Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the BCCI has decided that the Indian team will not play any practice matches before they open their tournament against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9. Eight teams will feature in the competition, and they have been divided into two groups, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand placed in Group A.
Australia, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa have been placed in Group B. India will play all its matches in Dubai, including the semi-final and final if they qualify.
The BCCI opted against conducting practice games because India has just played a three-match ODI series against England. The Indian team is slated to arrive in Dubai on February 15.
Pakistan on Wednesday picked three Shaheens squads (Pakistan A sides) to play warm-up games against Bangladesh, South Africa, and Afghanistan, respectively. The warm-up matches will take place between February 14 and 17 in preparation for the main tournament.
Afghanistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh will participate in these three warm-up games on February 14 and 17, respectively. Afghanistan will also play a warm-up match against New Zealand on February 16.
Shadab Khan will captain the Shaheens against Afghanistan in Lahore on February 14, with two Shaheens teams playing in Karachi and Dubai on February 17. Mohammad Hurraira will captain the Shaheens against South Africa in Karachi, while Mohammad Haris will lead the team against Bangladesh in Dubai.
The New Zealand-Afghanistan warm-up match on February 16 will be played in Karachi.
Schedule of warm-up matches:
February 14 – Pakistan Shaheens vs Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
February 16 – New Zealand vs Afghanistan, National Stadium, Karachi.
February 17 – Pakistan Shaheens vs South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi.
February 17 – Pakistan Shaheens vs Bangladesh, ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai.
Shaheens squad vs Afghanistan in Lahore:
Shadab Khan (captain), Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, Hussain Talat, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Ali, Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir Khan, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Imran Randhawa and Muhammad Irfan Khan.
Shaheens squad vs South Africa in Karachi:
Mohammad Huraira (captain), Amad Butt, Faisal Akram, Hassan Nawaz, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, and Saad Khan.
Shaheens squad vs Bangladesh in Dubai:
Mohammad Haris (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Azan Awais, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mubasir Khan, Musa Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim and Usama Mir.
(PTI inputs)
