The 3 dark horses for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is fast approaching. Although things are still up in the air regarding where the games are likely to be played, all eight nations are ramping up their preparations to do battle in the biggest one-day international (ODI) competition aside from the ICC World Cup.
With the round-robin and knockout tournament set to commence from 19th February, there’s only a couple of months until teams prepare to fly out to the subcontinent. Although India are currently the red-hot favourites to win the first edition of this competition since 2017, there are three dark horses catching our eye as potential value in the betting markets.
Afghanistan
Looking at the current ICC ODI world rankings, Afghanistan are currently rated as the world’s eighth-best ODI nation. Luckily for them, the entrants to the Champions Trophy are based on performance at the last ICC World Cup, where the Afghans finished sixth in India.
They are potentially underrated in those ODI world rankings if their most recent performances are anything to go by. That’s because Afghanistan landed their first ODI series victory over a nation ranked inside the ICC’s top-five. Afghanistan hosted South Africa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the Afghans bowled out the Proteas for just 106 and 134 en-route to back-to-back wins and a 2-1 series win.
A lot rests on the shoulders of promising batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who hit 105 and 89 against the Proteas and he looks to have genuine star quality. As does leg spin icon, Rashid Khan, who took seven wickets in the first two matches before missing the third and final game – which South Africa won – with a tight hamstring.
England
It may seem somewhat bizarre to label England a ‘dark horse’ in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, especially since they are two-time runners-up and 2019 ICC World Cup winners. However, the nation’s ODI team has experienced a plunge down the ICC ODI world rankings of late.
Looking at the ICC’s men’s ODI rankings, England are currently in seventh place behind Sri Lanka and New Zealand. In fact, the likes of Afghanistan and Bangladesh are seeing their ICC ratings climb intriguingly close to England’s current 92 rating. Despite England’s lowly ICC rating, they are joint-third favourites in the latest cricket betting odds to lift the trophy in Pakistan.
Former England captain, Eoin Morgan, believes England’s selectors should recall Joe Root and Ben Stokes to the ODI squad providing they are fit and firing. The pair last played ODIs during England’s dismal 2023 ICC World Cup run in India. Although Morgan is keen to throw his weight behind England’s crop of up-and-coming talent, augmenting that with battle-hardened stars could also be the way to go in Pakistan.
Pakistan
It might be even more outlandish to label tournament hosts, Pakistan, as dark horses, especially since they won the last ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. However, the betting markets have Pakistan priced as long as 17/2 to win the tournament outright next year. This would make them joint-fifth favourites with New Zealand, with only Afghanistan and Bangladesh at a longer price than the host nation.
It’s a surprise to see them priced so long considering they’ll be playing in front of their own supporters and on familiar pitches. They’re also currently ranked number three in the ICC ODI world rankings, with their rating suggesting they’ve got what it takes to at least reach the semi-finals.
Much will depend on the individual form of Babar Azam, who has been taken out of the firing line due to a crisis of confidence at Test Match level. Pakistan may also lack options in the spinning department, with Abrar and Mehmood the most likely candidates. Although Abrar struggled to make an impression on England in their recent Test series.
It will be exciting to see if at least one of this trio can make inroads on the knockout stages and potentially go deep all the way to the final in Lahore.