Australia's former World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting predicted that Afghanistan could have a better Champions Trophy than Bangladesh. 

Speaking to ICC, Ponting said that the Tigers are going to struggle in the upcoming Champions Trophy, to be played in Pakistan and Dubai in a hybrid model later this month. 

"I think they are to struggle, to be honest. I just don't think that the quality is there.   

"When you match up that team against the lot -- pretty much every other side in the Champions Trophy -- it seems that they lack that little bit of quality now," Ponting added. 

If they get their ideal home conditions, then that's when they can be dangerous. But I don't think they are going to get conditions like they get in Bangladesh in this series. So, that's going to be a hard gap for them to fill.

— Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting

Ponting also said that the Tigers would find it difficult in the conditions in Pakistan and Dubai as that will be a lot different than what they usually find at home. 

"If they get their ideal home conditions, then that's when they can be dangerous. But I don't think they are going to get conditions like they get in Bangladesh in this series. So, that's going to be a hard gap for them to fill," Ponting said. 

The former Australian batter also said that Afghanistan, who beat Bangladesh 2-1 in their last bilateral ODI series last year in November in Sharjah, would go on to have a better Champions Trophy campaign.  

"In fact, I think Afghanistan could have a better Champions Trophy than Bangladesh," Ponting concluded. 

The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against India in Dubai on February 20, a day after the ICC event starts.