England still have "fire" burning in them ahead of the T20 World Cup Super Eights, Jacob Bethell said Friday, admitting that Harry Brook's side had been below par during a lacklustre group campaign.

Skipper Fahima Khatun produced a superb all-round display to steer Bangladesh Women’s ‘A’ team to a commanding 54-run victory over Pakistan in the second semifinal of the Asia Cup Rising Stars Women’s in Bangkok on Friday.

The senior assistant coach also spoke of the difficulty players faced in coming to terms with the World Cup exclusion.

Australia crashed out of the group stage following losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, triggering acrimony on the home front.

During his tenure, Afghanistan reached their first T20 World Cup semi-final in 2024, and fell just short of reaching the semis at the 50-over World Cup in 2023.

In a recent interview with The Daily Star, England’s World Cup-winning all-rounder Moeen Ali had said that while Bangladesh currently have several good cricketers, the country is lacking genuine top-tier performers.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald said on Thursday his players were "devastated" after their T20 World Cup exit, but they would be "zeroed in" on avoiding an embarrassing upset against Oman.

Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck an unbeaten 95 to help Afghanistan to a crushing 82-run win over Canada on Thursday and cap off an otherwise disappointing T20 World Cup on a high.

Zimbabwe, who failed to make the cut for the 2024 T20 World Cup, continue to spring surprises. After beating Australia earlier in the tournament, they defeated tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka by six wickets in Colombo to enter the Super Eight unbeaten and at Group B toppers.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) named 28 cricketers in its national players’ (Men) contract for 2026, but left the highest-paying A+ category vacant, with no player earning a place at the top tier.

The West Indies tuned up for the T20 World Cup Super Eight in perfect fashion on Thursday with a comfortable 42-run victory over Italy in their final group match in Kolkata.

India say they can peak at the right time and play their "perfect game" in the Super Eight at the T20 World Cup, while playing down the abject form of opening batsman Abhishek Sharma.

England face co-hosts Sri Lanka in the Super Eight on Sunday, but without Sam Curran, Harry Brook's side may well have been on the plane home.

The T20 World Cup final is on March 8.

Going solely by outcomes, International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) dream of globalising the game through T20Is has taken a hit so far in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, with Associate nations seemingly regressing, reaching a low they have not experienced in over a decade.

BCB stands as the clearest example of how instability at the top can stall sporting progress.

Abhishek was bowled on the third ball by off-spinner Aryan Dutt after India elected to bat first at the world's biggest cricket stadium.

Shadab Khan said Pakistan believed they could go on and win the T20 World Cup after their best performance of the tournament secured the last Super Eights berth on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's Twenty20 World Cup campaign was dealt another blow on Wednesday when Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a muscle strain in his left leg, with Dilshan Madushanka approved as a replacement.

Bangladesh are confirmed to have a spot in the 2028 T20 World Cup, with their position in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings set to secure automatic qualification for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.