DUBAI: Champions Trophy begins Wednesday with the world’s top eight teams competing in Pakistan and Dubai for the prestigious title.
AFP Sports look at three highly expected matches in the group phase of the 50-over tournament:
Australia against England
The ashes rivals fight together in Lahore Saturday.
World Cup holders Australia have had the upper hand against their old enemies in the last 50-over matches and won their previous series 3-2 last year.
But both come into Champions Trophy with question marks hanging over them.
Australia is without their “big three” pacemen – Pat Cummins (ankle), Josh Hazlewood (HIP) and Mitchell Starc, which have chosen for personal reasons.
Add the absence of the AllRounders Mitchell Marsh (back) and Marcus Stoinis (retired) and half of their ordinary teams are missing.
The depleted side suffered a heavy 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka on the threshold of the tournament.
England, with test coach Brendon McCullum now in charge, did not make better and was whitewashed 3-0 in India.
Since won the World Cup in 2019 and 2022 T20, England has been fighting in whiteball cricket.
India against Pakistan
TV RATINGS ROCKET WITH MILLS SUPPLY TO SEE THE ERK rivals every time they fight for it because of the deep rivalry between the nuclear armed neighbors.
The two teams meet on Sunday in Dubai.
Tickets for the collision were sold out minutes after being on sale as more than 150,000 fans queued online to get a seat in the 25,000 capacity stadium.
India refused to visit Pakistan for Champions Trophy and forced the latter to agree partially to waive hosting rights to Dubai after a long stand-off.
On the field, India are favorites to win the tournament for the third time, in what is expected to be the international Swansong for Rohit Sharma.
Pakistan are holders and unpredictable.
Afghanistan against England
More than 160 British politicians urged England to boycott the fight in Lahore on February 26 over the erosion of women’s rights from the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.
Skipper Jos Buttler rejected the idea and said, “I don’t think a boycott is the way to do it.”
Apart from a shock at the last minute about face, the game will continue.
After being well beaten in India last week, Buttler insisted that England may be “dangerous” on Champions Trophy, though recent evidence suggests otherwise.
Afghanistan has become an increasing strength in whiteball cricket in recent years, rising to eighth in the ODI world event, a place under England.
The Afghans beat Australia on their way to a historic semi -final place at last year’s T20 World Cup before losing to South Africa.
