The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially revealed the schedule for New Zealand’s upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh. The six-match series, consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is, will take place across April and May, marking the return of the New Zealand national cricket team to Bangladesh after nearly two and a half years.

BAN vs NZ: Here’s a quick look at the full itinerary:

• April 17: 1st ODI – Mirpur
• April 20: 2nd ODI – Mirpur
• April 23: 3rd ODI – Chattogram
• April 27: 1st T20I – Chattogram
• April 29: 2nd T20I – Chattogram
• May 2: 3rd T20I – Mirpur

All ODIs will be day-night fixtures, while the T20Is feature a mix of afternoon and evening starts, ensuring variety for fans and broadcasters alike.

This series also holds added importance for Bangladesh national cricket team, as it marks their second assignment after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

BAN vs NZ: Venues, context and challenges ahead for both teams

The two venues selected for the series bring contrasting playing conditions. The Mirpur surface at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium is traditionally spin-friendly, especially during day games, often challenging visiting batters. In contrast, Chattogram’s coastal conditions at the Bir Shrestha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium generally favour stroke play, offering better bounce and carry.

Teams will travel from Dhaka to Chattogram on April 21 after the second ODI, ensuring a smooth transition between venues.

Historically, encounters between these sides in Bangladesh have been competitive. During New Zealand’s last visit in 2023, the Black Caps secured a 2-0 ODI series win, while the Test series ended evenly. However, Bangladesh fans will take confidence from their T20I success in 2021, where they defeated New Zealand 3-2 in a five-match home series.

New Zealand head into this tour with strong credentials despite a recent setback. They finished runners-up in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after losing to India in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium. The team is also currently engaged in a T20I series against South Africa at home.

However, one of the biggest talking points ahead of this tour is player availability. The Bangladesh vs New Zealand 2026 series coincides with IPL 2026, creating a potential selection headache for New Zealand Cricket. Several key players are tied up with franchises, including Glenn Phillips, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Rachin Ravindra, among others.

Captain Mitchell Santner himself is part of the IPL setup, raising the possibility that New Zealand may field a relatively inexperienced or second-string squad for the Bangladesh tour. This could significantly influence the balance of the contest.

Also READ: Explained – Why Heinrich Klaasen was given out despite inconclusive replays of Phil Salt’s catch in RCB vs SRH encounter at IPL 2026?

On the other hand, Bangladesh enter the series with momentum. They recently secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over Pakistan at home, showcasing resilience and adaptability. That success has boosted confidence within the squad ahead of another challenging assignment.

The upcoming series is also part of a packed home calendar for Bangladesh, with tours from Australia, India and West Indies lined up later in the year. This makes the New Zealand series an important opportunity for the hosts to build consistency and refine combinations.

Also READ: Fewest overs taken to chase down 200 plus total in IPL ft. RCB

NEW DELHI: Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was admitted to a hospital a day after he was arrested in connection with a culpable homicide case linked to the alleged suppression of the September Gen Z protests.According to the hospital, Oli was admitted following complaints of palpitations.“Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (UMI) KP Sharma Oli was admitted to TU Teaching Hospital on 2082-12-14 with complaints of palpitations,” a statement from the hospital read.“He is a post-renal transplant patient with hydronephrosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, atrial fibrillation with APC (on treatment), and cholelithiasis. Currently, he is under observation and monitoring in bed no. 501 of Annex 1 and is being managed by our medical team,” it added.Earlier on Saturday, Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, following a formal complaint filed by the home ministry, which led to an investigation and the issuance of arrest warrants.Authorities said the action was taken to implement the recommendations of a commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.The commission also suggested legal action against several other officials, including then home secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former National Investigation Department head Hutaraj Thapa, and then Kathmandu chief district officer Chhabi Rijal.The commission attributed the violent crackdown on youth-led protests to criminal negligence and recklessness, citing a failure to act on prior intelligence warnings about possible escalation. A total of 77 people were killed during the protests, and property worth billions was destroyed.The arrests came a day after Balendra Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s Prime Minister. The 35-year-old leader, who heads the Rastriya Swatantra Party, assumed office under Article 76(1) of the Constitution after his party emerged as the largest in the March 5 parliamentary elections.His swearing-in ceremony was held at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas and was administered by President Ramchandra Paudel. Shah, the youngest Prime Minister of Nepal and the first from the Madheshi community to hold the post, has risen to prominence through his strong stance against the federal establishment and his focus on governance reforms.

