BCCI puts hold on the domestic season due to covid surge in India: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday decided to put a complete break in the upcoming domestic tournaments amid the covid surge across the country. The cricket board has decided to postpone the upcoming domestic tournaments including Ranji Trophy, Col CK Nayudu U-25 men's tournament and senior women's T20 tournament, however, the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy is scheduled to go as per the plans as it has reached its knockout stages.



The Ranji Trophy 2022 was slated to begin on January 13th, but now the tournament will be scheduled on a later date.



Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, in a statement said that the board doesn?t want to compromise with the safety of the involved parties and hence the tournaments are kept on hold.



"BCCI does not want to compromise the safety of the players, support staff, match officials and other participants involved and hence, has decided to put the three tournaments on hold till further notice. The BCCI will continue to assess the situation and take a call on the start of the tournaments accordingly," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a release on Tuesday.



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Further Mr Shah thanked all the healthcare workers and others who have successfully helped in hosting more than 700 domestic matches in the current 2021-22 season.



"BCCI thanks and continues to appreciate the efforts of the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, match officials and all the service providers who put their best foot forward to host more than 700 matches across 11 tournaments in the current 2021-22 domestic season."



Sourav Ganguly, who has been infected with a delta variant of coronavirus, confirmed that the Ranji Trophy matches have been pushed by 15 days.



The domestic fixtures were scheduled across the multiple stadiums of the 6 six cities - Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai.



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BCCI puts hold on the domestic season due to covid surge in India

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Sourav Ganguly assures to restart the postponed domestic tournaments once things get under control.



The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday decided to put the domestic tournaments on hold due to the sudden surge in the covid-19 cases in India. The tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy and Col CK Naidu Trophy after several teams reported covid cases inside their bio-secure bubbles.



However, the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has assured that the board will do everything in hand to begin the tournaments as soon as possible.



The Ranji Trophy 2022 was set to begin on 13th January, however, the tournament has now been pushed back by 15 days.



Ganguly cited the threat to the safety of players and all others involved in the conduct of the matches.



?As you are aware, we had to put on hold the currently on-going domestic season due to the worsening COVID-19 situation. The COVID cases are rapidly increasing and there were multiple positive cases in many teams. It posed an imminent threat to the health and safety of players, officials and all others related to the running of the tournaments,? read Sourav Ganguly?s mail to presidents and secretaries, as quoted by The New Indian Express.



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Ganguly further thanked all the concerning authorities and reassured them to restart the important tournaments as soon as possible. He also mentioned preparing a fresh schedule for the tournaments and continuing the matches with the situation getting better.



?The BCCI would like to reassure that it will do everything to restart the domestic season once the COVID situation is under control. We are committed to holding the remaining tournaments for this season. The board will shortly come back to you with a revised plan. I thank you for your support and understanding. Please look after yourself and stay safe and healthy,? further read his mail.



As of today, 6th January 2022, India reported over 90,000 covid positive cases. With each passing day, the cases are rapidly increasing taking the country to the third wave of dreaded covid-19.



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Sourav Ganguly assures to restart the postponed domestic tournaments once things get under control

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The IPL is an ocean of opportunities for whoever gets a game in the league. With lakhs of eyeballs on you, you have a great chance of making a mark. You can even impress the national selectors and get a chance in the Indian Cricket team. Over the years, several players have grabbed this opportunity. <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/jasprit-bumrah-biography-personal-life-net-worth-all-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jasprit Bumrah</a>, Venkatesh Iyer, Rohit Sharma, and many more have made a mark through the IPL. Domestic players also benefit a lot from the IPL. With the IPL now being a 10-team tournament, many domestic players are bound to get a chance, so who are the top 10 domestic players:



<h2 id="10-ks-bharat-is-one-of-the-top-domestic-players">10. KS Bharat is one of the top domestic players:</h2>



Playing under the shadow of<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/bcci-central-contracts-2022-rishabh-pant-kl-rahul-likely-to-get-grade-a-contract/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Rishabh Pant</a>, KS Bharat has been dominating, the domestic circuit for 3 years. With the waning career of Wriddhiman Saha giving him opportunities, the 10-team IPL will be ideal. Bharat is exceptional in his wicket-keeping skills. He showed us what he has with the bat after hitting a last-ball six to win the game against the Delhi Capitals. With teams looking for an Indian wicket-keeping option, Bharat may get a permanent spot.



