The cricketing community has come together in support of Bangladesh’s former captain Tamim Iqbal, who suffered a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League match in Savar on Monday morning. Tamim, who was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in their match against Shinepukur Cricket Club at the BKSP grounds, complained of chest pain shortly after the toss. He was initially treated at the venue before being taken to KPJ Specialized Hospital nearby, where doctors detected a blockage in his heart and inserted a stent. He is currently under observation in the hospital’s cardiac care unit (CCU). Tamim eyes second successive BPL title Dr Razeeb Hasan, director of KPJ Hospital, told reporters that Tamim was brought in a critical condition. “He had a heart attack. We conducted an angiogram, angioplasty, and successfully placed a stent. The procedure went smoothly, and the blockage has been cleared. But his critical condition has not fully passed,” Dr Hasan said. Tamim is currently under 48-hour observation. Club officials said he briefly regained consciousness and was able to speak with his family members. Tamim Iqbal announces end of international cricket career As the news of his illness spread, messages of support flooded social media from fans, fellow cricketers, and cricket organisations around the world. Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders wrote: “Get well soon, Tamim Iqbal. The entire cricket fraternity is praying for you.” Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga shared, “Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery, Tamim! Keep fighting like you always have on the field.” Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza posted, “May Allah be with you, Tamim. InshAllah, you will return to us soon, healthy and strong.” National teammates also expressed their concern. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed urged everyone to keep Tamim in their prayers, saying, “He fell seriously ill during a match and is currently on life support. May Allah grant him a quick recovery,” Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz echoed the sentiment. Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan also requested fans to remember Tamim in their prayers. Earlier in the day, Tamim led his team at the toss, appearing in good health. His sudden illness has shocked the cricketing community. Several top officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), including president Faruque Ahmed, visited him at the hospital. The BCB also postponed its scheduled board meeting in light of Tamim’s condition. Tamim Iqbal, 36, is one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated cricketers and the country’s highest run-scorer in ODIs.  

Hasan Nawaz made an unbeaten 105 from 45 balls as Pakistan beat New Zealand by nine wickets in the third Twenty20 international Friday to keep alive the five-match series. Pakistan won the toss and was able to bowl first, reversing the trend of the first two matches which New Zealand won by nine and five wickets. Nawaz was supported in his first century by captain Salman Ali Agha, who made 51 from 31 balls in an unbroken partnership of 133 for the second wicket. Pakistan finished at 207-1, running down the home team's total of 204 with four full overs to spare to inflict New Zealand's heaviest T20 loss in terms of wickets. Nawaz made ducks in both of the first two matches. “I failed in the first two games and I thank the team for backing me,” he said through an interpreter. "When I went out to bat I wanted to score my first international run. “After I scored the first run the pressure was released and I wanted to win the game.” Mark Chapman made 94 from 44 balls before New Zealand was bowled out with one ball remaining in their 20 overs. Chapman hit 11 fours and four sixes but lacked support. Captain Michael Bracewell's 31 was the next-best effort by the Kiwis, who lost wickets regularly. Tim Seifert made 19, including 16 runs from the second over. Haris Rauf took 3-29 in an excellent bowling performance in the middle of the innings. The Pakistan selectors kept Nawaz and Mohammad Haris at the top of the order, giving them time to acclimatize to New Zealand conditions. Their opening partnerships produced only one run in each of the first two matches. But on Friday they put on 75 for the first wicket, within the six-over power play. Haris made 41 from 20 balls with four fours and three sixes to get the Pakistan innings off to the rapid start it needed. He hit two sixes from the first over bowled by Kyle Jamieson as Pakistan rushed to 50 from only four overs. Jamieson, who took 3-8 in the first match, conceded 30 runs from his first two overs. Pakistan was 124-1 at the midpoint of its innings where New Zealand had been 105-3. The 13th over bowled by Jacob Duffy went for 19 runs including two sixes as Pakistan's run rate ticked up over 12 per over. Rotating the strike and taking at least a boundary from each over, Nawaz reached his half century from 26 balls. Salman posted his first T20 international half century from 30 balls.    

