Tag: England

LAHORE: England captain Jos Buttler has emphasized the importance of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) experience ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Australia.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Buttler expressed confidence in his side while acknowledging the challenges posed by local conditions.

“We had a few practice sessions in Lahore, which have been quite beneficial,” he said. “Our top three batters are in great form, and we’ll be looking to step onto the field with a solid combination.”

With England set to face tough competition, Jos Buttler highlighted the significance of putting runs on the board.

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“We will try to score as many runs as possible to put pressure on the opposition,” he added.

He recognized the challenges his team faced during their time in India, where the conditions proved difficult and unfavourable.

Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the valuable experience his teammates gained while competing in the PSL would serve as a crucial advantage.

“The conditions here in Pakistan will be different from India,” he stated. “However, we have players in our squad who have played in the PSL, and they are sharing their experience with us, which is proving to be valuable.”

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England will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 22 against arch-rivals Australia at Lahore’s newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium.

The second group match will be against Afghanistan on February 26, also at Gaddafi Stadium, while their final group stage encounter is scheduled for March 1 against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi.

It’s worth noting that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on 20 February revealed their Playing XI for the match against Australia.

England Playing XI for Australia clash: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood.

READ: Former Pakistan captain offers valuable advice to Imam-ul-Haq ahead of India clash

LAHORE: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), on Thursday, announced England’s playing XI for their opening match against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The skipper Jos Buttler-led side is coming off a disastrous tour of India with an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to India earlier in the month.

England’s team will be eager to perform better in the marquee tournament following their dismal performances at the recently held ICC events.

After failing to qualify for the ODI World Cup semi-final and T20 World Cup final, Jos Butler was under huge pressure, and there were reports that he might be axed as captain.

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England’s team will take on Australia, which has yet to win a game in the ICC Champions Trophy after 2009, here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

The English squad welcomes the return of Jamie Smith, who had been injured during the recently concluded ODI series against India.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Smith will bat at No.3 and take over as wicketkeeper. Jofra Archer will lead the pace attack alongside fellow seamers Brydon Carse and Mark Wood.

England Playing XI against Australia :

Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood.

READ: Champions Trophy: Pakistan sanctioned for slow over-rate against New Zealand

LAHORE: The England cricket team, led by captain Jos Buttler, has arrived in Pakistan to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to commence on 19 February.

The 31-member touring party, including players, coaching staff, and management officials, reached Lahore via Dubai. Head coach Brendon McCullum and England’s managing director Robert Key also accompanied the team.

It’s worth noting that 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’s National Bank Stadium.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

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Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

England are placed in Group B featuring the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan and South Africa. They will play its group-stage matches in Lahore and Karachi.

England will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 22 against arch-rivals Australia at Lahore’s newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium.

The second group match will be against Afghanistan on February 26, also at Gaddafi Stadium, while their final group stage encounter is scheduled for March 1 against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi.

England Squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

READ: New Zealand suffer major blow ahead of Champions Trophy opener against Pakistan

MUMBAI: India ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, starting Thursday, according to reports.

The news comes a day after Indian media reported that the right-arm pacer had arrived at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to have his injured back scanned.

Although he was initially expected to miss the first two ODIs of the series, the pacer was supposed to compete in the final match to get some game time before the mega event.

Last month, the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar while announcing the squad, revealed that Jasprit Bumrah would miss the first two ODIs of the home series against England.

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“Bumrah has been told to off-load for five weeks after and he won’t be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are waiting on his fitness and will know his status in early February from the medical team,” said Agarkar in a press conference.

“We’ll probably find out a bit more around that time, what exactly, and with regards to what his medical condition is, I’m sure BCCI might just put something out, from the physio itself,” Agarkar concluded.

The 33-year-old fast bowler who picked a back injury during the final test of India’s recent five-match away series down under, is part of India’s squad for the Champions Trophy.

India updated squad for ODI series against England

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy

READ: Varun Chakravarthy added to India’s squad for ODI series against England

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been added to the ODI squad for the three-match series against England following his outstanding performances in the T20Is.

The mystery spinner, who is uncapped in ODIs, joined the national team’s training camp in Nagpur on Tuesday ahead of the first ODI, scheduled to be played on Thursday.

For the unversed, Chakravarthy bagged the Player of the Series award in the five-match T20I series against England, after claiming 14 wickets at an average of 9.86 with an economy of 7.66.

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India has already named four spinners in their squad for the England ODIs as well as the Champions Trophy 2025, including the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

Previously, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement, predicted that Chakravarthy could be added to the squad after his T20I brilliance.

India squad for ODI series against England

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (first two ODIs), Jasprit Bumrah (third ODI), Varun Chakravarthy

READ: Former Pakistan pacer questions Faheem Ashraf’s selection in Champions Trophy squad

England captain Jos Buttler has questioned the decision to bring pacer Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for batting all-rounder Shivam Dube in the fourth T20I against India on Friday.

Controversy erupted in the fourth game of the five-match T20I series when India brought Rana as a concussion sub for Dube, who copped a blow to his helmet on the second-last ball of the penultimate over of their inning.

After a check-up, the Indian physio allowed Dube to play the final ball and was run out after scoring 53 runs from 34 balls.

