Along with the epic India-Pakistan conflict on February 23, Australia meet England, and Afghanistan play their debut match on the match.
The ICC Champions Trophy begins on Wednesday with the world’s high eight groups competing in Pakistan and Dubai within the United Arab Emirates for the celebrated title.
Listed below are three extremely anticipated matches within the group part of the 50-over-a-side match:
Australia vs England (February 22):
The good Ashes rivals conflict in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
The one-day worldwide (ODI) World Cup holders Australia have had the higher hand in opposition to their outdated foes in current 50-over matches and received their earlier sequence 3-2 final yr.
However each come into the Champions Trophy with query marks hanging over them.
Australia are with out their “huge three” pacemen – Pat Cummins (ankle damage), Josh Hazlewood (hip damage) and Mitchell Starc, who opted out for private causes.
Add within the absences of all-rounders Mitchell Marsh (again damage) and Marcus Stoinis (retired), and half of their common crew is lacking.
The depleted facet suffered a heavy 2-0 ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka simply earlier than the match.
England, with Take a look at coach Brendon McCullum now in cost, did no higher and had been whitewashed 3-0 in an ODI sequence in India.
Since profitable the 2019 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup, England have struggled in white-ball cricket.
Pakistan vs India (February 23):
TV rankings rocket with hundreds of thousands tuning in to observe Pakistan and India any time they battle it out, owing to the deep political rivalry between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
The 2 groups meet in Dubai on Sunday.
Tickets for the conflict had been offered out minutes after happening sale as greater than 150,000 followers queued on-line to seize a seat within the 25,000-capacity stadium.
India refused to go to Pakistan for the match, forcing the latter to conform to partially relinquish internet hosting rights to Dubai after an extended standoff.
On the pitch, India are favourites to win the match for a 3rd time, in what is predicted to be the worldwide swansong for captain Rohit Sharma.
Pakistan are the Champions Trophy holders and subject a gifted however unpredictable lineup.
Afghanistan vs England (February 26):
Greater than 160 British politicians referred to as for England to boycott the match in Lahore on February 26 over the erosion of ladies’s rights by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.
Nonetheless, skipper Jos Buttler rejected the concept, saying: “I don’t assume a boycott is the best way to go about it.”
Barring a shock last-minute about-face, the sport will go forward.
After being properly crushed in India final week, Buttler insisted that England could be “harmful” on the Champions Trophy, even when current proof suggests in any other case.
Afghanistan have grow to be a rising power in white-ball cricket lately, rising to eighth within the ODI world rankings, one place under England.
The Afghans beat Australia on the best way to a historic semifinal place ultimately yr’s T20 World Cup, earlier than dropping to South Africa.
Additionally they upset England on the 2023 World Cup in India, defeating the star-studded crew by 69 runs in New Delhi.