After a recent successful bowling reassessment in Loughborough, Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has been given the green light to resume bowling in competitive cricket by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).  After this decision, Shakib is now available to resume his bowling in domestic and international cricket, where he has not been available since September last year.    The all-rounder, who had never previously been reported for a suspect action in his two-decade-long career, was first called for an illegal action during a County Championship match while representing Surrey against Somerset. Subsequent tests confirmed the irregularities, and that led to his suspension from all formats under ICC regulations.   Shakib's road to clearance was not straightforward. He initially failed two separate assessments— one in Loughborough last year and another in Chennai this January.  Following these setbacks, he was out of Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy team. Earlier, he had said that he would retire from international cricket after this event.  A statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Shakib had “successfully remedied his action,” paving the way for his return to the bowling crease in domestic and franchise leagues. With the ECB’s clearance, he is now eligible to bowl in the upcoming County Championship season and The Hundred, where his all-round skills have made him a sought-after player. It’s not clear if Shakib wants to extend his career in international cricket. With two years to go ahead of the 2027 World Cup, he may rethink and extend his plan. His availability as a bowler could be a great option for the Bangladesh team.  

A good knock from Farhad Reza guided Gulshan Cricket Club to a two-wicket victory over Brothers Union in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League encounter at Mirpur in Dhaka. Chasing 291, Gulshan reached the target with nine balls to spare, thanks to Reza’s unbeaten 47 off 36 balls. Brothers Union, after electing to bat first, put up 290 for 9 in 50 overs. Bishal Chowdhury (83 off 75) and Aich Mollah (65 off 61) provided the foundation, while Mizanur Rahman contributed 50. Gulshan bowlers, however, struck at crucial moments, with Nihaduzzaman (3 for 40) and Asaduzzaman Payel (3 for 62) limiting their total. New Zealand secures 5-wicket victory over Pakistan, extends T20 series lead to 2-0 Gulshan faced early setbacks, but Naeem Islam (50) and Elias Sunny (53) steadied the innings. Reza then took charge, smashing four boundaries and two sixes in a match-winning stand. Sohag Gazi’s four-wicket haul (4 for 44) was in vain as Brothers Union fell short in a gripping contest.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl on Sunday in the opening match of the five-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan at Hagley Oval. Salman Ali Agha will lead a revamped Pakistan side, which is recovering from a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign at home and setting its sights on the T20 World Cup, scheduled for next year. Premier Division Cricket: Abahani win big as Mominul shines, Prime Bank stumble against Gazi Group With seasoned players Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam absent, wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz will open the batting. Allrounder Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand at home for the first time. England pacer Mark Wood to miss India series after knee surgery Tim Seifert and Finn Allen return as openers for New Zealand, who are coming off a Champions Trophy final defeat against India. Zac Foulkes joins Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy in the pace attack, while Ben Sears and Will O'Rourke are unavailable.

Mahmudullah Riyad’s retirement from international cricket has drawn emotional tributes from his long-time teammates, who reflected on his contribution to Bangladesh cricket. Former captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who led Mahmudullah for most of his career, shared a heartfelt message on social media, recalling their journey together and the milestones Mahmudullah achieved. “Congratulations on a great international career, Riyad,” Mashrafe wrote. “The numbers beside your name are just statistics, but to us, you are much bigger than that. We know how important you were to the team and how deeply you committed yourself to it.” Mahmudullah Riyad announces retirement from int’l cricket Mashrafe reminisced about Mahmudullah’s iconic centuries in Adelaide and Cardiff, particularly his historic ton in the 2015 World Cup, the first by a Bangladeshi in the tournament. “No one can take away your achievement of being Bangladesh’s first centurion in a World Cup. I hope many from our country will follow your example and surpass your record of four ICC event centuries. You have shown how to step up on the biggest stage, and generations will learn from you.” Mahmudullah opts out as BCB’s new contract announced Tamim Iqbal, another of Mahmudullah’s long-time teammates, described him as one of the pillars of Bangladesh cricket. “You have been an inspiration both on and off the field. I will cherish the memories we shared in the dressing room. Thank you for your contribution to the country’s cricket, and best wishes for the days ahead,” Tamim wrote. Shakib Al Hasan echoed similar sentiments, calling it a privilege to play alongside Mahmudullah. “You led by example, both on and off the field. Your dedication, resilience, and love for the game and the country have made the nation indebted to you,” Shakib wrote. “May Allah bless you and guide you on your new journey.” Mushfiqur Rahim, another close teammate of Mahmudullah, expressed his admiration for the veteran all-rounder. “It has truly been an honor to share the field with you all these years. Thank you for your guidance and the countless memories we’ve made together. I am incredibly proud of all you’ve achieved for the nation,” Mushfiqur said. Mahmudullah’s departure marks the end of an era in Bangladesh cricket. While his absence will be deeply felt, his legacy as one of the country’s most dependable performers will continue to inspire future generations.  

