Following a disastrous campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the UAE and Pakistan, Bangladesh cricket is going through a transition period with some senior players waving goodbye to international cricket. But Mehidy Hasan Miraz says he sees a good future for the future of the country’s cricket. Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, and Tamim Iqbal stepped away from international cricket,  Mehidy sees this as an opportunity for the next generation to step up. “Currently, there are six to seven players in the team who have been playing international cricket for 7-10 years. They can’t be considered new anymore,” Mehidy recently told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The 27-year-old, who has played over 180 international matches, is expected to take on a more senior role in the squad. Mushfiqur, Miraz, and Saifuddin join Bangladesh Tigers camp Bangladesh’s recent performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they failed to progress past the group stage, has added urgency to the team’s rebuilding process. With an eye on the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, Mehidy emphasised the importance of long-term planning. “It’s a process. We must make decisions now and stay committed to the long-term vision. With two to two-and-a-half years left until the World Cup, we need to start preparing the team immediately. Consistency in selection is key. Starting preparations just two or three months before the tournament will make it very difficult,” he added. Despite Bangladesh’s struggles in global tournaments, Mehidy remains hopeful that the team can build on the foundation laid by its previous generation. Career, Performance of Miraz: An Emerging Star of Bangladeshi Cricket “Players like Mushfiqur bhai and others from the previous generation have served the team for 7-8 years, leading Bangladesh cricket to new heights. Now, we have also been around for a long time. Our goal should be to elevate Bangladesh cricket to the next level,” he said. As Bangladesh looks ahead, Mehidy’s leadership and vision will be crucial in shaping the team’s future.

Persistent rain washed away Bangladesh’s last match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which was against the hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday. As the match was washed away, both Bangladesh and Pakistan got one point each. In their first two matches, Bangladesh lost to India and New Zealand. Pakistan have also lost both their first two matches. ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan knocks out England in historic win Bangladesh’s batting performance in this event was below par. Towhid Hridoy hit a century against India, which was Bangladesh’s only bright spot from this year’s Champions Trophy. As the Champions Trophy is now over for Bangladesh, they are set to play a two-Test series against Zimbabwe at home in mid-April before travelling to Sri Lanka for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is in June-July. And the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also in talks for a home series against Pakistan. Champions Trophy 2025: Ibrahim Zadran steers Afghanistan to 325 vs England If the Pakistan home series is confirmed, it will take place just before Bangladesh hosts India in August-September for another white-ball series. Bangladesh will then participate in the Asia Cup in September before hosting West Indies for three Tests and three T20Is in October, followed by a home series against Ireland in November, which includes two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

Despite their lean show in the field, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will still earn at least Tk  3 crores from the ongoing edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.  A total of eight teams are participating in this year's Champions Trophy, and they are playing in two groups. All these teams will get USD 125,000 for participating in the event.  On top of that, Bangladesh will earn USD 140,000 even if they end the tournament as the lowest team, or the eighth team in the points table. In total, Bangladesh will earn at least USD 265,000, which is more than BDT 3 crores in current exchange rate.  Bangladesh lost the first two matches in the event— one against India, and another one against New Zealand. In the last match, they will take on the hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday. If they can win this match and end their campaign on a high note, they will earn more USD 34,000, or BDT more than 40 lakh.  Bangladeshi cricketers slip in rankings amid Champions Trophy struggles Total prize money of this year’s Champions Trophy is USD 6.9 million— more than 56% increased compared to the last edition of the Champions Trophy that took place in 2017— and the winner of the event will get USD 2.24 million, and the runners up will receive USD 1.12 million.  Tw0 teams who will be eliminated from the semifinals will get more than half a million USD each.  This year’s Champions Trophy is being played across venues in the UAE and Pakistan. All the matches were supposed to be hosted in Pakistan, but due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, some matches are taking place in the UAE. 

