Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 4-7 to lead holders India to a crushing nine-wicket win over hosts United Arab Emirates in their opening match of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul feels that running between the wickets and fielding are the two areas that the Tigers need to focus on to make a difference in the ongoing Asia Cup in UAE.

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott demanded improvement from his team after an unsteady batting performance in Tuesday's Asia Cup victory against minnows Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.

As the Bangladesh national team continue their preparations in Abu Dhabi, discussions around the final playing XI are gaining momentum -- particularly concerning the place of Tawhid Hridoy in the middle order. The atmosphere in the training ground at Oval 1 was intense but measured, with the late-evening desert heat offering some respite as the players engaged in skill sessions under the floodlights.

As the Asia Cup 2025 begins, the hope is that the on-field battles overshadow off-field concerns, delivering a tournament rich with exciting cricket while overcoming visible fatigue and political tension.

The match will start at 8.30pm Bangladesh Time.

Rival captains Salman Agha and Suryakumar Yadav vowed to keep controlled aggression when Pakistan and India clash in the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday, the countries' first match since their conflict in May.

Azmatullah Omarzai hammered a 20-ball fifty as Afghanistan thrashed Hong Kong by 94 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.

Taijul Islam became the first Bangladeshi to be picked by any team in the SA20 when the left-arm spinner was roped in by the Durban Super Giants for the upcoming edition of the T20 tournament.

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad is one of six active cricketers set to attend a three-day specialised batting coaching course, arranged by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), starting tomorrow in Mirpur. Mahmudullah has retired from international cricket but continues to play in the domestic circuit.

On the surface, Bangladesh carry momentum into the Asia Cup in UAE.

A veteran of franchise leagues worldwide, Rashid framed it as part of cricket’s modern grind.

Skippers from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, UAE and Hong Kong stood together with the glittering prize.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has resumed training and fast bowler Mark Wood is in line to return to action next week in a major boost to England's preparations for the Ashes series in Australia later this year.

Once underdogs, Afghanistan now stride into the Asia Cup with fire in their belly and eyes on the prize. Explosive openers, a lethal spin arsenal, and a squad that thrives under pressure make them a team ready to shake up Asia’s cricketing heavyweights.

The weight of captaincy in any sport compounds exponentially under the bright lights of a major tournament. On top of that, if the captain has not experienced the pressure of leading in that event before, it should put them at an even bigger disadvantage.

For years, the Tigers' T20 story has been one of cautious cricket and squandered chances.

The Daily Star looks at one player from each side who could shape the course of the contest.

A decade may have passed, but Bangladesh fans may still have bitter memories one particular defeat at home in 2014. On that night in Chattogram, under the lights of the T20 World Cup, minnows Hong Kong stunned Bangladesh by two wickets, leaving behind one of the most jaw-dropping defeats on record at home for the Tigers. 

Cricket in the UAE remains largely confined to the South Asian expatriate community, and expecting a carnival-like setting may be asking too much.