ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Faces Setback as Fakhar Zaman Ruled Out

Image credits: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has begun, with eight top ODI teams competing for the prestigious title. However, hosts Pakistan have suffered a serious blow to their Champions Trophy hopes with opener Fakhar Zaman being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with an injury before their crunch clash with arch-rivals India. The 34-year-old left-handed batsman was replaced by Imam-ul-Haq, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday. Zaman sprained a chest muscle while fielding at the start of Pakistan’s game against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday, which the hosts lost by 60 runs.

He could not open the innings because of playing rules and instead batted at number four and made a laborious 41-ball 24, showing signs of discomfort. Zaman has played 86 ODIs, averaging just over 46. Following Wednesday’s defeat in the tournament opener, defending champions Pakistan now must beat India in Dubai in Group A on Sunday to keep alive their chances of reaching the semifinals. Bangladesh are the other team in Group A, while Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan comprise Group B in the 50-over tournament. The top two teams from each group qualify for the last four.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature a total of 15 matches, with the final scheduled for March 9 in Lahore, unless India reaches the final, in which case it will be held in Dubai. The tournament will follow a format where teams are divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The cricket world is eagerly waiting to see which team will emerge as the champion. Some of the key players to watch out for include Chris Gayle, who is the highest run-scorer in ICC Champions Trophy history, and Nathan Astle, who holds the record for the most individual runs in a single match.

The tournament has a rich history, with the first ICC Champions Trophy being held in 1998. Initially named the ICC Knockout Tournament, it took place in Bangladesh and aimed to generate funds for cricket development in non-Test-playing nations. The tournament has since evolved into a prestigious event in international cricket, with top-ranked teams competing in a short tournament format every four years. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be broadcast live in India on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network, with coverage available in multiple languages.

Here are the teams participating in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

• Pakistan
• India
• Bangladesh
• Australia
• England
• South Africa
• Afghanistan
• New Zealand

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand
2. February 23: India vs Pakistan
3. March 9: Final

The prize money for the tournament is $6.9 million, with the winning team receiving $2.24 million. The runner-up will be awarded $1.12 million, and the losing semi-finalists will each get $560,000. Each group stage win is worth over $34,000. All eight teams are guaranteed $125,000 for participating.