<h2 id="9-mayank-markande-is-one-of-the-top-domestic-players">9. Mayank Markande is one of the top domestic players:</h2>



After bursting on the scene in the 2018 IPL, Mayank Markande has been out of the limelight. He played in the 2019 West Indies series but since then has vanished in thin air. Markande has been traded from one side to another. From Mumbai Indians to Delhi Capitals and from them to the Rajasthan Royals. He hasn?t got many opportunities. Rahul Tewatia and Riyan Parag have backed ahead of him. This just shows how tough the competition is and how limited the chances are. Markande will make sure to leave an impression as there is a possibility that he may get a good chance this season.



<h2 id="8-vijay-shankar">8. Vijay Shankar:</h2>



Vijay Shankar has been out of favor after getting injured in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England. He was India?s top choice number 4 batsman back then. Since then, the opportunities have dried up and the performance has been decent. Ever since becoming the captain of the Tamil Nadu domestic team, Vijay Shankar has got his career back in place. The 10-team IPL provides him a good chance to make a marking impression once again. He is one of the top domestic players.



<h2 id="7-shreyas-gopal">7. Shreyas Gopal:</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2022/02/cricket-h5-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83550" /><figcaption>IMG SRC: myKhel</figcaption></figure>



Shreyas Gopal, the tall and quick leg spinner from Karnataka has had the same fate as that of Mayank Markande. Players like Rahul Tewatia and Riyan Parag have been backed which has dried up his chances. With two new teams looking for top Indian leg spinners, Shreyas is certain to go big! Not to forget his spell against RCB, where he got the wickets of Kohli and ABD!



<h2 id="6-ishant-sharma-is-one-of-the-top-domestic-players">6. Ishant Sharma is one of the top domestic players:</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2022/02/cricket-h3-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83551" /><figcaption>Ishant is a veteran of the game and has a truck-load of experience. IMG SRC: iplt20.com</figcaption></figure>



A veteran of the game, Ishant Sharma was the first million-dollar kid in the IPL. He was bought for over a million dollars by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Since then, his white-ball career has been? blow-hot and blow-cold?. Ishant is a strong hit the deck bowler and brings the ball into the right-hander. Ishant has been there and done all of that! Franchises can invest in him as he can also work to groom a few young Indian pacers.



<h2 id="5-umesh-yadav">5. Umesh Yadav:</h2>



Umesh Yadav is one genuinely quick Indian bowler. He is the first bowler to clock 145+ kmph consistently. His pace hasn?t dropped since the beginning and that shows how well he has maintained his fitness. Umesh can give any franchise 3 good overs in the powerplay. His death bowling is always under scrutiny but Umesh has worked on it too. With franchises looking for quick Indian bowlers who can get extra bounce Umesh is an Ideal choice. A pitch like Mumbai, Dharmshala, or Ahmedabad will suit him the best.



<h2 id="4-navdeep-saini-is-one-of-the-top-domestic-players">4. Navdeep Saini is one of the top domestic players:</h2>



Navdeep Saini and his chances are blown away by the phenomenon named Mohammad Siraj. Saini will however be looking for a franchise that will give him great opportunities. With two new teams and with plenty of slots, Navdeep is one of the top domestic players. He is unrealistically super-quick and can clock up to 150kmph. If Saini gets his line right he can cause big trouble.



