ICC Champions Trophy promo or a heist mission?

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the Champions Trophy promo, which feels more like a heist movie trailer than a cricket promo. 

Netizens believe the Champions Trophy promo – which features Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan – took inspiration from an action film, depicting suspense, and stunts. 

 

 

 

 

 

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The 1:09 minute-long video opens with Shaheen Afridi hanging from a rope held by Shadab Khan, as he dives into a heavily guarded locker to secure the coveted Champions Trophy. 

“Be careful, brother… there’s danger everywhere,” Shadab warns Shaheen, just as India’s Hardik Pandya dramatically enters the scene. He throws a cricket ball into the safe-deposit room, triggering radiation sensors that protect the trophy from intruders. 

What follows is a high-stakes chase. Hardik leaps and twists like an acrobat to avoid the sensors. Just as he gets close enough to the trophy, Shaheen makes a daring jump from above, complicating the situation. 

Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi then surprises the two by emerging through a hole in the floor. But the series of surprises doesn’t end here; England’s Phil Salt suddenly appears, seemingly out of thin air like a ghost.

Everyone is stunned; looking at one another and judging who will make the first move.

Suspense ends with Hardik speaking out, “Competition? Come on.”

The Champions Trophy 2025 will start from January 19 in Karachi bringing together eight teams which will play 15 matches during the tournament.

Earlier, a new controversy arose around the mega cricket event when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to have the tournaments logo featuring ‘Pakistan’ printed on the kits of its team for the Champions Trophy.

The board, however, confirmed today following strict warning from the International Cricket Council about the rules that “BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during Champions Trophy.”