The battle for the final two available places in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will hot up when Bangladesh squares off against South Africa in the opening match of the three-One-Day International series in Mirpur on Friday and Sri Lanka hosts Pakistan in the first of five matches in Dambulla on Saturday.
The deadlock over the hosting of next year's Champions Trophy ended on Thursday when the ICC announced that India will play its matches of the 50-over showpiece at a neutral venue instead of host country Pakistan, which will have a similar arrangement for tournaments to be held in India till 2027.
Chances of India travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy are slim: ex-PCB chief
Champions Trophy headlines Pakistan's home season but India uncertainty remains
England previously faced Afghanistan at the 50-overs Cricket World Cup in 2023, as well as at the Twenty20 World Cup in 2022.
'When you leave, you want to leave the team in better place'
The Champions Trophy is the first major ICC event scheduled in Pakistan, since jointly hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Despite lacking ODI experience, Raina believes Jaiswal is 'very hungry for runs' and has 'come prepared' for the challenge.
Dhoni appears in an unexpected avatar - seated in a bathtub filled with ice against a snowy landscape, yet visibly sweating under immense pressure.
The BCCI is yet to give its consent to the tentative schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
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 BCCI has not yet confirmed India's participation in the Champions Trophy, which is slated to be held in Pakistan in February-March.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the Champions Trophy would be held entirely in Pakistan.
Top seven teams at ODI World Cup 2023 will qualify for 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, as per ICC's new rules
According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, the trophy tour would begin from Skardu in northern Pakistan.
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.
India's only representative in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, Nitin Menon, has opted out of officiating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan this month due to personal reasons.
Security was breached again in Lahore, where another pitch invader ran onto the field during Afghanistan's post-match celebrations.
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.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has restricted the entry and movement of the mainstream and digital media at its stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, which are under construction ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
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.
Captain Temba Bavuma hailed what he termed South Africa's brave decision to bat first in their comprehensive 107-run Champions Trophy win over Afghanistan on Friday
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.
A staggering 12,000 police officers and personnel will be deployed in Lahore and Rawalpindi during the matches.
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.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Pakistan, and Rizwan expressed confidence in the enthusiastic reception the Indian team would receive from Pakistani fans.
Young Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining an ankle injury in South Africa in January.
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.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced ticket prices for the upcoming Champions Trophy, with the lowest priced ticket starting at PKR 1000 for the General Enclosure for all matches in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
Hashmatullah Shahidi has resigned as Afghanistan's One Day International captain, citing a personal decision, though he will continue to play in the 50-over format.
The Indian cricket team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year, BCCI sources told ANI.
The source said that the PCB is expecting to get some sort of viable answer from the BCCI officials at the upcoming meeting on the progress they have made (if any) on seeking clearance from their government to send their team to Pakistan early next year for the tournament.
Spin great Erapalli Prasanna believes India's well-rounded attack make them the favourites to defend their ICC Champions Trophy title they won four years ago.
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.
Jasprit Bumrah, who is down with swelling in his back, is expected to make a full recovery by the first week of March.
The BCCI decided against playing practice games as India is already participating in a three-match ODI series against England.
South Africa crushed England by seven wickets in their final group match to storm into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy.
The Vidarbha batter boasts an incredible average of 752 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with five centuries from seven games.
The PCB has now left it up to the ICC to finalise and announce the tournament schedule and also get confirmation from the BCCI whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan.
As the Champions Trophy kicks off, some memorable moments from past tournaments.