<h2 id="3-ajinkya-rahane">3. Ajinkya Rahane:</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2022/02/cricket-h2-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83552" /><figcaption>Jinx can also be considered for captaincy as he had an exceptional SMAT 2021. IMG SRC: CricketAdda</figcaption></figure>



After warming the bench at Delhi Capitals for two seasons straight, it's about time Ajinkya Rahane gets his due. The experienced campaigner can be picked by any team and be put in the leadership group. A place like Chennai will work well as they invest in the experience. Mumbai can also go for Jinx as he is the local boy. Ajinkya had an amazing SMAT 2021 too which adds the cherry on the cake. He also is one of the top domestic players in the IPL Auction and will want to make a comeback to the white-ball formats.



<h2 id="2-deepak-hooda-is-one-of-the-top-domestic-players">2. Deepak Hooda is one of the top domestic players:</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2022/02/cricket-h4-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83553" /><figcaption>IMG SRC: Times Of India</figcaption></figure>



Deepak Hooda will be awaiting this season the most. Punjab Kings made effective use of his abilities when they allowed him to bat at 4 or 5. This is a position that suits Deepak. He is a bank of 2 to 3 overs too. He comes in quickly and bowls those economic middle overs. After making his national team debut his stocks have risen. He scored a 109 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and was the second-highest run-getter in SMAT 2021.



<h2 id="1-kuldeep-yadav">1.Kuldeep Yadav:</h2>



It is high time that Kuldeep Yadav gets his due. After becoming a scapegoat of the failure of Indian batting as said by several analysts, Kuldeep Yadav will be waiting to enter the field. Yadav has gone out of favor of KKR but he still has the skill and grit. A hard-working player, Kuldeep will benefit the most in this IPL Mega Auction. He won?t be warming the bench certainly, which was the case last season. Kuldeep Yadav?s time of redemption is here!



For more details go to<a href="https://www.iplt20.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> the official website of IPL.</a>

Top 10 Domestic Players Who Will Benefit From 10 Team IPL.

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In such a circumstance, there was considerable discussion on the players' workload in the presence of the team captain Rohit Sharma, the coach Rahul Dravid, the BCCI President Roger Binny, the BCCI Secretary Jai Shah, the former chairman of the selection committee Chetan Sharma, and NCA head VVS Laxman.



During the review meeting held in Mumbai, the BCCI made a number of significant decisions. One of them is the management of players' workloads. India's key players are frequently sidelined by injuries.



In such a circumstance, there was considerable discussion on the players' workload in the presence of the team captain Rohit Sharma, the coach Rahul Dravid, the BCCI President Roger Binny, the BCCI Secretary Jai Shah, the former chairman of the selection committee Chetan Sharma, and NCA head VVS Laxman.



This year, a lot of India's important players have dealt with injuries. In such a case, the injury was the subject of extensive debate at this conference. Rohit Sharma, India's captain, discussed the injuries to key players following India's loss in the ODI series against Bangladesh. He had questioned why the athletes, who were healthy, kept getting injured.



Jasprit Bumrah is healing from a back fracture while Deepak Chahar missed the majority of 2022 due to injury. Ravindra Jadeja is doing better after suffering an ankle injury. For all of these athletes, the medical staff presented information on workload management.



"We need to attempt to figure it out," Rohit had remarked. I'm not really sure what it is. Maybe they are playing cricket too much. We have to make an effort to watch out for those folks. Because it's crucial to realize that they must be completely fit when they arrive in India.



<h2>In the meeting, significant decisions were <a href="https://sportsdanka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">made</a>.</h2>



<ul>
<li>In the discussion, it was decided that crucial team members would not compete in the IPL if there was a chance they might get hurt.</li>



<li>The 20 players who will make up the ODI World Cup squad have been put into a pool.</li>



<li>The primary pool of players will have a fitness and workload plan created in accordance with the new blueprint; this work has already started.</li>



<li>To obtain a precise understanding of the players' fitness, it is also advised to combine the Dexa scan with the Yo-Yo test. Through a Dexa scan, the players' bone density is determined.</li>



<li>The DEXA scan is the gold standard globally for assessing bone density and body composition. This 10-minute exam assesses bone and muscular strength as well as total body fat.</li>



<li>In the meeting, it was also mentioned that young players would need to play enough domestic cricket to qualify for the national squad. Players who excelled in the IPL in the past used to be directly selected for the Indian team.</li>
</ul>



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The second phase of the IPL was played just before the 2021 T20 World Cup. In this, Venkatesh Iyer and Varun Chakraborty performed brilliantly and the Kolkata team also reached the final. Soon after this, both players were given a chance in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup and both of them were disappointed a lot. Both of them had an important contribution to India's defeat. For this reason, now the IPL will not be the only criterion for selection in the national team.