With two consecutive defeats to India and New Zealand, Bangladesh’s early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reignited the discussion about the performance of senior players like Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim. Their repeated poor display in crucial games have raised serious questions about whether the team can afford to rely on them any longer. Both Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur have nearly two decades of experience of playing top-tier cricket. They are expected to guide the team in pressure situations, but they have been regularly failing to deliver when the team needs them most. Bangladesh in talks to host Pakistan for white-ball series In the recent New Zealand match they contributed only six runs together, leaving Bangladesh struggling to post a competitive total. Their dismissals were a result of poor shot selection, a pattern that has become all too familiar in major ICC events.  “I thought Mushfiq and Mahmudullah both were going to retire after the 2023 World Cup, but that didn't happen and I was very shocked,” former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik was among those who expressed surprise at their continued selection. Karthik believes keeping them on the side sends the wrong message to the younger bunch of the cricketers. English cricket gets 'seminal moment' as $650M raised by investors Another Indian star Wasim Jaffer, who has experience of coaching Bangladesh’s young cricketers, was also disappointed seeing Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur going for poor shots in the Champions Trophy. “Even the shot selection we've seen today was very disappointing. Mushfiq played that shot, and Mahmudullah played that wild shot. And this is a must-win game. You want them to step up in these kinds of games and make themselves count,” Jaffer said recently. Mahmudullah will celebrate his 40th birthday next year, while Mushfiqur stands at 38 now. Both have illustrious careers, but their recent performances indicate a decline. Mushfiqur scored only 184 runs in the last season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), while Mahmudullah also failed to prove his experience in recent matches. Bangladesh’s former captain Mohammad Ashraful thinks the Champions Trophy would have been a great stage for Mahmdullah and Mushfiqur to retire. He even said it would have been better for them to retire after the 2023 World Cup. “If Mahmudullah had retired after the 2023 World Cup, he would have received immense respect,” Ashraful said. With two defeats, Bangladesh’s exit is confirmed from the Champions Trophy. Still, the Tigers can earn some respect if they can beat the hosts Pakistan in the last match on February 27. And if Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur can perform in the last match, that would save them from further criticism. But the truth is, for a long-term goal, Bangladesh now should turn the page overlooking the veteran cricketers.          

Despite repeated failures, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has defended senior players Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riayd.  Bangladesh's hopes in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were dashed after consecutive losses to India and New Zealand, leading to their elimination alongside Pakistan.   In the must-win clash against New Zealand, Mahmudullah, returning from a calf injury, scored just four runs, while Mushfiqur managed only two, failing to provide stability in the middle order. Their dismissals came at a crucial stage, derailing Bangladesh’s hopes of setting a more challenging total.   However, Najmul dismissed suggestions that the senior players were given automatic selections.  “There is no automatic choice in this team,” he said. “Riyad (Mahmudullah) bhai was important because of his recent form. Mushfiq bhai, despite his struggles, remains a vital player because of his keeping and experience,” Shanto said.  Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh to bat first vs New Zealand Bangladesh’s batting woes have been a recurring issue, with 179 dot balls in the innings against New Zealand. Najmul acknowledged that frequent wickets in the middle overs made strike rotation difficult.  “We made some poor shot selections. If we had planned better, we wouldn’t have lost so many wickets,” he admitted. Bangladesh captain said they need to change their mindset to adapt to the global trouanments, instead of the personnel.  In their last match of this Champions Trophy, Bangladesh will take on the hosts Pakistan on February 27 in Rawalpindi.

