Pakistan’s lack of batsmen who clear the ropes regularly means Sophia Gardens is likely to be more suited to their ‘old England’ style in Wednesday’s semi-finalSo it is England against Asia for the Champions trophy. Against expectation Pakistan and Bangladesh are semi-finalists – there is no surprise India have qualified. This should ensure all sides have vociferous support in Cardiff on Wednesday and at Edgbaston on Thursday. Even better, they say the sun is going to make an appearance as well. A fitting climax to the tournament is in prospect.Pakistan may not have taken on the role of cornered tigers, a description Imran Khan as captain coined so effectively in the 1992 World Cup in Australasia but Sarfraz Ahmed’s motley...
With 160 million people, an insatiable zest for the game and improving infrastructure, Bangladesh loom as world cricket’s next major forceIt was at the Adelaide Oval in 2015 that Bangladesh cricket’s rise became undeniable. With two full, straight and swinging deliveries, Rubel Hossain knocked England out of the World Cup, ensuring Bangladesh’s quarter-final berth.Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby was there, just as he has been throughout Bangladesh’s journey, working in everything from logistics, tournament organising and marketing for the board since 1978. “Watching that game was a privilege,” he says. “Beating England in an away venue meant a lot.” Related: The Champions Trophy lives on as a monument to muddled thinking | Andy Bull Related: Breaking boundaries: Bangladesh’s women cricketers Continue...
India are likely to face their stiffest opposition from South Africa, England and New Zealand in defence of the title they won at Edgbaston four years agoCoach Darren Lehmann Related: Everything up for grabs for England in the quickfire Champions Trophy | Vic Marks Related: England deserve Champions Trophy favourites status under Eoin Morgan | Vic Marks Continue reading...
The Champions Trophy’s format is a favourite with players and fans and all eight teams in it, including England, can dream of victoryAll eight teams competing in the Champions Trophy are here now; all can harbour thoughts of winning it. It takes five wins in a row to be guaranteed the delight of raising the cup to the skies in south London on 18 June. This is a far more palatable format for the players than the World Cup because no time is wasted. It is far more palatable for the fans as well. If the sun continues to shine the tournament will be a success.From 1 June to 12 June there will be a match every day at one...
The visit of Alastair Cook’s team has saved Bangladesh from isolation and the captain Mushfiqur Rahim believes they will soon be beating all the big sidesAs Bangladesh toast their greatest win it is worth just for a moment pondering two things: first, how far they have come since England, the vanquished, last toured these parts in 2010 and then what might have happened had they not come this time.“They’ve obviously taken big strides,” Alastair Cook said, with a healthy dose of understatement. In 2010 the fact that Cook was captaining England said a bit about the opposition. Andrew Strauss was resting up and England still won both Tests, batting big on flat tracks, with ease – by 181 runs and...