Afghanistan's Star All-Rounder has said that he wants to retire from the ODI format after the Champions Trophy 2025. Mohammad Nabi revealed this after winning the ODI Series against Bangladesh in UAE, and he was also adjudged the Player of the Series.

After the third ODI, Nabi spoke to the host broadcaster and said, "In my mind, from the last World Cup, I was retired but then we qualified for the Champions Trophy and I felt if I could play that, it would be great."

Nabi informs about his decision 

He has reportedly informed the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) of his decision and will continue to play in T20Is. To the ACB media team, he said: "We will see, but no, I will not play for long. God willing, after the Champions Trophy, we will say goodbye to the ODIs."

Nabi has played 167 matches so far and is Afghanistan's highest-capped ODI Cricketer. He is also the current World No. 1 ODI All-Rounder in the ICC Rankings.

He has been playing this format since they made their ODI Cricket debut against Scotland in 2009. He has scored 3600 runs in this format and he is 2nd in the list of Afghanistan's highest run-getters. He has hit 17 fifties and 2 centuries and averages 27.48. He has scalped 172 wickets with an average of 32.47 and ranks 2nd in their highest wicket-taker list.

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Afghanistan will make their maiden appearance at the Champions Trophy

Afghanistan will make their first appearance in the Champions Trophy tournament in 2025. They finished in the Top Six in the 2023 ODI World Cup and earned a spot in the Champions Trophy. The eight-team Champions Trophy features the top seven teams from the latest ODI World Cup, along with hosts Pakistan.

Nabi has been constant in the Afghanistan team's progress in the T20I and ODI formats as well as helping them get recognition in each format. He was the ODI captain in Afghanistan's maiden 50-over World Cup appearance in 2015 and featured in the 2019 and 2023 editions too. He retired from Tests in 2019.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has made a compelling case for including Varun Chakaravarthy in India's squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The seasoned "mystery spinner," who has shown exceptional form since his return to the international T20 scene, recently delivered an outstanding five-wicket haul in the second T20I against South Africa. Karthik believes that India would be missing out on a valuable asset if they overlook Chakaravarthy for this major tournament.

Karthik highlights Chakaravarthy’s remarkable comeback

Dinesh Karthik has been closely following Varun Chakaravarthy’s journey, having played alongside him for both Tamil Nadu and the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Karthik emphasized the spinner's impressive growth and the vital role he could play in India’s Champions Trophy campaign. Since his return to the national squad in the T20I series against Bangladesh, Chakaravarthy has grabbed attention with his bowling, finishing as a joint-highest wicket-taker in that series.

Reflecting on the journey of the 33-year-old, Karthik took to social media to emphasize the impact Chakaravarthy could make if chosen for the Champions Trophy, stating, "If India don't pick VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy, then they are making a grave error. Outstanding bowler he is turning out to be."

If india don't pick VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY for the Champions Trophy , then they are making a grave error

Outstanding Bowler he is turning out to be #INDvSA #CricketTwitter #Cricket

— DK (@DineshKarthik) November 10, 2024

Chakaravarthy’s five-for against South Africa strengthen his case

In the recent T20I match against South Africa at St George's Park, Chakaravarthy exhibited his ability to deliver under pressure, claiming five wickets for just 17 runs. Despite India's struggles with the bat, where they managed a modest total of 124/6, Chakaravarthy’s remarkable spell nearly swung the game in India’s favor. His introduction in the sixth over dismantled South Africa's batting order, with the Proteas losing wickets consistently.

Ultimately, Chakaravarthy’s stellar performance couldn’t prevent India from a narrow defeat, as South Africa chased down the target with three wickets remaining, thanks to an impressive 42-run eighth-wicket partnership between Tristan Stubbs (47*) and Gerald Coetzee (19*). Chakaravarthy’s impact, however, underscored his value as a game-changer, reinforcing Karthik’s call for his inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad.

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Karthik's plea on behalf of Chakaravarthy reflects a belief in his unique skill set and the balance he could bring to India’s bowling attack. Given his ability to adapt to various conditions and his knack for taking wickets in the middle overs, Chakaravarthy could be an asset to India's Champions Trophy aspirations. Karthik’s endorsement further positions the spinner as a potential X-factor for India, particularly in high-stakes matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given approximately 17 billion rupees for upgrading its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. However, the funds were approved by PCB’s Board of Governors on Saturday in Lahore at a meeting, where 240 million rupees were also allocated for spending on women’s cricket as well.

The Champions Trophy will be played entirely in Pakistan

However, it was a huge jump for women’s cricket from 70 million rupees which had been approved earlier in the last budget as well, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also shared that the Champions Trophy would be held entirely in Pakistan and further discussion will take place at the ICC’s annual board meeting in Colombo later this month as well.

