Mushfirqur Rahim in post match press conferece

Hamilton Masakadza and Khurram Khan are key players in their respective teams

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza led from the front as Tigers struck thrice early defending the total of 267 against Afghanistan in the seventh World Cup 2015 match at Canberra. Mashrafe took two in the first and third overs of the match while Rubel Hassan claimed one in between. Afghanistan were in trouble with their scoreboard beneath double figures.Earlier, Bangladesh made 267 riding on fifties of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim against World Cup debutant Afghanistan.

Mashrafe Mortaza was optimistic of receiving backing from the stands during the match, but Bangladesh's form in the warm-ups has not generated the same confidence. The loss to Pakistan, albeit close, was not unexpected but the defeat to Ireland would have hurt. Bangladesh have trained hard post those losses, and Mortaza appreciated the efforts put in by his players.

The return of regular Australia captain Michael Clarke for the second World Cup match against Bangladesh has the team's "full support" even if it will be tough to change a winning side, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson

It was only 20 years ago that Afghanistan formed as a Cricket Federation (now known as the Afghanistan Cricket Board) so, in that sense, they are the ‘new kids on the block’ at this ICC Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan began this incredible journey in earnest in 2008 entering the World Cricket League Division 5

The seventh match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 sees the Tigers face the non-fancy Afghans in what will be the opening hunt for our national team.

Veteran Kiwi spinner Daniel Vettori picks up three Scottish wickets and gives away only 24 runs in 8.2 overs in the ICC World Cup Match at Dunedin

Hosts New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first in the sixth match of the ICC cricket World Cup 2015 at University Oval in Dunedin. Losing the toss and batting first, Scotland were packed for 142 runs. The Kiwis were made to pay to chase down the score. NZ now have four points in the Pool A.

Even as Ireland were hunting down West Indies in Nelson, in a quiet corner of quiet Manuka Oval in quiet Canberra, Bangladesh were going through a three-hour intense training session. Bangladesh lost both their World Cup warm-up games, one of them to Ireland, and their first opponents in the tournament are Afghanistan, who beat them in the Asia Cup last March in the only previous ODI between the two sides.

After a bumpy ride, Scotland Tuesday meet hosts New Zealand which thrashed Sri Lanka in the tournament opener.

Over the last four years, they have had upheavals and transitions on and off the field, but now they have their best chance of winning their first game in a World Cup

The atmosphere and hot weather in Adelaide gave it a perfect sub-continent flair and made it feel like a home away from home.

Bangladesh coach Chanidka Hathurusingha expects his ace allrounder Shakib to take a lead role in the World Cup. Shakib, who took part in the recently concluded Big Bash League, is arguably the most experienced cricketer in the side when it comes to playing in Australia.

The bowling combination will be finalised once the Tigers inspect the pitch at the Manuka Oval, where they face the Afghans on Wednesday. Rubel Hossain is most likely to open the bowling attack with captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and if the team feels the match needs an extra pacer they will include young Taskin Ahmed, who has been in good touch, in the side.

West Indies hard-hitting allrounder Darren Sammy notched up his highest One-Day-International score during today’s Pool B’s World Cup match at Nelson.

The Caribbeans made 304 riding on the ton of Simmons and crucial knock of Sammy

Actress-model Maria Nur will host Ekhanei.Com Cricket Extra 2015 on Gtv. Thirty-six episodes of the show are airing from February 14 to March 29. Each episode of the show is segmented in three parts, and the show will feature former cricketers, media personalities and showbiz stars.

Virat Kohli becomes the first ever Indian batsman to score a century against Pakistan in a World Cup match between India and Pakistan. He scored a commanding hundred off 120 balls with 8 hits across the fence.

Since their heroics in the Caribbean in 2007, Ireland have continued to sit atop the second rung of international sides, so much so that they now, in ODIs at least, find themselves in a separate little group alongside Afghanistan with an enhanced position in the rankings. That is crucial for the next World Cup in 2019, but their one focus at the moment is to use this tournament as a base to highlight the folly that the game's biggest global event is shrinking and the fact they largely continue to be ignored by the Full Members.