When the last Champions Trophy game was played at The Oval in 2017, it was the dream match-up the organisers could wish for: archrivals India and Pakistan squared off for the crown, with the latter emerging triumphant. Despite the success of that event, it was axed from the calendar and was replaced by the T20 World Cup in 2021. Eight years later, the tournament is now back, with Pakistan set to host its first ICC competition since the 1996 World Cup.
On Wednesday, when the home team takes on New Zealand in Karachi, it will mark a huge moment for the reigning champion and the culmination of more than half a decade of work to normalise international cricketing activity in the country. India, though, will not be visiting its neighbour and will play all its matches here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
While the focus has been on the preparations and readiness of Pakistan’s stadiums so far, now that the day of reckoning is here, the focus shifts to the on-field action.
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The idea of having only the top eight teams was to guarantee high-quality cricket with a built-in jeopardy where every game could matter. Over the next three weeks the fans will hope the spirit of the tournament reflects on the pitch.
Though it is tough to ascertain a clear favourite, considering sides don’t play as many ODI games as before, there is a case to be made that India holds a slight edge even if it has played only nine ODI games since the 2023 World Cup final – the fewest among the participating nations. Rohit Sharma’s men blanked England 3-0 recently and have a settled combination even in the absence of pace spearhead Jaspirt Bumrah.
Drawn alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in Group-A, the Men in Blue should fancy itself to reach the last four. With the home support behind it, Pakistan will want to defend its crown, but the twin defeat to New Zealand in the recent tri-series, including the final, will be weighing heavily, and Mohammad Rizwan’s men can’t afford another reverse against the Kiwis in the opener. Having played frequently in Pakistan in recent years, the Black Caps will bank on that experience to go deep into the event.
In contrast, Group- B is where things could get interesting and has a potential for surprise. Australia, the ODI champion, doesn’t appear strong on paper. Its bowling attack wears a thin look after losing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injuries, while Mitchell Starc has skipped for personal reasons. The 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka was not ideal preparation either.
Meanwhile, South Africa comes in battered and bruised, having lost its last six ODIs, and England’s one-dimensional approach has limitations, as it found against India. Only Afghanistan, making its CT debut, could feel confident of having a strong chance of progressing from this group. Its potent spin attack, comprising Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammed Nabi, could be a handful for teams that don’t play spin well.
However, beyond the cricketing action, the successful conduct of the tournament could herald a new era for Pakistan.
Published – February 18, 2025 10:41 pm IST