Dropping young

The Najmul Hossain Shanto: A confident New Zealand side will look to secure their place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy when they take on Bangladesh in a crucial Group A encounter on Monday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Black Caps started their campaign in dominant fashion, securing a 60-run win over hosts Pakistan. With a strong net run rate of 1.200, another victory will all but confirm their place in the knockout stage.

For Bangladesh, the equation is simple—win or face elimination. The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side suffered a six-wicket defeat against India in their opening game and are currently third in the group with a net run rate of -0.408. A loss here would make their chances of progressing extremely slim.