Despite not qualifying through the AHF Cup in April, the Bangladesh national hockey team are likely to get an opportunity to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, replacing Pakistan, who may withdraw due to security concerns.

The eight-team Asia Cup is scheduled to take place from August 29 to September 7 in Bihar, India. The tournament was originally supposed to feature the top two finishers from April’s AHF Cup — Oman and Chinese Taipei — alongside six automatic qualifiers: India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and China.

However, recent international media reports suggested that Pakistan government unwilling to send teams to India in either of the tournaments to be held this year in that country – the Asia Cup and the FIH Junior World Cup.

Bangladesh finished third in the AHF Cup after losing to Oman in the semifinals, marking the first time in 43 years that the four-time champions failed to secure an Asia Cup berth.

Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Friday.

The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster.

“Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” MLS said in a statement.

The suspension will see them miss Inter Miami’s match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Messi has scored 18 goals so far this season.

Messi rested this week, according to Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano.

“Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days,” Mascherano was quoted as saying by ESPN.

Pakistan have set target of 111 runs for Bangladesh in the opening game of the three-match T20I series.

Batting first, the green shirts crumbled like a house of cards against the Bangladeshi bowlers, getting all out for 110 runs in 19.3 overs. Fakhar Zaman was the top scorer with 44 runs.

Pakistan’s innings began with Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, but the opening pair couldn’t stay together for long as Ayub was dismissed for 6 runs.

Once the opening partnership broke, wickets fell in quick succession. Mohammad Haris scored 4 runs, captain Salman Ali Agha made 3, and Hasan Nawaz returned to the pavilion without scoring.

Among other players, Mohammad Nawaz scored 3, Khushdil Shah scored 17, Abbas Afridi contributed 22, Faheem Ashraf scored 5, and Salman Mirza was sent to the pavilion for a duck.

For the host team, Taskin Ahmed took three wickets, Mustafizur Rahman claimed two targets, while Tanzim Hasan and Mehidy Hasan took one wicket each.

Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan in first T20I match.

In the first encounter of the three-match T20 series between, the host team captain Liton Das won the toss and invited the visiting team to bat first.

The match will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka at 5 pm according to Pakistani time.

The Pak-Bangladesh T20 series trophy was unveiled yesterday in the presence of both captains at a hotel in Dhaka. On this occasion, Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha and Bangladeshi counterpart Liton Das posed with the trophy.

It should be noted that rain was predicted today, while there is a possibility of the series being affected by rain.