He, however, did not take to the field in England’s innings due to the concussion and Rana took the field in his place. Rana went on to take three key wickets, contributing to India’s victory.

England captain raised questions over the decision to allow India to bring the pacer as a concussion sub for a batting all-rounder.

“It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that,” Jos Buttler said after the match. “Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit [Rana] has really improved his batting.”

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“It’s part of the game and we really should have gone on to win the match, but we disagree with the decision.”

As per the ICC’s playing conditions for men’s T20Is, “The ICC Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Concussion Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his/her team for the remainder of the match.”

“In assessing whether the nominated Concussion Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the ICC Match Referee should consider the likely role the concussed player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Concussion Replacement.”

Jos Buttler also lamented that the match officials did not consult with him before the decision.

“There was no consultation [with us]. That’s something I was thinking as I came out to bat – who is Harshit on for? They said he is a concussion replacement, which I obviously disagreed with,” he added.

“It is not a like-for-like replacement. They said that the match referee had made the decision. We had no say in it or any part of it. But we’ll ask Javagal [Srinath] some questions just to get some clarity around it.”

READ: Second leg of Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan to kick off today

 

England batting maestro Joe Root has revealed his plans to make a comeback to the T20I squad following his stint in the SA20.

The right-handed batter is a regular feature in England’s Test squad, however, he has not played a white-ball game since the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

The former England captain last played a T20I for his side in 2019 during a bilateral series against Pakistan. However, the England selectors have been facing growing calls to include Root in the sides for the shorter format.

Joe Root was named in England squad for the ODI series against India as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, however, he remained out of contention for the ongoing T20I series.

Meanwhile, England batters have largely found it hard to tackle spin bowling offered in the T20I series against India.

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“I think you’re always a better player when you’re not in the team. I’m just going to try to play the best cricket I can,” the former England captain said in an interview with a foreign media outlet.

“You look at that squad and it’s full of talented players who can take the game away from the best bowlers in the world. They’ve got two more opportunities out there to turn things around,” he added.

Meanwhile, the right-handed batter expressed his wish to represent England in all three formats.

“But at the same time, I’ve got to play more T20 cricket, prove myself, and see where that takes me and look after that first,” he further stated.

England squad for India ODIs and Champions Trophy

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

READ: Former captain questions Pakistan’s ‘too friendly’ approach against India

England captain Jos Buttler stated that his side’s match against Afghanistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 should go ahead after calls for a boycott over the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.

A group of more than 160 British politicians have written to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) calling for England not to play the match against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26.

Since returning to power in 2021 the Taliban have effectively banned the participation of women in both sports as well as broader public life.

That puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) at odds with the rules of the governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC).

However, Jos Buttler said sports and politics should be kept separate.

“Political situations like this, as a player you’re trying to be as informed as you can be,” he told reporters ahead of the first T20 against India in Kolkata on Wednesday.

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“The experts know a lot more about it, so I’ve been trying to stay in dialogue with Rob Key (managing director of ECB) and the guys above to see how they see it.

“I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it,” he added.

“Certainly as a player, you don’t want political situations to affect sport. We hope to go to the Champions Trophy and play that game and have a really good tournament.”

The ECB has resisted calls for a boycott, with chief executive Richard Gould saying instead he would “actively advocate” for collective action by the ICC instead.

The ICC has allowed the Afghanistan men’s team to keep competing in global competitions.

England are clubbed with Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa in the group phase of the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.

READ: BCCI clears the air on removing Pakistan’s name from Champions Trophy jersey

Afghanistan announced their squad for next month’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with prolific opener Ibrahim Zadran returning after an injury lay-off but spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman missing out.

The country’s performance in white-ball cricket has been strong recently — finishing sixth in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 and reaching the semi-final in last year’s T20 World Cup.

This will be the first time Afghanistan participate in the eight-nation Champions Trophy, staged between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

“Zadran, who was away from action due to an ankle injury, has returned to the squad,” said a statement from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

“However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman misses out on the selection, as AM Ghazanfar, a similar mystery spinner, has made the cut for the mega event.”

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Rahman was left out because “he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery”, added acting ACB chief selector Ahmad Suliman Khil.

But the ACB said that the fast-rising opener Sediqullah Atal did secure a place in the squad.

Afghanistan beat England and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup and Australia and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.

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’s National Bank Stadium.

Afghanistan will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with a clash against South Africa in Karachi on February 21, before they face England and Australia in Lahore.

Afghanistan squad for 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: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood return to Australia squad for Champions Trophy

Skipper Pat Cummins and injured paceman Josh Hazlewood were named in the squad of Australia for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, in Pakistan next month.

Cummins opted out of the Sri Lanka series, which is set to commence later this month, due to the birth of his second child. He is also reportedly carrying a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Hazlewood was included in the two-time tournament winners’ preliminary 15-man line-up after calf and side strains restricted him to just two Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India over the summer.

While they return, opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dumped, paying the price for his poor recent form after opening for Australia during their most recent one-day series against Pakistan.

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“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”

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’s National Bank Stadium.

Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Pat Cummins (capt), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

READ: Women’s Ashes 2025: Ashleigh Gardner helps Australia defeat England in first ODI