2025 ICC Champions Trophy Thread

[Kriterion_BD]

First CT in 8 years...back from the dead. I like the idea of having a CT smack in between ODI World Cups...every 2 years is overkill but every 4 gives it a bit of glamour. Tons of players missing due to injuries though, but should still be a decent tournament I hope. My predictions:

Group A
India - I think they'll peak in the group stage and top the group
New Zealand - always do well in ICC events + have a nearly full strength side
Pakistan - could top the group or finish at the bottom
Bangladesh - on paper the most balanced squad they've ever had, but recent form is abysmal across the board

Group B
Afghanistan - friendly conditions, will spin it to win it.
South Africa - batters look to be in good nick.
England - recent form is too average to be title contenders
Australia - missing their entire first string pace attack.

Semi-finals
Afghanistan beat New Zealand
South Africa beat India

Final
Afghanistan beat South Africa

[Kriterion_BD]

NZ posting a very respectable 320-5 in the opening match. Pakistan meanwhile going at just 3.3 an over in the chase...ridiculous!

[Kriterion_BD]

Bangladesh stays ahead of Pakistan on NRR! Hard to imagine when they slumped to 35-5 in the powerplay, that too after choosing to bat first on a flat track.

3 ducks in the top 5 for Bangladesh against a Bumrah-less bowling corp. Solid fightback from Towhid and the Joker...the former notching his first ODI ton in the process.

[Kriterion_BD]

Afghanistan get clobbered. There goes my prediction lol.

A part of me is relieved. Petty as hell, but a part of me is always relieved to see Afghanistan lose because anytime they win, the narrative (and justifiably so, I have to admit) is always "Bangladesh has been playing for 30 years and hasn't achieved shit, Afghans get 1/10th the opportunity and have already outperformed them..." Bitter truth pill and hard to swallow as a BD fan.

Anyways, I'm wondering if BD have it in them to beat one of NZ and PAK...if we do that, our NRR might leave us a chance to sneak into the semis despite being the worst of the 8 teams in the tournament.

[eugene]

These India v Pakistan blockbusters have lost their aura. Pakistan have about as much chance of beating India at an ICC tournament as Zimbabwe probably do. This isn't even a Pakistan team deep in turmoil or crisis, they simply just aren't very good. There is no quick fix for them.

[Kriterion_BD]

These India v Pakistan blockbusters have lost their aura. Pakistan have about as much chance of beating India at an ICC tournament as Zimbabwe probably do. This isn't even a Pakistan team deep in turmoil or crisis, they simply just aren't very good. There is no quick fix for them.

Not at all. Pakistan are a very average side and have been for 20 odd years. Now they've still managed to win 2 ICC events in that time, but most of the time they don't even make the knockouts anymore.

[Kriterion_BD]

Pakistan and Bangladesh officially knocked out, unsurprisingly. If the Afghans follow, it will be an odd case of 3 out of 4 Asian sides struggling in Asian conditions. Bangladesh have had poor ODI form for a number of years now...Pakistan are ranked #3 despite being a mediocre side...and the Afghans have been on a very good run the past couple of of tournaments.

[Kriterion_BD]

Ibrahim Zadran with a new CT record score of 177. What an amazing talent. England's bowling attack is shit, but 177 in an ICC event is a world class knock against any top 10 side. Hats off.

Even if the Afghans lose, which they very well might...they've given a decent account of themselves and are a better ODI side than Bangladesh or Pakistan at present.