"South Africa will beat India to win ICC Champions Trophy 2025"- Shoaib Akhtar
Published - 05 Mar 2025, 11:22 AM | Updated - 05 Mar 2025, 11:36 PM
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Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar made a stunning prediction after India qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final after thrashing Australia by four wickets in the first semifinal on Tuesday, March 4, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
All eyes are on India as they charge toward the ultimate prize. With unwavering dominance, Rohit Sharma and Co. have already crushed every obstacle in their path, and now they are aiming to shatter the dream of either New Zealand or South Africa lifting the Champions Trophy.
Shoaib Akhtar says India unstoppable, but South Africa could spoil the party
New Zealand and South Africa will face each other in the second semifinal of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday, March 5, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The winner of the second semifinal will face the Men in Blue in the title clash on March 9 in Dubai.
After the Men in Blue’s remarkable and dominant win over Australia in the semifinal, Shoaib Akhtar hailed India, but he is not supporting them to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Rawalpindi Express said that the Indian cricket team will not allow either South Africa or New Zealand to lay their hands on the coveted trophy.
The former Pakistan pacer lauded the Men in Blue’s dominance, saying Australia was their major hurdle, but even they could not stop their march toward glory. Shoaib Akhtar said on Tapmad: “India is not going to let South Africa or New Zealand take the trophy. Australia could have, but India also passed that hurdle.”
Shoaib Akhtar predicts South Africa to beat India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final
But Akhtar isn’t ruling out a twist in the tale, as he backed South Africa to beat New Zealand in the semifinal to storm into the final, predicting the repeat of the 2024 T20 World Cup Final against the Men in Blue. Shoaib also backed Proteas to pull off a sensational upset against India in the final.
Akhtar said on the same show when he was asked whom he will support in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final in Dubai: “South Africa is winning against New Zealand tomorrow and also winning the final against India on Sunday.”
Read Also: SA vs NZ Head-to-Head Records- ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Semifinal 2
Apart from Shoaib, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik have also extended their support to South Africa, predicting the repeat of the 2024 T20 World Cup Final in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final. Hafeez and Malik felt the Proteas are a better side than India to lift the coveted trophy.
Pakistan legend takes U-Turn on his prediction!!
However, the Rawalpindi Express made a quick U-turn, as he said that the Indian team played exceptionally well and they are a formidable team on his YouTube channel. Akhtar added that the Indian team has proven that they can dominate any side even with four spinners.
Shoaib Akhtar also emphasized that the Men in Blue are all set to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on March 9. Akhtar signed off by saying, “In my opinion, India is winning the Champions Trophy. There should be no doubt about it now (after beating Australia).”
