In addition to the epic India-Pakistan clash on February 23, Australia will meet England and Afghanistan will make their debut match in the tournament.
The ICC Champions Trophy begins on Wednesday, with the world’s top eight teams competing in Pakistan, the UAE, and Dubai for the prestigious title.
Below are three highly anticipated matches in the group phase of the 50-over tournament:
Australia vs England (February 22):
The Great Ash rival will collide at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday.
1 Day International (ODI) World Cup Holder Australia has dominated against older opponents in the latest 50-over matches, winning the previous Series 3-2 last year.
But both appear in the Champions Trophy, where question marks hang.
Australia does not have a “big three” pacemen. Pat Cummins (ankle injury), Josh Hezlewood (hip injury) and Mitchell Stark opted out for personal reasons.
Added the absences of all-arounders Mitchell Marsh (back injury) and Marcus Stonis (retirement), half of their regular team are missing.
The exhausted side suffered a 2-0 ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka just before the tournament.
England is currently in charge of Test Coach Brendon McCulum and received a 3-0 Whitewash in the Indian ODI series.
Since winning the 2019 World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup, Britain has struggled with white ball cricket.
Pakistan vs India (February 23):
The TV ratings have tuned millions of people to fight Pakistan and India at any time due to deep political rivals among nuclear-armed neighbors.
The two teams will meet in Dubai on Sunday.
Tickets for the collision sold out minutes after they went on sale as more than 150,000 fans lined up online to grab seats at the 25,000 capacity stadium.
India refused to visit Pakistan for the tournament, the latter forced it to agree to partially waive its hosting rights to Dubai after a lengthy measure.
On the pitch, India is a favorite to win the third tournament victory.
Pakistan is the Champions Trophy Holder, a talented but unpredictable lineup.
Afghanistan vs. UK (February 26):
More than 160 British politicians have called on England to boycott the Lahore match on February 26th over the erosion of women’s rights by Afghan Taliban authorities.
However, skipper Jos Butler rejected the idea, saying, “I don’t think boycotting is a way to proceed.”
If you don’t make your face at the shocking last minute, the game will move on.
After being beaten well in India last week, Butler argued that England could be “dangerous” with the Champions Trophy, even if recent evidence suggests it is not the case.
Afghanistan has been rising in white ball cricket in recent years, rising to eighth in the UK’s No. 1 ODI world rankings.
The Afghans defeated Australia in the middle of the historic semi-finals at last year’s T20 World Cup, losing to South Africa.
They also disrupt England at the 2023 World Cup in India, beating a star-studded team with 69 runs in New Delhi.
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