As the excitement builds for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to start on February 19 (tomorrow), former cricketers have started sharing their predictions for the tournament’s semi-finalists.
However, a controversial selection by former Indian batter Suresh Raina has become a topic of discussion among cricket fans.
Raina, along with England’s Kevin Pietersen and cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra, revealed their top four picks for the knockout stage.
While Pietersen named Pakistan, India, England, and Australia as his semi-finalists, Raina’s choices—India, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan—raised eyebrows as three of his four chosen teams—Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan—belong to a same Group B.
With the tournament's format allowing only the top two teams from each group to progress to the semi-finals, his selection was deemed unrealistic.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature eight teams, divided into two groups. Group A consists of Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
The tournament will kick off with a high-profile opening match between defending champions and hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.
Meanwhile, due to political tensions, India will play all their matches in the UAE. Their campaign begins against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a highly anticipated encounter against Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.
India’s group-stage journey will conclude with a match against New Zealand on March 2.