After all the hype for months, the ICC Champions Trophy finally got underway with Pakistan hosting New Zealand for the tournament-opener. Quite fascinatingly, the hosts got a reality check against a potent Kiwi unit as they were rattled by a margin of 60 runs, diminishing their chances to qualify for the Champions Trophy semi-final. It was a double whammy for Pakistan, who also saw Fakhar Zaman get injured on the second ball of the innings as well. Meanwhile, Babar Azam has lost his number one ODI batting spot, with Shubman Gill surpassing him. After all this, is Pakistan ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy? Also, what did Sanju Samson say on MS Dhoni’s IPL retirement? Catch all this and more as we look through the top cricketing stories from February 19, Wednesday.
Shubman Gill beats Babar Azam
Shubman Gill has dethroned Babar Azam to become the number one ODI batter in the world. Gill’s impressive performance in the recent IND vs ENG ODI series, where he scored three consecutive 50+ scores, including a century in Ahmedabad, propelled him to the top spot. India captain Rohit Sharma holds the third position, while Shreyas Iyer has moved up to the 9th position. This ranking change adds an interesting subplot to the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Read more here: Shubman Gill overtakes Babar Azam to become No. 1 ODI batter
Sanju Samson on MS Dhoni retirement
Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain, doesn’t want MS Dhoni to retire after IPL 2025. Dhoni, who has been playing for Chennai Super Kings since 2008, has been dealing with a knee injury and has dropped down the batting order. Samson, who considers Dhoni his mentor, wants him to continue playing beyond IPL 2025. When asked about Dhoni’s potential retirement, Samson simply said “Thoda aur” (a little while longer), showing his admiration and desire for Dhoni to keep playing. Read more here: Sanju Samson doesn’t want ‘mentor’ MS Dhoni to retire after IPL 2025
Pakistan out of ICC Champions Trophy?
Pakistan’s chances of defending their ICC Champions Trophy title are extremely slim after losing to New Zealand in the opener. With only two matches left, they need to beat India and hope their final match against Bangladesh isn’t washed out due to rain. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for Rawalpindi on February 27 shows a 48-70% chance of rain, making a curtailed game unlikely. Pakistan’s semifinal qualification now relies on a miracle, making their early exit a strong possibility. Read more here: Pakistan virtually out of Champions Trophy
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Karthik perplexed by India’s selection
Dinesh Karthik has expressed surprise at India’s decision to include five spinners in their Champions Trophy squad, calling it “a bit too much.” He suggests that four spinners would have been sufficient. Karthik also feels that Mohammed Siraj could have been a better choice to replace the injured Jasprit Bumrah, but notes that Harshit Rana has impressed the Indian team. Karthik’s comments come ahead of India’s Champions Trophy campaign, which begins on February 20 against Bangladesh. Read more here: Five spinners, no Siraj: Karthik slightly baffled by India’s Champions Trophy strategy
Fakhar Zaman concerns
Fakhar Zaman suffered an injury scare in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand. While chasing a ball to the boundary, Fakhar landed awkwardly and clutched his lower back in discomfort. He signaled for a replacement and left the field, with Kamran Ghulam substituting as a fielder. Fakhar’s injury severity is being assessed, and his availability for the rest of the tournament is uncertain. He, however, did bat in the second innings but didn’t look comfortable while at the crease too. Read more here: Fakhar Zaman concerns
Indian flag in Karachi
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally installed the Indian flag at the Karachi Stadium, ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. This move comes after the PCB faced backlash for initially omitting the Indian flag from the stadium. The controversy sparked when the National Stadium in Karachi was inaugurated without India’s representation, leading to criticism from Indian fans. The PCB had issued a clarification, stating that only four flags would be hoisted on match days, but it didn’t satisfy the fans. Read more here: PCB bends their knees to backlash, Indian flag spotted in Karachi
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