Mohammad Shahzad scored a brisk 61 to help guide Afghanistan to a vital 14-run victory over Scotland, in Nagpur on Tuesday, in the both teams' first game in Group B of the World T20 first round.
Over the course of the last week the World T20 qualifiers have been taking place in Scotland and Ireland, with 14 teams vying for six spots, there has been some exciting cricket with some surprising results.
The International Cricket Council on Friday announced the groups and schedule of the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which will be staged across eight venues in India from 8 March to 3 April.
Any side can get thumped, regardless of where they sit in the ICC hierarchy. It will happen to better sides less often, because they are, you know, better.
The ICC Annual Conference concluded in Barbados with the ICC, IDI and IBC Board meetings, which were held under the chairmanship of Mr Narayanaswami Srinivasan.
The ICC chief executive David Richardson has conceded that cricket's governing body took the controversial decision to reduce the number of teams for the next two global tournaments because of a mega broadcasting deal.
Ireland spinner George Dockrell has criticised the ICC's decision to reduce the next two World Cup's from 14 to 10 teams, saying it doesn't make sense.
The next two Cricket World Cups, in 2019 and 2023, is set to be reduced to just ten sides after the reduction of teams was not discussed at the ICC general conference.
Matthew Cross continued his fine run of form, and Preston Mommsen also weighed in, as Scotland beat Ireland by six wickets in Bready on Sunday to win the three-match T20 series with a game to spare.
Scotland may have been the underdogs going into the first T20 against Ireland in Bready on Thursday, but they emerged victorious by six wickets thanks a Matthew Cross half ton in the chase.
There is speculation that Ireland and Scotland could be included in the County Championship in future, with a three-division tournament being looked at, and those nations are eager to see that come to pass.
The group stage is over, and we are saying goodbye to Associate involvement for another World Cup, and maybe we are saying goodbye to them forever. Here's a review of their efforts.
The influence of two new balls from both ends, revised fielding restrictions, and T20 have transformed the predominant 50-over strategy, turning the ODI revolution of the 1990s inside-out.
A strong batting performance from all their major players saw Bangladesh see off a strong challenge from associate side Scotland and secure a six wicket win in a World Cup Pool A match at the Saxton Oval in Nelson on Thursday.
ICC chief N Srinivasan took the opportunity during the World Cup final, while being interviewed in the commentary box, to defend the ICC's plan to reduce the World Cup to 10 teams in 2019.
He is the only man to captain England to a world title, the World T20 in 2010, but Scotland assistant coach Paul Collingwood believes his team can beat the odds and upset his national side when the two teams meet in a World Cup Pool A clash in Christchurch on Monday.
New Zealand kept their winning run in tact at this year's World Cup when they beat South Africa by four wickets in their rain-affected semi-final in Auckland on Tuesday, reaching their first ever final in thrilling fashion.
While the teams taking part in this game in Tasmania will find it important, the other side keeping a close eye will be South Africa, as the result could determine who they face in the quarter-finals. A wash-out will see Oz face the Proteas next week.
The rain in Hobart nearly scuppered Australia's quarter-final plans, as a wash-out would have seen them face South Africa in Adelaide, but Scotland provided a small target, so the Aussies won by seven wickets after a long rain break.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said the mood in the side is still good and they will leave the World Cup, after their final match against co-hosts Australia, a stronger side than the one that arrived.
Scotland vice-captain Kyle Coetzer admits that everyone in the Scottish squad has thought about how they are going to face Australia fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc when they bowl at speeds of 150kph.
Kumar Sangakkara scored his fourth consecutive century, the first player to do so in ODI's, as Sri Lanka eased to a 148-run win over Scotland in a World Cup Pool A encounter in Hobart on Wednesday.
