PTCL lands Africa-1 submarine cable in Karachi, enhancing connectivity with Saudi Arabia, other countries

ISLAMABAD: Millions of cricket fans will be watching from home today, Sunday, as Pakistan take on India in a must-win clash in Dubai in what is expected to be a blockbuster ICC Champions Trophy 2025 cricket match. 

A sell-out crowd in Dubai will witness the iconic clash between the two arch-rivals, who enjoy one of the fiercest sports rivalries of all time when they face off against each other in the eight-nation tournament. 

India and Pakistan only meet in multi-nation events because of political tensions. The match is taking place in Dubai after India refused to travel to tournament hosts Pakistan.

“It’s Super Sunday at the #ChampionsTrophy as Pakistan takes on India,” the International Cricket Council wrote on its Instagram. “Who’s winning this blockbuster match?”

Sunday’s clash is crucial for Pakistan as skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s side suffered a 60-run defeat at New Zealand’s hands in the opening game of the competition in Karachi on Wednesday. 

Pakistan need to beat favorites India to stay in the hunt for a semifinal spot in the tournament. 

An early exit from the tournament would take some gloss off it as Pakistan are hosting their first major ICC tournament in nearly 30 years. 

New Zealand top Group A ahead of India, who beat Bangladesh on Thursday by six wickets, on a better run-rate. Pakistan are fourth and bottom of the group. The top two teams from each of the two groups make the semifinals.

Pakistan white-ball coach Aqib Javed remained optimistic of Pakistan’s chances ahead of the encounter. 

“After losing a game there is another good chance for you to win and win the third one and make it to the semis,” Javed told reporters on Saturday.

“Between India and Pakistan it doesn’t matter, it’s a knockout or whatever. It’s beyond a game and that’s the beauty of India-Pakistan cricket.”

Pakistan suffered a big blow on Wednesday when top batsman Fakhar Zaman suffered a muscle injury. He has been ruled out of the tournament, but Aaqib said they will still field a “good, strong team.”

Left-handed Imam-ul-Haq has come in as a replacement for a team that hammered India in the final of the previous Champions Trophy in 2017.

That was India’s last defeat to Pakistan in an ODI match and Rohit Sharma’s men have since won five of the last six games against their greatest rivals, with one rained off.

They last met in a one-day game at the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, with hosts India winning by seven wickets.

Despite India heading into the match as favorites, vice-captain Shubman Gill warned his side against complacency on Saturday. 

“Definitely we have been playing some good ODI cricket and Pakistan unfortunately have lost some of the matches that they have played recently but by no means are we going to take them as a lesser side,” Gill told reporters. 

The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm Pakistan Standard Time. 

India squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi

DUBAI: Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed on Saturday said his fast bowlers are “match-winners” and will pull out something special against arch-rivals India in their pivotal Champions Trophy clash.
Hosts and defending champions Pakistan need to win the blockbuster showdown with India on Sunday in Dubai to keep their chances of making the semifinals in their own hands.
Pakistan lost the opening match of the 50-over tournament to New Zealand and are bottom of Group A. India beat Bangladesh in their first match.
Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf leaked 214 runs in their 30 overs combined in New Zealand’s total of 320.
But Aaqib said the trio will rise to the occasion.
“We have three specialists and I would say one of the best pace bowling options in today’s game with Shaheen, Naseem and Haris,” Aaqib told reporters.
The former seam bowler said the current attack reminds him of that from the 1990s, when Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Aaqib stepped up after the retirement of the great Imran Khan.
“They still have time to reach that level, but they have all the ability to repeat those sort of performances,” said Aaqib.
“When you play against India it is a special feeling and I think they will bring something special tomorrow.”
He added: “Our fast bowling options are good and they are match-winners.”
Bilateral cricket ties are frozen between the two rival nations due to political tensions and they only play each other in multi-nation events.
India refused to tour Pakistan for this eight-nation tournament and will play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium, which is expected to be full for the high-profile game.
Pakistan, who hammered India in the last Champions Trophy final in 2017, have flown in from Karachi for their must-win clash and Aaqib says pressure produces champions.
“There is no game you play without pressure,” said Aaqib. “Between India and Pakistan it doesn’t matter it’s a knock-out or whatever. It is beyond the game.”
Aaqib said: “If you look at the positive, it’s the best time and best chance for any individual or a team to make a mark. Passion and pressure is what a player needs to showcase his game.”
The top two teams from each of the two groups make the semifinals.
The rivals last met in a one-day game at the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, with hosts India winning by seven wickets.