Tag: Champions Trophy 2025

DUBAI: Mohammad Haris 76 and Mubasir Khan 63 helped Pakistan Shaheens secure a convincing seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the fourth warm-up match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at the ICC Academy on Monday.

Shaheens chased a meagre total of 203 runs in 34 overs on the loss of three wickets.

Sahibzada Farhan (23) and  Azan Awais (31) added 29 for the wicket before being dismissed quickly by Bangladesh fast bowlers.

Haris and Mubasir formed a formidable stand of 137 runs on the fourth wicket, leading their team to a victory.

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Earlier, Bangladesh’s batting unit scored a mere 202 in 38.2 overs courtesy of Usama Mir’s spin bowling.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with 44, followed by Soumya Sarkar (35) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (30).

Usama was the standout bowler for the Pakistan Shaheens, picking up four wickets for just 43 runs, followed by right-arm pacer Musa Khan, who bagged two wickets.

In another warm-up match, South Africa beat Pakistan Shaheens by three wickets, courtesy of an all-round batting performance.

The Proteas chased the mammoth 323 runs, losing seven wickets with six balls to spare.

The warm-up match marked the return of South African premier players, who were unavailable for the recently concluded tr-nation series.

Ryan Rickelton (57), Tony de Zorzi (55), Rassie van der Dussen (62), and Aiden Markram hit form with brisk half-centuries before Wiaan Mulder provided the final touches with his quick-fire cameo of 42 from 30 deliveries, laced with three fours and three sixes.

Niaz Khan and Mehran Mumtaz were stand-out bowlers for Shaheens, bagging two wickets each.

For the unversed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named the three Shaheens squads that will feature in the Champions Trophy 2025 warm-up matches in the build-up to the main event, which will take place from 19 February to 9 March.

Schedule of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 warm-up matches featuring Pakistan Shaheens:

14 February – vs Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium (1400-2130)

17 February – vs South Africa, National Stadium Karachi (1400-2130)

17 February – vs Bangladesh, ICC Cricket Academy (1400-2130)

READ: South Africa outplay Pakistan Shaheens in Champions Trophy warm-up

KARACHI: South Africa beat Pakistan Shaheens by three wickets in the third warm-up match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 courtesy of an all-round batting performance.

The Proteas chased the mammoth 323 runs, losing seven wickets with six balls to spare.

The warm-up match marked the return of South African premier players, who were unavailable for the recently concluded tr-nation series.

Ryan Rickelton (57), Tony de Zorzi (55), Rassie van der Dussen (62), and Aiden Markram hit form with brisk half-centuries before Wiaan Mulder provided the final touches with his quick-fire cameo of 42 from 30 deliveries, laced with three fours and three sixes.

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Niaz Khan and Mehran Mumtaz were stand-out bowlers for Shaheens, bagging two wickets each.

Earlier, the Shaheen posted 322-8 in their allocated 50 overs with the help of Muhammad Hurraira’s majestic century.

Huraira (110) and Imam-ul-Haq (98) posted a 163-run stand for the second wicket.

Huraira, whose innings included 12 fours and one six, was bowled by Marco Jansen, while van der Dussen ran out Imam on the cusp of a century.

Middle-order batter Maaz Sadaqat (28)  and Saad Khan (30) formed a crucial 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket, which helped Shaheens reach a big total.

Wiaan Mulder was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 27 in his five overs. South Africa front-line bowler Kagiso Rabada went wicket-less in his eight overs, while Jansen chipped in with two wickets.

For the unversed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named the three Shaheens squads that will feature in the Champions Trophy 2025 warm-up matches in the build-up to the main event, which will take place from 19 February to 9 March.

Schedule of ICC Champions Trophy warm-up matches featuring Pakistan Shaheens:

14 February – vs Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium (1400-2130)

17 February – vs South Africa, National Stadium Karachi (1400-2130)

17 February – vs Bangladesh, ICC Cricket Academy (1400-2130)

READ: Ahmed Shehzad questions Babar Azam’s promotion as an opener

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has questioned the elevation of Babar Azam as an opener after his run drought ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar, who has yet to score an ODI century since his mammoth 151 against Nepal, is recently going through a rough patch after a string of low scores.

After his promotion as an opener, the right-handed batter returned with scores of  10, 23, and 29 in the recently concluded tri-nation series featuring New Zealand and South Africa.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Shehzad questioned his role as an opener after poor form.

