The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a cash reward of Rs 58 crore for the Indian cricket team that won the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this month in Dubai.
While India are on a high after a measured six-wicket win over a sprightly Bangladesh, Pakistan are evidently tense after the 60-run loss in the tournament-opener to New Zealand.
Members of the trophy-winning squad from 2017 were present at the event with then captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in conversation with former West Indies pacer and broadcaster Ian Bishop.
It has been a forgettable campaign for Pakistan in the first global tournament to be staged in the country since 1996.
The ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan has seen a decline in attendance following the early exit of the Pakistani cricket team and the start of Ramadan.
'I'm feeling strong. I am feeling fit, and I am feeling ready to go,'
Skipper Steve Smith said the opener, who suffered the quad injury while fielding but struggled on to scored 20 runs from 15 balls before the game was washed out, is unlikely to be fit to face India or New Zealand on Tuesday or Wednesday.
'I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup -- he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same.'
As the Champions Trophy kicks off, some memorable moments from past tournaments.
The PCB asserted that the presence of ICC delegation, including broadcast, hospitality and event operations officials in the country, was an affirmation that the event is on schedule in Pakistan.
Unfazed by New Zealand's group stage defeat to India, opener Will Young is focused on exploiting Rohit Sharma's side's weaknesses in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday.
Indian women's hockey team chief coach Harendra Singh has resigned from the post with immediate effect citing 'personal reasons'.
New Zealand's Chris Gaffaney and England's Richard Illingworth have been appointed as on-field umpires for the Champions Trophy semi-final between India and Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.
They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
India will open their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.
With an impressive blend of composure and aggression, Iyer has been a standout performer in the 50-over format, particularly against the Blackcaps.
Bangladesh will be without premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for the ICC Champions Trophy after the veteran was excluded after getting suspended from bowling in all competitions.
'It's the game of cricket. You're going to miss out, you're going to drop a catch -- you've got to get on with what's in front of you.'
Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
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Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan believes India has a strong chance to win the Champions Trophy despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan on Thursday said that no back channel diplomacy was going on with India after the neighbouring country refused to send its cricket team for the Champions Trophy
The legendary Ricky Ponting says the quality of players and recent history make India and Australia the favourites to figure in the summit clash of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan cricket board (PCB) will not stage matches of the 2025 Champions Trophy outside the country if India do not travel for the tournament, chairman Mohsin Naqvi said.
India opener Rohit Sharma bettered Pakistan's Shahid Afridi's record for maximum sixes (352) by a batter in the history of One-Day Internationals in the first ODI against South Africa, in Ranchi, on Sunday.
The full implications of the India's refusal to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan were laid bare on Sunday as Australia and South Africa waited to find out whether they will play their semi-finals in Lahore or Dubai this week.
New Zealand beat a vastly different South Africa team by six wickets in Lahore three weeks ago, two days after beating Pakistan at the same venue.
Former Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes reckons the absence of Jasprit Bumrah will provide his team an opportunity to put India's pace attack under pressure.
Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said a sore ankle and his "personal views" were behind his decision to pull out of the Champions Trophy.
An injury concern looms over Australian skipper Pat Cummins ahead of next month's Champions Trophy with the pacer set to undergo a scan
He also expressed satisfaction with the talent coming through in the Pakistan Shaheens squad and from domestic cricket, and claimed that 3-4 players were ready to step into international cricket.
The series is part of a twin tour by Australia to Pakistan for a three-match T20 series from January 30 to February 5 to prepare for the T20 World Cup, and they are then scheduled to return for the ODIs, scheduled for March 13 to 19.
The ticket sales for India's Champions Trophy matches to be played in Dubai will begin on Monday evening.
India face an anxious wait as Jasprit Bumrah's fitness status will only be confirmed in the first week of February.
The PCB is upgrading the facilities at all three venues in the country as Pakistan prepares to host an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996, when they co-hosted the ODI World Cup.
"The Trophy Tour has covered all eight participating nations during its global journey and, with the conclusion of India leg, it will now travel to its final stop in Pakistan," the ICC said in a statement on Monday.
The national selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, in all likelihood, will select identical squads for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and the marquee ICC T20 World Cup, a BCCI source said on Friday.
Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy with a back injury.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill's indifferent form is a massive concern but the national selection committee is unlikely to make any shocking changes when it picks the 15-member squad for next year's T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Saturday.
Australia will be without their premier pacers but their envious pedigree in ICC tournaments make them favourites to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy from Group B.
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