Pak vs Ind: Champions Trophy
Image credits: AFP
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign is on the verge of collapse, with a must-win encounter against India in Dubai set to determine their fate in the tournament. Having suffered a setback in their opening match against New Zealand, another loss would mark an early exit within just four days of the tournament’s commencement. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has turned to former cricketer Mudassar Nazar in an attempt to salvage their hopes, roping him in as a special coach ahead of the crucial clash.
Nazar, a seasoned veteran with an intimate understanding of UAE conditions, has been brought in due to his experience spanning coaching tenures with Pakistan, Kenya, and the UAE, as well as stints with the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai, making him a valuable addition to the camp. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by the Dubai pitch, the PCB has placed faith in his tactical acumen to prepare the squad for their do-or-die showdown against India. The pressure is mounting, and the team needs to perform well to stay in the tournament.
Despite his presence, however, another report suggests that consistency remained elusive in their practice session in Dubai, as mistimed shots frequently found height rather than distance. Compounding the woes was Pakistan’s fielding display, riddled with dropped catches and lapses in concentration. India, on the other hand, have made a strong start to the tournament, beating Bangladesh by six wickets on Thursday, with Shubman Gill smashing a brilliant century to guide India to victory. The side displayed a brilliant all-round performance, bundling Bangladesh for 228 before Gill's century.
Mohammed Shami's bowling performance was another glaring positive for the side, as he picked a fifer, while Harshit Rana also took three wickets in a brilliant bowling display. Another win against Pakistan will all but seal the side's berth in the semi-final. India had registered a fairly dominant victory in their last ODI against Pakistan during the 2023 World Cup, defeating the side by seven wickets in a one-sided contest in Ahmedabad. The team is looking strong, and Pakistan needs to come up with a solid strategy to defeat them.
Here are the match scores and player statistics from the previous matches:
- India vs Bangladesh: India won by 6 wickets
- Pakistan vs New Zealand: New Zealand won by a margin of 8 wickets
- Shubman Gill: 101* runs in 54 balls
- Mohammed Shami: 5 wickets in 8 overs
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