March 2025 - News Digest

March 12

Bangladesh announce squad for Women's World Cup Qualifiers

Bangladesh made three changes to their squad for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025 as Ishma Tanjim, Jannatul Ferdus Sumona and Ritu Moni earned recalls for the six-team tournament, scheduled to be held from April 5 to 19 in Lahore.

Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty will have to lead the way from the front with her experience and leadership qualities as the team faces stiff competition from West Indies, Ireland, Scotland and Thailand alongside the hosts.

These six teams will fight for the two available spots in the World Cup, making the upcoming qualifier a crucial event for Bangladesh's women's cricket. Lata Mondol, Murshida Khatun, Sultana Khatun, and Taj Nehar have been dropped, making way for the new additions.

The team will depart for Lahore on April 3, with the goal of securing one of the two remaining spots in the prestigious eight-team World Cup, which will take place in India later this year.

Bangladesh missed direct qualification for the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup as they finished on 21 points in the Women's Championship table, level with New Zealand who had more wins - nine opposed to Bangladesh's eight - and secured the sixth and final direct spot.

Bangladesh squad

Nigar Sultana Joty (Captain), Nahida Akter (Vice Captain), Ishma Tanjim, Dilara Akter, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Jannatul Ferdus Sumona, Rabeya, Fahima Khatun, Fariha Islam Trisna, Farzana Haque, Shanjida Akther Maghla, Marufa Akter, Ritu Moni

March 11

Yorkshire sign Ben Sears for 2025 season

New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been signed by Yorkshire to play in the 2025 County Championship, the club confirmed on Tuesday. Sears will join the squad ahead of their second game of the season. Known for his raw pace, Sears made his Test debut against Australia last year in which he took five wickets.

Prior to that, he made his international debut in a T20I against Bangladesh in 2021. Earlier in the day, he was also named in the New Zealand squad to play the upcoming T20Is against Pakistan having missed the Champions Trophy with a hamstring injury.

"I can't wait to get over to Headingley and start playing with the guys. Some of the signings made already are exciting and I hope I can add to that," Sears said. "It's important to set the tone early in any season. We have some big games in that first block, and I'll be ready to get the team off to the best start possible."

March 8

Lalit Modi acquires Vanuatu passport, to continue living in UK

Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has acquired the citizenship of Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation. Modi's lawyers said he is in the process of surrendering his Indian passport.

"He has taken all necessary steps for the surrender of his Indian passport as per the prescribed procedure," Mehmood Abdi, Modi's lawyer said.

Modi, who left India in 2010 following controversy and purge in the IPL setup, will continue to live in the UK, where he has been living for the last 15 years. "He is a resident of the UK and he will remain there," a source close to Modi said.

"We would also like to emphasize that no chargesheet or complaint has ever been filed against Lalit Modi by any Indian agency in any court in India, and no charges have ever been framed against him by any Indian court," Abdi said in a statement.

The requirement to surrender the passport arises because an Indian citizen is not permitted to hold dual passports.

Modi is the founder of the IPL. Following the 2010 controversy that led to his expulsion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, he left the country amidst allegations of corruption.