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First CT in 8 years...back from the dead. I like the idea of having a CT smack in between ODI World Cups...every 2 years is overkill but every 4 gives it a bit of glamour. Tons of players missing due to injuries though, but should still be a decent tournament I hope. My predictions:

Group A
India - I think they'll peak in the group stage and top the group
New Zealand - always do well in ICC events + have a nearly full strength side
Pakistan - could top the group or finish at the bottom
Bangladesh - on paper the most balanced squad they've ever had, but recent form is abysmal across the board

Group B
Afghanistan - friendly conditions, will spin it to win it.
South Africa - batters look to be in good nick.
England - recent form is too average to be title contenders
Australia - missing their entire first string pace attack.

Semi-finals
Afghanistan beat New Zealand
South Africa beat India

Final
Afghanistan beat South Africa

NZ posting a very respectable 320-5 in the opening match. Pakistan meanwhile going at just 3.3 an over in the chase...ridiculous!

Bangladesh stays ahead of Pakistan on NRR! Hard to imagine when they slumped to 35-5 in the powerplay, that too after choosing to bat first on a flat track.

3 ducks in the top 5 for Bangladesh against a Bumrah-less bowling corp. Solid fightback from Towhid and the Joker...the former notching his first ODI ton in the process.

Afghanistan get clobbered. There goes my prediction lol.

A part of me is relieved. Petty as hell, but a part of me is always relieved to see Afghanistan lose because anytime they win, the narrative (and justifiably so, I have to admit) is always "Bangladesh has been playing for 30 years and hasn't achieved shit, Afghans get 1/10th the opportunity and have already outperformed them..." Bitter truth pill and hard to swallow as a BD fan.

Anyways, I'm wondering if BD have it in them to beat one of NZ and PAK...if we do that, our NRR might leave us a chance to sneak into the semis despite being the worst of the 8 teams in the tournament.

These India v Pakistan blockbusters have lost their aura. Pakistan have about as much chance of beating India at an ICC tournament as Zimbabwe probably do. This isn't even a Pakistan team deep in turmoil or crisis, they simply just aren't very good. There is no quick fix for them.

eugene wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:21 pm

These India v Pakistan blockbusters have lost their aura. Pakistan have about as much chance of beating India at an ICC tournament as Zimbabwe probably do. This isn't even a Pakistan team deep in turmoil or crisis, they simply just aren't very good. There is no quick fix for them.

Not at all. Pakistan are a very average side and have been for 20 odd years. Now they've still managed to win 2 ICC events in that time, but most of the time they don't even make the knockouts anymore.

Pakistan and Bangladesh officially knocked out, unsurprisingly. If the Afghans follow, it will be an odd case of 3 out of 4 Asian sides struggling in Asian conditions. Bangladesh have had poor ODI form for a number of years now...Pakistan are ranked #3 despite being a mediocre side...and the Afghans have been on a very good run the past couple of of tournaments.

Ibrahim Zadran with a new CT record score of 177. What an amazing talent. England's bowling attack is shit, but 177 in an ICC event is a world class knock against any top 10 side. Hats off.

Even if the Afghans lose, which they very well might...they've given a decent account of themselves and are a better ODI side than Bangladesh or Pakistan at present.