India are all set to be in action in the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the 2013 Champions will aim to end their wait for the Champions Trophy after a long wait of 12 years. Rohit Sharma-led side will kick off their journey in the tournament’s ninth edition with their campaign opener against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.
Meanwhile, the former legendary India pacer Zaheer Khan recently came up with a prediction about the four semi-finalists of the upcoming prestigious cricket quadrennial. Zaheer was a part of the press conference organized by the IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants in UP’s Ekana Stadium.
Here’s what Zaheer Khan predicted
In this press meet in Lucknow, the former World Champion pacer spoke about his top four picks of the teams, who will feature in the tournament’s knockout stage. He also felt that the hosts Pakistan haven’t been through an expected run of form for the last couple of months.
“There’s no doubt in the fact that India will be in the Semi-Finals; apart from Team India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa could be the three other teams to make it to the Semi-Finals. New Zealand has always been very good when it comes to performing in the major tournaments,” said Zaheer Khan to a journalist during the press conference.
“Pakistan haven’t played that much good cricket, so I have predicted my four semi-finalists and these four teams will be there in the top four,” he added later.
Speaking of the Champions Trophy 2025, the tournament will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates as India refused to play their matches on Pakistan soil. India are placed in tournament’s Group A with the defending champions and hosts, Pakistan, with Bangladesh and New Zealand as the two other teams in the group.
Group B will consist of three big teams, including the likes of Australia, England, and South Africa, alongside having Afghanistan as the fourth team in the Pool.