It is a sports rivalry like no other in the world. When India and Pakistan face off in Dubai on Sunday, the cricket contest will be amped up by so much more — the 78 years of bitterness between the two arch rival nations, the heightened political hostilities, and the patriotic zeal of hundreds of millions of people. Cricket-mad nations India and Pakistan are competing in the game’s 50-over format for the coveted eight-nation Champions Trophy tournament that began on Wednesday in Pakistan. While six national teams have travelled to Pakistan for the tournament, India has refused to go there by leveraging its strong influence on International Cricket Council, the game's global governing body. Indian cricket authorities have offered no formal statement about refusing to play in Pakistan, but some officials have suggested that the decision was based on security concerns. India will play all its matches — including the one against Pakistan — at a neutral venue in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The game's political undertones In both India and Pakistan, cricket has become a symbol of national identity and every clash grabs the attention of more than a billion fans. And Sunday's match comes at a time when relations between the two neighbors have hit a new low. That animosity largely stems from the two countries' dispute over Kashmir, a restive Himalayan region over which they have fought two wars. Nuclear-armed rivals each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. Compounding the territorial dispute are heightened tensions stemming from the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks that India blamed on Pakistani militants, a charge Islamabad denies. And sporting relations inevitably ebb and flow with the politics. Bilateral cricket ties have remained suspended since 2008, and the two national teams have only played each other in global events where they are always paired together in a group to ensure there is a contest between them. Even though the Indian team has not travelled to Pakistan since 2008, Pakistan played in India in 2023 during the World Cup, including before a hostile crowd at a cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Inglis leads Australia to record chase against England in Champions Trophy thriller So-called “cricket diplomacy” has occasionally thawed out relations but that hasn't been the case under Modi. His Hindu nationalist government has taken a tough stance on resuming friendlier cricket ties with Pakistan with many senior ministers saying Indian team won’t play in the country. Dozens of people in India and disputed Kashmir have also faced police complaints and sometimes even jail for cheering for the Pakistani team. “Cricket is the strongest currency in the eyes of this government which they have used to instigate resentment and anger against Pakistan,” said Sharda Ugra, an Indian sports writer. Ugra said while the fans of the two countries are eager to watch the two nations play more often, the contest “has been held hostage to ugly politics.” The eyes of hundreds of millions are on the game In sheer numbers, viewership for the India-Pakistan match dwarfs the Super Bowl in what Ugra calls the “greatest sports rivalry in the world” bar none. When the two sides played against each other in 2023 in India, the estimated viewership — on cable television and streaming services — was around 400 million. In comparison, this year’s Super Bowl averaged a 127.7 million across all platforms in the U.S. Organizers expect similar numbers for Sunday’s contest that will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. And it's a guaranteed windfall as tickets for the game sold out within minutes while billion-dollar broadcast deals have been hammered out. Media in both the countries are cashing in too. Pakistani and Indian TV news channels are providing wall-to-wall coverage. In recent weeks, TV commercials in both countries used patriotic fervor to poke fun at each other. Local authorities and private companies in both the countries have announced that they would set up giant screens in some city centers and inside shopping malls. Fans want more For many fans, this clash holds more value than any other sporting event in the world — and they want more of it. Duckett’s 165 powers England to 351 against Australia In India’s western city of Mumbai, cricket coach Anil Sawant plans to watch the game at a clubhouse along with his friends on a giant screen. “These matches should take place often,” 57-year-old Sawant said, as his students honed their skills during practice at the city’s Shivaji Park ground — a favorite for cricketers of all ages. Mohammad Ahmed, a 27-year-old accountant, has also planned to host seven of his friends at his home in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi city. All of them will watch the game on a big screen and he plans to serve them special chicken biryani. “And of course French fries and soft drinks will be on the menu too,” Ahmed said with a smile.

Towhid Hridoy smashed his maiden ODI century in Bangladesh’s first match in the ICC Champions Trophy against India in Dubai on Thursday. Riding on his century, Bangladesh posted 228 in 49.4 overs despite suffering an early batting collapse that saw them reeling at 35 for five wickets. Towhid reached his century off 114 balls. He hit six fours and two sixes. Big blow for Pakistan as Fakhar out of Champions Trophy ahead of India match Towards the end of his innings, Towhid visibly struggled with a hamstring injury in his leg. He relied primarily on singles to reach his century. Bangladesh opted to bat first, winning the toss, but failed to build a good start. Three of their top five batters failed to reach a double-digit total, with two of them suffering a duck each. They lost the first wicket in the first over when Soumya Sarkar fell prey to Mohammad Shami for a duck. The left-handed batter tried to drive to the mid-off but only managed an inside edge to the Indian wicketkeeper. In the next over, Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for another duck. He faced only two balls. He failed to drive Harsit Rana’s outswinging delivery. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim also failed to produce good batting. Miraz scored 5, and Mushfiqur suffered a first-ball duck. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for 25. After losing five for 35 inside the ninth over of the innings, Towhid and Jaker steadied the innings for Bangladesh, forging a formidable stand of 154 runs in the sixth wicket stand, facing 206 deliveries.Towhid was dismissed at 100 in the last over. While he was the best batter for Bangladesh, Jaker Ali was right behind him, scoring 68 off 114. ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh in trouble  losing 5 wickets quickly  vs India For India, right-arm pacer Mohammad Shami bagged five wickets for 53 runs. It was the sixth five-for of Shami in ODIs, first against Bangladesh. Harshit Rana took three wickets, while Axar Patel scalped two.

Ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy clash against arc-rival India on Sunday, Pakistan suffered a big blow as their key batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out due to an injury he sustained during the match against New Zealand.  Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Imam Ul Haque will be the replacement for Fakhar in their squad.  Fakhar was Pakistan’s main weapon when they beat India to win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Now, when they are set to face India again in the same event to defend their title, Fakhar is missing out.  ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh in trouble  losing 5 wickets quickly  vs India He shared the sad news for Pakistan fans on his social media page.  “I have been privileged enough to represent Pakistan multiple times with pride,” Fakhar wrote on his Instagram profile. “Unfortunately I’m now out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but surely Allah is the best planner. Grateful for the opportunity. I will be backing our boys in green from home,” he added. Fakhar played 86 ODIs for Pakistan and scored more than 3600 runs with 11 centuries and 17 half centuries.

