Ravichandran Ashwin Snubs Pakistan While Naming His ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Finalists

Ravichandran Ashwin, former India spinner, has named his four semi-finalists for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and has interestingly snubbed hosts Pakistan.

Two groups of four teams each will be formed for the eight-team event that begins on February 19. The top two teams from each group will then compete in the semifinals before the March 9 grand finale. Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan make up Group B, while India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh make up Group A.

Rohit Sharma's team was selected as one of the semifinalists from Group A by Ashwin, who was instrumental in India's 2013 Champions Trophy victory. The Tamil Nadu spinner went on to forecast that New Zealand would advance past hosts Pakistan to join India as the other semifinalist from the group.

Ravichandran Ashwin names his semi-finalists from Group B

Despite the unavailability of numerous first-choice players in the squad, Ashwin selected Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup champions, as a semifinalist for Group B. He then selected England, an Ashes foe of Australia, to advance to the second semifinal from Group B.

Ravichandran Ashwin's Semifinal picks for 2025 Champions Trophy:

Group A: India, New Zealand

Group B: England, Australia

Ashwin rates the eight teams out of 100

In addition to selecting the semifinal teams, Ravichandran Ashwin assigned a score of 100 to each of the eight competing teams based on their balance and strength. With scores of 85/100 apiece, the former Indian off-spinner selected New Zealand and India as the top two teams.

Ashwin's ranking placed England at number three with a score of 81, and the Australians at number four with a score of 78. With scores of 70 and 68 out of 100, Afghanistan and South Africa came in fifth and sixth, respectively.

The hosts Bangladesh came in last on Ashwin's ranking with a score of 40/100, while Pakistan came in second to last with a score of 55/100.

India would’ve gotten 90 had they had Jasprit Bumrah: Ravi Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin admitted that India's 2025 Champions Trophy total score dropped from 90 to 85 due to the absence of star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. In the last Test of India's recent tour of Australia, Bumrah had a back ailment that prevented him from competing in the Champions Trophy.

"I'll give them 85. I would given India a 90 had Bumrah been there because India is completely different with him in the mix. The only concern for India in my view is that all their games are in Dubai. Let's say we lose all three tosses and are put into bat first because it's chalk and cheese between day and night at this venue. So if opponents bat under lights, this 85 might start dropping,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

India will begin its Champions Trophy on February 20 against Bangladesh.

Also Read: Babar Azam To Be Demoted By Pakistan Owing To Poor Form In ICC Champions Trophy 2025