Zadran's blistering 146-ball knock, which featured 12 boundaries and six sixes, helped Afghanistan to 325-7 before they clinched a nail-biting eight-run win which kept them in contention for a semi-final place.

While India and New Zealand have been confirmed as semi-finalists from Group A, the hunt for a final-four spot in Group B is set to go right down to the wire.

England's Jos Buttler on Wednesday said he will discuss his future as white-ball captain with team management after his side lost to Afghanistan to crash out of the Champions Trophy.

It appears that interest has waned in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, and its twin city, Rawalpindi, as fans turn their backs on today’s ICC Champions Trophy Group A clash between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“Ben Duckett cost them [England] the game… scored too slow, mate… they should have got to at least 380,” former South Africa batter Herschelle Gibbs said about Duckett’s innings after England lost their Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore last Saturday, despite posting 351 for eight -- the highest total in the competition’s history -- only for Australia to chase it down with five wickets and 15 balls to spare.

It means three players from India occupy spots inside the top five.

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

Senior assistant coach Mohammad Salauddin on Wednesday insisted that the Tigers didn’t have an ideal preparation before coming into the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy and they need to focus on preparations before going into any major event.

With New Zealand already qualified for the semi-finals, selectors have the luxury of resting players for the final group match against India in Dubai on Sunday.

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.

Sheltech Cricket Club maintained their winning run in the Women’s Dhaka Premier League with a 219-run win over Bangladesh Police Cricket Club at BKSP’s Ground 1 today.

The Rawalpindi wicket is currently covered, and the weather has also prevented the hosts from conducting a full training session, as their practice was limited to warm-ups and a light football match in the afternoon.

Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck a Champions Trophy record of 177 to lift Afghanistan from an early wobble to 325-7 against England in a group match in Lahore on Wednesday.

Rain washed out the Australia-South Africa Group B match on Tuesday and more is predicted on Thursday, leaving Pakistan in danger of finishing fourth and last on net run-rate.

Left-armer Kuhnemann was reported for a suspect bowling action after his pivotal role in the Test series win in Sri Lanka.

In an unprecedented move, over 100 policemen of Pakistan's Punjab Police have been dismissed from service for refusing to perform assigned security duties during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, police said on Tuesday.

Former cricketers and pundits have slammed India's "undeniable" advantage of playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, while the other seven teams have to shuttle between three venues in Pakistan, and the UAE.

Group B's two winless sides clash in a mouth-watering must-win ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 showdown in Lahore today. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat first. 

Klaasen could feature in South Africa's final Group B game against England in Karachi on Saturday.

With India and New Zealand having booked their place into the semifinals from Group A, all eyes are now on Group B, with all four teams still in the fray.