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.

Australia captain Steve Smith says his team are confident they can counter India's quality spin attack in their Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday.

India's cricket board defended its World-Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma on Monday after comments about his lack of fitness from a spokesperson for the Congress, the country's main opposition party.

People call the city of Lahore ‘The heart of Pakistan’, owing to its rich history, cultural heritage and the fact that it’s the capital of Punjab, the most influential province of the country.

West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will have to provide answers to clarify the confusion behind the entanglement of the Champions Trophy schedule that forced both Australia and South Africa to travel to Dubai to know who they will face in the semifinals of the tournament.

Bangladesh are set to bank big despite their sorry display in the Champions Trophy.

They were bowled out for 179 within 39 overs, the lowest total in the tournament this year - and it sealed South Africa's path into the semi-finals as England will not be able to win by a big enough margin to put Afghanistan in second spot via their net run rate.

Departing England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bat against South Africa in their final ICC Champions Trophy Group B match in Karachi on Saturday.

Virat Kohli is set for his 300th ODI on Sunday in the latest landmark for the Indian batting great after silencing doubts over his form and future with a match-winning ICC Champions Trophy century.

Bangladesh’s spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed is close to signing a two-year contract extension with the Tigers. The former Pakistan spin wizard left to be with his family in Lahore after Bangladesh’s final ICC Champions Trophy group-stage fixture got washed out in Rawalpindi but had a chat with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan about Bangladesh’s disappointing campaign in the global event and some of the factors that contributed to it. The excerpts are as follows:

India skipper Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami are fit and raring to go against New Zealand in the final group match of the Champions Trophy, the team said Friday.

Since its foundation in the 1960s, Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has always been a well-planned city, with separate zones for administration, educational and commercial institutions and residential areas –unlike most major cities in the Indian sub-continent.

The all-important ICC Champions Trophy Group B match between Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore ended in a no result due to rain, sending Australia through to the semifinals while leaving Afghanistan’s hopes of making it to the top four on the brink.

Jos Buttler said on Friday he is to step down as England's white-ball captain after a disastrous Champions Trophy campaign ended with them failing to reach the semi-finals.

But the thousands that were present at the Gaddafi Stadium and the millions who tuned in from around the globe to watch the Group B encounter between Afghanistan and England on Thursday, witnessed an absolute cricketing ‘tamasha’ in the truest sense.

Before leaving Dhaka for the ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had boldly announced his grand goal of bringing the trophy home, raising many eyebrows.

Hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh have had several similarities in their disappointing ICC Champions Trophy exits.

England's Jos Buttler on Wednesday said he will discuss his future as white-ball captain with team management after his side lost to Afghanistan to crash out of the Champions Trophy.

It appears that interest has waned in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, and its twin city, Rawalpindi, as fans turn their backs on today’s ICC Champions Trophy Group A clash between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“Ben Duckett cost them [England] the game… scored too slow, mate… they should have got to at least 380,” former South Africa batter Herschelle Gibbs said about Duckett’s innings after England lost their Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore last Saturday, despite posting 351 for eight -- the highest total in the competition’s history -- only for Australia to chase it down with five wickets and 15 balls to spare.