ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Captains of all participating teams

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9.

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to return after eight years. The last edition of the ICC ODI tournament took place in 2017 in England, where Pakistan claimed their first title by defeating India by 180 runs in the final.

The upcoming tournament will begin on February 19, 2025 in Karachi and conclude with the final on March 9 in Lahore (or Dubai if India qualify). It will feature eight teams, divided into two groups – Group A and Group B. The group stage will be followed by semi-finals and final.

Group A includes India, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and defending champions Pakistan. Group B consists of England, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan.

Hosts Pakistan will begin the competition against New Zealand in Karachi, while the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.

On that note, let’s take a look at the captains of the teams that have been announced so far.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Captains of all teams announced so far

1. Afghanistan

Considered as the dark horses in ICC tournaments in recent years, Afghanistan have found success in ODIs in recent times. They finished sixth in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and defeated Bangladesh and South Africa in bilateral ODI series in 2024.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead Afghanistan in their first-ever Champions Trophy appearance. The team will aim to reach the knockout stages this year, having reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year.

2. Bangladesh

Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025. Bangladesh had a memorable campaign in the 2017 edition, as they reached the semi-finals. It was the first time that Bangladesh reached the semi-final stage of a senior men’s ICC event.

Bangladesh face a tough challenge this time, with their group including India, New Zealand, and hosts Pakistan.

3. Pakistan

Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan will lead hosts Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan had a memorable campaign in the last edition of the tournament in 2017, which they won by defeating India in the final. They would hope to retain the trophy, which returns after a hiatus of eight years.

4. South Africa

After a heartbreaking loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, South Africa will aim to end their ICC trophy drought in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Proteas have named Temba Bavuma as their captain for the tournament.

Under Bavuma, the South African test team have also booked their place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 final, scheduled for June.

The year 2025 offers Bavuma and South Africa two opportunities to win an ICC trophy.

5. New Zealand

All-rounder Mitchell Santner has been given the responsibility to lead New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Known for being one of the most consistent teams in ICC tournaments over the past dozen years, the Kiwis had a disappointing campaign in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

Santner will have strong support from senior players Tom Latham and Kane Williamson to assist him in his maiden ICC tournament as New Zealand’s captain.

6. England

Despite England losing their grip on both ICC white-ball titles in the last two years, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has kept faith in Jos Buttler and continued with him as England’s captain for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

England won the 2022 T20 World Cup under Buttler’s captaincy, but things went downhill afterwards as they failed to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup 2023 and were knocked out in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024.

The upcoming tournament could be crucial for Buttler’s future as England’s white-ball captain. This will be the first ICC tournament for Brendon McCullum as England’s white-ball coach, having taken the duties of being an all-format coach.

7. Australia

After regular skipper Pat Cummins got ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to an ankle injury, Australia have named Steve Smith as captain for the ICC event.

While Australia will miss the services of Cummins both as a bowler and a captain, Steve Smith also has experience of leading the side previously. Australia would like to improve their record at the Champions Trophy, where they didn’t qualify for the semi-finals in last two editions in 2013 and 2017.

8. India

Rohit Sharma will lead India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He became India’s full-time ODI captain in 2021 and was the captain during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where the team finished as runners-up. Last year, Sharma led India to the T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados.

Rohit was a key member of the Indian team that won the 2013 Champions Trophy and reached the final of the 2017 edition. He was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the 2013 Champions Trophy, helping the team win the title.

(Information updated till 15th February, 2025)

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