Who: Pakistan vs India
What: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
When: Sunday, February 23 at 1pm (09:00 GMT)
Follow Al Jazeera’s live text and photo commentary stream of the match.
The host nation – and second favourites – Pakistan face the team tipped to win the tournament, India, at the Champions Trophy on Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The two rival countries, who are competing on television and in other media, have undoubtedly become the biggest stars in world sport.
Beyond the fierce rivalry between the two cricketing giants and neighboring nations, where is there always a lot at stake, with Pakistan losing by 60 runs in their opening match on Wednesday against New Zealand. India, conversely, opened with a six-wicket win against Bangladesh , on Thursday.
Why doesn’t India play in Pakistan?
All of India’s matches will be played in UAE instead of Pakistan, the host nation of the 2025 edition. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed that both countries would play all ICC events that were held in either country at neutral venues until 2027, following which the agreement was reached.
When was the last time Pakistan hosted a major tournament?
Following the 2009 shooting by gunmen on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in Lahore, which seriously injured six players, international cricket in Pakistan has been severely restricted in recent years.
The Champions Trophy is the first major global tournament to be held in Pakistan in nearly 30 years, and the top teams were criticized for it after the attack. Pakistan hosted the Cricket World Cup in 2006, the last time they hosted a global matchup together with India.
Why are defending champions Pakistan not the favourites?
In 2017, Pakistan won the Champions Trophy’s final against India, but the defeated finalists are the tournament’s favorites based on their consistency since then.
Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, two former Pakistani captains, have been key match-winning players, but their reputation has already deteriorated as a result.
Off-field turbulence continues to be a major issue, as well: Gary Kirsten was appointed white ball coach last year, but he abruptly resigned and was replaced by Jason Gillespie, who was then coaching for Tests. The former Australian bowler quickly reacted to his South African predecessor by standing down, which made the players seem like they were both well-known.
How much will Pakistan need to overcome if they want to win the trophy on their own soil is highlighted by the opening defeat by New Zealand, which saw the batting force through the chase.
What makes India the champions of the title race?
In their opening game against Bangladesh, India did more than they had anticipated. Towhid Hridoy’s century should only have delayed the inevitable, but without Shubman Gill’s century in pursuit of 229, India could have been in deep trouble.
Rohit Sharma’s side reached the final of the last ICC one-day international tournament, where they were defeated by Australia at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The players and their supporters struggled to accept the defeat, especially since Ahmedabad is on its own soil.
The 2024 T20 World Cup victory softened the blow to some extent but a victory in the Champions Trophy to deny the host nation and rivals, Pakistan, back-to-back crowns will be a sweet return for Rohit’s men.
What are Pakistan and India’s records in the Champions Trophy?
Pakistan’s victory in the final against India in 2017 is their only triumph in the competition. India have twice claimed victory in the Champions Trophy, in 2002 and 2013.
Form guide – Pakistan
Following two losses in the pre-tournament tri-series with South Africa, New Zealand suffered their third straight defeat. However, Pakistan’s surprisingly strong form during travel will help them win the tournament, so a match in Dubai might be a boon. On their travels, the men in green won the last three bilateral ODI series. A 2-1 triumph over world champions Australia was the highlight, but the 3-0 trouncing of a formidable South Africa side is not to be underestimated.
Form guide – India
India’s dominance in ODIs took a recent dip with a 2-0 defeat in the three-match series against Sri Lanka last August. Their final series was that of England before the start of their tour earlier this month.
As well as Gill’s moment of brilliance in the opening match against Bangladesh, the 3-0 series whitewash was a huge blow to England but also provided a significant boost for the Men in Blue on the eve of the tournament.
Last five ODI matches
- Pakistan: W L W L L
- India: L W W W W
Pakistan team news
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy hopes were not only hit by the defeat by New Zealand on Wednesday, but also the tournament-ending injury for Fakhar Zaman.
Virat Kohli and his team chased after the opening batter bravely strode to the middle, but the 34-year-old was clearly hampered by his chest injury, who was ruled out of a return to the team this year.
Imam-ul-Haq has taken his place in the squad.
India team news
India’s performance in the opening game against Bangladesh is likely to remain unchanged. The spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will be looked to on the tweaker-friendly surface in Dubai.
Arshdeep Singh was chosen ahead of Harshit Rana to take Jasprit Bumrah’s place in Mohammed Shami’s opening act. India is anticipated to make this choice once more.
Pakistan squad
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
India squad
Source: Aljazeera
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