Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers said, “I honestly don't think Bangladesh (are) going to make the knockouts. Bangladeshi fans might not like me saying this, but I have to be honest."

Star batter Virender Sehwag turned the game with his off-spin as India qualified for the final of the 2002 edition with an exciting triumph over South Africa in Colombo.

“Whenever we play against India, we have big expectations. Having come close on many occasions, we couldn’t finish the job. I hope that we’ll be able to finish this time. And it’s possible to beat Pakistan,” Talha told reporters in Mirpur on Saturday.

Before leaving for the UAE for their opening fixture of the ICC Champions Trophy against India, Bangladesh underwent a five-day training camp in Mirpur, where a few extra bowlers were brought in to assist the squad.

In the opener on February 19, hosts Pakistan will square up against New Zealand in Karachi.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam is going through a lean patch with the bat in ODIs, having not scored a hundred in the format for over two years.

Bennett, whose previous best ODI knock was 37, said: "I was lucky to get a chance to open and lucky that things went in my favour."

“Though the Bangladeshi team was not allowed to take part, the population reacted with enormous enthusiasm to the biggest sporting event -- some said the most positive event of any kind--in the country’s short, fraught, history.”

Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh team will play a warm-up match against the Mohammad Haris-led Pakistan Shaheens at the ICC Cricket Academy ground in Dubai on February 17.

It was a long time to wait for a maiden dismissal but more a reflection of the paucity of opportunity that Australia's "next-gen" quicks have been dealt while toiling in the shadow of the 'Big Three' -- Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Mohammad Haris will lead the Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 17.

Pakistan were 91-3 in reply, but a magnificent 260-run fourth wicket stand between Agha (134), who scored his maiden ODI ton, and Mohammad Rizwan (122 not out) took Pakistan to victory with six balls to spare.

Gill smashed 112 to help India rack up 356 before being all out in exactly 50 overs, though a bigger total looked on the cards when they were cruising at 226-2 in the 35th over.

Asalanka smashed a career-best 127 before chipping in with the crucial wicket of Alex Carey, while Maheesh Theekshana took 4-40 to help scuttle Australia's chase.

Ghazanfar will miss the eight-team event held in Pakistan and the UAE in what is a blow to Afghanistan's spin department that is already missing experienced spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Starc's withdrawal comes after pace stalwarts Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out due to injuries.

While Taskin and Mustafizur remain the only two pacers from the current squad who have played in the previous edition of the global event back in 2017, the 22-year-old speedster Nahid will make a foray into his first ICC event through the upcoming Champions Trophy. 

India have named star pacer Jasprit Bumrah in their 15-man preliminary squad for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy but the pacer’s place in the squad is still not confirmed.

Rohit slammed his 32nd one-day ton to lead India to a series-clinching victory in the second match against the visitors on Sunday following months of speculation over his future.

Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar suffered a blow on the same hand which he had injured during the tour of West Indies while training in the national team's ongoing camp ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.