Champions Trophy Returns After Eight-Year Hiatus as Pakistan Hosts Tournament

The ICC Champions Trophy returns after an eight-year hiatus, with Pakistan hosting the tournament for the first time since the 1996 World Cup. Despite its history of being considered the 'least favoured' ICC event, the tournament will feature the top eight ODI teams, including reigning champions Pakistan, who will also compete in Dubai due to political tensions. Several teams, including Australia, are fielding weakened squads due to injuries, which opens the competition to various contenders. India, coming off strong performances in recent ICC events, will aim for victory despite missing key player Jasprit Bumrah. The excitement surrounding the tournament comes from the unpredictability of the teams involved, as no overwhelming favorite has emerged. Fans can anticipate a closely contested series as the teams vie for the title, which has been absent from the cricket calendar since 2017.