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It feels like an eternity since Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted the Champions Trophy alongside his Pakistan teammates, but after an eight-years hiatus, the ICC tournament has finally made its long-awaited return.
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Pakistan are not only the reigning champions, but also the hosts, with an ICC event taking place in the Asian nation for the first time in 29 years.
“Convincing the world that Pakistan is a safe country and that it is capable of delivering such a global event from an administration point of view took serious hard work and convincing,” former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja told AFP.
“The world eventually understood our viewpoint.
“This Champions Trophy is a crucial step toward normalising its standing in the global cricket community.
“It’s also about national pride and sending a strong message about resilience and determination.
“It is about youth engagement, cultural promotion and building a global image.
“Now the onus is on us to deliver.”
Although the ODI format is starved of attention outside of World Cup years, the AU$3.5 million prize money provides a lucrative incentive for each of the eight competing nations.
The Champions Trophy comprises 15 matches across 19 days, culminating in the final on Sunday, March 9, the venue for which remains unknown. If India qualifies for the decider, Dubai will host the final, otherwise it will take place in Lahore.
INDIA DESPERATE TO END 12-YEAR DROUGHT
Renowned as the undisputed powerhouse of white-ball cricket over the past decade, India enters the Champions Trophy as heavy favourites. And sitting at No. 1 on the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, Rohit Sharma’s men would be desperate to break a 12-year title drought in the 50-over format.
Despite their dominance in ODI cricket, the Indians have little silverware to show for it. They lost the 2017 Champions trophy final against Pakistan in London, stumbled against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals and were outplayed by Australia in the 2023 World Cup decider in Ahmedabad.
During each of these three tournaments, India topped the standings in the group stage but flopped in the knockouts, a worrying trend that could haunt them over the coming weeks.
India, who lifted the Champions Trophy in 2013, has won 17 of their previous 20 ODIs in ICC events, comfortably the best record among their rivals — but two of those defeats were World Cup knockouts.
After the ICC decided to introduce a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, India has the added benefit of no travel and playing all their matches at one venue — Dubai International Stadium.
The slow pitch — which was used during the recent ILT20 — could work in India’s favour, with five strike spinners in their squad.
However, India will be missing quick Jasprit Bumrah, while the recent form of captain Sharma and superstar Virat Kohli has been middling at best.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and teammate Virat Kohli. Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFPSource: AFP“You can’t write these guys off because of the aura they have when they walk out to bat,” former England batter Kevin Pietersen said of Sharma and Kohli.
“Virat Kohli can only answer the question in terms of how long he wants to continue and how much fight he has to get better and to create those high standards that everybody expects from him.”
India’s superior record against rivals Pakistan in ICC events is well-documented, with New Zealand and Bangladesh rounding out their group. Qualifying for the knockouts would appear to be a formality for the Indians, but going the distance is another matter.
‘DANGEROUS’ ENGLAND HOPING TO EXTEND GOLDEN ERA
It appears as though England’s white-ball golden era is over, but Jos Buttler’s men have 19 days to prove that’s not the case.
England went through a white-ball revolution following their embarrassing group-stage exit during the 2015 World Cup, dominating the 50-over format under the leadership of captain Eoin Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss.
However, since lifting the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, England has achieved very little in the white-ball formats.
Buttler’s men have lost 16 of their 23 ODIs since the start of the 2023 World Cup in India, including this month’s whitewash against India in the subcontinent.
Openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy were dropped, captain Morgan retired, all-rounder Ben Stokes gave up the format, while England’s pace cartel is riddled with injury.
The nation’s vulnerable batting is of particular concern — England was bowled out in six of their eight innings during the recent white-ball tour of India, with the middle order incapable of taming the spinners.
It was hoped the appointment of Brendon McCullum, who has accepted a dual coaching role, would rejuvenate England’s white-ball sides, but early signs suggest the New Zealander’s ‘Bazball’ influence has yet to take effect.
