Former India all-rounder Sunil Gavaskar has a surprise pick for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 winners. Gavaskar picked Pakistan as the team that could win the tournament as they will be playing at home.
Pakistan will host the upcoming Champions Trophy which will be played in a hybrid format. The Green Men will play all their matches inside Pakistan, except for those involving India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected India’s tour of Pakistan as they did not get the necessary permission from the government. As a result, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided that the tournament would be played in a hybrid format with India’s matches to be held in the UAE.
Sunil Gavaskar has picked Pakistan to win the 2025 Champions Trophy
Speaking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar chose Pakistan as they will be playing in their home conditions. He also recalled India’s spectacular performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, where they dominated the entire tournament except the final.
“The tag of favorites should be given to the host team Pakistan as it is not easy to beat any team in their home conditions. India lost in the final of ODI 2023 World Cup but before that they gave a clinical performance and won ten matches. So I consider Pakistan as favorites for the upcoming tournament. I do,” Gavaskar thinks.
India have reached the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 and are favorites to win the title in the summit clash. But the Men in Blue were slow at the wrong time and lost Australia In a heartbreaking encounter at Ahmedabad.
ICC Champions Trophy table
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 playoffs, they will continue their games in Dubai.
The tournament will begin on February 19 with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi. The final will be held in Dubai or Lahore on March 9, depending on India’s capabilities.
Pakistan is the current champion of Champions Trophy. The Men in Green defeated India in the final in 2017 in a one-sided encounter played at The Oval in London. Pakistan won the match by a huge margin of 180 runs.
Pakistan’s major injury problem
Meanwhile, Pakistan is in big trouble ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. Talented opener Saim Ayub He was seriously injured during the Pakistan Tests series He faced South Africa and was immediately dismissed.
Ayub was immediately sent to London for treatment. However, reports claim that he will not be fit in time for the tournament, which will be a huge blow to Pakistan.
The Men in Green will play a three-match series involving South Africa and New Zealand before the Champions Trophy. Goalkeeper-prone Mohammad Rizvan will lead Pakistan in the tri-series and the Champions Trophy.