Developments in the month-long war in Middle East, movements in crude oil prices and broader global cues are expected to remain the biggest triggers for Indian stock markets in the holiday-shortened week ahead.Analysts cited by news agency PTI said that investors will also closely track the rupee’s movement against the US dollar and the trading pattern of foreign institutional investors, with sentiment likely to stay fragile amid continued geopolitical uncertainty.Domestic equity markets will be shut on Tuesday for Shri Mahavir Jayanti and again on Friday for Good Friday, leaving traders with a shortened week.

Oil, ceasefire talks and rupee stability in focus

Ajit Mishra, SVP, research at Religare Broking Ltd, told PTI that global macro developments are likely to dominate market direction in the coming sessions.“This week is expected to remain influenced by global macro developments, particularly crude oil price trends and progress in the US-Iran ceasefire negotiations, which will be critical in shaping market sentiment. Stability in the rupee will also be important for any revival in foreign institutional flows,” Mishra said.On the domestic front, Mishra said investors will watch key economic indicators including industrial production data for February and the HSBC Manufacturing PMI for March, which could offer a clearer picture of economic momentum and fiscal positioning.The pressure on equities has already been visible. Foreign investors have withdrawn Rs 1.14 lakh crore (around $12.3 billion) from domestic equities this month amid the widening conflict in Middle East and the weakening rupee.The conflict in the Middle East began on February 28. Since then, the US and Israel have struck Iran, while Tehran has responded by targeting Washington’s regional allies and Tel Aviv.

Markets seen staying volatile after last week’s losses

Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, told PTI that markets are likely to remain highly sensitive to any shift in the geopolitical situation.“Looking ahead, markets are likely to remain volatile and driven by developments on the geopolitical front. Investors will be closely watching the situation in the Middle East, where any escalation or signs of easing could quickly shift sentiment, particularly through their impact on crude oil prices”, he said.“Elevated oil prices are expected to keep pressure on markets, while any pullback could prompt short-covering and support a rebound”.He added that foreign fund flows, rupee movement and broader global market trends will also shape the near-term outlook.Hariprasad K, research analyst and founder of Livelong Wealth, also said that the week ahead will largely be driven by global factors.“The week ahead is expected to be largely dictated by global drivers, with crude oil, currency movements, and geopolitical developments remaining key variables,” he said.In the holiday-shortened week gone by, the BSE Sensex fell 949.74 points, or 1.27 per cent, while the NSE Nifty dropped 294.9 points, or 1.27 per cent, reflecting the pressure from global volatility.

Top firms lose Rs 1.75 lakh crore in market value

The broader market mood remained weak last week, with the combined market valuation of seven of the top-10 most valued firms shrinking by Rs 1.75 lakh crore, led by a sharp erosion in Reliance Industries, which took the biggest hit.Reliance Industries alone lost Rs 89,720.3 crore in market capitalisation, while HDFC Bank shed Rs 37,248.59 crore and State Bank of India lost Rs 35,399.42 crore. ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, Hindustan Unilever and TCS also saw declines.However, Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Finance and Infosys bucked the trend and posted gains in market valuation.Religare’s Mishra said last week saw sharp swings, with early losses driven by fears over energy supply disruption, a record-low rupee and rising volatility. This was followed by a mid-week recovery on hopes of a temporary easing in US-Iran tensions, before renewed selling pressure on Friday wiped out those gains.

Kris Srikkanth has backed Rohit Sharma to deliver against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 opener, pointing to the batter’s record against the side.Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India cricketer said Rohit has often been comfortable against KKR and expects that trend to continue at the Wankhede Stadium.“KKR used to be like halwa for Rohit Sharma a few years back. He is going to smash their bowling like eating halwa tomorrow. KKR is his badam halwa team. Once KKR comes, Rohit is in a comfort zone,” Srikkanth said while talking on his YouTube channel, as cited by India Today website.Mumbai Indians will face KKR on Sunday, with Rohit expected to play a key role at the top. KKR, meanwhile, are likely to rely on Sunil Narine, who has had success against Rohit in the past.Rohit’s numbers against KKR highlight his record in this match-up. He has scored 1,083 runs against them at a strike rate of 127.86, including six half-centuries and one century. His highest score is an unbeaten 109 at Eden Gardens.At the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit has made 238 runs against KKR at a strike rate of 120.81. However, his recent returns against them have been lower, with his last half-century against KKR coming in 2020.Despite that, Rohit’s approach in T20 cricket has changed in the past two seasons. After maintaining a strike rate of around 133 between 2016 and 2023, he increased it to 150 in 2024 and 149.28 in 2025.Mumbai Indians will begin their campaign looking to end a five-year gap since their last title. The team last won the IPL in 2020 and has five titles between 2013 and 2020.In the previous season, the side led by Hardik Pandya finished third after losing to Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2.The squad includes several players from India’s T20 World Cup-winning group. Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya, Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah form the core as Mumbai Indians begin their new season.

