Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Armed with Fizz and self-belief, Bangladesh seek a Champions Trophy scalp

With a fiery new bowler named Fizz leading the young guns and all-rounder Mushfiqur Rahim the old guard, Bangladesh are aiming to leave their mark on the ChampionsTrophy where they are appearing for only the second time.

Bangladesh edged ahead of West Indies in the world rankings to get their place at the 50-over tournament where they will feature in the opening match against hosts England on June 1.


Captain Mashraf Mortaza said the team, who last took part in the trophy in 2006, have the mental strength to overcome the tough conditions in England.

"If you look at our group, you must feel it will be a difficult job for us," Mashrafe said before leaving Dhaka.

"But you can never be sure. We defeated England twice in those conditions, beat Australia once.

"Though those victories are a thing of the past, at least they give you some self-belief. It all depends now on how we mentally make preparations for the tournament," he said.

Considered perennial minnows, the Tigers have seen a dramatic rise in their fortunes since the 2015 World Cup. Their move up to seventh, saw West Indies fall out of the top eight teams allowed at the Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh reached the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals and then posted consecutive one day series victories against Pakistan, India and South Africa to zoom up the rankings.

Mustafizur "Fizz" Rahman has emerged as one of the best young bowlers to come out of Asia in recent years.

He blitzed through four Irish wickets in an eight-wicket win in a warmup international last week to highlight his potential.

In Rahim, the country's Test captain, Bangladesh have their best ever wicketkeeper and a match-winning batsman alongside the likes of Soumya Sarkar who made an unbeaten 87 in the win over Ireland.

Former captain Habibul Bashar believes Bangladesh have seen a revolution in their game mindset and are now "worthy competitors".

"The 2006 Champions Trophy was just fun. We had to play in the preliminary round to get into the main draw. But after all these years, we are directly playing in the final round," Bashar said.

"During those years our aim was to avoid humiliating losses. We didn't dare to dream of any spectacular achievement. But now we consider ourselves as worthy competitors," he said.

However former opener Shahriar Nafees believes the team will need to punch above their weight to stand up to the likes of England, Australia and New Zealand in Group A.

"We have got to be realistic," said Nafees, architect of their only Champions Trophy win so far, against Zimbabwe in the 2006 preliminary round.

"We are going to play in the Champions Trophy and our rivals are all tough teams. Especially, all three are good in the English conditions where the tournament will be held," he said.

Nafees said Bangladesh could still pull off surprises as their "confidence" is high following a recent run of form.

Bangladesh drew 1-1 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in a three-match series in April. They were beaten by New Zealand 3-0 in January but they were competitive in all three matches.

Bangladesh open the tournament against England on June 1 at the Oval before facing Australia on the same ground on June 5.

They end their group phase against New Zealand at Cardiff on June 9.

More For You

KKR vs SRH

The two teams have met 28 times in IPL history so far

Getty

IPL 2025: KKR vs SRH - High-stakes Eden Gardens clash promises fireworks

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Thursday at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This match marks a crucial point in the season for both sides, as they look to bounce back after a slow start.

KKR and SRH, last season’s finalists, have managed just one victory each from their first three matches this season. With both teams desperate to gain momentum, this encounter promises to be a thrilling contest.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prabhsimran-Singh-Getty

Prabhsimran Singh scored 69 off 34 balls.

Getty Images

Punjab secure second IPL win with Prabhsimran’s quickfire 69

Wicketkeeper-batsman Prabhsimran Singh struck 69 off 34 balls as Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets on Tuesday, securing their second win of the IPL season.

Chasing a target of 172, Punjab reached the total with nearly four overs to spare. Captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 52 off 30 balls.

Keep ReadingShow less
IPL 2025: RCB vs GT – Bengaluru Braces for High-Voltage Battle

Out of the 5 encounters between the two teams, RCB has won 3, while GT has secured 2 victories so far

Getty

IPL 2025 - RCB vs GT: Bengaluru prepares for a high-voltage encounter

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to heat up as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) takes on Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 14th match of the season at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 2nd. This exciting encounter brings together two teams in top form, with both having a win and a loss under their belt. However, RCB, with their unbeaten record so far in the tournament, enters the contest with more confidence.

RCB’s form and strength

RCB has been nothing short of dominant in their first two matches of the season. They have put on stellar performances, especially with their commanding victories over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In their last match against KKR, RCB chased down a target of 175 runs with ease, reaching the target in just 16.2 overs with seven wickets to spare. Their victory over CSK was even more impressive, as they handed the three-time champions their biggest home defeat in terms of runs. With two wins and a positive net run rate of +2.266, RCB’s well-balanced squad, including Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Josh Hazlewood, is primed for another thrilling victory.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lucknow Hosts Punjab in First Home Game of the Season

Fans can expect a nail-biting finish

Getty

IPL 2025 - LSG vs PBKS: Lucknow to host Punjab in first home game of the season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 continues to build momentum, and on April 1, fans can expect a thrilling encounter as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) host Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This exciting fixture marks LSG's first home game of the season, and with both teams coming off strong performances, the match promises to be an intense showdown.

LSG, led by the young and dynamic Rishabh Pant, have had a mixed start to the season, with one win and one loss. In contrast, PBKS, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, will be looking to maintain their winning streak after their solid victory in their opening game. The stage is set for a thrilling battle, and all eyes will be on the key players who could turn the tide.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ashwani-Kumar-Getty

Kumar’s 4-24 helped restrict Kolkata to 116, which Mumbai chased down comfortably with more than seven overs to spare. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Ashwani Kumar’s four-wicket haul helps Mumbai secure first IPL win

MUMBAI INDIANS secured their first win of the IPL season on Monday, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets, with debutant medium pacer Ashwani Kumar playing a key role.

Kumar’s 4-24 helped restrict Kolkata to 116, which Mumbai chased down comfortably with more than seven overs to spare.

Keep ReadingShow less