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Bangladesh were bowled out for 207 in 49.4 overs after being sent in by the West Indies in the opening One Day International here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

BANGLADESH 207 in 49.4 overs (Towhid Hridoy 51, Mahidul Islam Ankon 46, Najmul Hossain Shanto 32, Rishad Hossain 26, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 17; Jayden Seales 3-48, Roston Chase 2-30, Justin Greaves 2-32).

Bangladesh defeated West Indies by 74 runs in the opening One Day International here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

Scores

BANGLADESH 207 in 49.4 overs (Towhid Hridoy 51, Mahidul Islam Ankon 46, Najmul Hossain Shanto 32, Rishad Hossain 26, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 17; Jayden Seales 3-48, Roston Chase 2-30, Justin Greaves 2-32).

WEST INDIES 133 in 39 overs (Brandon King 44, Alick Athanaze 27, Shai Hope 15, Justin Greaves 12; Rishad Hossain 6-35, Mustafizur Rahman 2-16).

The US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago has put Americans on alert, telling them to avoid visiting US facilities in the twin-island republic during this Divali weekend.

‘Due to a heightened state of alert, please avoid and refrain from visiting all US government facilities in Trinidad and Tobago through the holiday weekend,’ it stated in a security alert on Saturday.

US nationals have also been advised to be aware of their surroundings, monitor reputable news outlets and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has tightened security across the country to protect citizens and government officials following a US Embassy alert urging Americans to steer clear of US facilities during the Divali weekend.

In a notice issued on Saturday, the Embassy advised American citizens to avoid visiting any of its facilities in Trinidad and Tobago through the holiday period, citing ‘a heightened state of alert.’ It also urged nationals to remain aware of their surroundings, monitor reputable news sources, and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

Acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin has since assured that there is no cause for public alarm. He said the TTPS has activated additional security measures to safeguard citizens, foreign nationals, and key facilities across the country.

‘The citizens and the facilities of the US are intact,’ he said in an interview on local radio. ‘We are going to support as much as we can in terms of having our officers so briefed, but we really do not want to create any scare [among] the citizenry.. We stand in support of ensuring the safety and security of all persons – both those who are citizens [of Trinidad and Tobago] as well as those who are citizens of the United States.’

Commissioner Benjamin also indicated that he had earlier held a briefing with all the heads of the TTPS’ operational units to ensure the protection of government officials.

‘We are putting all these mechanisms in place to ensure that persons are safe and that the facilities of all such persons are also protected as well,’ he said. ‘We are very much in a place of readiness, and the police officers are on high alert to ensure the safety and security of all.’

Though saying there had been no discussions with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force or Coast Guard on this particular issue, Commissioner Benjamin said all arms of the national security apparatus work in close coordination.

‘We always operate as a team, and therefore I am certain we have support of all [agencies] under homeland security,’ he added.

Rishad Hossain produced a mesmerising spell of spin bowling which crippled the West Indies and propeled Bangladesh to an impressive 74-run victory in the opening One Day International here on Saturday.

The leg spinner grabbed a maiden five-wicket haul, as the West Indies, after a promising start, were bundled out for 133 in 39 overs in pursuit of the home side’s total of 207 in 49.4 overs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

While batting last was always expected to be tricky on a pitch that offered plenty of turn for the spinners, the West Indies seemed on track to register a comfortable victory following a promising start by openers Brandon King and Alick Athanaze.

The pair started cautiously, with the first two overs bowled by pacer Taskin Ahmed and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, respectively, being maidens.

But King hit Taskin for a four and a six in the third over of the innings and Athanaze swept Islam for three fours and hit him for a six over long on in the ensuing over to see the West Indies race to 28 without loss after four overs.

Athanaze brought up the 50 for the West Indies in the 12th over, but it didn’t take long for Player-of-the-Match Hossain to unleash his carnage.

He began by trapping Athanaze lbw for 27 to give the home side a much-needed breakthrough.

King and Keacy Carty then shared a 28-run partnership that left the Windies comfortably positioned at 79 for one in the 20th over.

But Carty never looked settled, and it came as no surprise when he edged Hossain to slip as he tried to break the shackles with a big shot.

King looked on course for a half century until he was bamboozled by a delivery from Hossain that spun across his body and grazed the outside edge on its way through to the wicketkeeper to be out for 44, as the Windies slipped to 82 for three.

Three deliveries later and without a run added, Hossain had Sherfane Rutherford caught behind for a duck as he tried to cut a delivery that was too close to his body.

Hossain then captured his first five-wicket haul in international cricket when he had Roston Chase caught behind for six to leave the visitors tottering on 92 for five.

Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke the monopoly by accounting for the wicket of Gudakesh Motie lbw and the outcome was essentially settled when captain Shai Hope edged Islam behind to be out for 15 to make the score 118 for seven in the 34th over.

Mustafizur Rahman then picked up the wickets of Romario Shepherd and Justin Greaves in quick succession, before Hossain fittingly ended the match by having last man Jayden Seales caught at slip.

Hossain ended with career best figures of 6-35 from his nine overs, while Rahman took 2-16.

Earlier, captain Shai Hope made the bewildering decision to send Bangladesh in to bat after winning the toss.

They quickly grabbed the initiative when Romario Shepherd trapped Saif Hassan lbw and Jayden Seales had Soumya Sarkar caught at backward point to leave the home side in trouble at eight for two.

However, Towhid Hridoy, who topscored with 51 and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 32, came to their side’s rescue in a 71-run partnership for the third wicket.

Mahidul Islam Ankon also scored a crucial knock of 46, while Hossain lashed 26 runs from 13 balls that helped Bangladesh pass the 200-mark.

Seales was the West Indies’ best bowler with 3-48, while Chase (2-30) and Greaves (2-32) provided good support.

The second ODI is scheduled to be played on Tuesday.

The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Friday sanctioned Dimitri Herard for his support of the Haitian gang coalition, Viv Ansanm, and designated Kempes Sanon, leader of the Bel Air gang, one of the constituent gangs in the alliance.

OFAC said Viv Ansanm contributes to the violence and instability within Haiti.

‘Today’s action underscores the critical role of gang leaders and facilitators like Herard and Sanon, whose support enables Viv Ansanm’s campaign of violence, extortion, and terrorism in Haiti,’ said Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Bradley T. Smith. ‘The United States is committed to holding accountable the violent terrorist gangs that endanger the Haitian people.’

OFAC noted that Viv Ansanm was designated by the US Department of State as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and Foreign Terrorist Organisation on May 2, 2025.

OFAC said it was taking Friday’s action pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups, their supporters, and those who aid acts of terrorism.

OFAC said Herard is a former Haitian police officer who was connected to, and later imprisoned by Haitian authorities for, the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

Since his escape from prison in 2024, OFAC said Herard has colluded with the Viv Ansanm alliance and provided support to many of the gang leaders with training and firearms.

‘Herard’s support directly backs the Viv Ansanm’s coordinated attacks against State institutions,’ OFAC said.

It said Sanon is the leader of the Bel Air gang, one of the constituent gangs in the Viv Ansanm alliance, and has played a ‘significant role in the consolidation of power of Viv Ansanm.’

OFAC said Sanon and his gang have been involved in ‘indiscriminate civilian killings, extortion, illicit taxation, and kidnappings in Haiti.’

Herard and Sanon are being sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having ‘materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of Viv Ansanm, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended,’ OFAC said.

As a result of Friday’s action, OFAC said all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.

In addition, OFAC said any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 per cent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

Unless authorised by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC said its regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.

OFAC said violations of US sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on US and foreign persons.

OFAC also said it may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis.

In addition, OFAC said financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons.

It said the prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Furthermore, OFAC warned that engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated on Friday may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions.

OFAC said it can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that ‘knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.’

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday that renews sanctions in Haiti for another year as armed gangs continue to terrorise the population.

