India is ready to showcase its unique brand of cricket and the players are committed to bringing home the Champions Trophy once again, all-rounder Hardik Pandya said on Wednesday. The Champions Cup will be held from February 19 and Pakistan is the official host of the tournament. But India will play its share of matches in Dubai after citing security concerns as a reason for refusing to travel to Pakistan. India won the tournament in 2013 when it was held in the United Kingdom, and won it jointly with host nation Sri Lanka in 2002.
“The return of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is a major boost for cricket, adding depth and context to the one-day format. This landmark tournament promises to reignite excitement among fans and players alike,” Pandya said in an ICC statement.
“India is ready to showcase its unique brand of cricket, with every player committed to bringing the trophy home once again.”
The opening match of the tournament will be played between host nation Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. India will start its campaign against Bangladesh the next day.
The high-energy film aims to bring to life the intense nature of the Champions Cup where every match matters.
The ICC said the film, which features Pandya, Mohamed Nabi, Phil Salt, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, showcases the enormous risks the players face as they put everything on the line to claim the Champions Trophy and the unique white blazers.
“Playing with England in the Men’s International Champions Cup is a great honour. We know it will be a very competitive tournament but we have an exciting group and we will do our best to lift the trophy,” Salt said.
“It’s Afghanistan’s first time in the Men’s Champions Cup, we can’t wait to compete against the best of the best and make our nation proud,” said Nabi, the all-rounder from Afghanistan. Pakistani player Shaheen Shah Afridi added: “For Pakistan, cricket is more than just a game, it is our passion, our pride and our identity, and as champions and hosts of the tournament, there is everything to play for in February. It will be a spectacle like no other.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article