Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, marking their inaugural big international event since the 1996 ODI World Cup, in which Sri Lanka triumphed against Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan is organizing an event for the world’s eight premier cricketing nations. Supporters and cricketers are enthusiastic. Every squad is competing for the crown on March 9th, rendering the competition exhilarating.
With only a few hours left, let’s look at the top 11 players who could impact the tournament and challenge their opponents.
1) Fakhar Zaman:
Noted for his explosive batting, particularly when setting or chasing significant totals, Pakistan’s opening batsman, Fakhar Zaman, is among the most aggressive players in this event.
Pakistan beat India in the final in 2017; the left-handed hitter scored 114 runs to enable the Men in Green to compile a startling total. To rank sixth in the tournament, he scored 252 runs in four games at 63.00 including two fifties and a century.
Given his remarkable record, the 34-year-old might profit from the 2025 event in Pakistan. With a peak of 180*, he has scored 986 runs at 46.95 in 22 home ODI contests including five fifties and three hundreds.
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2) Rohit Sharma (C):
One of the best ODI openers of this generation, Indian captain Rohit Sharma boasts an aggressive batting approach. India’s Champions Trophy 2025 events will take place in the UAE, hence his record there is really noteworthy.
With two fifties and a century across five UAE games, the right-handed hitter has scored 317 runs at 105.66. With 304 runs in five matches at 76.00—two fifties and a century included—he was the second-highest run-scorer in the competition in 2017.
3) Travis Head:
With his innate offensive ability, Travis Head of Australia may turn the game around by frightening opponent. He struck an unbroken 137 to assist Australia in winning their sixth title in the ODI World Cup final against India.
In six tournament matches, he scored 329 runs at 54.83, including one fifty and two hundreds. He scored 71 runs in three 2017 Champions Trophy matches. In three matches in the host nation of the competition, he has amassed 190 runs at 63.33, with a fifty and a century among them.
4) Kane Williamson:
Kane Williamson, the former New Zealand captain, will compete in the Champions Trophy for the third time after 2013 and 2017. He excels in fifty-over cricket with his graceful batting.
His 345 runs at 69.00, including three fifties and a century, in six Champions Trophy matches are exceptional. New Zealand may benefit from his Pakistan ODI record in the eight-team tournament. His 389 runs at 77.80, including three fifties and a century, in six matches is outstanding.
5) Azmatullah Omarzai:
Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan’s rising star, will threaten his opponents with bat and ball. He is a guy to watch in this competition for his hitting. Omarzai’s Champions Trophy debut is unsurprising given his ICC success.
6) WK Heinrich Klaasen:
Middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen from South Africa will be a major pressure point. At No. 5 he established his value with 1,701 runs in 40 matches at 48.60, including eight fifties and four hundreds.
7) Rashid Khan:
With his bowling style and ability to confuse hitters, Afghanistan’s top spinner, Rashid Khan, will be a major hazard in the tournament. Having competed in the 2019 and 2023 ICC ODI World Cups, this will be his first Champions Trophy appearance in 2025.
In 111 ODIs Khan has taken 198 wickets at 4.20. He has a 17 wicket World Cup record of 5.07 from two events. Besides bowling, he strikes really well. In 111 ODIs, he accumulated 1,346 runs including five half-centuries. He scored 210 runs in eighteen visits to the ODI World Cups for 2019 and 2023.
8) Shaheen Shah Afridi:
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s left-arm pacer, is a crucial bowler to keep an eye on given his record and opening over striking power. His home record is outstanding—31 wickets in 16 matches at 5.55. Afridi took 34 wickets at 5.57 in 14 ODI World Cup games.
Based on his past accomplishments, Pakistan could fight against India in the UAE. Six times he has taken 13 wickets at 4.88. At 5.57, he has amassed 125 wickets in 62 ODI games, three five-wicket hauls among them.
9) Kagiso Rabada:
Right-arm pace specialist Kagiso Rabada of South Africa will challenge opponents with his explosive bowling in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. With an exceptional economy, he has taken 162 wickets in 103 outings at 5.06.
He has dominated important ICC events even though he has never played in Pakistan. In 18 matches at 5.04 in the ODI World Cups for 2019 and 2023 he took 24 wickets. Rabada is a tough opponent having claimed thirty wickets in sixteen encounters against Australia.
10. Mohammed Shami:
One of the most dependable ODI bowlers, returning Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is known for altering games in his team’s best advantage. Over 103 50-overs, he has taken 197 wickets at 5.57. He was the top wicket-taker in the World Cup 2023. In seven matches at 5.26 he got 24 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls. In 18 World Cup games held in 2015, 2019, and 2023 Shami has taken 55 wickets.
11) Adil Rashid:
Adil Rashid, England’s leg-spinner, is one of the tournament’s biggest threats due to his experience turning games in his favor. Two five-wicket hauls and 212 wickets in 146 matches at 5.64 have been taken by Rashid. In two ODI World Cups, he had 26 wickets in 20 matches at 5.46.
He took seven wickets in three matches at 4.73 in the 2017 Champions Trophy, ranking sixth. Australia will also be threatened by Rashid, who has taken 50 wickets in 31 outings against them at 5.59.
