Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has predicted the winner of the high-octane ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India.
The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.
The arch-rivals Pakistan and India have been placed in Group A alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh. The much-anticipated clash between arch-rivals will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.
Shoaib Akhtar, during a media interaction in Dubai, predicted that Pakistan will defeat India in their group match in the Champions Trophy.
“I’m hopeful that Pakistan will defeat India on February 23. In fact, I believe that both Pakistan and India should also meet in the final of the tournament,” he predicted.
“If Pakistan defeats India and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, the Green Shirts will have already won half the tournament.”
He also shared his prediction for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.
“I believe Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan will reach the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy,” he stated.
“If Afghanistan’s team demonstrates maturity and their batsmen show patience, they could deliver surprising results.”
In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.
Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai.
Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days. The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.
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