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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is one of the most eagerly awaited cricketing events, scheduled to commence on February 19, 2025. Co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai, the tournament promises high-octane action as the world’s top cricketing nations battle for the coveted title.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: An overview
While most matches will be spread across Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India is set to play all its matches in Dubai due to ongoing geopolitical considerations. India will kick off its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, setting the stage for an exciting group-stage showdown. With the event returning after a gap of eight years, the competition is expected to draw massive attention from fans and experts alike. The pitches in Pakistan and the UAE are likely to offer varied challenges, from spin-friendly tracks in Dubai to pace-friendly conditions in Pakistan, making squad balance a key factor in determining success.
The excitement around the prestigious event in Pakistan and Dubai
The Champions Trophy has always been a unique tournament, known for its compact format and intense competition. Unlike the longer World Cup, this tournament features only the top eight cricketing nations, ensuring that every match has high stakes. For teams like South Africa, who are yet to win a major ICC event, this presents a golden opportunity to end their trophy drought. Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses like India, Australia, and England will look to maintain their dominance on the global stage.
Amidst this backdrop, cricket experts and former players have been sharing their predictions for the tournament. A recent episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, featuring cricketing stalwarts Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, saw the duo engage in a spirited discussion about their picks for the winner of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Also READ: New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra predicts the finalists of Champions Trophy 2025
Michael Atherton’s prediction for the ultimate winner
When asked about his prediction for the tournament winner, Michael Atherton, confidently backed South Africa to break their long-standing jinx in ICC events. He highlighted South Africa’s current form and the strength of their squad, expressing hope that they would overcome their history of falling short in crunch moments.
Reflecting on past disappointments, Nasser shared an funny anecdote from Barbados, where South Africa, despite being in a dominant position, failed to cross the finish line against India in the final of T20 World Cup 2024.
“You know I just remember in Barbados we were sat in what they call the green room next to the commentary room and you that smug that smug look on your face when they needed 30 of 30 with however many wickets in hand and that sort of grin was slowly wiped off your face when India got over the line,” Hussain said.
Nasser Hussain’s prediction regarding the new CT2025 champion
Hussain, on the other hand, placed his bets on Australia, citing their recent dominance across formats as a key reason. Hussain further predicted a repeat of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia, with the two heavyweights likely to clash for the Champions Trophy title.
“They (Australia)’ve just won virtually everything else. While they didn’t win the T20 World Cup, India did, I think Australia are ranked number one for a reason. I’m going with an India-Australia final again,” Hussain concluded.
