Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for April 2026 following a dominant display against New Zealand.

This award has come following his outstanding performances against New Zealand in the recently concluded ODI series. The International Cricket Council announced the award on Thursday, making Rana the first Bangladeshi cricketer to win the honour since Mehidy Hasan Miraz in 2025. 

The 23-year-old fast bowler played a decisive role in Bangladesh’s historic 2-1 ODI series victory over New Zealand on home soil. Rana finished the series with eight wickets at an impressive average and economy rate, consistently troubling the Kiwi batters with his raw pace and aggressive bowling.

His standout performance came in the second ODI in Mirpur, where he registered brilliant figures of 5 for 32 to help Bangladesh secure a commanding 55-run victory. He also picked up two wickets in the series decider in Chattogram, sealing the series and earning the Player of the Series award.

Reacting to the achievement, Rana said, “It’s a great feeling to be named the ICC Player of the Month after performing well against a world-class side like New Zealand.” Rana also expressed gratitude towards his teammates, "I’m grateful to my teammates for their constant support and belief in me throughout.”

Rana beat Oman captain Jatinder Singh and UAE pacer Ajay Kumar to claim the monthly ICC honor, continuing his rapid rise as one of Bangladesh cricket’s brightest young stars.

MSH

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.