Bangladesh allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was nominated for ICC player of the month for the first time in his career.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed in a press release that the allrounder was shortlisted for the Player of the Month awards for April alongside Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzurabani and New Zealand pacer Ben Sears.

"Miraz made telling contributions at both ends of the crease in Bangladesh's tied Test series against Zimbabwe, earning his first nomination for ICC Men's Player of the Month," The ICC said.

"Nominated for the first time for the ICC Men's Player of the Month award and aiming to be the first Bangladesh player to win since Shakib al Hasan in March 2023, Mehidy (Miraz) enjoyed a prolific April with bat and ball, ending the two-Test encounter as the Player of the Series," the release added.

Following his ten wickets in the opening Test defeat in Sylhet (five for 52 and five for 50), the allrounder then hit 104 in Chattogram - his second Test century - before another five wicket-haul ensured the honours were shared.

Muzurabani became just the second Zimbabwean to reach 700 rating points in the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings in April, reaching the landmark with a Player of the Match performance in the first Test victory over Bangladesh -Zimbabwe's first away Test win since 2021.

After taking three wickets in the first innings and with a healthy lead of 82 heading into the second, Muzarabani conspired to rip through Bangladesh's top and middle order to claim six for 72 and set up a thrilling three-wicket victory in Sylhet.

"Likewise on the opposing side, Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani enjoyed significant success with the ball in hand to earn his side a share of the spoils."

" New Zealand's Ben Sears becomes the third and final name on the shortlist after blistering spells in his side's 3-0 ODI sweep over Pakistan."

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.