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Pakistan team with the ICC Champions Trophy 2017- Photo Credit ICC
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will start on 19 February 2025 in Pakistan. This is the first time Pakistan is hosting a major ICC event since 1996 when hosted the ICC ODI World Cup. The craze of The ICC Champions Trophy is on the rise. The ICC Champions Trophy is one of the few mega events that the ICC holds, so it holds a great deal of importance for the teams, fans, and the whole cricket world.
Overview
The PCB has renovated its 3 major stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as per ICC instructions for the mega event. The renovation started in August 2024, and although it was looking quite impossible to complete the renovation before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 PCB has proved the cricketing world wrong by doing great work to complete the stadium's renovation before the deadline.
The excitement and expectations of cricket fans in Pakistan are on the rise as their team is gearing up to defend its title on its home turf. In this article, we will discuss the Pakistan team, their squads, and factors favoring them, against them, and their chances in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Home Advantage
The Champions Trophy 2025 is in Pakistan, so the Pakistan team will be playing in their conditions, they are used to their conditions very well. That is a big advantage they have so it gives them an edge in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They have very passionate fans at home, and they will come in huge numbers to support the home side. Conditions in Pakistan are mostly dry and slow so it will support the Pakistan team's style of play.
Moreover, these conditions will suit spinners and reverse swing and we all know Pakistan bowlers are very good exponents of Reverse swing. Recently Pakistan has had solid performances in ODI at home against England, South Africa, and Australia. So, they will pose a good challenge to any team in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Photo: Shadab Khan, Muhammad Rizwan, and other Pakistan team credit ICC
Pakistan Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan has announced a good squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They have the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, and Harris Rauf in their ranks all of them are very good white ball players.
They have the number one ranked ODI batter Babar Azam in their team who is one of the best ODI players in the world right now. He has vast experience and he knows how to score big in ODI.
They have one of the most destructive batters in the world Fakhar the Zaman who can destroy any bowling attack on his day. He has a habit of scoring big runs in important games. So he will be the key to their success in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.
Photo: Fakhar Zaman- credit ICC
Their captain is Mohammad Rizwan who is a consistent batter and provides stability to the middle order. He has scored a lot of runs this year so he is in good touch also.
Pakistan is always well known for its great fast bowling. This time around they have Shaheen Shah Afridi who is leading the pace attack, he is very lethal with the new ball. He has the habit of picking up wickets with the new ball. Harris Rauf and Naseem Shah will join him to complete the pace battery. All these pace guns are top-class bowlers so they will give Pakistan a good advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
- All Rounders and Spinners
Pakistan has good-quality all-rounders like Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, and Faheem Ashraf, they give stability and firepower down the order and are quite handy with the ball also. Their recent performances with the bat and ball are just outstanding. They have Abrar Ahmed as a surprise package, he is a mystery spinner. So, overall they have quite useful allrounders. As the pitches in Pakistan are spin-friendly and dry so we are expecting these allrounders and spinners to be effective.
Key Challenges for Pakistan
Although home conditions provide an advantage of conditions and environment sometimes it also puts pressure on the home team as everyone puts a lot of expectations that they will do wonders. So, Pakistan has to handle the pressure of expectations also it will pose a challenge to them.
- Inexperienced middle-order
The Pakistan middle order has not had much experience on the big stage except for Mohammad Rizwan. Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, and Khushdil Shah all are quite new to this stage. So they have to handle a lot of pressure and provide support to Muhammad Rizwan in the middle order.
Pakistan team has Abrar Ahmed as the only main spinner and Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah as part-time spinners, but they are all quite new to this stage. As the Champions Trophy 2025 is in Pakistan so Pakistan team will have to face a lot of challenges if their inexperienced spinners do not get wickets in the middle overs.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a tough competition, Pakistan is placed alongside India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh in group A. More information about The ICC Champions Trophy is available here:
The top two Teams will qualify for the semifinals so they will have to two matches out of three if they have to qualify for Semi-finals. While looking at other teams, India and New Zealand are the top sides and are more balanced than Pakistan. Moreover, if qualify for the Semifinal they have to face either South Africa, England, Australia, or Afghanistan. So ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a tough competition if you lose one game you are almost out of the tournament.
What Strategy for Pakistan to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
- Aggressive opening approach
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman will have to set the tone with his aggressive approach if Pakistan is to go deep in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Fakhar Zaman has to go big from the top. Because he is the one who can play and aggressive knocks.
Pakistan pacers Shaheen and Co will have to bowl quite well and pick early wickets to get the better of other teams. Pakistan pacers have always been the key and the backbone of their team's success over the years. So, once again they have to keep the batters on their back back foot.
Photo: Shaheen Shah Afridi credit ICC
Pakistan should use their spinners well in different phases on slow and dry wickets to snatch the momentum of batters. Abrar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, and Khushdil Shah all are quite capable of destroying the opposition on spinning tracks so, let them do the magic with the ball.
Rivalry and Key Matches
Pakistan has the biggest clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on 23rd February 2025 against India. Indian Team is a very solid team, Pakistan will have to be at their absolute best to beat their arch-rivals. Pakistan India is always a high-pressure game so Pakistan will have to handle pressure well and bring their A game against a strong Indian Team.
Photo: Babar Azam & Rohit Sharma Credit ICC & TOI
Pakistan has the 1st game against New Zealand on 19th February 2025. new Zealand is a dominant force in the white ball format. Pakistan has to bat well with a positive approach, and bowlers need to execute their plans to beat the Kiwis.
What Expert's Prediction about Pakistan Chances?
As The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is in Pakistan, experts believe that Pakistan cannot be written off so early moreover unpredictable nature of the Pakistan team poses a serious threat to any team. They have players who can win it for them on the big stage. If their middle order performs well and key players get form before the ICC Champions Trophy they will pose a serious challenge to all teams.
So, What do you think will Pakistan be able to defend their title at their own home? What are your thoughts, let us know in the comments.
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Pakistan team with the ICC Champions Trophy 2017- Photo Credit ICC
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