Panaji: Churchill Brothers FC have asked All India Football Federation’s ethics and dispute resolution committee to examine a potential conflict of interest concerning its president Kalyan Chaubey and determine whether his candidature “for the office of AIFF President complies with conflict of interest provisions and governance principles.”According to last week’s complaint by the club’s general manager, Aditya Barros Pereira, Chaubey’s wife, Sohini Mitra, serves as the director of Mohun Bagan Football Club (India) Pvt Ltd, as per “publicly available records.”Churchill said Sohini is also associated with executive committee of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, “thereby exercising a governance role within the club structure.”As per Article 73.3 of the AIFF Constitution, every person after taking over their positions should disclose to the ethics and disputes resolution committee in writing any existing or potential event that may be deemed to cause a conflict of interest and the same should be uploaded on the AIFF website.“The non-disclosure of Chaubey’s relationship with the Director of Mohun Bagan Football Club (India) Private Limited raises concerns on his integrity and his capacity to undertake objective decisions for the interest of the federation,” the club said in the complaint, flagging violations of Article 19 and Article 19(A) of the AIFF Code of Ethics, 2017.Churchill said a potential instance of “favouritism or lenient treatment” due to the involvement of Chaubey was the recent reduction of sanction imposed on Mohun Bagan, following a letter for review by the club. The AIFF disciplinary committee had initially imposed a full stadium closure along with a fine for the March 6 clash against Odisha FC but following a review petition, the decision was modified from a full closure to a partial one.“These events are strange as judicial bodies in AIFF have not modified/taken back decisions that were directed to the parties except in cases of directions made by domestic and international courts. As a matter of settled legal principle, review jurisdiction is narrowly confined and is generally maintainable only in exceptional circumstances, such as the discovery of a new and important fact or evidence, an error apparent on the face of the record, or other similarly limited grounds. No such circumstance appears, on the face of the record, to have existed in the present matter,” said Churchill.The club said “when the spouse of the (AIFF) president occupies a governance position within a club that participates in the national football structure, there arises a real and reasonable concern regarding the possibility of preferential treatment, access to confidential information, the exercise of undue influence, and a perception of compromised impartiality in regulatory or commercial matters affecting football clubs.”In its appeal, Churchill have asked the independent ethics panel to examine the conflict-of-interest implications arising from the directorship and governance role of Chaubey’s wife, determine whether his candidature for the office of AIFF president complies with the constitution’s provisions, and “direct appropriate disclosures, recusals, or other remedial measures as deemed necessary.”Churchill’s recent complaints saw the AIFF ethics and dispute resolution committee left with just two members, prompting a pause into their battle against Inter Kashi.Committee chairperson RK Pachnanda first recused himself on account of his earlier role of investigator as AIFF’s integrity officer and Sudarshan Kumar Agarwal resigned after the club brough to the fore his previous role as counsel for AIFF president Chaubey and flagged a direct conflict of interest.Churchill, who are not part of either the Indian Super League (ISL) or Indian Football League (IFL) this season, have been up in arms against the AIFF due to last season’s I-League title race, where they were first declared champions. However, the title was later awarded to Inter Kashi, who won two appeals in the Court of Arbitration for sport (CAS).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 kicked off with a high-octane explosive encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. In a classic ‘Southern Derby’ between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the fans were treated to a spectacle of power-hitting and world-class fielding. While the scoreboard reflected a dominant 6-wicket victory for RCB, the defining moment of the match was a piece of fielding brilliance by Phil Salt that left the cricketing world in awe.

Phil Salt’s one-handed stunner ends Ishan Kishan’s threat in RCB vs SRH game

Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by captain Ishan Kishan, looked set for a massive total despite losing early wickets. Kishan was in a murderous mood, shifting the momentum with a blistering 80 off just 38 deliveries, peppered with 8 fours and 5 towering sixes. However, the game changed in the 16th over.

Facing Abhinandan Singh, Kishan looked to capitalize on a low full toss outside off-stump. He carved the ball with immense power toward the deep backward point boundary. It looked like a certain four until Salt intervened. Racing to his right, Salt launched himself parallel to the turf, plucking the ball out of the air with his right hand in one fluid motion.

The commentary box erupted as Salt completed what many are already calling the ‘Catch of the Tournament.’ This dismissal was the turning point, breaking SRH’s back just as they looked to cross the 220-run mark. SRH eventually finished at 201/9, thanks to a disciplined spell from Jacob Duffy (3/22), who was later named Player of the Match.

