Pakistan have strong chance to reach Champions Trophy final: Ricky Ponting
1. They’re not always most predictable team, but seems like they’ve sorted things out a bit, says ex-Aussie captain
LAHORE: Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes Pakistan is a strong contender for a place in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
In a special episode of The ICC Review on Saturday, cricket icons Ravi Shastri and Ponting discussed the upcoming Champions Trophy with journalist Sanjana Ganesan. While both agreed that Australia and India are the leading favorites, Ponting highlighted Pakistan as another serious challenger.
Ponting, as quoted by the ICC website, shared, "The other team that’s playing really good cricket right now is Pakistan."
He went on to praise their recent performances, saying, "Their one-day cricket over the past while has been outstanding."
While acknowledging that Pakistan is often unpredictable in major tournaments, Ponting noted, "They seem to have sorted things out a bit."
Pakistan, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, enters 2025 with impressive ODI series victories against Australia and South Africa. Following the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Pakistan won three consecutive series—beating the world champions Australia 2-1, Zimbabwe 2-1, and sweeping South Africa 3-0.
In the 2017 Champions Trophy, Pakistan, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed and a match-winning century from Fakhar Zaman in the final, clinched their maiden title, defeating India. With the 2025 edition being held on home soil, they will be eager to repeat their historic victory.
Ponting and Shastri agreed that India and Australia will be the two teams to battle it out for the final. "Based on their recent success in big tournaments and their star-studded lineups, they'll make the final," Shastri added.
Ponting also expressed confidence in India and Australia's ability to reach the final, stating, "It’s hard to go past India and Australia again. When you think about the quality of players in both countries and look at their history in big ICC events, they’re always there."
India and Australia, the two most successful teams in the Champions Trophy, having each won it twice, are eyeing another prestigious title. Both nations also competed in the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2023, with Australia emerging victorious in both.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 and run through March 9. Matches will take place across three venues in Pakistan—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—as well as in Dubai, featuring 15 thrilling encounters between the eight participating teams.
