Former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed predicted his semi-finalists for the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence on 19 February in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Sarfaraz named defending champions Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan as the four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.
“If I had to pick four teams that will go in semi-finals, I would probably choose Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan, but I would not rule any team out,” said the former skipper.
The 2017 title-winning captain also shed light on playing on home turf for Pakistan, lauding the high expectations from fans.
“Playing at home and being the defending champions will surely add pressure; there will be high expectations, but the fans will get behind them,” he stated.
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The former captain praised the Afghanistan team and considered them a strong contender in the Champions Trophy.
“It is a stacked field; every team can win it. I think Afghanistan has a strong team. Their spin options are so good, and you will need that to succeed in these conditions,” he remarked.
While reflecting on the current Pakistani squad, the wicket-keeper backed the team and said that the Men in Green have a good chance of defending the title.
“Pakistan have a good chance of defending the title, and I think they have a strong team,” said Sarfaraz.
“Some of the players from 2017 are still there, and we’re talking about some of the best – especially Babar Azam,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman in the team, calling them a vital cog in the team’s success.
“He is a different Babar to the one that played in 2017, a more mature and dominant player. His batting will be so important for Pakistan, and so will Fakhar Zaman’s,” he added.
The former captain emphasized the importance of Pakistan’s bowling attack, naming Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf as two of the world’s best fast bowlers.
“With the ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are brilliant bowlers and are playing well,” said Sarfaraz.
Sarfaraz Ahmed termed the match between Pakistan and India as one of the most anticipated games in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 while acknowledging the pressure surrounding the encounter.
“In group matches, everyone will be talking about Pakistan’s match against India, and the game will be huge,” he said.
“Whenever we meet, it is a special occasion, and there is so much hype and pressure. But as players, you need to stay calm, try and block that noise out and play with the same intensity as you would play Australia or any other team,” he concluded.
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