ICC Champions Trophy 2017 warm-up fixtures out

The likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli must ensure that they take care of their injuries ahead of the crucial tournament

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Team India Champions Trophy 2013 Celebration
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Team India Champions Trophy 2013 Celebration. (© Getty Images)

The teams have to be fresh and fit ahead of the Champions Trophy that is scheduled in the month of June with the top eight teams participating to win the crown. The Indian Premier League might come as a boon for a few teams as their key players might get the opportunity to get back into their prime as the case with Imran Tahir or Chris Morris. While the likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli must ensure that they take care of their injuries ahead of the crucial tournament.

The fixtures for the Warm-up encounters of the eight teams are out, and it comes just a week after the IPL concludes. The opening encounter is between the World Champions Australia and the 2011 World Cup finalists Sri Lanka on the 26th of May, with most of the Australian players active in the IPL and a few others looking for the opportunity to get back into the national squad.

The match would be the perfect test for the Australians going to the tournament as the Islanders have the required firepower in their spin department to put off the World Champions. The next encounter is between the two Asian-rivals Pakistan and Bangladesh on the 27th at Birmingham with Pakistan looking in their prime form after the series win against the West Indies. However, it is left to be seen if they could play well after the long rest.

India, on 28th May, takes on the spirited New Zealand side, who look to win their first tournament since a long time. New Zealand has the firepower to defeat the Indians, and vice-versa. The contest between the bat and the ball would be very close during this encounter.

Australia then takes on Pakistan on the next day where the Aussies would be put under the pressure of more spin in the span of few days. It would a test for the Pakistan spinners to perform in England when most of the pitches would favor the fast and swing bowlers. On the 30th of May, New Zealand takes on the Asian side Sri Lanka in an encounter where Sri Lanka would go in as the underdogs.

The warm-ups would come to an end on the same day when India takes on Bangladesh in a gripping encounter which would be expected to be like the World Cup T20 match at Bengaluru. The match would be something that the Tigers would want to forget. It, would, however, be interesting to see what line-up India plays in their warm-up encounters.

Here is the warm-up schedule:

(Photo Source: ICC)

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