Tag: England

KARACHI: England have won the toss and opted to bat first against South Africa in the 11th match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at National Bank Stadium on Saturday.

Playing XIs

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The 2025 edition marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches over 19 days, taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

The teams are divided into two groups for the initial stage. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

READ: Nasser Hussain names Jos Buttler’s replacement as England’s captaincy

Former England captain and renowned commentator Nasser Hussain has thrown his support behind Harry Brook to replace Jos Buttler as the country’s new white-ball captain after the disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.

Buttler, who led England to ICC T20 World Cup glory in 2022, has now endured three disappointing major tournaments as captain.

Following England’s early exit from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, the 34-year-old officially stepped down as captain, leaving England in search of a new leader.

Nasser Hussain, in his column for the Daily Mail, backed Brook as the best available option, citing England’s limited captaincy choices due to the lack of domestic 50-over cricket.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

“Harry Brook would be my choice as England’s next limited-overs captain now it’s clearly time to move on from Jos Buttler,” he wrote.

“If you’re having to think about being England captain, as Buttler said he would be after Champions Trophy elimination earlier this week, you probably know you’re done.”

However, while advocating for Brook, Hussain also pointed out the challenges of appointing him, especially with England’s packed Test calendar, which includes a home series against India and the Ashes.

“There would be issues with appointing Brook. In such an important year, do you really want to pass on all the burdens of leading a struggling side to a young man and make his life more difficult? England are trying to play a lot of their Test players in white-ball cricket, but do they want their captain to be part of that as well?” he questioned.

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Harry Brook has been Buttler’s deputy since January but has struggled to balance his role, managing just one half-century in his last 10 white-ball games.

Despite this, Nasser Hussain recalled Brook’s previous leadership experiences and praised his ability to handle dual responsibilities.

“I enjoyed watching him captain last year, whether it be in the Hundred or against Australia, when he scored a hundred in one of the games – which suggested he was quite happy balancing the two roles,” he added.

“But you’ve still got to be careful. You don’t want to weigh down a very talented young player with it all.”

READ: Former Pakistan captain calls for complete overhaul after Champions Trophy exit

England skipper Jos Buttler has resigned as white-ball captain after the team’s group-stage exit in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

England ended their dismal campaign in eight- team tournament with defeats against Australia and Afghanistan.

Buttler announced his decision in a press conference on the eve of the team’s last group game, against South Africa.

He stated that resigning from captaincy was the right choice for both himself and the team.

“I’m going to stand down as England captain, it’s the right decision for me and the right decision for the team. Hopefully,somebody else who can come in alongside Baz [Brendon McCullum] will take the team to where it needs to be.” he stated.

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The 34-year-old batter who took over the captaincy from Eoin Morgan in 2022, further mentioned that he intends to continue playing for England and wants to wants to focus enjoying my cricket.

“I want to get back to really enjoying my cricket. The overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment,” he remarked.

“I’m sure, in time, that will pass and I can get back to really enjoying my cricket, and [will] also be able to reflect on what an immense honour it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with it,” Buttler said.

Under Buttler’s captaincy, England won the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. However, team has struggled since then.

Now, after three unsuccessful ICC events—the 2023 50-over World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy—Buttler has decided to step down.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The explosive batter has led England in 44 ODIs, managing only 18 wins and suffering 25 losses.

On the contrary, he has a better record in the T20Is. Buttler has captained England in 51 T20 matches, winning 26 and losing 22. The World Cup triumph remains the most significant achievement of his captaincy tenure.

Earlier, following the defeat against Afghanistan, Buttler hinted about his future as captain in a post-match press conference, stating that he would “consider all possibilities.”

READ: Champions Trophy: Sediqullah’s 85, Omarzai’s 67 lift Afghanistan to 273 against Australia

LAHORE: Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against England in the eighth match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Playing XIs

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The 2025 edition marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches over 19 days, taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

The teams are divided into two groups for the initial stage. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

READ: Kiwi match-winner Ravindra relishes return after freak accident

LAHORE: England suffered a major blow as bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse has been ruled out for the remainder of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after nursing an injury to his left toe.

Carse sustained the injury during England’s opening game against Australia on Saturday in Lahore.

The 29-year-old also missed the last two ODIs against India due to injury, but he played in the game against Australia.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Brydon Carse struggled in the opening game after giving away 69 runs in his seven overs in a high-scoring encounter against the arch-rivals.

The young spinner Rehan Ahmed has been called up as his replacement. He will join the squad in Pakistan later this week.

Rehan, who has been instrumental in England’s recent success in Test matches, has played 6 One Day Internationals and has 10 wickets to his name.

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The 20-year-old leg spinner last played for the England team in an ODI in December 2023 against the West Indies.

For those unaware, England needs to win both of their remaining group-stage matches to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals.

They will now face Afghanistan on 26 February at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The team suffered a five-wicket defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Australia after posting a mammoth total in their campaign opener on Saturday.

England Update Squad for Champions Trophy 2025

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

READ: Ravindra’s ton powers New Zealand past Bangladesh as Pakistan crash out

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

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

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The 2025 edition marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches over 19 days, taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

The teams are divided into two groups for the initial stage. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

READ: Shane Watson names THIS player to shine at Champions Trophy

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.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

“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