This has turned out to be one of the most entertaining Champions Trophy ever with unexpected games and turnaround and also each game turning out to be a knockout.

With a great win by Bangladesh against NewZealand and Australia failing to win against the Blackcaps, Bangladesh has cruised to the semifinals and they are expected to meet Group B table topper India in the semifinals at Birmingham.

“It’s a big thing for our cricket. It is an opportunity for us but I want to request everybody not to think we will go all the way to win the title,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza told reporters at the team hotel in Cardiff.

“It’s a tournament of the top eight teams and more challenging than the World Cup. So, to be in the semi-final is itself an achievement for us. It is also a reward for our continued effort towards improving our game,” he added.”I think everyone has contributed to what we are today. The whole nation will be with us as they were in our desperate times and good times.”

Mahmudullah and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan made the highest partnership for any wicket in an ODI for the side when they put on 224 to take the match away from New Zealand. This has have been the highest ODI partnership for Bangladesh and they played the best inning so their life chasing the score.

“We have given him (Mahmudullah) a role around six months ago, which is to bat at number six. He has responded well batting there,” batting coach Thilan Samaraweera said.”He was actually batting further up when I took the job in 2015 but after that, the coaching staff thought about getting him ready for the 2019 World Cup with the role at six.”

“He is doing well there, finishing the game for the team recently, in (the recent tri-series in) Ireland and against New Zealand on Friday,”he added

With England already up for the semifinals, today’s winner of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka will face them in the first semifinals followed by India vs Bangladesh in the second semifinal on 18h.