India's Champions Trophy team announcement delayed, the BCCI has asked the ICC for an extension

It's unlikely that India will reveal their Champions Trophy team this weekend. According to Cricbuzz on Saturday, the BCCI has chosen to postpone the announcement. The BCCI selection committee, which is led by former pacer Ajit Agarkar, was supposed to announce India's teams for the Champions Trophy provisional squad and the home ODI and T20I teams against England by January 12 (Sunday) following a meeting on Saturday. However, the Champions Trophy squad announcement has now been postponed.

The delay is somewhat deliberate. According to the report, the BCCI has asked the ICC for additional time to finalize their Champions Trophy preliminary squad. According to tournament rules, all participating teams are normally expected to announce their provisional squads at least one month prior to an ICC event. However, the parent organization had asked all eight teams to announce their Champions Trophy provisional squads five weeks prior to the tournament's start.

"The BCCI, citing recent commitments in Australia for the Test series, is expected to request for more time. It is likely that the provisional Champions Trophy squad will predominantly feature players from the three home ODIs against England," the report claimed.

With hosts Pakistan playing New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi on February 19, India's Champions Trophy team is now expected to be revealed on January 19, precisely one month before the competition begins. Notably, teams have the option to alter their provisional squads prior to the tournament by notifying the ICC in advance. However, unless there are new injury concerns that require a change, it is highly probable that the squad that Agarkar and his selection committee name on January 19 will be the final one for India. According to ICC regulations, the provisional squad will consist of 15 players plus three traveling reserves.