Thu Oct 03 18:41:00 UTC 2024: ## Afghanistan Captain Predicts Semi-Finalists for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Snubs Pakistan
**Karachi, Pakistan:** Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, has made a bold prediction regarding the teams that will reach the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Pakistan next year.
In a recent podcast interview, Shahidi selected **Afghanistan, India, England, and Australia** as his picks, notably omitting **Pakistan**, the host nation. This omission sparked a conversation about the team’s recent performance, with the interviewer referencing Bangladesh’s recent Test victory over Pakistan. Shahidi countered that “the formats are different; this one is ODI now, and it’s a different format.”
The tournament will begin on February 19th in Karachi, with the final scheduled for March 9th at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. India and Pakistan are drawn in the same group, making their anticipated clash on March 1st at Gaddafi Stadium a highly anticipated fixture.
The 2025 Champions Trophy marks Pakistan’s first significant multi-nation event since the Asia Cup in 2008. Security concerns surrounding India’s participation have led to speculation that they might play their matches in a neutral venue, potentially Sri Lanka or the UAE. India, fresh off their victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, has not played in Pakistan since 2008.
Pakistan, the defending champions from 2017, are eager to repeat their success and build upon their legacy in the tournament. The eight-team event is set to be a thrilling spectacle of ODI cricket, with the potential for several exciting upsets and memorable moments.
First Piper 