After an eight-year hiatus, the Champions Trophy returns to the cricket calendar. It promises an open and unpredictable one-day international (ODI) tournament. With no dominant team, fans can expect fierce competition among the world’s top eight ODI sides.
The International Cricket Committee (ICC) discontinued the tournament after its eighth edition in 2017. In that edition, Pakistan, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, defeated India in the final. Now, Pakistan holds the title and will host the event. This marks their first major global tournament since the 1996 World Cup. However, due to political tensions, India will play all their matches in Dubai. This includes the March 9 final if they qualify.
Meanwhile, Australia, the reigning ODI world champions, will field a weakened squad. Steve Smith will serve as captain. Regular skipper Pat Cummins, along with key players Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh, are sidelined due to injuries. Additionally, Mitchell Starc has withdrawn for personal reasons, while Marcus Stoinis has retired from ODIs.
Despite failing to qualify for the Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka recently humbled Australia. They secured a 2-0 series victory, which highlights the unpredictable nature of the competition.
On the other hand, India, the reigning Twenty20 world champions, remain strong contenders. They have reached the finals of the last three ICC events. Rohit Sharma’s side showcased their strong form by winning seven of eight limited-overs matches against England. Although India possesses a formidable batting lineup, they will miss pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah due to a back injury. Nevertheless, Mohammed Shami’s impressive return against England provides a boost. Moreover, the all-round capabilities of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja add depth to the squad.
New Zealand, fresh from their tri-nation triumph in Pakistan, also enters the tournament with confidence. Mitchell Santner’s team remained unbeaten during the warm-up event. This tournament also featured 1998 champions South Africa. Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee highlighted the team’s consistency in ICC tournaments. He also expressed hope for a title win.
Meanwhile, England continues to struggle under Jos Buttler’s leadership. They failed to defend their T20 and ODI World Cup titles. A recent 3-0 series loss to India further exposed their vulnerabilities. Moreover, their squad faces fitness challenges. Jacob Bethell (hamstring), Brydon Carse (toe), Jamie Overton (hamstring), and Jofra Archer (hand) are all dealing with injuries.
At the same time, Afghanistan will make their Champions Trophy debut. They finished sixth in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Their impressive run included victories over former champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This makes them a team to watch.
Pakistan will open the tournament against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday. The hosts hope that a successful Champions Trophy will encourage more international events. They also aim to dispel concerns about security.
A potential fairytale storyline could emerge if Mohammad Rizwan leads Pakistan to glory. Like Sarfaraz Ahmed, he is a stumper-batter. If successful, Pakistan would claim their first major ICC title since their Champions Trophy triumph in England eight years ago.