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“And now he has been promoted from number three to an opener, which should not have been done because he has not scored many runs recently. If his confidence was high, then such an experiment might have worked,” said the top-order batter.

“Recently, Babar’s form is not that good, and yet you are changing his batting position, which, in my opinion, is unjust, said Shehzad.

Ahmed Shehzad suggested that Babar should bat at the No.3 position in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, citing his previous performances in the above mentioned position.

“I personally believe that ODI is the most-suited format for Babar Azam because his game is natural in this format and he does not need to improvise much.”

“So, over the years, it has suited him well, especially at the number three position,” said Shehzad.

He also said the ODI format has undergone a significant overhaul in a decade. Since our team lost wickets at the top, Babar was the mainstay at number three, and he used to stabilize the innings.

“Although ODI cricket has evolved over the years since we lose wickets at the top, Babar, at number three, used to stabilize the innings, which was his role,” said the right-handed batter.

READ: ‘I want to play alongside my son’ Mohammad Nabi hints at U-turn on ODI retirement

Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi on Monday, suggested he might reconsider his retirement plans from international cricket after the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Last year, Nabi announced that he would hang up his boots in One Day International cricket after the mega event set to be held in Pakistan, but he has now stated that he wants to extend his international career.

The all-rounder revealed these thoughts in an interview with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Nabi stated that he wants to play less ODI cricket to prolong his career so that he gets to fulfill his dream of playing with his son.

His 18-year-old son, Hassan Eisakhil, played for Afghanistan in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.

“I’m still thinking (about the future). These might not be my last ODIs, I will probably play fewer ODIs and give chances to the youngsters to build experience,” said Nabi.

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“I’ve discussed with the senior players and in the high-level games, maybe or maybe not, we’ll see. It will depend on my fitness,’ said the off-spinner.

Nabi further said that it’s his dream to play alongside his son in the Afghanistan team.

“It’s my dream (to play for Afghanistan together). Hopefully, we can do it,” Nabi told the ICC.

“He is doing very well. In the last two games, he scored a hundred and 95. He is a hard worker, and I’m also pushing him to do work,” said the all-rounder.

Mohammad Nabi emphasized the importance of setting high goals and the key to success at the highest level of cricket.

“I want him to make his own goals; if you want to be a high-level cricketer, you have to work hard. It’s not enough to make 50 or 60; you have to score 100+.”

“He’s listening and pushing all the time. When he can talk to me, I try to give him advice to give him confidence for the game,” concluded Nabi.

Afghanistan will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa in Karachi on 21 February before traveling to Lahore to play England and Australia on February 26 and 28.

Afghanistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.

READ: Haris Rauf ‘satisfied’ with his fitness ahead of Champions Trophy

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially revealed the team’s jersey for the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 19.

The cricket board revealed the new jersey through a video on their social media platforms on Sunday, featuring Bangladesh’s star cricketers, adding to the excitement as the tournament draws closer.

Staying true to tradition, the iconic green remains the jersey’s dominant colour, but it’s the bold splash of red that steals the spotlight this time.

The striking red accents on the collar, sleeves, and chest give the jersey an energetic and fierce look, perfectly embodying the aggressive cricketing spirit of Bangladesh.

 

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A post shared by Bangladesh Cricket : Tigers (@bangladeshtigers)

What truly stands out is the flame-like red design at the bottom, inspired by the stripes of the Royal Bengal Tiger – a fitting symbol of the team’s fearless attitude.

Adding a touch of elegance are the gold embellishments on the shoulders, enhancing the overall appeal of the jersey. The back of the jersey also features golden accents that shine from every angle, giving the kit a regal finish.

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On the front, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 emblem and Pakistan’s name are displayed on the right side, while the left proudly showcases the BCB logo with the iconic Bengal Tiger symbol.

It’s worth mentioning that Bangladesh will kick off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on 20 February against India in Dubai.

Following that, they will travel to Rawalpindi where they are scheduled to face New Zealand and Pakistan on 24 and 27 February respectively.

Bangladesh Champions Trophy squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

READ: Three matches to watch at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on Wednesday with the world’s top eight teams competing in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the prestigious title.

