Kagiso Rabada is confident in his ability to lead a reinvigorated South African attack towards their first ICC Cricket World Cup victory. While the Proteas couldn't progress past the group stage four years ago, they have remained unbeaten in ODIs this year. Despite injuries to fellow fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala affecting the team's prospects, Kagiso Rabada remains optimistic.

"One thing we have never lacked as South Africans is belief, so going into the tournament we do believe we can win it" said Rabada before their campaign begins against Sri Lanka in Delhi on October 7.

"We've got the players to do so, so hopefully we can make our first final and win this competition.

"It's going to be hard but it's going to be really enjoyable.

"It's exciting to have the best players in the world playing against each other competing for one prize, and we are up for the challenge

While the team faced struggles in 2019, they have since risen to fourth in the MRF Tyres Men's ODI Team Rankings and gained confidence after a 3-2 series victory over Australia.

"Individuals don't win world cups:" Kagiso Rabada

Rabada, at 28, is one of the eight survivors from the squad that competed in England four years ago and embraces his role as one of the team's senior figures, assisting captain Temba Bavuma in charting the path to success.

"The 2019 World Cup was my first, and I wasn't successful," Kagiso Rabada reflected.

"The lesson I took from that is that team cohesion is the most important factor, because individuals don't win World Cups, teams do.

"The older I have become and the more caps I have, the more I realise that I am a leader in that environment.

"Through knowing my own strengths and reinforcing them, knowing what makes me tick and through lending an ear to other players, I want to help set how we play as a collective."

Kagiso Rabada also brings valuable knowledge of subcontinent conditions, honed through his performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over several seasons.

Experience in playing in India can come handy for Rabada and company

The national side has played 11 white-ball matches in India since last year, and Rabada believes this collective experience could give them an edge.

"It does help when you understand the conditions in the various grounds, and having played in India for all these years, it gives you a familiarity on how to go about your tactics," he explained.

The majority of our team has played in India, but for those who haven't played as much, it is important to share experiences.

"In India you have drier conditions and they are batter-friendly wickets, so it's about finding ways to be successful.

"Managing the noise and distractions is really important and I think it's just about focus and not letting the crowd get to you.

"But at the same time, it is exciting to be playing in packed stadiums with tens of thousands of screaming fans - it's an honour."

After their sensational victory over England, Afghanistan now have a shot at the semi-final berth in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This now means we have a three-way battle for the semi-final spot between Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa. 

Group B Points table | ICC Champions Trophy

Here is how the scenarios are currently in Group B. 

We can check from the points table that South Africa are leading the Group B now with 3 points and a positive net run rate of 2.140. Meantime, Australia are following them with the same amount of points but a lesser NRR of 0.475. 

On the other hand, Afghanistan are third with 2 points and a negative NRR of -0.990 with England getting knocked out of the tournament already.

Read Also | England vs Australia ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Inglis and Aussie batters chased down biggest target of ICC ODI events

Matches left in Group B

• Australia vs Afghanistan - 28 February 2025 - Lahore
• England vs South Africa - 1st March 2025 - Karachi

How can Afghanistan qualify for semis of Champions Trophy 2025?

As per the current situation, here are the below things that can happen. 

Teams of 7 countries have announced their squads for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. ICC had demanded squads from all the teams by January 12 only.

India has recently announced their squad in which Rohit Sharma will command the team and Shubman Gill will do the vice captaincy.

Also Read: ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule announced

Champion Trophy 2025: Groups

A total of 8 teams are participating in the Champions Trophy 2025. The teams are divided into 2 groups.

India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh have been placed in Group A. Whereas Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan have been kept in Group B.

