The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy will begin in Pakistan on February 19th.
The edition comes after eight years of gaps since the tournament was last performed in 2017, when Pakistan unlocked the trophy in the UK.
The Champions Trophy features top 8 men’s one-day international (ODI) teams, with many of the best players in world cricket taking part in the 50-over format.
Al Jazeera Sport chose the top five players drawn from four favorites to win the trophy.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Former Pakistan captain Babar is currently at the top of the ICC’s ODI batting rankings and is considered the host country’s greatest hope to win the totals that have won matches.
The 30-year-old made his international debut in 2015, reaching the impressive 19th century and 34 years of the 50s, starting with 122 career ODI innings.
Azam is in the form of an average of 55.98, starting from a test average of over 13.
The right-hander resigned as Pakistan’s Whiteball Cricket Captain for the second time in 11 months in October 2024, and again last year he abandoned the Test and T20 Captain Seas at the same time, but Babar remains an inspirational figure. is.
Shubman Gill (India)
In the aspect led by aging superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the inclusion of Shubman Gill in the top five along with India, considered a clear favourite for winning the trophy, is not underestimated did.
Gil, 25, quickly becomes an Indian cricket poster boy (both on and off the field) and looks like a natural talent in front of the camera, just like having a bat in his hand.
Gill was below 50 in one of the final four innings he entered the tournament, winning the century on two occasions, including the final match of the Pre-Tonnament Series against England.
In the 50s, the 7th century and the 50s in 50s, the top-order stars produced an excellent average of 60.16.
Jos Butler (England)
England have found themselves winning their third favorite in the tournament despite a miserable whiteball run that slips into seventh place in the ODI rankings.
If England produces goods in Pakistan, there will be a considerable amount of rest from the major Captain Jos Butler.
The 34-year-old was Eoin Morgan’s vice captain and therefore a natural alternative to a player considered one of the great leaders of cricket when England won the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
He lifted England out of their misery on the India Whiteball Tour in January and February. The result was a victory with both the hosts’ series and clean sweeps.
The right-handed veteran registered the 11th and 27th centuries, averaging 39.33 in 157 innings.
Glenmaxwell (Australia)
Maxwell, 36, is one of Australia’s leading players and is a proven finisher or rescuer in mid-term order.
Just 15 months ago, the right-hander hit an incredible 201 while being seriously hampered by injuries and Afghanistan as part of his journey on his side to win the 2023 Cricket World Cup I changed the match with.
Maxwell, a veteran in the Indian Premier League and playing 134 games in three franchises, made his Australian debut in 2012 and has since been a regular in both whiteball formats.
While it cannot contain the location of the Test team, which won the last of his seven caps in 2017, Maxwell is an iconic figure in Australia’s sport. .
Plus, Maxwell’s off-break bowling is not a useful second string with 75 ODI wickets in an economy of 5.43, but with 123 strike rates in an ODI style butt, it puts true horror on people running into the bowl. What you do is his strike rate. A player called “Big Show.”
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
Another former Pakistani captain – Babar, and likewise, a key player in his country, Shaheen, leads the host country’s bowling attack.
Only 24 years old, the left-armed sailor has the ability to blow up the upper, middle and lower parts of every side of the world.
Always a clear match winner, and on any surface, Kyber-born Quick made his Pakistani debut in all forms in 2018, rising to the role of captain last year, albeit hindsight.
He has already registered 124 ODI wickets in only 60 matches, and is the top five in the ICC ODI bowler rankings, fourth and only sewing bowler.
Shaheen and Babar both have the ability to win matches themselves. If both pairs are burning in the tournament, Pakistan may hold the trophy in front of the crowds of the house.