AFP Sport looks at three highly anticipated matches in the group phase of the 50-over tournament:

Australia v England

The Ashes rivals Australia and England are set to clash in Lahore on Saturday. World Cup holders Australia have had the upper hand against their old foes in recent ODI matches and won their previous series 3-2 last year.

But both come into the Champions Trophy 2025 with question marks hanging over them.

Australia are without their “Big Three” pacemen — Pat Cummins (ankle), Josh Hazlewood (hip) and Mitchell Starc, who has opted out for personal reasons.

Add in the absences of all-rounders Mitchell Marsh (back) and Marcus Stoinis (retired), and half of their regular team is missing.

The depleted side suffered a heavy 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka on the eve of the tournament.

England, with Test coach Brendon McCullum now in charge, did no better and were whitewashed 3-0 in India. Since winning the 2019 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup, England have struggled in white-ball cricket.

India v Pakistan

TV ratings rocket with millions tuning in to watch the arch-rivals Pakistan and India any time they battle it out, owing to the deep rivalry between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

The two teams will meet on Sunday in Dubai. The tickets for the clash were sold out minutes after going on sale as more than 150,000 fans queued online to grab a seat in the 25,000-capacity stadium.

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India refused to visit Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, forcing the latter to agree to partially relinquish hosting rights to Dubai after a long stand-off.

On the pitch, India are favourites to win the tournament for a third time, in what is expected to be the international swansong for Rohit Sharma. However, Pakistan are the defending champions and are known for their unpredictability.

Afghanistan v England

More than 160 British politicians called for England to boycott the match in Lahore on February 26 over the erosion of women’s rights by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.

Skipper Jos Buttler rejected the idea, saying: “I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it.” Barring a shock last-minute about-face, the game will go ahead.

After being well beaten in India last week, Buttler insisted that England can be “dangerous” at the Champions Trophy, even if recent evidence suggests otherwise.

Afghanistan have become a rising force in white-ball cricket in recent years, rising to eighth in the ODI world rankings, one place below England.

The Afghans beat Australia on the way to a historic semi-final place at last year’s T20 World Cup, before losing to South Africa.

READ: Five potential breakout stars to watch at the Champions Trophy 2025

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is set to make its comeback after an eight-year break on February 19 with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser at Karachi’s newly renovated National Bank Stadium.

AFP Sport highlights five less heralded players looking to make a name for themselves at the 50-over tournament:

Varun Chakravarthy (India)

A late entry into the Indian squad for the tournament, wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy adds value to the bowling line-up on expected slow pitches in Dubai.

The 33-year-old only made his ODI debut in this month’s England series after claiming 14 wickets in India’s 4-1 T20 triumph.

He has been a standout in the Indian Premier League 20-over tournament and played a key role with 21 wickets in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title triumph last year.

Chakravarthy is part of a formidable Indian spin attack, and coach Gautam Gambhir said he could offer the “X-factor”.

Tayyab Tahir (Pakistan)

Middle-order batsman Tayyab Tahir was a breakout star for Pakistan in the 2023 Emerging Teams Asia Cup when his sparkling century led the team to victory in the final against arch-rivals India.

Tahir, 31, enjoyed a good run in the domestic circuit and a few T20 outings for Pakistan before making his ODI debut last year.

His scores in white-ball internationals have been moderate, with his highest 39 not out in a T20 game.

But Tayyab Tahir has had praise from pundits, with fast bowling great Wasim Akram calling him a “very exciting talent” after his batting blitz in the Pakistan Super League.

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Tom Banton (England)

Somerset batsman Tom Banton joined England in India for the final ODI of this month’s series and showed glimpses of his talent in a 38-run knock for a losing cause.

The 26-year-old, who took guard at number three in Ahmedabad, came in as cover for injured Jacob Bethell and replaced him in England’s Champions Trophy squad.

Playing his seventh ODI and his first since August 2020, Banton took on the Indian spinners and made a six off Washington Sundar with a spectacular switch hit over backward point.

Banton has been in top form in T20 franchise cricket and is the leading batter in the United Arab Emirates’ premier competition, amassing 493 runs including two centuries from 11 innings.

Aaron Hardie (Australia)

Seam-bowling all-rounder Aaron Hardie, 26, gets his chance after the sudden retirement of Marcus Stoinis ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Hardie, a right-arm pacer and powerful batter, rattled Sri Lanka with figures of 2-13 and then made 32 with the bat before Australia went down in Colombo last week.

