“All of us have our backs to the wall. Everyone’s salary [in DPL] has decreased. We discussed how we can get out of this situation. The players have already accepted it for this season,” a cricketer who was in today’s meeting told The Daily Star.

But the thousands that were present at the Gaddafi Stadium and the millions who tuned in from around the globe to watch the Group B encounter between Afghanistan and England on Thursday, witnessed an absolute cricketing ‘tamasha’ in the truest sense.

Rain is forecast in Lahore but even a washout will keep Afghanistan in contention to reach the semi-finals, but they will then have to depend on other results or net run-rate.

This is the first time Bangladesh and Pakistan will meet in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Zadran's blistering 146-ball knock, which featured 12 boundaries and six sixes, helped Afghanistan to 325-7 before they clinched a nail-biting eight-run win which kept them in contention for a semi-final place.

While India and New Zealand have been confirmed as semi-finalists from Group A, the hunt for a final-four spot in Group B is set to go right down to the wire.

Left-armer Kuhnemann was reported for a suspect bowling action after his pivotal role in the Test series win in Sri Lanka.

The Australia vs South Africa game at the Champions Trophy was abandoned without a ball being bowled, as a result of which the two teams split points in Group B.

There are no more second chances for either of these sides.

The title-holders lost their opening game to New Zealand by 60 runs in Karachi last week before Sunday's six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India pushed them to the brink of an early exit.

Bangladesh losing convincingly to India and New Zealand and being out of contention for a spot in the semi-final in the ICC Champions Trophy may seem like the worst thing about the team’s ongoing campaign in Pakistan and the UAE, but it’s not.

Smith, who recently captained Australia to victory over England in the ongoing Champions Trophy, has signed to play for Welsh Fire, coached by former Australia batsman Mike Hussey.

Afghanistan is set to face England in Lahore on Wednesday in their second group-stage match of the Champions Trophy, marking their debut in the tournament.

South Africa top the pool on net run-rate from Australia with both teams on three points after winning their opening fixtures against Afghanistan and England respectively.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar slammed Babar Azam for his showings in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, calling him ‘a fraud’, and also put the Pakistan team on blast for their lacklustre performance.

The weather in Islamabad and its twin city of Rawalpindi has suddenly changed over the last 12 hours as it is currently witnessing drizzle with shivering cold around the capital of Pakistan.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer criticised Bangladesh’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, saying that the Tiger’s ‘don’t turn up’ in ICC events.

Rachin Ravindra marked his ICC Champions Trophy debut with a century in New Zealand's win over Bangladesh on Monday but it was the 25-year-old's ability to soak up the pressure while batting in an unfamiliar position that impressed teammate Tom Latham.

Joe Root has thrown his support behind white-ball captain Jos Buttler despite England's shaky start to the ICC Champions Trophy, describing him as a "brilliant leader" who has the support of the entire dressing room.

"In 2025 Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style," Shahid Afridi told AFP.