After nearly eight years, the Champions Trophy returns, and the tournament kicks off on Wednesday with Pakistan facing New Zealand in the opening match.
After much debate, controversy, and uncertainty over the venue, the ICC Champions Trophy is finally here. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the tournament, with the ninth edition set to begin on Wednesday in Karachi, where the hosts, Pakistan, will take on New Zealand. The following day, Bangladesh will face India in Dubai.
Discussions are heating up across the cricket world on which team is leading the race for the title, which team holds the best chances, and how far Bangladesh can go in the tournament. In a conversation with bdnews24.com, former Bangladesh captains Akram Khan, Habibul Bashar, and Khaled Mashud, along with former players Javed Omar and Talha Jubair, shared their opinions.
According to them, India and South Africa have the best chances of winning the Champions Trophy. The former captains and players also believe that Bangladesh will face a tough time in the tournament.
Akram Khan:
Four teams ahead in the race
“I think Australia, England, India, and New Zealand will be stronger than the rest in this Champions Trophy. They are all powerful teams. India always brings a strong squad and is in good form. Australia may have lost a few players, but those remaining are capable.”
“New Zealand has been performing very well recently, having just won the Tri-Nation Series in Pakistan. They are in great rhythm. England must also be considered strong in limited-overs cricket. Pakistan is also a contender, especially playing at home, though their confidence seems slightly low.”
Bangladesh’s key to success lies in their batsmen
“I don’t see much hope for Bangladesh. They couldn’t perform well even in the practice matches. I think if they play well, their best chance is to reach the semi-finals. That’s my hope.”
“For the team to do well, the batting department needs to perform. The batting has been inconsistent for a while now. The bowling and fielding are relatively good, but the batsmen need to step up. If they perform well, Bangladesh’s chances will increase.”
Habibul Bashar:
India leads, with England and New Zealand also strong
“The Champions Trophy often brings surprises, even more so than the World Cup. However, as a team, India is very strong and balanced. They are in great form and will be the favorites.”
“England is also a strong contender, even though they lost to India in their series. New Zealand is looking powerful this time, having just won the Tri-Nation Series. Pakistan will also be in the mix, although their recent World Cup performance wasn’t great. Overall, I think the contest will be among India, New Zealand, and England.”
A tough challenge for Bangladesh
“The Champions Trophy will be very difficult for Bangladesh. Their group is very strong, and the team is struggling with form. The practice matches haven’t helped either. Bangladesh will need extraordinary performances to make an impact.”
“Both batting and bowling will need to be top-notch. Bangladesh is in a very tough group, with their first match against a strong opponent. They need to play exceptionally well. It won’t be enough if just the top order or bowling performs well. To do something special in this tournament, a team effort is essential.”
Khaled Mashud:
All teams have a chance in the race for the title
“In my opinion, any of the eight teams can win the tournament. Some might ask if Bangladesh and Afghanistan have an equal chance, and I’d say they’re a bit behind the other six teams. But in cricket, paper-based calculations don’t always work.”
“With only three matches in the group stage, winning two is enough to reach the semi-finals. After that, it’s knockout cricket—anything can happen. If a big team has an off day, Bangladesh and Afghanistan can take advantage and perform well. If the big teams falter, the dynamics will change.”
“However, if we talk about the favorites, India, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand will be ahead. New Zealand just won the Tri-Nation Series, and South Africa is also a strong team. Even though they don’t have many trophies, they are tough to beat. We shouldn’t rule out England or Pakistan either, especially as Pakistan is playing at home.”
Bangladesh’s chances look slim
“Realistically, Bangladesh has a slim chance. We tend to be emotional about our team, but as a cricketer, I’ll speak honestly. I agree with Ricky Ponting and AB de Villiers—I don’t see much hope for Bangladesh. But I do hope they perform well. Of course, their chances can’t be entirely ruled out.”
“If the batting does well, Bangladesh’s chances will increase. In the BPL, most teams had one or two good bowlers, so scoring runs wasn’t as challenging. In the Champions Trophy, every team has quality bowlers, so scoring won’t be easy. The main job is for the batsmen to perform. I have no concerns about the bowling department. With experienced bowlers like Taskin, Mustafiz, and the pace of Nahid Rana, along with spinners like Miraz and Rishad, the bowling is diverse. If the batsmen score well, the bowlers can win the matches.”
Javed Omar Belim:
India, South Africa, and New Zealand lead the pack
“I think bowling will be very challenging in this Champions Trophy. It will be a high-scoring tournament, and teams with strong bowling attacks will have a better chance. From my perspective, South Africa’s bowling attack is ahead of the others. Australia is relying more on spinners, and their attack is relatively inexperienced.”
“Overall, I see India, South Africa, and New Zealand as the frontrunners. India will play all their matches in Dubai, so they are familiar with the conditions and are in good form. They always enter with a championship mentality. New Zealand is also performing well, and winning the Tri-Nation Series will give them a lot of confidence.”
A tough time ahead for Bangladesh
“Bangladesh’s journey will be very challenging. They’ve done well in 50-over cricket recently, and I want to hold on to that belief. But the Champions Trophy is going to be a tough one for Bangladesh. Their bowling needs to be top-notch. I believe their batting will perform well. Since it’s a 50-over format, there won’t be as much pressure to chase high targets. If Bangladesh can play their normal game, they’ll have a chance.”
“One issue is that Bangladesh hasn’t quite found their rhythm yet. Nazmul Hossain Shanto didn’t get enough matches in the BPL, and the practice matches didn’t go well. However, since this is a 50-over format, there is hope. If Bangladesh reaches the next stage, it wouldn’t be a surprise, but it’s definitely going to be tough. If they play well as a unit, they can make it.”
Talha Jubair:
Everyone is equal in the race
“It’s hard to say who will win the Champions Trophy because all the teams are strong. No team can be underestimated. Every team has to perform well. The team that performs better than the rest will win the trophy.”
“In the group stage, winning the first two matches is crucial. After that, it’s all about the semi-finals. If the team plays well, they can achieve a good result. In this tournament, unlike the World Cup, there are no weak teams. All the best teams are playing here, so to win, you need to outperform the others.”
Bangladesh’s chances
“Bangladesh definitely has a chance. We have experienced players like Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah, and bowlers like Mustafiz and Taskin. Miraz… everyone has proven themselves. Tanjid, Tamim, and Soumya are in good form. Shanto may not have gotten much play in the BPL, but mentally, he’s in a good place.”
“Everyone in the team is a good player. Now, the key is how well we play on the day, whether we can play as a team. If we perform well as a unit and maintain a positive mentality, we can certainly achieve something great.”
