes. Some held umbrellas as they sailed down the river, showcasing the city’s resilience amidst an ongoing investigation into suspected sabotage of France’s high-speed rail network.

The ambitious ceremony carried high stakes for France, with dozens of heads of state and government in attendance. The world watched as iconic Parisian landmarks became stages for dancers, singers, and performers. The Louvre Museum was one such stage, where French judo champion Teddy Riner and three-time Olympic champion runner Marie-José Pérec lit the Olympic cauldron, which then floated into the night sky, paying homage to early French pioneers of manned flight.

“We survived the rain, but it didn’t spoil any of our fun,” USA beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng remarked. “This was one of the most magical nights of our lives.”

Crowds packed the banks and bridges of the Seine, watching from balconies and cheering as the Olympic teams paraded down the increasingly choppy waterway. Many of the hundreds of thousands of spectators huddled under umbrellas, plastic ponchos, or jackets as the rain intensified, while others danced, sang, or sought shelter.

“The rain can’t stop us,” said U.S. basketball star LeBron James, donning a plastic poncho alongside fellow American flag bearer, tennis player Coco Gauff.

The weather created some unusual scenes: a stoic pianist continued playing as puddles formed on his grand piano, a breakdancer performed on a rain-slick platform, and some athletes appeared dressed more for the beach than the rain. Safety concerns prompted organizers to cut certain show elements deemed too risky under the wet conditions.

Despite these challenges, Paris put its best foot forward with a spectacular launch that featured joyous French cancan dancers and a humorous short film starring soccer icon Zinedine Zidane. French blue, white, and red smoke filled the air, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Lady Gaga sang in French in a prerecorded segment, accompanied by dancers with pink plumed pompoms, injecting a cabaret feel into the proceedings. Celine Dion closed the show with her first live performance since being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, in late 2022.

French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open more than three hours into the show. However, a minor mishap occurred earlier when the Olympic flag was briefly raised upside down at the Trocadero across from the Eiffel Tower.

The ceremony included notable moments such as a performance by French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura, who emerged from a pyrotechnic display in an all-gold outfit to sing her hit “Djadja” alongside a Republican guard band of the French army. The event also celebrated women with ten golden statues of female pioneers rising from giant pedestals along the river, including Olympe de Gouges, a revolutionary who campaigned for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery.

The Paris Games aim to be the first with equal numbers of male and female competitors. The sprawling event posed logistical challenges, with thousands of athletes transported and safeguarded along the 6-kilometer parade route on the Seine. The parade began dramatically with athletes from Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, breaking through water curtains cascading from Austerlitz Bridge, reminiscent of the fountains at Versailles Palace.

Spectators who followed organizers’ advice to arrive early along the ceremony route expressed frustration over long waits to reach their seats, particularly given the high cost of tickets.

Nevertheless, Paris showcased its architectural gems and rich history, with the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum playing starring roles. Award-winning theater director Thomas Jolly crafted a narrative celebrating French history and spirit, aimed at rejuvenating Paris’ image and demonstrating the city’s capability to host a sustainable and appealing Summer Games.

Security was tight, with large sections of central Paris restricted and a no-fly zone enforced during the ceremony. The athletes’ river journey passed historic sites temporarily transformed into Olympic venues, such as Concorde Plaza, now hosting skateboarding, and the golden-domed resting place of Napoléon Bonaparte, the backdrop for Olympic archery. The Eiffel Tower even contributed iron to the Olympic medals, symbolizing Paris’ blend of heritage and innovation.

Paris Games chief organizer Tony Estanguet emphasized, “We want to show the world and the French people that we are capable of extraordinary things.”