Also read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rishabh-pant-set-to-miss-australia-test-series-ipl-2023-reports/" data-type="post" data-id="100570">Rishabh Pant set to miss Australia Test series, IPL 2023: Reports</a>

BCCI Meeting: Hardik and Rohit-Kohli can skip IPL 2023, according to a significant BCCI meeting decision

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The last few months have been below par for Team India in terms of performances. They didn't enjoy much time on the field. But everything can change as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is coming up, and India will be one of the favorites teams entering the tournament.
But can they do it without Jasprit Bumrah? Well, not many will give the Indian cricket team a chance if Bumrah doesn't take part in the upcoming event. That is the reason Rohit Sharma and his men are currently in big confusion over Bumrah's participation.
Notably, the pacer didn't bowl in the final innings of the fifth test at the SCG due to a fitness issue. Though it wasn't serious and we might see the name of Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it will come with one condition.
<h2>Will Jasprit Bumrah be ready for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?</h2>
Notably, the last date to submit the provision squad for all teams is January 12. There is no doubt Bumrah will be part of the squad, but his participation in the tournament will be subject to his fitness. As reported by Hindustan Times, the pacer will only step on the field when he feels pain-free.
The report indicates that the pacer has reached New Zealand to consult Dr. Rowan Schouten, who is an orthopedic surgeon. He was the one that treated Bumrah back in 2023, when he suffered from a back injury. The report quoted, "The surgeon is in touch with BCCI’s medical team, and the selectors are expected to be informed.”
India are all set to host England for five T20Is and three ODIs before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tour will begin on January 22 and will conclude on February 12, a week before India will play their first game of the Champions Trophy 2025. India will start their campaign with a game against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.
India are already struggling with the bad form of the batters. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are going through rough patches. Adding to that, there is no clarity over Mohammed Shami's return. The pacer has been playing at the domestic level, but he is not getting clearance from the NCA to play for India. And if Bumrah doesn't play, India will be under immense pressure.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/australia-suffered-a-massive-blow-after-josh-hazlewood-captain-pat-cummins-is-also-likely-to-miss-icc-champions-trophy-due-to-injury/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia suffered a massive blow; after Josh Hazlewood, captain Pat Cummins is also likely to miss ICC Champions Trophy due to injury</a>

Jasprit Bumrah didn't bowl in the second innings of the fifth test against Australia at the SCG. He will be rested for the England series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

India to miss Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Champions Trophy 2025? Ace pacer to travel to New Zealand to undergo scans - Reports