Group A

• India
• Bangladesh
• New Zealand
• Pakistan

Group B

• Afghanistan
• England
• Australia
• South Africa

Champions Trophy 2025: Squads

Group A

India:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 India squad

Bangladesh:

Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana

New Zealand:

Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Pakistan:

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Group B

Afghanistan:

Happy with our 15-member #AfghanAtalan lineup for the ICC Champions Trophy!? 🤩🏆#ChampionsTrophy 🔗: https://t.co/uZfvLZ8U8D pic.twitter.com/7bmUJuzHFb

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 12, 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran

Reserves:

Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami

England:

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.

Australia:

Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

South Africa:

Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.

Read Also |  ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule announced

Champion Trophy 2025: Schedule 

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy kicks off on February 19, with host Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi.

The ICC Champions Trophy is the ICC's second biggest one-day cricket tournament after the World Cup.

In this tournament, players from all over the world showcase their talent by performing excellently in exciting matches and unpredictable conditions.

Champions Trophy, popularly known as the “Mini World Cup”, is a different kind of event from the World Cup.

The World Cup is held every four years, while up to 2006 Champions Trophy was held every two years. Its matches are played in a two-week event, whereas in the World Cup, teams compete for more than a month.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Squads of every team

The champions Trophy 2025 will take place from 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and UAE. So, let's take a look at the champions trophy winners list.

Champions Trophy | Historical Overview

The ICC Champions Trophy, initially known as the ICC Knockout Tournament, was launched in 1998. Its name was changed to Champions Trophy in 2002. 

Its aim was to raise funds to develop cricket in non-Test playing countries, inspired by the ICC World Test Championship.

Earlier the tournament was held in Bangladesh and Kenya, but its success made it a money-making source for the ICC.

In 2002, the tournament's format changed to a round-robin format, which did not last long.

However, since 2009, only the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings have participated. 

The Champions Trophy has been hosted by seven countries, with England hosting it the most number of times. 

Initially, the games were held every two years, but after that, it changed to a four-year cycle in 2009, aligning with the World Cup schedule.

Champions trophy winners list

There have been eight editions of the ICC Champions Trophy from 1998 to 2017 and each match leaves an indelible mark on cricket history. 

Also Read: ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule announced

However, here is the ICC Champions Trophy winners list.

Champions Trophy 1998 | South Africa

The inaugural edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was held in Bangladesh in June 1998.

South Africa later won the first edition of the tournament after defeating West Indies by four wickets in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

The winning team was led by Hansie Cronje, who displayed all his all-round skills during the gameplay, with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald also contributing to the team's success.

A total of 9 teams participated in the gameplay in this season.

Champions Trophy 2000 | New Zealand 

In a bid to increase the popularity of the game in ICC Associate member nations, the second edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was staged in Kenya in 2000.

New Zealand were crowned champions after they beat India by four wickets in the 2000 final to claim their maiden ICC title.

The game was considered New Zealand's greatest achievement, featuring performances from players such as Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle. 

A total of 11 teams participated in the game.

Champions Trophy 2002 | India/Sri Lanka 

India and Sri Lanka shared the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 due to the rain-affected season, after which the DLS method was used in cricket to determine the team's final score.

However, apart from the weather challenges faced by the players during the match, both the teams gave their best and performed brilliantly.

Players like Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan were notable figures in the event.

A total of 12 teams participated in the game.

Champions Trophy 2004 | West Indies 

West Indies won the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 in England. They remained unbeaten throughout, winning all four games. 

In the final, they beat the hosts, England, by two wickets. 

Brian Lara and Chris Gayle were notable players during the gameplay.

Ian Bradshaw was the Man of the Match in the final, and Ramnaresh Sarwan was the Man of the Tournament.

A total of 12 teams participated in the game.

Champions Trophy 2006 | Australia 

Australia won their first ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 in India. 

With this win, they continued their cricket supremacy among the ten participating teams.

They lost their first match of the tournament to West Indies but then won four games in a row, including beating West Indies in the final in Mumbai. 

Australia bowled West Indies for just 138, and then they chased the target easily and won by eight wickets.