However, the meeting took place primarily to approve the PCB budget for 2024-25 with Pakistan slated to host Bangladesh, England, and West Indies alongside a tri-series before the Champions Trophy and also touring Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe as well.

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Mohsin Naqvi also informed the BOG members that work on the stadiums started before as the Board wanted to improve the facilities for the spectators and turn all the venues into A-class stadiums as well. The BOG also approved nearly 13 billion from development funds as they want the best facilities in the three stadiums as well.

“PCB wants to improve competition level and the structures in both domestic and women’s cricket” – Mohsin Naqvi

He also shared with the BOG members that the board had decided to increase the central contract fees/salaries for women’s cricketers and domestic players as well.

“The budget has been increased because the PCB wants to improve competition level and the structures in both domestic and women’s cricket,” Mohsin Naqvi told the BOG.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently proposed Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as the venues for the 2025 Champions Trophy, marking the return of a major ICC event to the country after nearly three decades.

Pakistan’s Stint as Defending Champions

Pakistan is the defending champions of the Champions Trophy, having clinched the title in 2017. However, the tournament’s revival in the new rights cycle (2023-27) saw Pakistan awarded the hosting rights for the 2025 edition by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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Format and Schedule

The proposed tournament is expected to feature eight teams and span over two weeks, although the exact dates are yet to be finalized. The PCB has meticulously finalized the venues and schedule in coordination with the ICC, following assessments conducted by the ICC’s security team.

“We’ve sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy. The ICC’s security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we’ll also share stadium upgrade plans with them. We’re continuously in touch with the ICC. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore.

Security Measures and Preparations

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi affirmed the board’s commitment to ensuring a safe and successful tournament in Pakistan. He highlighted the constructive collaboration with the ICC’s security team and emphasized the ongoing efforts to upgrade stadium facilities for the event.

Challenges and Political Considerations

Despite the preparations underway, the fate of India’s participation remains to be determined, largely dependent on the political climate between the two neighboring countries. The historic tensions have significantly impacted bilateral cricketing relations, with India refraining from touring Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.

Last year, the PCB had to adopt a hybrid model while hosting the Asia Cup, whereby some games were played in Pakistan but all of India’s games and the final were held in Sri Lanka. A month later Pakistan travelled to India to play in the 50-over World Cup but the decision for either country to play in the other is always a politically guided one.

The cricketing world is abuzz with speculation as to whether Team India will participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan. According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the prospect seems uncertain, with discussions revolving around the possibility of a venue change or adopting a hybrid model for the tournament.

BCCI’s Stance on India’s Travel to Pakistan

Sources within the BCCI have revealed that Team India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan is doubtful. Citing concerns over security and bilateral relations, these sources suggest that a bilateral series with Pakistan is also unlikely in the foreseeable future.

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Pakistan Cricket Board’s Response

Conversely, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has expressed openness to a bilateral series with India if India agrees to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. However, the BCCI’s stance indicates that such a scenario is improbable.

Sources of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said, “Forget bilateral series…Team India may not even travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. There might be a change of venue, s hybrid model is also possible.”

Concerns and Challenges

The primary concern for the BCCI appears to be the safety and security of the Indian team in Pakistan. Given the current geopolitical climate and strained relations between the two nations, traveling to Pakistan for a cricket tournament poses significant challenges.

Government Permissions and Relations

Sources emphasize that any decision regarding India’s participation would require government approval. With diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, obtaining such approval may be challenging. The BCCI acknowledges the complexities involved and emphasizes the importance of adhering to government directives.

“The Indian board would need permission from the government for travel, currently our relations with Pakistan are not that good either,” sources told IANS. “Champions Trophy is an ICC event, so it would be a tough call for India but nothing without the government’s order/green signal. Bilateral series, I don’t see in the near future, that’s next to impossible.”

The history of bilateral cricketing ties between India and Pakistan adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The last bilateral limited-overs series between the two nations occurred in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India.

Asia Cup Controversy

Last year, India refused to send its team to participate in the Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had to resort to a hybrid model, splitting the event with matches held predominantly in Sri Lanka.

The Champions Trophy 2025 faces renewed scrutiny despite its distant horizon. Recent reports from Cricbuzz reveal concerns raised by several cricket boards regarding its scheduling, notably impacting concurrent T20 leagues.

Scheduled for the first week of February, the Champions Trophy clashes with established leagues like SA20, ILT20, BPL, and PSL, traditionally held between February and March.

The ongoing ILT20 commenced on January 19, concluding on February 17, while SA20 2024 started on January 10, concluding on February 10. BPL is underway, culminating on March 1, and PSL 2024 begins on February 17, ending on March 18.

