Once again, Bangladeshi cricket lovers fell under the spell of supporting the Tigers -- creatures whose body stripes were, some say, stitched by He Who Shall Not Be Named.

The 11-run defeat might suggest a close contest, but in truth, the Tigers were out of it long before Rishad Hossain’s late blows narrowed the margin.

When politics overshadows the game, cricket itself is the ultimate loser.

Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Jaker Ali offered a straightforward explanation after the 11-run defeat to Pakistan in their final Super Four match in the Asia Cup, saying a batting failure cost them the game on Thursday in Dubai, just like it had done the previous day against India.

This is the first time in 17 editions that the Asia Cup will see an India-Pakistan final.

Bangladesh captain Liton Das was seen holding an ice bag in his hand as he stepped off the team bus and entered the ground ahead of their final Asia Cup T20 Super Four fixture against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

In Wednesday’s crucial Asia Cup Super Four match against India, Bangladesh missed their captain Litton Das due to injury. The team couldn’t put up much of a fight either, losing the contest by 41 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

One glaring aspect of this Asia Cup -- and of most major cricket events, for that matter -- is the organisers’ relentless push to stage as many India-Pakistan clashes as possible.

Farhan’s celebration after his half-century and Rauf’s gesture towards a section of fans while fielding on the boundary line are understood to be the incidents in question, both of which have been widely circulated on social media.

Two-time champions Pakistan must win tonight to keep their final hopes alive, while the Tigers will again aim to be on the cusp of a historic chapter.

Jaker Ali led Bangladesh against India in their Super Four game in Dubai on Wednesday, which ended in a 41-run defeat, in place of regular captain Litton Das, who had suffered an injury in practice on Monday. 

Ace left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman surpassed Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, also becoming only the fourth bowler in the world to register 150 T20I wickets.

Bangladesh's chase never gained momentum, with Saif's valiant fifty proving insufficient as wickets tumbled around him.

Jaker Ali is likely to keep wickets for Bangladesh instead of skipper Litton Das in their Asia Cup T20 Super Four clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. 

India are holders and beat Pakistan in both previous matches, but Shaheen was in bullish mood after taking 3-28 against Sri Lanka.

In a gripping Super 4 encounter at the Asia Cup 2025, the spotlight wasn’t just on the cricket -- it was the playful, theatrical exchanges between spinners Abrar Ahmed and Wanindu Hasaranga that stole the show at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to be rested for the remainder of the Asia Cup despite a two-match home Test series against the West Indies starting early next month.

For coach Simmons, "balance" -- "the most important" aspect of the team -- is more than just a buzzword; it is the lever that can tilt fortune towards Bangladesh, perhaps carrying them all the way.

For Bangladesh, today’s clash against India has become pivotal.

Pakistan kept their Asia Cup campaign alive with a hard-fought five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a Super Four clash in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.