Back at home, England supporters have become frustrated as reports emerge of optional training sessions and golf escapades, which drew heavy criticism from Pietersen. McCullum’s emphasis on creating a relaxed environment for players is only celebrated when accompanied by on-field success, otherwise the team risks accusations of laziness.
England’s Adil Rashid with teammates. Photo by Michael Steele/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesEngland gets its Champions Trophy campaign underway with a mouth-watering clash against Ashes rival Australia, who are missing several key players, before tackling South Africa and Afghanistan.
“We’ve had some moments in games, never enough to force results or look like winning games of cricket in the last three matches,” Buttler said last week.
“But I think the fact we’re not anywhere near our potential yet or playing individually or collectively where we know we can be gives us something to look forward to, believe we can get there and be a dangerous team in the Champions Trophy.”
UNDERDONE AUSSIES LOOK VULNERABLE
The Australians enter the Champions Trophy with two ODIs under their belt within the last three months — both of which were heavy defeats against Sri Lanka, who failed to qualify for the ICC tournament.
The reigning World Cup champions are missing several of their biggest superstars, including captain Pat Cummins (ankle injury), vice-captain Mitchell Marsh (back injury), seamer Josh Hazlewood (hip injury), speedster Mitchell Starc (personal reasons), all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (retirement) and rising star Cameron Green (back injury).
Marnus Labuschagne is woefully out of form, while Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk can’t seem to muster a run in Australian colours. The pace bowlers are inexperienced, while the middle order has proven susceptible to spin.
Yet despite the growing list of concerns, Australia still looms as a genuine title contender, purely because of the nation’s superb record in ICC events.
Australia also entered the 2023 World Cup riddled with injury and in the midst of a 50-over slump, but managed to win nine consecutive matches to lift the coveted trophy for a sixth time.
Question marks linger throughout Australia’s starting XI — Short is the leading candidate to open the batting alongside Travis Head, while national selectors will be eager to squeeze in-form wicketkeepers Alex Carey and Josh Inglis into the same team.
Carey has been Australia’s most consistent middle-order batter in ODIs over the last 12 months, while Inglis is one of the country’s best players of spin.
Australia’s Alex Carey. Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFPSource: AFPUnderdone and undermanned, Australia’s hopes of winning a third Champions Trophy rest heavily on the experienced heads within the squad. It’s difficult to see them progressing beyond the semi-finals if captain Steve Smith, opener Head and spinner Adam Zampa don’t produce their best over the coming fortnight.
“We haven’t played 50-over cricket for a little while and we’re just getting back to the rhythm of it,” Smith said last week.
“It doesn’t mean we performed well out there – we got outplayed by Sri Lanka and they played really well.
“But hopefully we can take something from it, move forward and have a good tournament in Pakistan.”
PAKISTAN IS A BATTING PARADISE
The Champions Trophy could be a tough slog for the bowlers.
Recent numbers suggest that Pakistan has been a batting paradise in ODI cricket, with batters averaging 34.91 there since September 2019, the highest figure among host nations. For bowlers during that period, the strike rate of 40.7 is also the highest.
In the 27 men’s ODIs played in Pakistan since September 2019, teams have posted 300 or more on 16 occasions, while during the recent tri-series in Karachi and Lahore, there were five 300+ scores across four matches.
“I’ve actually never played one-day cricket in Pakistan myself,” Australian captain Steve Smith said last week.
“From what I’m hearing, they’re usually reasonably good batting wickets. The ball skids on probably a little bit more.
“We’ve been watching a few of the games that have been going on there at the moment, and they’ve been quite high-scoring games, so it’s potentially better for batting.
“But you’ve got to rock up and assess it and play to the conditions on the day.”
Highest ODI batting average by host nation since September 2019
34.91 – Pakistan
33.51 – South Africa
32.65 – India
30.32 – England
29.89 – West Indies
Highest ODI bowling strike rate by host nation since September 2019
40.7 – Pakistan
38.6 – Netherlands
37.6 – Zimbabwe
37.4 – South Africa
37.2 – West Indies
