With a dramatic eight-run win (DL method) over struggling Bangladesh, Afghanistan advanced to the semifinals of the ongoing T20 World Cup. With their progress, both Bangladesh and Australia are eliminated from the World Cup.

It was the first time Afghanistan reached the semifinals of a World Cup in their cricketing history, reported UNB.

Afghanistan batted first and posted a below-par total of 115 runs, with Bangladeshi bowlers performing masterfully. Rishad Hossain was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, taking three wickets.

In reply, Bangladesh's target was to chase it down in 12.1 overs to qualify for the semifinal, maintaining a better run-rate than Afghanistan and Australia. But they failed to do so. Rain also disrupted their chase on more than two occasions.

Along with failing to qualify for the semis, Bangladesh was also disappointed by not even winning the match.

Litton Das carried his bat throughout the innings and hit a fifty, but that did little to help Bangladesh's cause. Other batters also failed to deliver when needed.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, and Towhid Hridoy all failed to make an impact. Shakib and Tanzid Hasan Tamim suffered a duck each. Shanto returned only five runs.

Soumya Sarkar, who was added to the XI for the second time in this World Cup, also failed to deliver. In his first match in this World Cup against Sri Lanka, he suffered a duck.

Mahmudullah Riyad played nine balls and scored only six runs. All batters together failed to deliver on an important occasion when Bangladesh had a great chance to qualify for the semifinal.

Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan were the main architects of Afghanistan's win, taking four wickets each. The Afghanistan bowlers were so disciplined that they set the stage for a hat-trick three times in this match. 

“We have worked so hard over the past few years, and we were dreaming and working for this day,” Afghanistan pacer Naveen said to the broadcaster after the match. 

Afghanistan will now face South Africa in the semifinals on June 27th. In the other semifinal, India will take on England.

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.