Not India! Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain predict the winner of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is one of the most anticipated events in cricket, scheduled to begin on 19 February 2025. It is co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubaithe tournament promises high-octane action as the world’s best cricketing nations battle it out for the coveted title.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Overview
While most of the matches will be spread across Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE)India will play all their matches in Dubai due to ongoing geopolitical reasons. India will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the group stage. With the event returning after a hiatus of eight years, the competition is expected to attract a lot of attention from fans and pundits alike. The pitches in Pakistan and the UAE are likely to offer different challenges, from the spin-friendly tracks in Dubai to the pace-friendly conditions in Pakistan, making the balance of the squad a key factor in determining success.
Excitement about the prestigious event in Pakistan and Dubai
The Champions Trophy has always been a unique tournament, known for its compact format and intense competition. Unlike the longer World Cup, this tournament only features the top eight cricketing nations, ensuring that every game has high stakes. For teams like South Africa, who are yet to win a major ICC event, this presents a golden opportunity to end their trophy drought. Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses like India, Australiaand England will strive to maintain its dominance on the global stage.
Amidst this backdrop, cricket experts and former players share their predictions for the tournament. A recent episode Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, with cricket-like layers Nasser Hussain and Michael Athertonsaw the duo engage in a heated debate over their picks for the 2025 Champions Trophy winner.
READ ALSO: New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra predicts the 2025 Champions Trophy finalists.
Michael Atherton’s prediction for the eventual winner
When asked about the prediction of the winner of the tournament, Michael Atherton, reliably supported South Africa to break their long-standing deficit in ICC events. He highlighted South Africa’s current form and the strength of their squad, expressing hope that they will overcome their history of failing at key moments.
“I’m going to root for South Africa like I do in every global tournament until they actually win one when I can finally say this clock that has stopped has finally been right, so yeah South Africa look like a strong side, I think it’s time to show at the ICC event,” Atherton said.
Reflecting on past disappointments, Nasser shared a funny anecdote from Barbados, where South Africa, despite being in a dominant position, failed to cross the finish line against India in the final T20 World Cup 2024.
“You know, I just remember in Barbados we were sitting in what they call the green room next to the commentary room and you had that smug look on your face when they needed 30 out of 30 with however many wickets in hand and that kind of smile slowly wiped from your face when India crossed the border,” Hussain said.
Nasser Hussain’s Prediction of the New CT2025 Champion
On the other hand, Hussain bet on Australiaciting their recent dominance across formats as a key reason. Hussain further predicted a repeat ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Final between India and Australia, with the two heavyweights likely to clash for the Champions Trophy title.
“They (Australia) have just won almost everything else. Even though they didn’t win the T20 World Cup, India did, I think Australia is number one for a reason. I’m going again with the India-Australia final,” Hussain concluded.
READ ALSO: Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman predicts his four Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finalists
