The upcoming ICC men’s Champions Trophy 2025 is just a day away from its start, and all teams are gearing up to launch their campaign in order to clinch the title. The tournament will be played from February 19 to March 9. India will be playing their matches in UAE after they refused to travel to Pakistan. There are eight teams competing in the tournament for the coveted title. 

As the tournament draws closer, each nation has announced their squads, and there’s no shortage of talent in all teams. From power hitters to seasoned bowlers, all eight teams boast a balanced squad. However, despite the star-studded lineups, some teams will miss key players due to injuries or other reasons.

The hosts Pakistan and the top seven teams from the 2023 ODI World Cup group qualified for the Champions Trophy. The eight teams are, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and New Zealand. 

The eight teams have been split into two groups of four. Afghanistan are making their tournament debut after doing wonderfully well at the ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan will host New Zealand in the tournament opener on February 19 at National Stadium, Karachi. 

Group A: Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand

Group B: Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, England

Here’s a closer look at the squads of the eight teams participating in the tournament:- 

(India)

India enter Champions Trophy with a strong squad brimming with experienced players. Key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul are expected to lead the charge. However, India will be without their ace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been sidelined due to injury concerns. Despite this setback, India’s squad remains formidable, with the likes of Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh ready to shoulder the bowling duties. The availability of young talent like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer will provide the team with much-needed flexibility.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy

(Australia)

Australia, always a force, will face a challenging task in the upcoming tournament. They are missing their formidable trio of fast bowlers: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, all of whom have been ruled out due to various reasons. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are out due to their respective injuries, while Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the tournament for personal reasons. Despite the setback, the squad remains strong, with Travis Head, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne anchoring the batting lineup. In the bowling department, they have the likes of Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa. Steve Smith will captain the side in the absence of Pat Cummins.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey (WK), Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

(Pakistan)

Pakistan, who are the hosts of the tournament, will be hoping to make perfect use of home conditions. Their squad is packed with match-winners capable of turning a game on its head. Babar Azam, who is currently experiencing a poor run of form, will be expected to lead the team’s batting attack. Mohammad Rizwan will be leading Pakistan. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem shah and Haris Rauf will spearhead the bowling attack, while Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel and Usman Khan will provide stability in the batting order. It will now be interesting to see how they fare against the world’s best teams.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (C & WK), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi

(England)

England enter Champions Trophy on the back a 0-3 series defeat against India in the recently-concluded ODI series. However, they have a well-balanced squad. With Jos Buttler leading the team, England’s batting strength is unquestionable, with Harry Brook, Ben Duckett and Joe Root offering depth. The team has promising all-rounder in Liam Livingstone. Their bowling attack is quite formidable as well, with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Adil Rashid.

England squad: Jos Buttler (C & WK), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (WK), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (WK), Mark Wood

(New Zealand)

New Zealand, having cliched the Pakistan ODI tai-series recently, are riding a wave of success and would hope to go the distance. Their squad, led by Mitchell Santner, is built around highly competitive players. Kane Williamson, Will Young, Devon Conway, and Daryl Mitchell provide a solid core in the batting department. While the pace attack will be led by Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and William ORourke. New Zealand are further solidified with the presence of Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell. 

New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (WK), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (WK), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy

(South Africa)

South Africa, who lost in the final of the T20I World Cup 2024, will be looking to make an impact. Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs and Rassie van der Dussen will be crucial to the team’s batting lineup, while Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj will lead the bowling attack. Overall, they’ll be looking to make a strong statement after their near-miss at T20I World Cup.

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch

(Afghanistan)

Afghanistan, who challenged best teams at the ODI World Cup 2023 and T20I World Cup 2024, will look for a dominant start. The team, having the availability of Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Azamatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Naib, will be led by Hashmatullah Shahidi. The team will rely on their superstar spinners Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad to provide breakthroughs, while the batting will be anchored by the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hashmatullah Shahidi.

Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami

(Bangladesh)

Another asian giants Bangladesh will be led by Najmul Hossain Shanto. Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim will lead the charge with the bat. While, their all-round department will be handled by the likes of Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Bangladesh’s pace department, featuring Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hasan Shakib will be crucial to their Champions Trophy aspirations. Meanwhile, the team faces challenges in terms of consistency, however they have the firepower to upset any team.

Bangladesh squad: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (C), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana