Following a blistering ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, which included a maiden five-wicket haul against England and a 50 against Australia, Omarzai has become the world’s top-ranked all-rounder.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to bat against South Africa in the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy in Lahore on Wednesday.

It was a bustling day at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Security personnel, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, and staff were all in a rush, finalising preparations for the crucial semifinal clash between New Zealand and South Africa.

Steve Smith announced his retirement from one-day international cricket on Wednesday after captaining Australia to a semi-final exit at the ICC Champions Trophy, bringing down the curtain on a career in the format that included two World Cup wins.

"He has about 30-40 centuries while chasing, has the most runs while chasing and that's why he has got the tag of 'chase master'," former India opener Virender Sehwag said on website Cricbuzz.

South Africa face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final on Wednesday in Lahore, looking to punch their ticket into Sunday's decider.

"I have always said, if you want only slim guys, then you should go to a modelling competition and pick all the models. It's not about that," Gavaskar told India Today.

Travel fatigue was the hot topic in both New Zealand and South Africa camps right before their semifinal clash of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy but both sides were adamant to keep this issue on the sideline and focus on the task at hand at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium today.

The reigning world champions lost by four wickets in Dubai as they failed to defend a below-par total of 264 all out.

South Africa have a history of coming up short on the global stage, losing their 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final to Australia and the T20 World Cup final to India last year.

New Zealand convincingly won their first two games of the ODI tournament in Pakistan, then lost to India in Dubai on Sunday, and have now flown back to Pakistan again for the encounter at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

India coach Gautam Gambhir praised his side for their achievements at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, thus far, after beating Australia to reach the final.

There was no place for senior batsman Babar Azam in the T20 side while Rizwan was also left out of a young squad as Pakistan look ahead to the T20 Asia Cup in September and next year's T20 World Cup.

Match officials have slapped a Tk 1 lakh fine on Prime Bank after an altercation between match officials and Prime Bank’s coaching staff and officials over a contentious run-out decision during the match between Prime Bank-Rupganj Tigers in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at the BKSP Ground-4 yesterday, confirmed the CCDM.

Australia won the toss and have chosen to bat first against India in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE today.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that India would start out as favourites in their ICC Champions Trophy semifinal clash against the Aussies today in Dubai, however, he cautioned Rohit Sharma’s men about their opponent’s uncanny ability of playing their ‘best cricket’ in knockout fixtures.

New Zealand bring "positive emotions" on their return to Lahore for the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa after good results during the Pakistan tri-series, coach Gary Stead said on Tuesday.

Once again, the business end of an ICC tournament sets up to contain theatrics, fireworks and drama. India’s knockout contest with Australia will have it all.

Blessed with a venue advantage and with a depleted Australia at their disposal, India will be gunning for revenge when the familiar foes clash in the first semifinal today.

The International Cricket Council, which has former Indian board secretary Jay Shah as its current chairman, has been criticised for obliging the game's financial engine by letting India camp in Dubai.