Here’s the video:

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒! 🛑

🎥 Phil Salt with an absolute one-handed screamer at the ropes 🫡

Do we already have the Catch of the Season on Day 1 of #TATAIPL 2026 🤔

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Eo5z0jh4K4 #KhelBindaas | #RCBvSRH |… pic.twitter.com/pPax3pVNt9

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2026

Also WATCH: Jacob Duffy folds both SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in single over during IPL 2026 opener

Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal masterclass leads RCB to a record chase in IPL history

Chasing a target of 202 in Bengaluru is never easy, but RCB’s top order made it look like a walk in the park. Despite losing Salt early in the second over, the veteran Virat Kohli joined forces with the returning Devdutt Padikkal to dismantle the SRH bowling attack.

The duo shared a century stand that effectively killed the contest. Padikkal was the early aggressor, racing to a half-century in just 21 balls. He finished with a magnificent 61 off 26 balls, striking at a phenomenal rate of 234.61. His innings included 6 fours and 4 sixes, providing the perfect platform for the chase.

At the other end, Kohli played the anchor-turned-aggressor role to perfection. Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, guiding the team home with 26 balls to spare. His calculated assault, featuring 4 fours and 5 sixes, ensured there were no late hiccups after a double-strike by SRH’s David Payne in the 13th over. With this win, RCB has signaled their intent for the 2026 season, combining clinical bowling with a relentless batting display that left the Sunrisers searching for answers.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Fans go gaga as Jacob Duffy, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal humble SRH, powering RCB to an emphatic win

NEW DELHI: 6,000 piped natural gas (PNG) users have surrendered their Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections as of Saturday, a govt official said on Sunday. “6000 PNG consumers surrendered their LPG till yesterday! A big thanks to them!!” said the secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas Neeraj Mittal on X. Further urging PNG users to give up their LPG connections he also said, “Join this strong bold group of DoGood citizens who have come forward to give up LPG to help those to get LPG who don’t have PNG. Give up yours today.”In the gas sector, supplies have been prioritised for households and transport, with full allocation to piped natural gas (PNG) and CNG, while industrial and commercial consumers are receiving around 80 per cent of their average usage. Fertiliser plants are being supplied at 70–75 per cent capacity, with additional LNG cargoes being arranged, a government statement said, assuring that govt stepped up measures to secure fuel and gas supplies, reported PTI.The ministry added that expansion of city gas distribution networks is being fast-tracked by easing approval processes and encouraging a shift from LPG to PNG.More than 2,90,000 new PNG connections were added in March. Companies such as Indraprastha Gas, Mahanagar Gas, GAIL Gas and BPCL are also offering incentives to promote PNG adoption.LPG supplies have been affected by the geopolitical situation, although deliveries remain normal with no shortages reported. Daily refill deliveries have crossed 55 lakh cylinders, while measures to curb diversion have been tightened, it said.Commercial LPG supply has been gradually restored to around 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with priority being given to hospitality, food services and key industries.The government has also increased kerosene allocations to states and stepped up action against hoarding and black marketing, carrying out around 2,900 raids and seizing nearly 1,000 cylinders in recent days.States have been asked to intensify monitoring, hold daily briefings, counter misinformation and expedite approvals for gas infrastructure. “The government reiterates its advice to the public not to believe rumours,” the statement said.In a further push to PNG, the government plans to stop LPG cylinder supply after three months to households that have access to piped natural gas (PNG) but have not opted for a connection, according to a statement just days ago. An exception will be made in cases where supplying PNG is not technically feasible, provided an authorised entity issues a no-objection certificate.The move comes amid LPG supply pressures due to disruptions in imports from West Asia, from where India sources a significant portion of its requirement. By pushing consumers in pipeline-connected areas to shift to PNG, the government aims to free up LPG supplies for regions that lack such infrastructure.Consumers in areas with PNG networks, including those in rented homes, will be required to transition, with officials treating gas as a basic utility similar to electricity and water. Around 60 lakh domestic and commercial consumers are estimated to be eligible for the shift, and about 2.2 lakh have already moved from LPG to PNG in recent days.The government is also accelerating the expansion of city gas distribution networks, with a target of providing 12.6 crore PNG connections by 2032.

“Virat bhai’s only instruction was to…”: Padikkal on Kohli’s advice during run-chase against SRH in IPL 2026 season opener

Devdutt Padikkal was all smiles after Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign with a commanding win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.The left-hander played a decisive hand in the chase, blasting 61 off just 26 balls, an innings studded with four sixes and seven boundaries at a strike rate of 234.62. Alongside him, Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 from 38 deliveries. The duo stitched together a rapid 101-run stand in only 45 balls, helping the defending champions overhaul a 202-run target with 26 balls to spare.