He turned heads in 2018 when he dismissed Indian top guns Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in a tour game for Cricket Australia XI and hit 86 with the bat.

Hardie made his white-ball debut for Australia in 2023 but is still awaiting a performance that cements his place in the team.

Will O’Rourke (New Zealand)

Standing an imposing six feet, four inches (1.93 meters), the fast bowler has impressed in his nine ODI matches and is set to play in his first ICC tournament.

The 23-year-old O’Rourke made his ODI debut in 2023 but it was his opening Test at home last year that got him attention after he claimed a match haul of nine wickets against South Africa.

He recently played a starring role with figures of 4-43 for the Black Caps in their win over Pakistan in the tri-series final in Karachi — the venue for the Champions Trophy opener between the same two teams.

With tearaway quick Ben Sears ruled out and Lockie Ferguson recovering from a hamstring injury, New Zealand will depend on O’Rourke and senior quick Matt Henry to fire.

READ: Former Indian cricketer raises doubt over Babar Azam’s status as top Pakistani batter

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has raised doubts over Pakistan star batter Babar Azam and his status as the country’s best batter heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar, who has been Pakistan’s mainstay at the number three position, was promoted to open the innings with Fakhar Zaman in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

However, his performance in this new role has been disappointing, as he returned with scores of 10, 23, and 29, sparking discussions about the decision to move him to the opening spot.

Harbhajan Singh, in a video on his YouTube channel, criticised Pakistan’s batting line-up, highlighting their recent forms. He took a dig at Babar while mentioning his below-par average against India.

“Their star batter is Babar Azam. His average against India is 31. If you are a top batter, I believe you should have an average close to 50, which he doesn’t have,” he stated.

The former Indian spinner lavished praise on Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, noting his remarkable positivity and free-spirited style of play.

However, he pointed out Rizwan’s struggle against India, revealing that his average dips to 25 in encounters with the arch-rivals.

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“Then, there is Rizwan. I like him as a player. He is a man with a positive attitude and plays freely. But his average against India is 25,” he added.

He then turned his attention to Fakhar Zaman, the sole full-time opener for Pakistan, emphasizing his formidable batting prowess.

“Fakhar Zaman, their only full-time opener, has an average of 46. It’s a good average. Fakhar can take the game away from India,” the former spinner said.

Harbhajan Singh then assessed the rest of Pakistan’s batting lineup, highlighting their averages against India, suggesting that, despite some talent, none of them appeared to pose a significant threat.

“Right now, if we look at Faheem Ashraf, his average is 12.5. I don’t think he can pose a threat to the opposing team,” he further added.

“And Saud Shakeel’s average against India is 6. So, with such averages, when I look at the batting lineup, I don’t have the confidence that this team will win.”

READ: Champions Trophy: Harbhajan Singh issues bold statement about Pakistan-India clash

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has made a bold statement about the result of his country’s upcoming match against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the high-octane clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

Harbhajan Singh predicted India to win single-handedly while calling it an ‘overhyped’ match. The former spinner asserted that India is a much stronger team.

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“India and Pakistan. You heard it right, this is an overhyped match. Because there is nothing in it,” he said. “India is a very strong team, while Pakistan is an inconsistent team as they recently lost to New Zealand at home.”

“Pakistan’s team seems to be a little weak. Because apart from Babar and Rizwan, there is no other batsman in that team. If you look at their team in bowling they are not in form.”

Harbhajan also expressed confidence in India’s squad, while predicting that this team can win the Champions Trophy 2025.

“In the match between India and Pakistan, Pakistan is far behind, and India looks like a team that can win this Champions Trophy,” he stated.

Squads for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

READ: Mohammad Amir casts doubts over Haris Rauf’s Champions Trophy participation

KARACHI: The Pakistan cricket team hit the ground running with an intense training session here on Sunday as they gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on February 19.

The training session took place at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Center’s Oval Ground, where the players participated in an optional three-hour practice under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.

Focused on sharpening their batting, bowling, and fitness, the players went through a series of drills designed to fine-tune their skills ahead of the mega event.

The session kicked off with warm-up exercises before Pakistan squad dived into specialized drills aimed at enhancing their match readiness.

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Throughout the session, the coaching staff closely monitored the players’ performances, ensuring they stayed in top form.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19.

They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Mohammad Yousuf picks THESE teams as favorites for Champions Trophy 2025