Semifinal hero Finn Allen said New Zealand's thumping win over South Africa was a "huge confidence booster" ahead of going for their maiden T20 World Cup title in Sunday's final.

India, bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the ICC T20 World Cup title, face an England side hoping to play a “perfect game” in their semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium today.

2024 runners-up South Africa were unbeaten going into the knockout match in Kolkata.

Finn Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off 33 balls as New Zealand romped to their target in only 12.5 overs.

Marco Jansen hit an unbeaten 55 to lift South Africa from a precarious 77-5 to 169-8 against New Zealand in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday.

Bangladesh have a chance to climb to ninth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings if they beat Pakistan in the upcoming three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, scheduled from March 11 to 15.

Harry Brook conceded on Wednesday that India were favourites to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, but warned them that England's "perfect performance" was "just around the corner".

While Shanto and others may be feeling the pangs of a lack of club cricket, no plans are yet in place to fill the vacuum in an important year for ODI challenges.

The squad includes six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.

With defending champions India taking on England in Mumbai a day later, the tantalising prospect of a rematch of the 2024 final looms large.

Saif Hassan and Mohammad Naim notched a 164-run stand for the second wicket to help Central Zone to a dominating five-wicket win over North Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League final at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Underdogs New Zealand back themselves against anyone in "one-off games", declared captain Mitchell Santner Tuesday on the eve of their T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is planning to stage the four-day version of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) in mid-April as part of preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan.

England will go into their T20 World Cup semi-final against India with no fear, said all-rounder Sam Curran on Tuesday, adding that their first job would be to silence a raucous home crowd.

England will take on the favourites and hosts in front of 35,000 fiercely partisan fans in Mumbai on Thursday, with a place in the final against South Africa or New Zealand at stake.

Anamul Haque Bijoy on Tuesday demanded clarity from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), saying he wants his “respect back” after being left out of the final list of local players in last year’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction following an investigation report.

The Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and Umpires for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have been announced ahead of the knockout fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai.

For the third successive time, India will face England in a T20 World Cup semifinal as the two heavyweights meet at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

West Indies failed to reach the semi-finals after Sunday's five-wicket loss to hosts India, while Zimbabwe were eliminated after losing all three of their Super Eights matches.

Since her appointment as a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director in November last year, renowned corporate figure Rubaba Dowla has been actively involved in several key areas of women’s cricket. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan, Rubaba shared her experience at the BCB so far, her vision for women’s cricket and various challenges.