Afghanistan knocked England out of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday with a thrilling eight-run victory in Lahore.

Afghans painted in red, green and black cheered from the sidelines of the Champions Trophy cricket in Lahore and from in front of their televisions in Kabul on Wednesday, brushing aside calls for England to boycott the match.

Bangladesh losing convincingly to India and New Zealand and being out of contention for a spot in the semi-final in the ICC Champions Trophy may seem like the worst thing about the team’s ongoing campaign in Pakistan and the UAE, but it’s not.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar slammed Babar Azam for his showings in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, calling him ‘a fraud’, and also put the Pakistan team on blast for their lacklustre performance.

The weather in Islamabad and its twin city of Rawalpindi has suddenly changed over the last 12 hours as it is currently witnessing drizzle with shivering cold around the capital of Pakistan.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer criticised Bangladesh’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, saying that the Tiger’s ‘don’t turn up’ in ICC events.

Rachin Ravindra marked his ICC Champions Trophy debut with a century in New Zealand's win over Bangladesh on Monday but it was the 25-year-old's ability to soak up the pressure while batting in an unfamiliar position that impressed teammate Tom Latham.

Joe Root has thrown his support behind white-ball captain Jos Buttler despite England's shaky start to the ICC Champions Trophy, describing him as a "brilliant leader" who has the support of the entire dressing room.

On Monday morning, right in front of the main entrance of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a few local hawkers were selling flags of Bangladesh and New Zealand – the two participating teams in today’s crucial Group A match – and of course of hosts Pakistan.

Shanto scores 77 but Bangladesh manage 236-9 against New Zealand

Top-order batsman Saud Shakeel said Pakistan must be better in every facet after a six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India left the hosts on the brink of a Champions Trophy exit.

Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram blasted Pakistan after their six-wicket defeat to India in the ICC Champions Trophy Group A match yesterday, comparing the team’s bowling attack to associate nations like Oman and USA and calling for a massive overhaul in the team.

It’s make or break for Bangladesh as they take on New Zealand in their second Group A match of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

“Bangladesh’s got a good bowling attack, that’s what I like about them. But big concern is about the batters,” Pakistan’s head curator Tony Hemming said this yesterday when asked about Bangladesh’s chances in today’s match against New Zealand.  

Soon after he tendered his resignation to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) abruptly in last year’s July, renowned curator Tony Hemming joined the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on a two-year contract.

Star batsman Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 100 to lead India to a six-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday and push the title holders to the brink of elimination from the Champions Trophy.

Ahead of the crucial ICC Champions Trophy contest against New Zealand on Monday, the Bangladesh contingent in Islamabad heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as the experienced campaigner Mahmudullah completed his first net session since sustaining a calf injury in Dubai.

Bangladesh selector Abdur Razzak has called the Tigers’ five-wicket collapse against India in an ICC Champions Trophy group-stage fixture “an accident” and assured that such a calamity wouldn’t take place in the next match against New Zealand.

The cricket world is eagerly waiting for the high-voltage India-Pakistan match that is set to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Cricketing powerhouses India and Pakistan renew their storied if rare rivalry in the most hotly-anticipated match of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.