Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has highlighted Pakistan as a strong contender for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.
In a discussion with journalist Sanjana Ganesan and former India coach Ravi Shastri on The ICC Review, Ponting named Pakistan alongside India and Australia as key competitors for the title.
Ponting praised Pakistan’s recent performance in one-day internationals, noting their outstanding results. “Their one-day cricket over the last bit has been outstanding,” he remarked on the ICC’s official website. Despite their historical unpredictability in major tournaments, Ponting observed that Pakistan seems to have gained some stability.
Under Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership, the Green Shirts entered 2025 with significant momentum from ODI series victories in Australia and South Africa. Since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan has secured a series of wins against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Reflecting on the previous Champions Trophy, Ponting recalled the young Pakistani team led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, which triumphed at The Oval with notable contributions from Fakhar Zaman and a strong bowling lineup. With the 2017 victory, Pakistan aims to replicate their success on home soil.
Despite Pakistan’s strong prospects, Ponting and Shastri see India and Australia as likely finalists, given their recent successes and strong squads. Shastri also considered England and South Africa as potential semifinalists. Still, based on their formidable histories in major ICC events, they believe the final will likely feature India and Australia.
India and Australia, each having won the Champions Trophy twice in 2002, 2013, 2006, and 2009, respectively, are poised to add another accolade to their extensive lists of achievements. These teams also faced off in the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, with Australia coming out on top in both encounters.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will commence on February 19 and conclude on March 9, featuring 15 matches across venues in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai, involving eight participating teams.
