Former New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been banned for a month for cocaine use. The 34-year-old Bracewell tested positive for the drug after a domestic Twenty20 match in January, the New Zealand Sports Integrity Commission said in a statement on Monday.

The commission said Bracewell used the substance out of competition, which was not directly related to his game. This resulted in an initial three-month ban. However, that was reduced to one month because he completed a rehabilitation program.

The commission's chief executive Rebecca Rolls said players had a responsibility to set a positive example. "All recreational drugs, including cocaine, are illegal and can pose a serious threat to the health and safety of players and their teammates."

"This is a serious problem at all levels of sport," she said. We want to work with the sporting bodies and the players to address this.”

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Winnick criticized Bracewell’s behaviour, saying, “Doug has taken full responsibility for his mistakes. His behavior has disappointed him and he has accepted the consequences.”

Winnick added, “As an organization, we will continue to support Doug. He is fully aware of our expectations.” Doug Bracewell played 28 Tests, 21 ODIs and 20 T20Is for New Zealand.

National award-winning footballer and captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team, freedom fighter Zakaria Pintu, is no more. He died while undergoing treatment at Ibne Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi, Dhaka on Monday. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed his condolences on Monday over the death of Zakaria Pintu, captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team and the first national football team of independent Bangladesh.

In a condolence message, the Chief Adviser said, "I am shocked and saddened to learn that the captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team, freedom fighter Zakaria Pintu, has passed away in the hospital."

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said, "The legendary captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team, Zakaria Pintu, traveled all over India in 1971 to collect money and important support for the wartime government. Even when he was not playing on the field, he used to encourage our freedom fighters." He emerged as one of the faces of our freedom struggle.’

Muhammad Yunus further said, ‘After the war of independence, he became the captain of the first national football team of independent Bangladesh. This legendary player played in the central back position, and at the same time, he was an extraordinary defender in the red-green jersey. After completing his two-decade career, he also played an important role in organizing the country's sports arena. He was a complete sportsman until his death.’

‘I pray for the forgiveness of his departed soul. My condolences to his bereaved family and all those involved in the sports arena, to whom Zakaria Pintu was a true legend.’

Zakaria Pintu was born in Naogaon in 1943. However, he will be forever remembered for his role in 1971. During the liberation war in 1971, the country's top footballers formed the Swadhin Bangla Football Team. The Swadhin Bangla football team created world public opinion in favor of the liberation of the people of the country through the game of football.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz proved once again that 'missing a catch means missing the match'. Bangladesh wasted a chance to take a catch in the third ODI to decide the series. He used his 'second life' very well. He stopped after scoring a century. Based on that, Afghanistan also chased down the target of 245 runs set by Bangladesh with 5 wickets in hand.

Bangladesh went to the brink of a chasm after losing the first match by 92 runs. They returned to the series by winning the second match by 68 runs. As a result, the third match became an unannounced final. As a result of this 5-wicket loss in that match, Bangladesh ended the second consecutive series against the Afghans with the bitter memories of losing.

Afghanistan started well with a target of 245 runs. However, Bangladesh returned to the match by removing Sediqullah Atal in the eighth over of the innings. The opportunity came shortly after.

Mustafizur Rahman's sudden leaping ball hit the edge of Gurbaz's bat and went into the hands of replacement fielder Rishad Hossain, who was at point. However, he could not jump forward and catch the ball. It slipped out of his hands.

Gurbaz had already assumed the dangerous form. He had hit Shariful for three sixes, counting on him. As if getting the 'life' of the service, he became more cautious and gradually led the team towards victory.

However, Bangladesh still gave Gurbaz one chance after another. The team wasted two 'half chances' of run-outs and one stumping opportunity. Gurbaz grabbed those opportunities with both hands.

There was a collapse in the Afghan innings. However, he managed to overcome that collapse by forming a partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai. Along the way, he scored the eighth century of his career. However, right after the century, Mehidy Hasan was caught on the boundary line while hitting Miraj for a six, Zakir Hasan made no mistake this time.

When he took the catch for 24 runs, according to Cricinfo, Bangladesh's chances of winning were close to 60 percent. When he returned after 101 runs off 120 balls with 5 fours and 7 sixes, the Afghans were the clear favorites in the match. The team needed 61 runs off 68 balls. Bangladesh's chances of winning were then down to around 20 percent.

That was a mathematical calculation. Miraj's team was actually knocked out of the match right then. Still, there was hope, if there was a 'miracle'! Nahid Rana also raised a hope for Gulbadin Naib, who was gasping for breath. However, the pair of Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai dashed all hopes and possibilities. Gurbaz's century partner Omarzai returned to the dressing room only after the match, while Mohammad Nabi played a brilliant cameo of 34 runs off 27 balls. With all this, Bangladesh was in the throes of a second consecutive series loss against the Afghans. Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bangladesh scored 244 runs on the back of Mahmudullah's 98 and Mehedi Hasan Miraj's 66. The question of whether Miraj, who scored 66 off 119 balls, could have been a little more aggressive was being raised during the first innings, as Mahmudullah was playing quite comfortably on the other side! The 'Gurbaz-Omarzai show' in the second half of the match proved that. The Afghans chased down the target set by Bangladesh with 8 balls in hand. In that, the old regret of 30-35 runs resurfaced once again. Along with this, it also started to feel like, alas! If only Miraj had been a little more aggressive!

In the second match on Saturday Bangladesh had no choice but to win to stay in the series. In such a match, the Tigers got a fighting collection with Nazmul Hossain Shanto's fifty, Zaker-Soumya-Nasum's cameo. Then, Shanto's team defended it with great bowling by the bowlers and won.

Bangladesh won after 29 years at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium with this match.

Today, Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 68 runs in the second match of the ODI series in Sharjah. The 3-match series is now tied 1-1. Bangladesh batted first and scored 252 runs. Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto scored the highest 77 runs. In addition, Soumya Sarkar scored 35, Zaker Ali Anik 37 and Nasum Ahmed scored 22 runs.

In reply, Afghanistan was stopped for 184 runs. Nasum Ahmed took 3 wickets for Bangladesh. Mehedi Hasan Miraj and Mustafizur Rahman took 2 wickets each.