ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Sunil Gavaskar labels India’s arch-rivals as ‘favorites’ to win tournament
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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 be the hosts of the upcoming Champions Trophy which will be played in a hybrid model. The Men in Green will play all its games inside Pakistan except the ones involving India.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had denied India's travel to Pakistan as they didn't 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 to be played in the UAE.
Sunil Gavaskar picks Pakistan to win Champions Trophy 2025
While speaking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar picked Pakistan as they will be playing in their home conditions. He also remembered India's magnificent performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 in which they were utterly dominant throughout the tournament except the final.
"The tag of favourites should be given to the home team Pakistan as it’s not easy to beat any team in their home conditions. India lost in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 but before that they put up clinical performances and won ten matches on the trot. Hence, I feel Pakistan are the favourites for the upcoming tournament," Gavaskar reckoned.
India reached the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 and were the 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
The Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi in Pakistan. India will play all its matches in Dubai. If India qualifies for the knockouts, they will continue playing 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 Dubai or Lahore on March 9 depending on India's availability.
Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy. The Men in Green defeated India in the final in 2017 in a one-sided encounter played at The Oval, London. Pakistan won the match by a huge margin of 180 runs.
Pakistan's major injury problem
Meanwhile, Pakistan have a big problem ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. Talented opener Saim Ayub suffered a major injury during Pakistan's Test series against South Africa and was ruled out of the match immediately.
Ayub was immediately sent to London for further treatment. However, the reports have claimed that he won't be fit in time for the tournament which will be a big blow to Pakistan.
The Men in Green will play a tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand before the Champions Trophy. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan will lead Pakistan in the tri-series and the Champions Trophy as well.