Ricky Ponting performed extraordinarily throughout the play. Even Shane Watson's performance in the game was impactful, starring in the final with 57* (88) & 2/11.

Also Read: Every ICC Trophy the Australian cricket team (Men and Women) won

Champions Trophy 2009 | Australia 

The great Australian side under Ricky Ponting won a second consecutive ICC Champions Trophy title in 2009 in South Africa. 

They won all their four completed matches in the tournament. Australia beat New Zealand in a one-sided final. 

New Zealand posted a challenging total of 200/9 in a rain-shortened match. 

But Shane Watson's unbeatable innings of 105 took Australia to win the match by six wickets with 28 balls remaining.

Ricky Ponting was the Man of the Tournament.

In this match, Australia proved to be the team who had the potential to perform even in difficult scenarios.

Champions Trophy 2013 | India

India won all their five matches at the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. 

This was achieved under the MS Dhoni's leadership, along with the cooperation of other team members. 

In the final, India beat hosts England on the last ball of a rain-curtailed 20-over-per-side match. 

Ravindra Jadeja was the Player of the match for 33* (25) & 2/24, and Shikhar Dhawan was the Man of the Tournament for scoring 363 runs.

It was the unique type of bowling of the Indian team that prevented their opposition from emerging and thus defeating them in the finals.

Champions Trophy 2017 | Pakistan 

The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy was also hosted in England. This time, India lost the final to arch-rivals Pakistan. 

Pakistan had lost to India in the group stage but then went on a winning spree and eventually beat India in the final at The Oval.

Fakhar Zaman hit a match-winning century in the final, while Hasan Ali was the Man of the Tournament for 13 wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah completed his 200 wickets in Test cricket during Australia's second innings in the Melbourne Test. Bumrah completed 200 wickets after taking Travis Head's wicket in his 44th Test. Bumrah, who made his Test debut against South Africa In 2018, completed his 200 wickets in 8484 balls, surpassing the likes of cricket greats such as Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Curtly Ambrose.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

In this article, we will look at the bowlers who took 200 Test wickets in the fewest balls. 

Fastest to complete 200 Test wickets

1# Waqar Younis | 7725 Balls

Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis is the bowler to take 200 Test wickets on the fewest balls. This record still stands till date. Waqar made his Test debut in 1989 with Sachin Tendulkar. The landmark came in 1995, as Pakistan beat New Zealand in Christchurch.

Tail-ender Dion Nash was Younis’ only wicket in the match, but he only needed the one for the momentous milestone. Of course, true to form, Younis didn’t need a fielder involved in the dismissal, as he simply bowled Nash with that express pace of his.

2# Dale Steyn | 7848 Balls

Dale Steyn is counted among the best bowlers in Test history. He was at number one in the ranking for many years. Steyn had completed 200 wickets in Test on 7848 balls. With that incredible achievement, he is only the second-fastest bowler to secure 200 Test wickets in terms of the balls bowled.

In 2019, Steyn announced his retirement.

3# Kagiso Rabada | 8154 Balls

Among active bowlers, Kagiso Rabada of South Africa holds the record of taking 200 Test wickets in the fewest balls. Rabada's home situation helps the fast bowlers a lot. This is why his name being in this list is not surprising.

Making his Test debut in 2015, Rabada completed his 200 Test wickets in just 8154 balls. After dismissing Hasan Ali in a Test match against Pakistan back in 2021, Rabada achieved the feat.

4# Jasprit Bumrah | 8484 Balls

In the modern-day cricket, Jasprit Bumrah is a legend. With accuracy and incredible bowling technique, Team India’s crisis man never fails to rescue the team in tough times.

In the ongoing Test match against Australia, Bumrah turned out to be a savior in the second innings, picking up 4 wickets in just 30 runs. After dismissing Travis Head in the 34th over, Bumrah secured his 200 Test scalps in 8484 deliveries. In his 44th Test match, he secured the milestone. With that performance, he is standing in the fourth Position on the list.

