Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has said that the tag of favourites for the Champions Trophy should be given to the home team Pakistan as it is not easy to defeat any side in their home conditions. The tournament is set to be held from February 19 and will be hosted by Pakistan and UAE. Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy, having won the last edition of the event in 2017.

Pakistan defeated arch-rivals India in the blockbuster final of the tournament in 2017 at the Oval to bag their maiden Champions Trophy win.

Ahead of the upcoming edition of the tournament, Gavaskar said that Pakistan would be the favourites given that they would have the home advantage.

“The tag of favourites should be given to the home team Pakistan as it’s not easy to beat any team in their home conditions. India lost in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 but before that, they put up clinical performances and won ten matches on the trot," Gavaskar said while speaking on Star Sports.

Eight teams will be seen taking part in the Champions Trophy which has been divided into two groups. Group A features arch-rivals India and Pakistan besides Bangladesh and New Zealand. Group B has ODI World Cup champions Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan.

India will start their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 and will play all their games in Dubai. The India vs Pakistan clash is scheduled for February 23.

In Pakistan, games will be hosted across three venues, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. India will play the first semifinal on March 4 and the final of the Champions Trophy will be played in Dubai if they qualify.

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