Fast bowlers will need a varied skillset to conquer the “tired” pitches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Australia’s Pat Cummins said ahead of their Twenty20 World Cup opener against South Africa on Saturday.

It was not the best of starts with the bat from Bangladesh but the positive approach yielded a much better performance for the Tigers on their last qualifying group game of the ICC T20 World Cup against Papua New Guinea at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat yesterday.

When Shakib Al Hasan scalped the wicket of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Hiri Hiri in the 11th over during Bangladesh’s last T20 World Cup qualifier game in Muscat yesterday, the premier all-rounder reached new heights.

It seems the reactions from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan and in the press and on social media after Bangladesh’s defeat to Scotland in the opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup had a negative impact on the Bangladesh team.

Scotland reached the T20 World Cup second round for the first time on Thursday with a thumping eight-wicket win over Oman.

Bangladesh premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the joint highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups alongside Pakistan's Shahid Afridi during the Tigers' ongoing qualifier game against Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat today. 

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar insists his country will once again be the kings of Asian cricket despite India's rise as world beaters on the back of the riches of the IPL.

Rashid Khan insists his mind is occupied by the World Cup and not wedding bells as the leg-spin wizard looks to inspire Afghanistan at the Twenty20 global showpiece.

Bangladesh have won the third and final match of their group B qualifiers against PNG by 84 runs -- their biggest victory in terms of runs in T20Is -- to go through to the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka thrashed Ireland by 70 runs to register their second successive win in the Twenty20 World Cup on Wednesday and qualify for the Super 12 stage.

Bangladesh will be looking to make a statement on Thursday in their last qualifying game against Papua New Guinea (PNG), in which a convincing win will surely be on the cards for Mahmudullah Riyad and his troops at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat.

David Wiese bludgeoned an unbeaten 66 as Namibia stayed alive at the T20 World Cup on Wednesday with a six-wicket triumph over the Netherlands.

The 26-run win over Oman in the second qualifier game on Tuesday came as a massive relief for Bangladesh team after the shocking six-run defeat against Scotland which kick-started the Tigers' ICC T20 World Cup campaign.

Confusion reigned amongst the fans and the members of the media after the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to change the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s group seeding in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup on the fourth day of the flagship event.

Twenty20 cricket has given a platform for many players to carve out successful careers but few owe as much to the format as England fast bowler Tymal Mills.

There were nerves and mounting fear of an elimination from the first round, but there was no shortage of excitement or drama as Bangladesh kept their hopes of qualifying for the Super 12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup alive by beating hosts Oman by 26 runs at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat yesterday.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is the new leading wicket-taker in men’s T20 Internationals. The 34-year-old accounted for two wickets in Bangladesh’s opening match against Scotland and has taken his career tally to 108 wickets - the highest for any bowler, breaking Lasith Malinga’s record of 107 T20I wickets.

Afghanistan have enjoyed an astounding rise up the international cricket pecking order, taking huge strides at a rapid pace. Having familiarity with the conditions in the UAE where they have played the majority of their cricket, will the Asian side make a deep run in the tournament, springing a major surprise or two along the way?

Sri Lanka and Ireland will be looking to brighten their Super 12s chances when they meet in their second group match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

Just over three months ago, a desolate desert was all one could find in the space that the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat currently occupies.