Will Pakistan emerge as the first team to claim the Champions Trophy title on home soil? Can they also achieve the distinction of being the first team to successfully defend the Champions Trophy since Australia did so in 2009? Will their traditional rivals from across the border secure their second victory in three editions? Can South Africa convert their consistent performances across all formats into a repeat of their success at the inaugural tournament in 1998, albeit in a different context? Or will New Zealand, the champions of 2000 but often falling short in limited-overs tournaments, finally ascend to the pinnacle?

This tournament is remarkably open, yet all eight participating teams are acutely aware that if the India that recently dominated England at home shows up, they will face a formidable challenge, even in the absence of the exceptional Jasprit Bumrah.

The final on March 9 seems distant at this moment. For now, the focus shifts to the return of high-quality cricket to Pakistan for the first time since 1996, when they hosted the final of the ODI World Cup in Lahore.

Pakistan last hosted a major continental event in 2008, when they organized the Asia Cup. Just eight months after Sri Lanka triumphed over India by 100 runs in the final held in Karachi, a tragic incident occurred when their team bus was attacked by masked assailants en route to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for what was to be the third day of the second Test on March 3, 2009. Many renowned cricketers narrowly escaped with minor injuries, thanks to the courageous actions of their bus driver. This incident sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, resulting in Pakistan not hosting any international matches until 2015, when Zimbabwe bravely decided to tour.

Significant transformations have occurred in Pakistan since that time, although many aspects remain unchanged. Particularly over the past four years, all prominent cricketing nations have received approval from their security analysts to compete in Pakistan, with the exception of India, which continues to be inaccessible. The Indian government's decision to deny its cricket team permission to play in Pakistan has led to the implementation of a hybrid model, necessitating that all of India’s matches, including the one against Pakistan this Sunday, take place in Dubai.

The contest between Pakistan and India has become the highlight of any major cricketing event since the cessation of bilateral matches at the start of 2013. It is often regarded as the final before the final, a match that neither team wishes to lose. However, this encounter serves merely as a stepping stone towards a greater objective, overshadowed by the excitement and fanfare that typically accompany it.

The host nation boasts a formidable team that recently achieved the remarkable feat of successfully chasing down 350 runs in an ODI for the first time in their history. Nevertheless, in addition to India, they must remain cautious of New Zealand, who triumphed over them in a tri-series final last week and are likely encouraged by Kane Williamson’s outstanding performance. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, the third team in Group A, is currently facing a crisis, lacking the leadership of experienced former captains Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, and is in search of inspiration from any available source.

Group B an open house for all four teams

Group B presents a rather open scenario, particularly following Australia's abrupt loss of five key players. Captain Pat Cummins, along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh, are sidelined due to injuries, while Marcus Stoinis has unexpectedly retired, and Mitchell Starc withdrew at the last moment for personal reasons. Compounding these challenges, Australia suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sri Lanka last week, a team not participating in this tournament. Nevertheless, Steve Smith, returning as captain, is an adept leader who thrives in this region, and history shows that underestimating Australia in a global competition is both naive and reckless.

South Africa stands as a strong contender, despite the absence of Anrich Nortje and his likely substitute, Gerald Coetzee, due to injuries. The Proteas were runners-up to India in the T20 World Cup final last June and are set to face Australia in the World Test Championship this June, fostering a belief that their consistent performance merits a title. They will be optimistic about their prospects against England, who are recovering from a significant defeat in India and subsequent criticism regarding their training methods. England has been engaged in ODI competitions for a considerable time and were fortunate to qualify for this tournament. Additionally, they must remain cautious of the lurking threat posed by Afghanistan, who, while less formidable in 50-over formats compared to T20, still represent a significant challenge under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi.

It has been eight years since the Champions Trophy was last conducted, in England in 2017. By March 9, the anticipation will have proven worthwhile for at least one group of supporters.

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