Mitchel Santner, the New Zealand captain, said his team is confident as they are ready to take on India for the second time in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai.  While expressing confidence, the New Zealand captain said maintaining a consistent approach will be key for them in the final. “It's easy to say it's just another game, it's obviously not, but I think the way you approach it has to be the same,” Santner said at a press conference on the eve of the final.   “We've done a lot of good things in this tournament, and we’re just trying to build on them. It’s the biggest stage tomorrow, so the key is to stay confident, keep a relaxed environment, and let the guys enjoy the occasion,” the New Zealand captain added.  Before the final, New Zealand faced India once in this tournament and lost that match. But Santner said the experience of playing in Dubai before will help them do well in the coming match.  “You get to the business end of these tournaments, and it’s about standing up on the day,” he added. “We know we have to put in a good performance, but at the same time, we don’t want to get overawed by the occasion.” Ahead of the final battle, New Zealand’s biggest worry is the fitness of Matt Henry, who has taken the most wickets in this tournament so far. The pacer has injured his shoulder in the match against South Africa and is uncertain for the final.  India faces New Zealand in budding rivalry at Champions Trophy final “Matt’s going to have a bowl today, and we’ll assess his condition before making a decision,” Santner said in the press conference.  The Kiwi skipper also weighed in on India's bowling attack, particularly leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who took five wickets against New Zealand in the group match.   “He's a world-class bowler with a little bit of mystery,” Santner said. ”We’ve analyzed more footage, and the boys will be ready this time. We know what his threats are—especially that 115kph armball that got me!” It’s been two and a half decades since New Zealand won an ICC event. They are now aiming to end the drought in the final against India.

Australia won the toss and elected to field against England in its opening Group B game on Saturday at the Champions Trophy. Australia is being led by Steven Smith after its World Cup-winning pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were ruled out of tournament due to injuries and personal reasons. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis has announced a surprise retirement from ODIs. Fast bowlers Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson were drafted into the playing XI to fill in the big shoes of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc with Adam Zampa the only frontline spinner. Australia didn’t have an ideal preparation for the tournament after losing the home series 2-1 to Pakistan and was also whitewashed 2-0 in Sri Lanka earlier this month. England, coming into the Champions Trophy after a 3-0 loss in India, has promoted wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith to No. 3 which means Joe Root will be batting down at No. 4. Smith will take over the wicketkeeping gloves from Phil Salt after recovering from a calf injury. ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rickelton, Markram lift South Africa to 315 against Afghanistan England go into the opening game with four specialist bowlers and will be heavily relying on the pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer upfront with Brydon Carse as the other pace option. Liam Livingstone and Root will make up for the fifth bowler with leg-spinner Adil Rashid as the sole specialist spin option in the playing XI. Pakistan is hosting its first major ICC tournament in 29 years since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. New Zealand and India won their opening group A games against Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively while South Africa began its campaign in Group B with 107-run victory against Afghanistan at Karachi on Friday. Lineups: England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.

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.

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