Bangladesh will be looking to remain calm on the field and execute their plans well to get off to a winning start in the ICC Champions Trophy when they square off against India in the opening Group A fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today.

India superstar Virat Kohli said he has always liked the ICC Champions Trophy because of the urgency teams have to start the tournament on a high in order to qualify for the next round.

Pakistan's title defence in the first global tournament in the country since 1996 got off to a stuttering start with New Zealand winning the Group A match by 60 runs.

Shanto was optimistic about the vibe Rana creates in the Tigers’ dressing room. If the Tigers are to make headway into the tournament and upset the bigger sides, they would need Rana to be at the top of his game.

As Bangladesh embarks on their ICC Champions Trophy journey against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today, the question looms: can the Tigers emulate the towering resilience of the Burj Khalifa?

Gulshan Youth Club’s off-spinner Sandiha Islam Asha was the highlight of the day for her six-wicket haul against Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity at ULAB Cricket Ground.

New Zealand underlined their title aspirations with a 60-run victory against defending champions Pakistan in a Group A match of the Champions Trophy at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Pakistan's largest city was abuzz with anticipation and apprehension Wednesday as the hosts played the opening match of the nation's first major international cricket tournament in three decades.

Tournament favourites India begin their campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday fresh from a 3-0 ODI sweep of England at home.

Tom Latham hit an unbeaten 104-ball 118 while opener Young scored 107 from 113 balls as New Zealand -- sent in to bat by Pakistan -- made the most of a flat National Stadium pitch.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expects Nahid Rana and the rest of the pace bowling unit to be fit and raring to go against India on Thursday, their opening match of the Champions Trophy.

For the first time, the Tigers will enter a major event without Shakib, Tamim, or Mashrafe. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur’s responsibilities will begin in the dressing room, but they will not end there.  

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to field first in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Rawalpindi today. 

Bangladesh fans can catch the action on Nagorik TV and T Sports, who will be the linear TV broadcasters in Bangladesh, with Toffee app making the games available via streaming too.

His absence had little to do with form or age. Off-field turmoil pulled him away. When the Awami League government fell on August 5, the political landscape shifted. Shakib, associated with the ruling party, was caught in the storm. The writing was on the wall.

The Champions Trophy all set to be played between 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and the UAE will come to life on ICC TV, which will provide an unparalleled viewing experience with comprehensive live coverage of every match. A fully integrated world feed service will be available, ensuring that fans don’t miss a moment of the action.

Bangladesh’s relationship with the ICC Champions Trophy has been paradoxical from the get-go.

When the Prime Minister of a nation makes a serious statement about sports, it is clear that the underlying causes go beyond the game itself -- that the tension arises from something much larger on a broader scale.

In what will be Pakistan’s first ICC tournament played on home soil since 1996, there is a lot on the line for this team.

Beyond the spectacle, a larger question looms: what does this tournament, returning after eight long years, mean for the future of ODI cricket?