Even though cricket is a global game which in terms of popularity is only behind football in the world, the people running the sport have always been sceptical about letting new teams join the ranks of the established names.

England scripted history in 2022 when Jos Buttler-led team defeated Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to win the T20 World Cup more than once.

The match, which was supposed to begin at 9:30 pm Bangladesh time, was the first of two ICC mandated warm-up games for the Tigers

The two most recent champions along with three spirited associates make up Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Co-hosts West Indies will be eyeing a record third title in the ICC T20 World Cup this year and the man who will lead them in their charge for glory is Rovman Powell.

In Group A, a pair of neighbours – India and Pakistan along with the USA and Canada – will be joined by Ireland.

"The fields of Rome may be a long way from the Gabba, MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) or our front yard growing up. But I feel like I'm coming home. Grazie."

"Sri Lanka are banking on Matheesha Pathirana to turn around their fortunes in the upcoming T20 World Cup," cricket writer Rex Clementine wrote in The Island newspaper.

Aiden Markram is set to appear in his third ICC T20 World Cup this year, first time as captain, in the USA and the West Indies where he will be leading a strong squad with a point to prove.

India enter the T20 World Cup with a burning desire to shatter their streak of near misses in world events, having come agonisingly close in recent tournaments only to falter at the final hurdle

“Of course, as a bowler I want to see the title ‘highest wicket-taker’ besides my name,” the leg-spinner said in a video posted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on social media today.

"My mom is watching from home," said Afghanistan's Gurbaz, who left the tournament midway through to be with his ailing mother back home and returned for the play-offs.

Holder sustained his injury during the County Championship 2024 and will require a recovery period that has effectively ruled him out of the tournament.

In a Beirut car park, migrant workers cheer as their teams face off in a cricket tournament, a moment of respite in crisis-hit Lebanon, where working conditions are often tough.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain was pleased with the way his team had responded to the two losses in the week.

West Indies, who are co-hosts of the T20 World Cup which gets under way on June 1 in the United States, will face South Africa again on Sunday to conclude the series.

England captain Jos Buttler won man-of-the-match after he smashed 84 off 51 balls to set the hosts a target of 184.

Could the Tigers spiral down further? The omens would suggest a very bleak answer for fans of a cricket-crazy nation.

"Sometimes when you win against a big side, they say oh it is a fluke. But beating them twice, back-to-back, winning the series is not a fluke."

The second T20I match between Bangladesh and USA will take place at the Prairie View Cricket Complex, Texas today.