Bangladesh are in trouble in their first match of the ICC Champions Trophy against India in Dubai, losing five wickets inside the 9th over of the innings.  Bangladesh, who opted to bat first winning the toss, failed to build a good start. Three of their top-five batters failed to reach a double-digit total, with two of them suffering a duck each.  ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh opt to bat first vs India They lost the first wicket in the first over, when Soumya Sarkar fell prey to Mohammad Shami for a duck. The left-handed batter tried to drive to the mid-off but only managed an inside edge to the Indian wicket-keeper.  In the next over, Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell for another duck. He faced only two balls. He failed to drive Harsit Rana’s out swinging delivery.  Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim also failed to produce good batting. Miraz scored 5, and Mushfiqur suffered a first-ball duck.  Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for 25.  At the end of the 19th over, Bangladesh were batting at 70 for five, with Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridy were not out for 20 and 18 respectively. Shami and Axar Patel scalped two wickets each. Axar’s two wickets came in two consecutive deliveries, when he removed Tanzid and Mushfiqur in the 9th over.

The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy tournament kicked off on Wednesday. Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates are hosting the tournament from February 19 to March 9, 2025. The defending champion is Pakistan.  Fixtures and Schedules of the 2025 Men’s ICC Champions Trophy Table: Full Fixtures of ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Match No Teams Venue Date Time (BDT) 1 Pakistan v New Zealand National Stadium, Karachi 19 Feb 3.0 PM  2 Bangladesh v India Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 20 Feb 3.0 PM  3 Afghanistan v South Africa National Stadium, Karachi 21 Feb 3.0 PM  4 Australia v England Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 22 Feb 3.0 PM  5 Pakistan v India Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 23 Feb 3.0 PM  6 Bangladesh v New Zealand Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 24 Feb 3.0 PM  7 Australia v South Africa Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 25 Feb 3.0 PM 8 Afghanistan v England Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 26 Feb 3.0 PM 9 Pakistan v Bangladesh Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 27 Feb 3.0 PM  10 Afghanistan v Australia Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 28 Feb 3.0 PM  11 South Africa v England National Stadium, Karachi 1 Mar 3.0 PM  12 New Zealand v India Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 2 Mar 3.0 PM  13 Semi-final 1 Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 4 Mar 3.0 PM  14 Semi-final 2 Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 5 Mar 3.0 PM  15 Final Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 9 Mar 3.0 PM  Read more: Big blow for Pakistan as Fakhar out of Champions Trophy ahead of India match Teams and Groups The top eight ranked men's national teams that qualified for the 2023 Cricket World Cup will compete in the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy tournament. Group A - Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh Group B - South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England Venues of ICC Champions Trophy 2025  India will play in Dubai, while Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi will host the matches. - National Stadium, Karachi.- Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.- Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.- Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Read more: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bangladesh in trouble  losing 5 wickets quickly  vs India Prize Money The ICC allocated a pool of US$6.9 million in prize money for the tournament, a 53 percent increase from the previous edition. The winners would receive the grand prize of $2.24 million, with each team receiving an additional $125,000 for participating. Table: Prize Money of ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Place Teams Amount Per team Total Champions 1 $2.24 million $2.24 million Runners-up 1 $1.12 million $1.12 million Semi-finalists 2 $560,000 $1.12 million 5th–6th place (Group stage) 2 $350,000 $700,000 7th–8th place (Group stage) 2 $140,000 $280,000 Participants 8 $125,000 $1 million Total 8 $6.9 million Read more: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand outclass Pakistan after Young, Latham hit centuries Bangladesh’s schedule for the Men’s ICC 2025 Champions Trophy Here is the full schedule for the Bangladesh cricket team at the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy: Table: Fixtures of Bangla Team ICC in the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Match No Teams Venue Date Time (BDT) 2 Bangladesh v India Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai 20 Feb 3.0 PM  6 Bangladesh v New Zealand Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 24 Feb 3.0 PM 9 Pakistan v Bangladesh Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 27 Feb 3.0 PM  Bangladesh Squad for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana. Read more: Three-decade wait ends as Pakistan hosts Champions Trophy