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Pakistan Favourite To Win Champions Trophy? 3 Reasons Why Gavaskar Might Be Proved Wrong

Abhinav Tyagi∙ Updated: Jan 20 2025, 9:45 PM

Rizwan and Gavaskar- (Source:@JerryBach43/X.com)Rizwan and Gavaskar- (Source:@JerryBach43/X.com)

The preparations for Champions Trophy 2025 are in full swing. Teams are sweating hard in the nets to prepare for the prestigious fifty-over event. Meanwhile, on January 18, India too announced their squad for the upcoming tournament. 

While India announced their squad, several pundits including legendary Sunil Gavaskar opined his views on the Champions Trophy and how the tournament is shaping up. During that conversation, Sunil Gavaskar had ruled to name India as favourites and labelled Pakistan the favourites because they are the hosts.

Meanwhile, this article will shed light on three reasons why Pakistan are not the favourite to lift the trophy and why Gavaskar's statements could turn out to be untrue.

1. Tendancy To Surrender TO ICC Events' Pressure

Pakistan are in the form of their life in ODIs as they beat Australia and South Africa away from home. However, the Men in Green have a history of faltering in ICC events under pressure. 

Looking at Pakistan's track records in the last two ICC events, then they suffered an early exit in the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC World Cup 2023, where they failed to go past the group stages. 

2. Turmoil Within PCB

A lot has occurred within the PCB in the recent past. Babar Azam stepped down, and Mohammad Rizwan took over. Meanwhile, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie also left their roles as head coaches.

Thus, any board with such turmoil and crisis in management, have less chance of succeeding in any tournament, even if they are the hosts. Thus, it is unlikely that the players would be free of things happening in the background. This would also restrict the players from playing their natural game.

3. Volatile Middle-Order

Talking about the team, Pakistan have got a great top-order and also a strong bowling line-up. However, one persistent issue that has remained consistent is their volatile middle-order.

The middle-order has time and time again disappointed the Pakistani fans, as also seen during Pakistan's T20 World Cup tie against India. The Men in Green need a stable middle-order, and this weakness can prove to be a key point behind their potentially early exit from Champions Trophy 2025.