WHO: Pakistan vs India
Contents: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Location: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
When: Sunday, February 23rd, 1pm (09:00 GMT)
Follow Al Jazeera’s live text and match photo commentary stream.
Host Nation and the second favourite face Pakistan. The team won the tournament in the Champions Trophy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
The match is undoubtedly the biggest fixture of world sports, with two rival countries attracting huge TV audiences and general attention from all regions around the world.
As ever, beyond the fierce rivalry between the two cricket giants and their neighbouring countries, Pakistan lost 60 runs in the opening match against New Zealand on Wednesday. Conversely, India opened on Thursday with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.
Why is India not playing games in Pakistan?
All India matches will take place in the United Arab Emirates, not in Pakistan, the host country of the 2025 edition. The move comes after the Indian Cricket Committee (BCCI) reached an agreement between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan.
When did Pakistan host a major tournament?
Pakistan’s international cricket has been significantly restricted after in recent years injured six players after being attacked by gunmen on a bus of a Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.
Pakistan was shunned by the top team after the attack, and the Champions Trophy marks the first major global tournament in the country in nearly 30 years. Pakistan last performed the Global Game was in 2006 for the Cricket World Cup, where they co-hosted with India.
Why isn’t Pakistan a favorite of the defending champion?
Pakistan unlocked the final edition of the Champions Trophy by defeating India in the 2017 final, but based on the consistency since then, the lost finalists are tournament favorites.
Pakistan has players who have won major matches in the form of former captains Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, but there is a tendency for countries to collapse at every stage of every match, and every series ahead of them. It led to a reputation.
Off-field turbulence also remains a major obstacle. Gary Kirsten was appointed Whiteball coach last year, but he quickly quit and was replaced by then Test match coach Jason Gillespie. The former Australian bowler quickly rose to his side following his South African predecessor. Both looked like players and popular figures.
New Zealand’s opening defeat saw batting workers through pursuits, but highlighted how much Pakistan must overcome if it lifts home soil trophies.
Why is India a favorite to win the Champions Trophy?
India did a more intense job of chasing in the opening match against Bangladesh than expected. The Towhid Hridoy century only slowed down the inevitable, but without the Shubman Gill century to pursue 229, India might have been in deep trouble.
Rohit Sharma’s team reached the final of the ICC 1-day international tournament, losing to Australia at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The losses were difficult for players and their fans, especially as they came to the soil of their homes in Ahmedabad.
The 2024 T20 World Cup victory softened some degree of victory in the Champions Trophy to deny host nation and rival Pakistan’s successive crowns.
What are the Pakistan and India records in the Champions Trophy?
Pakistan’s victory in the final against India in 2017 is the only victory in the competition. India claimed twice to win the Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013.
Form Guide – Pakistan
New Zealand’s opening defeat marked the Kiwi three consecutive losses, following two losses in the pre-tournament try series against South Africa. Pakistan brings a surprisingly good shape on the streets to the tournament, but perhaps the match in Dubai will help. The Green man won the final three bilateral ODI series on the trip. The highlight was a 2-1 victory over World Champions Australia, but the terrifying 3-0 fragments of the South African side are not underestimated.
Form Guide – India
India’s dominance in ODIS was a 2-0 loss in a three-match series against Sri Lanka last August, winning the latest DIP. It was their final series before their tour of England earlier this month.
The 3-0 series whitewash was a big hit for the UK, but it was a huge boost to the Blue men on the eve of the tournament.
The last 5 ODI matches
Pakistan: wlwll India: lwww
Pakistan Team News
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy not only suffered a loss for New Zealand on Wednesday, but also caused a tournament-ending injury to Fakar Zaman.
The opening batter bravely walked into the middle to help Virat Kohli and his side in the chase, but the injury to the chest muscle of the 34-year-old, who was ruled out of returning to the team in this edition, is clearly hampered. I did.
Imam ul Haq replaced him with the team.
India Team News
India may not change from the side that beat Bangladesh in the opening game. The spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are seen on the Tweaker-friendly surface of Dubai.
Harshit Rana nodded before Arshep Singh to replace the injured Jasprit Bumrah in opening the opening with Mohammed Shami. India is expected to come along with this decision again.
Pakistan Team
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Aga (vice captain), Babar Azam, Fakar Zaman, Kamran Glam, Saud Sheek, Tairabu Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Kushdir Shah, Usman Khan , Abra Ahmed, Mohammad Hanain, Nasséemshah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Indian Squadron
Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice captain), Virat Kohli, Shreiyas Ayer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Akyar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaspuri -Bamra, Mohammed Shamie, Ashdeep Singh, Hershit Rana, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
Source link
