Fresh off his match-winning performance against Afghanistan, the left-arm spinner chose to leave Bangladesh’s qualification prospects to destiny rather than voice support for Sri Lanka.

For Bangladesh, the simplest scenario is a Sri Lanka win on Thursday.

After the nail-biting win against Afghanistan, the immediate joy quickly gave way to calculations for Bangladesh. A loss would have meant certain elimination; the win kept the Tigers’ hopes alive.

For the two-time champions, the stakes carry an uncomfortable echo of last year.

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim had just appeared in the post-match press conference after playing a match-winning knock of 52 off 31 balls in the Tigers' narrow eight-run victory against Afghanistan in an Asia Cup Group B encounter in Abu Dhabi yesterday. When asked about the qualification scenario, he replied with a smile: "The game just ended. Haven’t looked yet, will have to check.”

Pakistan cancelled a pre-match press conference at the Asia Cup on Tuesday as the fallout rumbles on from a handshake row with arch-rivals India.

Bangladesh kept their hopes for Super Four qualification alive in the Asia Cup, beating Afghanistan by eight runs in their last Group B fixture. Nasum Ahmed was the architect of the win with the ball, closely followed by Rishad Hossain’s contribution in picking up wickets

Bangladesh won by eight runs.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan face off in a crucial Asia Cup match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (8.30pm, Bangladesh Time).

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that the India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry has lost its spark in recent years. Speaking at an event in Kolkata on Monday, following India's dominant win in the Asia Cup group-stage clash, Ganguly said Pakistan simply don’t match up to the current Indian side.

Following a disappointing display against Sri Lanka, where glaring shortcomings left the team under heavy criticism, Litton Das’s side looks set to ring in multiple changes in the playing eleven in their third and final group stage fixture.

The two teams may meet up to two more times in this edition, but if the performance gap continues, even political colouring may not sustain the all-too-familiar pre-match buzz in future tournaments.

Coming into the tournament, Liton Das and his side looked confident, showing signs of stability. Yet after a heavy defeat to Sri Lanka, the atmosphere has turned tense.

Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott believes his side will walk into their Asia Cup Group B clash against Bangladesh as “slight favourites.”

Sri Lanka were made to sweat before edging past Hong Kong by four wickets in their Asia Cup Group B encounter in Dubai yesterday, with opener Pathum Nissanka’s half-century and a late cameo from Wanindu Hasaranga proving decisive.

The India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry has always been a proxy war of sorts, a battle between bat and ball, which, in the hearts of fans, was a matter of national pride, where victory was an obligation and defeat unacceptable.

Tensions simmered after the match as India's players left the field without shaking hands.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar slammed India for not shaking hands with the Pakistan players after their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match in Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said they were disappointed by India's decision not to shake hands after Sunday's politically-charged Asia Cup match between the bitter neighbours.

Pakistan, in protest, refused to attend the post match ceremony as tensions flared in a match which was the first between the bitter rivals since May's military action.