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Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar has a surprise pick for the winners of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Gavaskar picked Pakistan as the team that can win the tournament as they will be playing at their home ground.
Pakistan will host the upcoming Champions Trophy which will be played in a hybrid model. The Men in Green will play all their matches inside Pakistan except those involving India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had denied India’s tour to Pakistan as they did not get the required permission from the government. As a result, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided that the tournament would be played in a hybrid model with India’s matches being played in the United Arab Emirates.
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Sunil Gavaskar picks Pakistan to win Champions Trophy 2025
While talking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar picked Pakistan as they will be playing at home. He also recalled India’s magnificent performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 in which they were absolutely dominant throughout the tournament except the final.
“The tag of favorites should be given to the home team Pakistan as it is not easy to beat any team in their home conditions. India lost in the final of ODI World Cup 2023, but before that he put in clinical performances and won ten matches at home. the trot, so I think Pakistan are favorites for the next tournament,” Gavaskar reckoned.
India reached the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 and were favorites to win the title in the summit clash. However, the Men in Blue faltered at the wrong time and lost to Australia in a heartbreaking encounter in Ahmedabad.
ICC Champions Trophy Schedule
Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi in Pakistan. India will play all their matches in Dubai. If India qualify for the knockouts, they will continue to play their matches in Dubai.
The tournament will begin with the home team Pakistan playing New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. The final will be played in either Dubai or Lahore on March 9, depending on India’s availability.
Pakistan is the defending champion of the Champions Trophy. The Men in Green defeated India in the final in 2017 in a one-sided match played at The Oval, London. Pakistan won the match by a huge margin of 180 runs.
Pakistan’s main injury problem
Meanwhile, Pakistan has a big problem ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. Talented opener Saim Ayub suffered a major injury during Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa and was immediately ruled out of the match.
Ayub was immediately sent to London for treatment. However, reports have claimed that he will not be fit in time for the tournament, which will be a huge blow for Pakistan.
The Men in Green will play a tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand ahead of the Champions Trophy. Wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan will lead Pakistan in the tri-series and also in the Champions Trophy.
