The Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan, is set to begin on February 19. The ICC has set a January 12 deadline for announcing squads for the tournament. However, the BCCI might delay the announcement. According to media reports, it was expected that Team India’s Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar would adhere to the ICC’s guidelines and announce the squad on time. But recent updates suggest that the BCCI might request an extension. Meanwhile, the Indian team for the 5-match T20 series against England is expected to be announced within two to three days.
When Will the Team Be Announced?
For its tournaments, the ICC typically requires teams to announce a provisional squad 4 weeks in advance, with time allowed for changes later. However, for the Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan and Dubai, the ICC asked all eight teams to submit their squads 5 weeks prior, by January 12.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the BCCI might delay the announcement by a week and request additional time from the ICC. It is expected that India’s squad for the Champions Trophy will be announced by January 18-19. Notably, apart from England, no other team has announced its squad yet.
When Will the Squad for the England Series Be Announced?
Before the Champions Trophy, India will play a 5-match T20 series against England at home starting January 22, followed by a 3-match ODI series from February 6. The squads for both series have not been announced yet. Reports suggest that the T20 squad will be revealed in the next two to three days. Players who featured in the Bangladesh series are likely to be retained, while the ODI squad announcement may take a little longer.
Players Likely to Be Selected
Arshdeep Singh is expected to lead the pace attack in the T20 series, as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are likely to be rested. Senior bowler Mohammed Shami is also unlikely to feature in the T20s but is expected to make a comeback in the ODI series after 1.5 years. Shami’s selection for the Champions Trophy is almost certain.
Shami recently participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal and has reportedly received clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. If not already cleared, he is expected to get the nod soon. Other players like Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal might feature in the ODI series, while Nithish Kumar Reddy is likely to be included only in the T20s.