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just a month away, and the two-time champion, Australia, have been hit with a couple of massive injury-related blows. Star pacer Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, might not take part in the upcoming mega event, and now, there is another massive injury concern.
ODI captain Pat Cummins is likely to miss the coming event. This news has certainly hit the team and Australian fans, as the captain is a key member of the squad and has been nursing an ankle injury. His participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is hanging by a thin thread.
Notably, Australia are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for two test matches ahead of the coming ICC event. Cummins has been rested, and Steve Smith has been given the captaincy duties for the upcoming series. Australia have already qualified for the World Test Championship final, which is why the coming tests don't hold much value and their result won't affect anything. Hence, Cricket Australia decided to give Cummins a rest.
<h2>Pat Cummins might miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to an ankle injury</h2>
The captain, Pat Cummins, played a crucial role in helping Australia win the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He finished with the second-most wickets in the series after Jasprit Bumrah (32). Cummins took 25 wickets at an average of 21.36. He also scored 159 runs with the bat in this low-scoring series.
However, playing all five tests on the trot has seemed to have affected him, and the captain has sustained an ankle soreness. Meanwhile, the captain is on leave because of the birth of his second child, which was also one key reason for him missing the Sri Lanka tour. That's what George Bailey, the chief selector of Australia, also confirmed in one of his statements.
But the recent news has not just raised questions about his availablity but also his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. He is set to undergo scans for his sore ankle. Bailey said, "We’ll have to wait and see when the scan comes back and see how it's tracking. There’s a little bit of work to do.”
That indicates that the two-time Champions Trophy winner are in jeopardy. If Cummins couldn't make it in time, then Mitchell Marsh is likely to lead Australia in the mega event, which will begin on February 19. Australia are placed in Group B, and they will begin their campaign on February 22 against England.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025-to-shift-from-pakistan-to-uae-completely-here-s-why/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to shift from Pakistan to UAE completely? Here's why</a>

Pat Cummins led Australia to to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy win after a wait of ten years. Cummins is likely to miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to injury.

Australia suffered a massive blow; after Josh Hazlewood, captain Pat Cummins is also likely to miss ICC Champions Trophy due to injury

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Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 2025: Australia, after having a dominating Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, are all set to tour Sri Lanka for a red-ball series. Cricket Australia have announced the squad for the tour today and Steve Smith is named captain of the side as Pat Cummins is rested.
Australia won the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade this year. The series started with Perth's loss for them and many ruled them out as a competition against India this time as well. But, they owned strong character and won three out of four test matches clinching the series 3-1. 
The entire bowling department was thoroughly in the best of their forms, the batting looked damped in the first two tests but by the end of BGT 2025, the entire batting lineup got some runs from their bat. 
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Now, Australia has unveiled a 16-player squad for their upcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, with a few surprising changes. Skipper Pat Cummins will miss the tour as he takes paternity leave to welcome his second child while continuing to recover from an ankle issue that plagued him throughout the home season.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh, who was part of the team that triumphed over India, has been left out. Adding to the injury concerns, Josh Hazlewood remains unavailable due to the setback that sidelined him during the latter stages of the India series. These adjustments set the stage for an intriguing challenge as Australia gears up for the Sri Lankan Tests.
<h2>Australia Squad for Sri Lanka Tour</h2>
Steve Smith (C), Travis Head(VC), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Nathan McSweeney, Beau Webster, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Cooper Connolly, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann, Sean Abbott
Australia's squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka signals a clear strategy to tackle spin-friendly conditions. With only two frontline pacers, Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott, the focus has shifted firmly to spin.
Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann join the experienced Nathan Lyon, creating a strong spin arsenal designed for the turning tracks of Galle. This balanced mix of experience and fresh talent shows how the selectors are adapting to the challenges of playing conditions in Sri Lanka.
On the batting front, Nathan McSweeney has earned a spot in the squad despite falling out of favor during the India series. Adding a fresh spark, young Cooper Connolly, a left-handed batter who can also bowl orthodox spin, has received his first-ever Test call-up. His inclusion not only reflects Australia’s faith in young talent but also highlights their intent to embrace versatility.
Sam Konstas also retained his spot in the side. Alex Carey and Josh Inglis are two wicket-keeping options and the presence of Vice Captain Travis Head provides an absolute balance to the squad. With these selections, Australia seems ready to take on the Sri Lankan conditions with both skill and strategy.
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025-to-shift-from-pakistan-to-uae-completely-here-s-why/">ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to shift from Pakistan to UAE completely? Here's why</a> 
SOURCE- <a href="https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/1877160916057313759">CRICKET AUSTRALIA</a>

Australia's squad for the Sri Lanka Tests emphasizes spin with Lyon, Murphy, and Kuhnemann. McSweeney returns, while debutant Connolly adds versatility. Starc and Abbott lead a trimmed-pace attack.

