We now have a look at the second group in our ICC Champions Trophy, which options Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa.
Afghanistan
Cricket in Afghanistan has advanced quickly, particularly since turning into a full-time member of the ICC in 2017.
In 2023, they missed out on the semi-finals by two factors, however they completed in sixth place to earn themselves a spot on this 12 months’s event.
Within the T20 World Cup in June 2024, they reached their first semi-final of an ICC event however misplaced comprehensively to South Africa by 10 wickets.
This shall be their first look within the Champions Trophy, and they’re able to pulling off just a few upsets.
Schedule:
twenty first February: Afghanistan vs South Africa: Karachi: 09:00:am
twenty sixth February: Afghanistan vs England: Lahore: 09:30 am
twenty eighth February: Afghanistan vs Australia: Lahore: 09:00 am
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.
One To Watch: Rashid Khan
The canny wrist spinner is at all times a menace in white-ball cricket.
He has 198 wickets in 111 matches, at a strike price of 28.3 and an economic system of 4.2.
His expertise with the bat can’t be ignored, as he has 1,346 runs at a mean of 19.50 and a strike price of 104.42.
Within the SA20(South Africa T20 League), he grew to become the main All-time wicket-taker in T20 cricket with 633 wickets, surpassing former West Indies quick bowler Dwayne Bravo.
Can he present his class within the ICC Champions Trophy?
Australia
The 2023 World Cup holders are a formidable aspect to observe. After profitable their eighth 50-0ver event and sixth World Cup, Australia completed the T20 World Cup within the Tremendous Eights.
Right here is the schedule for his or her marketing campaign:
twenty second February: Australia vs England: Lahore: 09:00 am
twenty fifth February: Australia vs South Africa: Rawalpindi 09:00 am
twenty eighth February: Afghanistan vs Australia: Lahore: 09:00 am
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 Quick, Adam Zampa.
One To Watch: Adam Zampa
The 32-year-old wrist spinner is the participant to be careful for the Australians on this event.
Ranked seventh within the ODI bowling rankings, Zampa has 181 wickets at a strike price of 31 and a mean of 28.6.
The canny operator can have a major position to play, particularly when taking wickets within the center overs.
His variations in pace shall be crucial on the flat tracks of Pakistan and the UAE, permitting him to outfox the batsman within the air and off the pitch.
Can he make an affect on the Aussies on this event?
England
The 2019 World Champions have reached the Finals of this competitors twice, shedding to West Indies in 2004 and India in 2013.
Their marketing campaign within the 2023 World Cup was common, as they may solely muster three wins out of 9 video games.
Nonetheless, they reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024 however misplaced to India within the semi-finals.
Additionally they reached the semi-finals of the earlier version in 2017 however misplaced to Champions Pakistan by 180 runs.
What’s going to occur this time round?
Schedule
twenty second February: Australia vs England: Lahore: 09:00 am
twenty sixth February: Afghanistan vs England: Lahore: 09:30 am
1st March: South Africa vs England: Karachi: 09:00 am
Squad
Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wooden.
One To Watch: Adil Rashid
The veteran wrist-spinner had a extremely profitable tour of India, choosing up seven wickets within the three ODIs at a mean of 27.28 and strike price of 25.71.
Given that he’s ranked the third-best bowler in T20 cricket, it’ll be fascinating to see if he can enhance on that stat on this event.
Rashid’s expertise as a spinner may make him an imposing menace on this event.
His ODI profession speaks for itself: He took 212 wickets from 146 matches at a mean of 32.61 and an economic system price of 5.64.
He additionally has a superb file towards top-class batters comparable to India’s Virat Kohli, whom he has dismissed eleven instances, 5 of which have been in ODIs.
He’s additionally a helpful lower-order batsman, with 926 runs at a mean of 17.8 and a strike price of 97.06.
Can he use his all-around expertise to have a superb impact on this event?
South Africa
The winners of the inaugural event should not a aspect to take calmly. They reached the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup however had been crushed by Australia.
This time, Temba Bavuma’s group are setting themselves up for an opportunity to finish their 25-year look forward to a trophy.
Will they be capable to do it this time
Schedule:
twenty first February: Afghanistan vs South Africa: Karachi: 09:00:am
twenty fifth February: Australia vs South Africa: Rawalpindi 09:00 am
1st March: South Africa vs England: Karachi: 09:00 am
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.
One To Watch: Heinrich Klassen
With 2,074 runs to his identify, Klassen is without doubt one of the cleanest hitters of the ball, with a strike price of 117.44.
His capacity to hit boundaries to all components of the bottom makes him terrifying for the bowlers.
Klassen was the second-highest run scorer for the Proteas on the T20 World Cup.
He amassed 190 runs from 9 matches, averaging 31.66 and a strike price of 126.66.
His major position as a batsman is as a finisher, the place he has the license to hit boundaries at will.
Can he make an affect for South Africa on the Champions Trophy?
In order that’s our preview for Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy. Who will make it to the semi-finals?
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