West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves etched his name into Test cricket history by becoming the first bowler ever to take five wickets in five consecutive maiden overs during the opening Test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
Neymar Junior shook off the disappointment of Brazil's bitter World Cup exit with a return to form in club football. The star forward delivered a strong performance, scoring twice to rescue Santos from defeat against Chapecoense in the Brazilian Série A. However, his return was quickly overshadowed by fresh controversy.
Sylhet region emerged champions in the boys' category, while Rangpur region won the girls' title in the inaugural edition of New Kuri Sports' football event. Both finals, held at the Bangladesh Army Stadium on Monday, produced thrilling contests.
Bangladesh have suffered a major blow ahead of their Test series in Australia after more than two decades. Young pacer Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the entire series due to a Grade-2 tear in his left calf muscle. Meanwhile, Liton Kumar Das and Shariful Islam will miss the first Test due to injuries, though the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) hopes to have them available for the second Test. The first Test begins on 13 August in Darwin, with the second and final Test scheduled for 22 August in Mackay.
Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes Australia's decision to name a full-strength squad for the upcoming two-match Test series reflects the growing respect Bangladesh has earned in international cricket.
Bangladesh all-rounder Sheikh Mehedi Hasan is facing disciplinary action after making controversial remarks about the national team's management, prompting him to appear before the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) disciplinary committee.