The countdown to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has begun, with cricket followers eagerly anticipating the return of the celebrated event. Set to happen in Pakistan and the UAE, the worldwide occasion guarantees intense competitors among the many prime eight ODI groups. With India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan competing for the coveted trophy, pleasure is at an all-time excessive.
The event, final held in 2017, has a wealthy historical past of manufacturing thrilling encounters, and this version is predicted to be no totally different. With groups arriving in peak kind and situations favoring each batters and bowlers, the Champions Trophy 2025 is shaping as much as be some of the anticipated cricketing spectacles of the 12 months.
Parthiv Patel picks the darkish horse of the worldwide occasion
Whereas powerhouses like India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa are thought of robust contenders based mostly on their information in ICC occasions, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has recognized a crew that might spring a shock.
Talking on Star Sports activities, Parthiv named Afghanistan because the ‘darkish horse’ of the Champions Trophy, citing their spectacular performances within the 50-over format.
“There’ll be India, Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia simply given the document in ICC trophies. However my darkish horse is Afghanistan. They’ve performed actually good cricket within the 50-over format. It was simply that Glenn Maxwell’s innings, in any other case, I feel they have been proper there within the race to succeed in the semi-finals. So, you understand, Afghanistan might are available and shock all different groups,” mentioned Parthiv.
Notably, Afghanistan will start their Champions Trophy 2025 marketing campaign on February 21 towards South Africa at Nationwide Financial institution Stadium in Karachi. They may then journey to Lahore for the matches towards England and Australia on February 26 and February 28, respectively.
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Inspiring efficiency to date
Afghanistan have emerged as a drive to be reckoned with in recent times, proving their potential on the large stage. Their marketing campaign within the 2023 ODI World Cup noticed them in rivalry for a semi-final spot, with key victories towards main groups. Within the T20 World Cup 2024, they made historical past by securing a semi-final berth, gorgeous Australia within the Tremendous 8s and showcasing their rising dominance.
With a powerful bowling assault that includes Rashid Khan, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, alongside match-winning batters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan have the firepower to problem the event’s heavyweights. In the event that they proceed their upward trajectory, they may very nicely emerge as the most important shock bundle of the Champions Trophy 2025.