No Pakistan! Zaheer Khan predicts the semifinalists of Champions Trophy 2025
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to make a highly anticipated return after an eight-year gap, with the 2025 edition scheduled to take place in Pakistan and the UAE. This marquee event, beginning on February 19, will see eight of the world’s top cricketing nations battle for one of the most prestigious trophies in international cricket. As excitement builds, discussions around potential semi-finalists have intensified, and former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has weighed in with his predictions.
Zaheer Khan’s four teams and their road to the semi-finals
Zaheer firmly backed India as one of the strongest teams heading into the tournament, citing their consistent performances in ICC events over the past decade. The second team on Zaheer’s list is Australia, a side that has built a reputation for delivering in ICC tournaments. Zaheer further acknowledged New Zealand‘s ICC tournament track record, making them a natural pick for the semi-finals. For his fourth pick, Zaheer backed South Africa, a team that has often struggled in knockout matches but has shown significant promise in white-ball cricket in recent years.
“There’s no doubt in the fact that India will be in the Semi-Finals; apart from them Australia might be seen, New Zealand has always done well in these tournaments. My fourth pick will be South Africa, who have also been promising in white-ball cricket,” Zaheer was quoted as saying by the CricTracker.
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ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Contenders and their strengths
India’s consistency in ICC tournaments since 2011, combined with a squad led by Rohit Sharma and featuring Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Yashasvi Jaiswal, makes them strong favorites. Their Group A campaign in Dubai begins against Bangladesh on February 20, with their adaptability to UAE conditions boosting their chances.
Australia’s history of dominance in major events, backed by experienced stars and an aggressive approach, keeps them among the top contenders. New Zealand’s balanced squad, adaptability, and consistency in global tournaments make them a team to watch. South Africa, aiming to shed their ‘choker’ tag, boasts a strong mix of explosive batters and world-class pacers, enhancing their knockout stage potential. With depth in both batting and bowling, these teams possess the firepower to excel in Pakistan and UAE conditions.
Zaheer on doubts regarding Pakistan’s title defense
As the defending champions and co-hosts, Pakistan naturally enters the tournament with expectations of a strong performance. However, Zaheer expressed concerns over their recent form in ODI cricket, highlighting their inconsistency as a major factor that could hinder their chances. “Pakistan aren’t playing consistent cricket at the moment,” he remarked, pointing out their struggles in maintaining momentum in white-ball formats.
Pakistan will have the advantage of playing in familiar conditions, but their unpredictability makes them a wildcard in the tournament. While they have the potential to surprise any team on their day, their lack of stability in the batting order and inconsistency in key moments raise doubts about whether they can defend their title successfully. The fact that India’s matches have been shifted to Dubai due to logistical concerns also means Pakistan will miss out on a direct home advantage against their biggest rivals.
