The ICC Champions Trophy is making a grand return after an eight-year hiatus, with the 2025 edition set to be played across Pakistan and the UAE. Scheduled to begin on February 19, the tournament will feature eight of the world’s top cricketing nations vying for one of the most coveted ICC trophies. Among the many discussions surrounding the event, former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has shared his predictions for the four semi-finalists.
India, a dominant force in limited-overs cricket over the past decade, entered the tournament as a strong contender. The Men in Blue have consistently reached the knockout stages of every ICC ODI event since their 2011 World Cup triumph. Given their recent form and balanced squad, Zaheer confidently backed India to make the final four, along with three other teams he believes have the potential to go deep in the competition.
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“There’s no doubt that India will reach the semi-finals. Apart from them, Australia is always a strong contender, New Zealand has a habit of performing well in ICC tournaments, and my fourth pick would be South Africa, who have been quite promising in white-ball cricket,” Zaheer stated during a media interaction organized by Lucknow Super Giants.
Zaheer Khan picks his four semi-finalists for Champions Trophy 2025. @Cricketracker pic.twitter.com/HfTufxMnDq
— चिरकुट ज़िंदगी (@Chirayu_Jain26) February 4, 2025
India find themselves in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Their campaign kicks off on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai, where all their group-stage matches will be played due to logistical concerns. Led by Rohit Sharma, India’s squad boasts experienced stars like Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya, alongside young talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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With the return of Mohammed Shami, India look formidable. Pakistan, the defending champions, will be hosting the tournament but have struggled with inconsistency in ODIs. When asked about their chances, Zaheer was quick to highlight their unpredictability. “Pakistan aren’t playing consistent cricket at the moment,” he remarked with a wry smile.
