While South Africa insist they will not be burdened by scarring from their chequered record in World Cup knockout matches, Australia are counting on having experienced World Cup winners giving them a boost when the two old rivals face off in a much-anticipated semifinal in Kolkata on Thursday.

Even though Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera is eager to show improvement of his charges, the men in red and green will probably look to avoid embarrassment in their opening World Cup Qualifiers fixture against Australia at the AAMI Park in Melbourne today.

Bangladesh defender Bishwanath Ghosh said that everyone from goalkeeper to strikers have to combine in organising the defence when his team face a vastly superior Australia in a World Cup Qualifier fixture in Melbourne on Thursday.

Australia head into Thursday's World Cup semi-final against South Africa with the same excitement in the dressing room that propelled them to their maiden triumph in the T20 World Cup in 2021, Glenn Maxwell said.

Bangladesh national football team concentrated on recovery from 20-hour of journey after reaching Melbourne last night ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup Qualifying fixture against Australia.

In a World Cup where Bangladesh's performances were mostly predictably poor, their batting order remained unpredictable throughout the tournament.

Bangladesh coach Jaiver Cabrera pinned hopes on old guns that played the pre-qualifiers against Maldives, with only Sheikh Morsalin added to the final 23-member squad of the national football team for the World Cup Qualifiers tie against Australia.

Glenn Maxwell is still feeling the effects of his stunning World Cup double century and could now miss Australia's final group match against Bangladesh in Pune on Saturday.

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi insisted his side still had plenty of "fight" left in them ahead of a crunch World Cup clash with Australia in Mumbai on Tuesday.

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bowl first against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Friday said he was "a little bit surprised" at England's disappointing show at the World Cup but still rates them as "dangerous" opponents.

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari has been named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year with Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr taking the women's title at the regional body's awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday.

Australia decided on Tuesday against bidding for the 2034 men's football World Cup, paving the way for Saudi Arabia to host the event.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins believes Saturday's World Cup clash with New Zealand will be a battle between "mates" as the push for semi-final places enters a critical phase.

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh said Tuesday "everyone calls me Shaun" after he was spotted wearing his brother's number on his cap at the Cricket World Cup.

After injury forced him to watch his team in action in the World Cup from his couch at home in Adelaide, Travis Head has finally joined the Australia team in India and is counting down the days before he can repay the faith shown by the team management.

A Melbourne Stars side boasting Australia skipper Meg Lanning and several England internationals was bundled out for just 29 runs -- a record-low score in the women's Big Bash League.

Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first in their opening match of the ICC ODI World Cup against hosts India in Chennai on Sunday. Marcus Stoinis hasn't yet recovered from his injury. For India, Ishan Kishan replaces opening batter Shubman Gilll, who is out with dengue.

India's World Cup plans have been hit by an unwanted issue on the eve of their opener against Australia on Sunday as star batsman Shubman Gill has been diagnosed with dengue. 

India seamer Mohammed Shami says the team's rotation policy is working well and will prevent players from being overloaded as they prepare for the World Cup on home soil next month.