NEW DELHI: The ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin in Pakistan on February 19, marking its return after an eight-year gap. The marquee tournament will feature the top eight men’s ODI teams competing for the prestigious title. The teams are divided into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals.
Group A includes hosts Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, setting the stage for intense subcontinental clashes. Meanwhile, Group B features Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.

India will kick off their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a high-stakes encounter against Pakistan on February 23. Their final Group A match will be against New Zealand on March 2.
The 15-match tournament will be played over 19 days across Pakistan and the UAE. Under the hybrid model, India will play all their matches in Dubai, including the semifinal and final, should they qualify.
Led by Rohit Sharma, India enter the competition with a strong squad, featuring eight players from their victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

However, the team has suffered a setback with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ruled out due to injury. Young pacer Harshit Rana has been named as his replacement, while Varun Chakaravarthy comes in for Yashasvi Jaiswal.
INDIA SQUAD: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Defending champions Pakistan, led by wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, will look to defend their 2017 title. The squad includes key players from their previous Champions Trophy-winning campaign, such as Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Faheem Ashraf. However, they will be without opener Saim Ayub, who has been ruled out due to injury.
PAKISTAN SQUAD: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

ODI world champions Australia will enter the tournament with a depleted squad, as several senior players have withdrawn. Captain Pat Cummins, along with key pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, have pulled out, leading to Steve Smith taking over the captaincy.

Additionally, the Aussies will be without all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. In their absence, newcomers Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha have been called up to bolster the squad.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
TRAVELLING RESERVE: Cooper Connolly.
New Zealand’s squad saw a late change after pacer Ben Sears was ruled out due to a hamstring injury, with Jacob Duffy named as his replacement. Mitchell Santner, captaining the Kiwis in his first ICC tournament, will lead a squad that blends youth and experience.
With veteran pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee unavailable, the onus will be on Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and young quick Nathan Smith to step up.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh, under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto, will look to improve on their semi-final finish from 2017.
Veteran campaigners Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim bring experience and stability, while promising youngsters Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain add dynamism to the squad.
BANGLADESH SQUAD: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

Afghanistan made a late change to their squad, with young spinner Nangyal Kharoti replacing the injured Allah Ghazanfar.
The team retains experienced stars Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran bolster the top order.

AFGHANISTAN SQUAD: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
England’s squad features the return of Joe Root, while Tom Banton comes in as a replacement for the injured Jacob Bethell.
Led by Jos Buttler, their pace attack will be spearheaded by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, with Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton providing support.

ENGLAND SQUAD: Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
South Africa suffered a setback with Anrich Nortje ruled out due to injury, prompting the inclusion of Corbin Bosch.
Kagiso Rabada spearheads the Proteas’ pace attack, while Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, and Heinrich Klaasen form the backbone of their batting lineup.

SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch.
TRAVELLING RESERVE: Kwena Maphaka