Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has predicted the potential winner of extremely anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 19 to March 9.
Return of the match after eight-year hiatus
This version will mark the return of the Champions Trophy after an extended eight-year hiatus, making it probably the most awaited worldwide cricket occasions. Pakistan, the defending champions, received the final version in 2017, defeating arch-rivals India by 180 runs in a historic last at The Oval. Now, underneath the management of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan will goal to copy that success on house soil and reclaim their title.
Pakistan will start their title protection on February 19 within the opening match towards New Zealand on the Nationwide Financial institution Stadium in Karachi. This match shall be important as it’ll set the tone for his or her marketing campaign. Essentially the most extremely anticipated encounter of the match will happen on February 23, when Pakistan faces arch-rivals India in Dubai. Given the historic rivalry between the 2 nations, this match is predicted to be the spotlight of the group stage. Pakistan’s last group-stage match shall be towards Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi, the place they are going to goal to safe a semi-final berth.
Additionally READ: ICC announces warm-up fixtures for the Champions Trophy 2025
Sarfaraz Ahmed names the winner of the Champions Trophy 2025
Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to their historic Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, believed that Pakistan have a powerful squad and an ideal likelihood of defending the title. He emphasised that a number of gamers from the 2017-winning workforce are nonetheless a part of the squad, bringing invaluable expertise to the aspect.
Talking about Pakistan’s strengths, he significantly highlighted the significance of Babar Azam‘s batting. In response to Sarfaraz, Babar has developed right into a extra mature and dominant participant in comparison with 2017, and his skill to anchor innings shall be essential for Pakistan. Alongside Babar, Fakhar Zaman‘s aggressive batting strategy shall be important in offering fast begins on the high of the order.
On the bowling entrance, Sarfaraz additional said that the Pakistan boasted a formidable tempo assault with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf main the cost. Sarfaraz identified that each bowlers are in glorious type and possess the power to dismantle any batting lineup. Their tempo, swing, and accuracy make them harmful prospects, particularly in house circumstances. Moreover, Rizwan’s captaincy and wicketkeeping expertise are anticipated to supply stability to the workforce.
“Pakistan have a very good likelihood of defending that title and I feel they’ve a powerful workforce. A few of the boys from 2017 are nonetheless there and we’re speaking about a number of the finest – particularly Babar Azam. He’s a unique Babar to the one which performed in 2017, a extra mature participant and a dominant participant within the recreation. His batting shall be so essential for Pakistan and so will Fakhar Zaman’s. With the ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are good bowlers and are taking part in effectively. The captain, Mohammad Rizwan, can also be a wicketkeeper-batter, which labored fairly effectively for me again in 2017!,” Sarfaraz was quoted as saying by the ICC.