The UN said the sanctions regime was established in 2022 and includes a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

Panama and the United States drafted the resolution, which also renews the mandate of the panel of experts that supports the sanctions committee, the UN said.

It said the resolution came just weeks after the Council authorised a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti to replace the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) that had been backing the national police in their efforts to combat the violence.

‘These measures will restore security in Haiti and bring gangs to their knees,’ the US representative said.

The UN said Resolution 2794 (2025) expresses grave concern over ‘the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities,’ such as kidnappings, homicides, trafficking in persons, homicides, and sexual violence, as well as ongoing impunity.

In an annexe, the UN said the Council also designated two people who have ‘engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti.’

The UN said Dimitri Herard, former head of assassinated ex-President Jovenel Moïse’s security unit, has supported the Ti Bwa gang in addition to being implicated ‘in facilitating the trafficking of arms and ammunition, which have fueled gang violence and destabilised the country.’

The UN also said Kempes Sanon is the leader of the Bel Air gang, which ‘has been involved in systematic human rights violations, including extortion, kidnappings, and illicit taxation.’

The US representative said their designation complements action taken by Washington earlier that day regarding the two men.

‘While we applaud the Council for designating these individuals, the list is not complete,’ the UN representative said. ‘There are more enablers of Haiti’s insecurity evading accountability.’

Panama’s representative said effective implementation of the arms embargo is crucial in efforts ‘to once and for all remove the fuel that is firing this conflict.’

He added that ‘there is a symbiotic relationship between certain economic and political elite sectors and the gangs’.

With regard to the annexe, the Panama representative regretted that ‘there hasn’t been consensus to include people who meet the criteria of those that are causing so much damage to Haitian society.’

He expressed hope that the sanctions renewal, along with other efforts by the UN Support Office in Haiti and the GSF, ‘will enable us to bring about a Haiti free of weapons, safer and in peace’.

The representative of Haiti said the sanctions regime can be ‘an effective instrument of deterrence and of justice, if it is properly applied and respected by all Member States’.

It serves as ‘a complementary pillar’ to the Multinational Security Support Mission, which was recently transformed into the GSF,’ the Haitian representative said.

He said that, so far, the results of efforts to quell the violence have been mixed as gangs continue to be provided with heavy weapons and ammunition coming from abroad.

The Haitian representative further stated that the Haitian Government has noted the names of the individuals in the annexe, stating that their cases will be handled in accordance with national law.

West Indies won the toss and elected to field against Bangladesh in the opening One Day International here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

WEST INDIES: Shai Hope (captain), Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.

BANGLADESH: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.

Umpires: Gazi Sohel, Jayaraman Madanagopal.

TV Umpire: Chris Gaffaney.

Reserve Umpire: Tanvir Ahmed.

Match Referee: Dean Cosker.

More than 140 creative submissions have been received from Antiguans and Barbudans at home and abroad for the CHOGM 2026 Logo Design Competition, marking an impressive show of national pride and talent.

The competition, launched in September by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, invited nationals to design the official logo for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 – a historic event that Antigua and Barbuda will host for the first time.

The strong participation from the diaspora highlights the shared excitement and unity of Antiguans and Barbudans as the nation gears up to welcome global leaders next year. Each entry captured the spirit, identity, and vibrancy of Antigua and Barbuda, showcasing the creativity that defines the nation’s people.

‘The response has been phenomenal,’ said H.E Dr Clarence Pilgrim, Chair of the CHOGM 2026 Taskforce. ‘It’s clear that Antiguans and Barbudans, wherever they are in the world, want to play a part in shaping how our nation is represented on the global stage.’

A winner will be announced as part of the official launch of CHOGM 2026 scheduled for 4th November 2026, following the judges’ review process. The selected design will become the official global logo of CHOGM 2026, featured across event branding, signage, and international communications. The winner will also receive a grand prize of EC$5,000 and national recognition during CHOGM 2026.

The Government extends heartfelt thanks to all who participated and celebrates the exceptional talent displayed by Antiguans and Barbudans around the world.