Dubai, Feb 23 (V7N) – The cricketing world is set for a high-voltage clash as arch-rivals India and Pakistan face off in the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday in Dubai. With contrasting starts to their campaigns, both teams enter the match with different stakes on the line.

Ganguly Backs India as Favorites

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has declared India the strongest white-ball team and downplayed Pakistan’s threat. Speaking to PTI, Ganguly noted,

"India has dominated Pakistan for a long time in ODIs. If I recall correctly, India has lost only one match against Pakistan in the last five years."

He also suggested changes in India's playing XI, emphasizing the importance of spinners on Dubai’s slow wicket. Ganguly believes a score of 300+ will be difficult on this pitch.

India’s Path to the Semifinals

India began their campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh, boosting their confidence ahead of this crucial encounter. The Kuldeep-Jadeja-Axar spin trio is expected to be key, alongside the pace attack of Shami, Hardik, and Harshit Rana.

A win today would almost guarantee India a place in the semifinals, while a loss would make their next games against New Zealand and Pakistan even more crucial.

Pakistan in a Do-or-Die Situation

Pakistan, on the other hand, must win to keep their semifinal hopes alive after their 60-run loss to New Zealand. The team has been under pressure, with captain Babar Azam facing criticism for his slow 64 off 90 balls in the last match.

The pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf also struggled, conceding 131 runs against New Zealand, prompting head coach Aqib Javed to push them for extra bowling practice ahead of the India clash.

Team News & Key Players

  • Pakistan: Opener Fakhar Zaman is ruled out due to a finger injury, with Imam-ul-Haq likely to replace him.
  • India: The squad remains unchanged from the Bangladesh match, with Virat Kohli under scrutiny after scoring 22 runs in the last game.

Head-to-Head & Past Encounters

In Champions Trophy history, Pakistan leads 3-2 in five encounters. However, India has won five of their last six ODIs against Pakistan, with their last defeat coming in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.

What’s at Stake?

  • If India wins: They move closer to the semifinals, putting pressure on New Zealand and Bangladesh.
  • If Pakistan loses: They must beat Bangladesh and hope New Zealand loses to both India and Bangladesh to qualify. Otherwise, it’s game over for Pakistan.

As the cricketing giants gear up for this electrifying encounter, the match is set to be a battle of spin, pace, and nerves on the Dubai pitch.

END/MSS/AJ