Finance
The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin in Pakistan on February 19. The premier tournament, which returns after an eight-year sabbatical, will feature the top eight men’s ODI sides competing for victory.
The deadline for squad applications was February 12, and all competing nations have officially declared their 15-member squads, with many last-minute adjustments shaking up team combinations.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, enters the event with a dangerous team that includes eight members of the T20 World Cup 2024 winning group. However, the team received a big blow when pace leader Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to injury. Harshit Rana, a young pacer, has been called in as his replacement. Varun Chakaravarthy takes over for Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Defending champions Pakistan, led by wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, will look to defend their 2017 championship. The squad includes significant players from their previous Champions Trophy-winning team, like as Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Faheem Ashraf. However, they will be without the services of opening batter Saim Ayub owing to injury.
Australia, the ODI world champions, will enter the competition substantially handicapped, with several key players missing. Captain Pat Cummins, along with premier pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, have pulled out of the initial team. In their absence, Steve Smith has been named captain. The Australians will also be without all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, with newcomers Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha taking their place.
New Zealand’s squad, initially set, had to undergo a change as pacer Ben Sears was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Jacob Duffy has been named as his replacement. Mitchell Santner, leading the Kiwis in his first ICC tournament as captain, will guide a squad with a mix of youth and experience. The absence of veteran pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee puts pressure on Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and young quick Nathan Smith to deliver.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, aims to surpass their semi-final finish from 2017. Senior players Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim provide stability, while exciting youngsters Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain add firepower.
Afghanistan has been forced to make a last-minute tweak, with young spinner Nangyal Kharoti stepping in for the injured Allah Ghazanfar. The squad retains seasoned stars Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran add strength at the top order.
Joe Root returns to England’s lineup, and Tom Banton replaces the injured Jacob Bethell. Jos Buttler will lead the bowling attack, which will be captained by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood and supported by Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton.
South Africa suffered a setback when Anrich Nortje was ruled out due to injury, prompting Corbin Bosch’s participation. Kagiso Rabada leads the Proteas’ pace attack, while Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, and Heinrich Klaasen make up the batting core.
The eight teams are divided into two groups, and the top two from each group advance to the semifinals. Group A includes hosts Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, all of whom are expected to compete in exciting subcontinental matches. Group B includes Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign begins on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by a match against nemesis Pakistan on February 23. India will play their final Group A encounter against New Zealand on March 2.
This tournament is the first time Pakistan has hosted an ICC event since 1996. The 2025 edition consists of eight teams divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group proceeding to the semi-finals.
The top eight-team competition will feature 15 matches spread over 19 days in Pakistan and the UAE. India will play all of its matches in Dubai, including the semi-finals and finals (subject to qualification).
All final squads:
Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
Bangladesh squad: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch.
Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka
New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.
England squad: 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
Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Source: IANS