Australia strengthens spin options for Sri Lanka Tests, recalls McSweeney, and includes debutant Connolly. Starc, Abbott lead reduced pace lineup.

Cummins Rested, Smith to Lead! Cricket Australia Announced Squad for Sri Lanka Tour

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The next big destination for cricket fans is the upcoming mega event. It is the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is all set to take place in Pakistan and the UAE. We are just five weeks away from the ninth edition, as the tournament will kick off on January 19 in Karachi.
The top 8 teams will be taking part in the tournament and will be divided into two groups of four teams each. But with a little over one month left in the start of the mega event, the drama continues to take new episodes.
Firstly, it was the tensions between the Indian Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board that forced the ICC to go for a hybrid model where India will play all their matches in Dubai after the Indian Board refused to send their team to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
<h3>Pakistan to lose the hosting rights of ICC Champions Trophy 2025?</h3>
As a result, the ICC added the UAE as the venue for Indian matches in Dubai, which will be a neutral venue. But it looks like the clouds of uncertainty have loomed once again over the hosting rights of the events. As per the latest media reports, it has been learned that the construction work at the three shortlisted venues in Pakistan is nowhere near done. There are 35 left in the start of the tournament, and the renovation work, which began in August last year, has not been completed.
The deadline to complete the renovation work was December 31, which has passed. According to the Times of India, the stadiums are still far away from the completion of the work. As per the TOI's source, some parts of the stadium are still under construction, and the finishing work will take a bit longer. The work to be done related to fencing and placing of floodlights and some other detailing work is still pending.
The three venues to host matches are National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This came to notice when the PCB decided to shift the coming ODI tri-series in Pakistan, involving New Zealand and South Africa, from Multan to Lahore and Karachi.
However, the PCB has declined all such rumours and said that the work will be done as planned. Notably, the ICC will schedule an inspection, and a team will be sent to check the arrangements of all three venues. PCB will hand over all three venues to ICC on February 12. But if the shortlisted stadiums don't meet the expectations by then, the ICC can shift the entire ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to the UAE.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/sa2025-schedule-and-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-south-africa-t20-2025-league-in-india-/">SA2025 Schedule and Live Streaming: When and Where to Watch South Africa T20 2025 League in India?</a>

Pakistan are the official host of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, the renovation work is still going on, which has passed the deadline.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to shift from Pakistan to UAE completely? Here's why

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India keeper-batter Sanju Samson might be a surprise inclusion in the Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As per the reports in India Today, it is learned that the right-hander is likely to be there as the backup keeper for Rishabh Pant in the team. 
The reports stated that Sanju Samson's inclusion in the Indian team will depend on how the BCCI treats Gautam Gambhir. It is learned that if the head coach has the same say in the selection matters that he had during the Australia tour, then the keeper-batter might be included in the Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
The India squad for the Australia tour was mostly picked on the recommendation of Gautam Gambhir. The head coach played a huge role in the selection of Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy. But the team failing badly there didn't go any good to the head coach. 
Some reports claimed that head coach Gautam Gambhir won't be having a say in selection matters. However, if that isn't the case, then the reports in India Today say that the head coach's favourite, Sanju Samson, will be picked for the team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
 Rishabh Pant will be the first-choice keeper in the team, and Sanju Samson will be serving as backup.
It is learned that Rishabh Pant will be the first-choice keeper in the team, and Sanju Samson will be serving as backup. This will be a massive step for the Indian team going forward, as Samson has been in hot form in white-ball cricket, especially in T20 cricket. 
Sanju Samson has made a staggering return to the Indian T20I setup as he slammed three centuries in the two series that were played. The keeper-batter also has a great record in the ODIs as well as he has an average of over 56 in his short career and would want to cash on that as well. 
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to begin from 19th February. The Indian team for the tournament is all set to be announced soon, and it is learned that Rohit Sharma will be leading the team, which will see some of the expected names.

India keeper-batter Sanju Samson might be a surprise inclusion in the Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.