Australia’s T20 World Cup hopes have been jolted by a shock defeat to Zimbabwe and growing injury woes -- but stand-in captain Travis Head insists his side should lean on their 2023 blueprint to get out of a hole.

After an eventful buildup, ripe with cricketing diplomacy and wider geopolitical implications, perennial enemies India and Pakistan are set to face off in Colombo in their Group A match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup tomorrow.

Defending champions India continued their march towards the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup with a 93-run plastering of Namibia in a group A contest at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.

At a time when the cricketers are feeling the pinch of the ICC T20 World Cup exclusion, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is planning to bring back the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) 50-over tournament later this month, to help the players prepare for the home series against Pakistan in March.

Bangladesh’s cricket community was left shocked and unsettled by some recent remarks from Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, in which he appeared to shift responsibility for the country’s decision to not participate in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka onto the board and the players.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today officially announced that the inaugural Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL) -- the country’s first-ever franchise-based T20 competition for women -- will take place from April 3-15 this year.

The Group A win was a boost for Pakistan before Sunday's high-octane clash with the defending champions in Colombo, now back on after the Islamabad government called off a boycott 24 hours previously.

No sanctions and the promise of hosting an ICC event -- Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul on Monday was thrilled with the outcomes of his “unbelievably successful” trip to Lahore, but not everyone shared his enthusiasm.

Bas de Leede scored an unbeaten 72 and took two wickets as the Netherlands hammered Namibia by seven wickets for their first win at the T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

Captain Mitchell Marsh backed his Australia players to "get the job done" as they launch their T20 World Cup title charge against Ireland on Wednesday following a torrid build-up.

Pakistan's decision to U-turn and go ahead with their blockbuster Group A match against India at the T20 World Cup on February 15 was hailed Tuesday as an outbreak of "good sense" and "good for cricket".

The loss would have included damages related to broadcasters, gate receipts, and sponsorships. A source stated that the cumulative financial impact of a boycott would have been around $174 million (approximately Tk 19,140 crore).

"In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan national team to take the field against India," Sharif posted on X.

The outcome of the tripartite discussions between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in Lahore on Sunday is yet to be officially disclosed, but speculation over it have run amok yesterday, completely overshadowing Pakistan’s bid for revenge against the USA in an ICC T20 World Cup match today.

BCB expressed its gratitude to PCB chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board and the cricket fans of Pakistan for their exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity.

Sports journalists across all media houses of the country boycotted the final of the Odommo Bangladesh T20 Cup on Monday in protest of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issuing a warning to a photojournalist of The Daily Sun for clicking pictures which were published by the newspaper on February 7.

Pakistan, the 2009 champions, were close to suffering another shock in their opening match against the Netherlands on Saturday.

During a meeting with ICC officials at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi outlined the conditions.

In a statement issued yesterday by her legal advisory firm, Mahbub & Company, Jahanara’s lawyers said that although the inquiry process has reportedly concluded, she has not been formally informed of the outcome nor provided with a copy of the report.

"How did we get to the World Cup? In Italy we say 'miracolo Italiano', an 'Italian miracle'," said Riccardo Maggio, development officer with the Italian Cricket Federation.