Ponting and Shastri predict Champions Trophy finalists
While the greats of the game agreed upon the two teams most suited to feature in the summit clash, they also believe home advantage will hold Pakistan in the right.
Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri have named two firm contenders for this year’s ICC Champions Trophy Final.
Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan in a bumper episode of The ICC Review, the duo predicted India and Australia will fight out the final, based on their recent success in big tournaments and star-studded lineups.
While Shastri named England and South Africa as the other semi-finals prospects, the former India head coach tipped the 2023 Cricket World Cup finalists to go all the way in the eight-team tournament.
Ponting agreed.
“It's hard to go past India and Australia again,” Ponting told The ICC Review.
“Just think about the quality of players in both countries right now, and you look back in recent history when these big finals and big ICC events have come around and inevitably Australia and India are there somewhere.”
A new era for the Champions Trophy
India and Australia, the two most successful sides in the tournament, having won it twice each in 2002, 2013 and 2006, 2009 respectively, will be looking to add another ICC honour to their ever-growing list of accolades.
The two gigantic cricketing nations also played out the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, where the side from Down Under emerged victorious on both occasions.
But there was another contender in the mix, according to the former Australia skipper.
Ponting believed hosts Pakistan can pose a strong challenge to the two teams.
“The other team that is playing some really good cricket at the moment is Pakistan,” said Ponting.
“Their one-day cricket over the last little bit has been absolutely outstanding.
“We know they're not always the most predictable team in those big tournaments, but they seem like they've sorted things out a little bit.”
Favourite memories from past Champions Trophy campaigns
Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan are coming into 2025 on the back of ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa.
In the previous edition of the Champions Trophy, a young Pakistan side, led by the experienced Sarfaraz Ahmed and a sizzling hundred in the final from Fakhar Zaman, combined with a blistering bowling show, pulled off the job at the Oval, and the hosts will be looking to repeat their heroics.
The element of defending champions will also provide some extra energy to the home side, who beat India to their maiden crown in the 2017 edition. The two sides will tussle it out yet again in a group fixture in Dubai on 23 February.
The Champions Trophy will kickstart on February 19 in Karachi with the hosts playing New Zealand in the opening fixture while the final will take place on March 9.