The tight scheduling of the Champions Trophy, spanning approximately 20 days, presents logistical challenges for accommodating other leagues, particularly in March, alongside the separate window reserved for the Indian Premier League.

According to Cricbuzz reports, both SA20 and PSL have yet to provide comments on the matter. In contrast, ILT20 has acknowledged the forthcoming challenges, recognizing the necessity to navigate within a restricted timeframe in 2025. An official from the league conceded, “We will need to operate within a confined window.”

Reports suggest that the Champions Trophy 2025 may take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The choice of venue for the Champions Trophy 2025 is undoubtedly contentious, given the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. Recent media reports have hinted at the possibility of hosting the tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Pakistan potentially serving as the host nation.

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Reports suggest a potential hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025. Under this plan, all matches would occur in Pakistan, except those involving India, which would be held in the UAE. This model echoes the approach seen during the Asia Cup 2023, making a similar setup for the Champions Trophy 2025 unsurprising.

Marking its 9th edition, the tournament returns after its 2017 discontinuation, marking a gap of 8 years. Eight teams, including India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh, are set to participate in this eagerly awaited event.

According to reports, Pakistan may lose the opportunity to host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, slated for February and March 2025. This would mark the first time Pakistan hosts the tournament since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. The potential setback is attributed to strained bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.

Abhishek Tripathi of Dainik Jagran indicates that Team India is unlikely to participate in the Champions Trophy due to the longstanding lack of bilateral series between the two countries since the 2012/13 season. The absence of bilateral engagements has been replaced by encounters in Asia Cups and ICC events.

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Drawing parallels with the Asia Cup 2023, Tripathi suggests that the Champions Trophy might follow a similar fate. The BCCI had declined to send Team India to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, resulting in a hybrid model for the tournament, with matches split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Champions Trophy could potentially adopt a similar approach or relocate to a different venue, with the United Arab Emirates being a favorable option.

“Champions Trophy will not be held in Pakistan. Champions Trophy can be held in UAE or in a hybrid model like the Asia Cup. Unless there is a radical change in the policy of the Indian Government, it will be impossible for the Indian team to play in Pakistan,” notes the journalist on X.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the host nation, eight teams are expected to participate in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy, with Pakistan securing automatic qualification as hosts. The remaining seven teams will be the highest-ranked from the ICC World Cup 2023 league stage.

With only a week left in the ICC World Cup 2023’s group stage, two teams have secured their places in the semi-finals: India and South Africa. Australia stands on the cusp of qualification with ten points, needing a win in one of their remaining matches against Afghanistan on November 7 or Bangladesh on November 11 to confirm a top-four spot. Meanwhile, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are in contention for the remaining two semi-final berths.

The teams officially out of the tournament are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and the reigning 2019 champions, England. However, these matches are not meaningless, as they influence the 2025 Champions Trophy qualification. The top seven teams, along with host Pakistan, will participate in the event.

Following Sri Lanka’s loss to Bangladesh in Match 38, five teams have already secured their spots: India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, according to the standings on November 6. Pakistan, ranked fifth, has already gained automatic qualification.

For the bottom four teams, here are the scenarios to secure the remaining two Champions Trophy spots:

England (Bottom of the table with 2 Points): England must win both their remaining matches against the Netherlands and Pakistan to reach six points. If both Bangladesh (vs. Australia) and Sri Lanka (vs. New Zealand) win their matches, and the Netherlands loses, the qualification will be determined by Net Run Rate (NRR) among England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. England would need a victory by a margin of 64+ runs (assuming they score 300) against the Netherlands to surpass Bangladesh’s NRR of -1.142.

Netherlands (Ninth on the table with 4 Points): The Netherlands can advance by winning both their remaining matches. Even a win against England and a washout against India or vice versa will earn them the seventh spot with seven points. However, if they lose one game, they will need England to lose to Pakistan while also hoping for losses or washouts for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their last matches.

Sri Lanka (Eighth on the table with 4 Points): Sri Lanka needs to win against New Zealand to reach six points. To qualify based on points, they require Bangladesh to lose their last match and the Netherlands to lose both. If Bangladesh wins, the Netherlands should lose both, and England should lose to Pakistan. In this scenario, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be the two teams with six points, ensuring their qualification.

Bangladesh (Seventh on the table with 4 Points): Bangladesh requires a win to reach six points. To qualify on points, they would need Sri Lanka to lose their last match and the Netherlands to lose both. Even if England wins both their matches, both Bangladesh and England will advance with six points. If Sri Lanka wins against New Zealand, the Netherlands must lose both, and England must lose to Pakistan. If Bangladesh loses to Australia, they need to ensure it’s not by a significant margin.

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