5# Malcolm Marshall | 9234 Balls

When it comes to the most feared bowler in the history of cricket, the first person who comes to mind is Malcolm Marshall. In the 80s, there used to be awe of his name among the batsmen. At that time, batsmen used to take less risks but even after this, Marshall had completed 200 wickets in 9234 balls.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the fixtures for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place from 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and UAE.

The 15-match, eight-team event returns to the cricket calendar for the first time since the last edition was staged in 2017, with defending champions Pakistan hosting their first global cricket tournament since 1996, alongside the UAE which was confirmed as the neutral venue.

Read Also | Every Indian batter who scored a Boxing-Day test ton: Rahane and Rahul and more

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the fixtures for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place from 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and UAE.

The 15-match, eight-team event returns to the cricket calendar for the first time since the last edition was staged in 2017, with defending champions Pakistan hosting their first global cricket tournament since 1996, alongside the UAE which was confirmed as the neutral venue.

The thrilling 19-day competition, in which every match counts in the bid to claim the iconic Champions Trophy white jackets, will see Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan form Group A with Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa in Group B.

Read Also | India to play their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy matches at a neutral venue

The stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi will host the matches in Pakistan, while Dubai will host the matches in the UAE. Ahead of tickets going on sale, fans are encouraged to register their interest for tickets here.

The Champions Trophy begins with hosts Pakistan facing New Zealand on 19 February - the opening day of the event - in Karachi. Other key match-ups include Bangladesh taking on India on the second day of the competition in Dubai and Afghanistan facing South Africa on 21 February in Karachi.

On 22 February, one of cricket’s most celebrated rivalries will pit Australia against England in Lahore, ahead of an unmissable Pakistan versus India contest on 23 February in Dubai.

The quickfire event showcases the very best about cricket in one big day out, with the first semi-final scheduled to be played on 4 March in Dubai and the second semi-final slated for 5 March in Lahore. Lahore will host the final on 9 March, however if India qualifies for the final it will be played in Dubai, where the victorious team will claim the famous white jackets. Both semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

ICC Chair, Jay Shah said: “The ICC is delighted to release the schedule for the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, marking the tournament's much-anticipated return since 2017. The thrilling competition, in which eight teams battle it out to claim the iconic white jackets, will provide fans with 15 matches of unmissable entertainment.

“This edition will take place in Pakistan and the UAE, and with Dubai also serving as the home of the ICC headquarters, it represents an opportunity to showcase the best of cricket with heritage and modernity. This Champions Trophy is truly poised to be an unmissable celebration of the World Cricket’s finest.”

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi said: "We are pleased that an agreement has been reached based on the principles of equality and respect, showcasing the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that defines our sport.

“Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the ICC members who played a constructive role in helping us achieve a mutually beneficial solution. Their efforts have been invaluable in promoting the interests of international cricket.

“Hosting the Champions Trophy is a significant milestone for Pakistan, highlighting our commitment to promoting cricket at the highest level and showcasing our capabilities as a premier event organizer. We are dedicated to ensuring that this tournament will be a memorable experience for players, officials, and fans alike.

“Pakistan is elated to welcome the world to the Champions Trophy, and we look forward to extending our renowned hospitality to all."

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule

19 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, National Stadium, Karachi

20 Feb – Bangladesh v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

21 Feb – Afghanistan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi

22 Feb – Australia v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

23 Feb – Pakistan v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

24 Feb - Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

25 Feb – Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

26 Feb – Afghanistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

27 Feb – Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

28 Feb – Afghanistan v Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

1 Mar – South Africa v England, National Stadium, Karachi

2 Mar – New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

4 Mar – Semi-final 1, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai*

5 Mar – Semi-final 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore**

9 Mar – Final - Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore***

All matches start at 14h00 Pakistan Standard Time

* Semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify

**Semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify

*** If India qualify for the final it will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Note: The article was created as a press release by ICC.